【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】
[听力原文] 6-10
BARCELONA
A
new study in the journal of Experimental Psychology suggested that it's
not just humans that can tell the difference between languages. It turns out
that rats can distinguish between Japanese and Dutch. That's what researchers at
the Park Scientific Barcelona found. When they trained rats to press a little
lever in response to a specific language, some rats were given Japanese while
others heard Dutch. When the rats later listened to both languages they ignored
the unfamiliar one. Human babies easily pick up on the distinctive rhythm of a
language as they are learning to talk. Rats obviously don't use language. So
this finding suggests that some of the skills that make human language possible
probably evolved for other reasons.
AMERICA
An examination of old bones in America has led scientists to
suggest that sperm whales diving deep beneath the surface of the ocean can
suffer from decompression sickness or the bends just as human divers do.
Researchers found evidence of damage in the bones of whales dating back over a
period of more than 100 years. The pitting and erosion of the bones matched the
conditions associated with the bends in which too rapid ascent from the ocean
depth can cause agonizing pain or death.
JAPAN
Another powerful earthquake has struck Japan's northwestern
Niigata Prefecture, site of the quake, Saturday. That was the nation's most
deadly earthquake in 9 years. The latest temblor measuring 5.6 on the open-ended
Richter Scale occurred early Monday local time. There were no immediate damage
reports. On Sunday, Japan's Prime Minister announced he asked parliament for
emergency funding to help people recover from Saturday's earthquake which left
at least 23 people dead and thousands more injured. The quake forced about
65,000 people to evacuate their homes and cut off power, communications and
transportation. It was the worst in Japan since the 1995 earthquake in the
city of Kobe.
CHINA
The
American Secretary of State is in China for talks expected to focus on the
deadlock over North Korea's nuclear program. China has hosted previous
six-nation talks aimed at resolving the crisis over what North Korea describes
as its nuclear deterrent. Pyongyang has refused to resume negotiation and says
US-led international naval exercise due to begin on Monday off the Japanese
coast are evidence of Washington's hostile intent. Speaking earlier in Tokyo,
Mr. Secretary denied the accusation and said it was urgent to resume the
multilateral talks with North Korea.
EUROPE
The US dollar has continued to fall on international currency
markets, hitting the lowest level it's reached against the Euro since the
European single currency began trading in 1999. It slipped to 1 dollar 34.6
cents against the Euro. That's down more than a third from its highest point in
2002. The head of the European Central Bank described the plunge as brutal and
financial analysts say the dollar could soon lose its status as the world's
dominant currency. But the United States Treasury Secretary insists that the
government is addressing the issue.
6. What does this news item mainly
suggest?