2022年湖南省常德市公共英語五級(筆試)真題一卷(含答案)

2022年湖南省常德市公共英語五級(筆試)真題一卷(含答案)學校:________班級:________姓名:________考號:________

一、1.ListeningComprehension(15題)1.What'sthethirdmethodmentionedheretogivethelistenertimetothink?

2.Whatwillthespeakerdiscussfirst?

3.WherewasthefinalsoftheWorldCupin1994held?

A.InEngland.B.IntheUSA.C.InMexico.D.InFrance.

4.Behavioralmanagementisveryusefulbutisnot______likescientificmanagement.

5.PartC

Directions:Youwillhearatalk.Asyoulisten,answerthequestionsorcompletethenotesinyourtestbookletforQuestions21-30bywritingNOTMORETHANTHREEwordsinthespaceprovidedontheright.YouwillhearthetalkTWICE.

Younowhave1minutetoreadQuestions21-30.

聽力原文：Asyouknow,manybigchangeshappenedafterChristopherColumbusandotherEuropeanscametotheAmericas500yearsago.TodayI'mgoingtotalkaboutachangeintheworlddietthewaypeoplecookedandate.Fivehundredyearsago,therewasabigchangeinthedietofpeopleallovertheworld.

Let'stalkaboutthedietinEurope500yearsago.Oneimportantfoodwasmeat.Europeansatemanykindsofmeat,includingbeef,lamb,goat,andpork.Europeansalsoatedairyproducts,milkandcheesemadefromthemilkofcowsandgoats.TheEuropeansateseveraldifferentgrains:Mostpeopleatewheat,andsomepeopleaterice,whichcamefirstfromAsia.

Now,let'slookatthedietintheAmericasabout500yearsago.ThedietofthenativeAmericanwasquitedifferentfromthedietoftheEuropeans.ThisisbecausetheEuropeanmeats,dairyproducts,andgrainsdidn'texistintheAmericas.However,thenativeAmericansatesomefoodthatdidn'texistinEurope.ThenativeAmericansatedifferentvegetables,suchaspotatoesandtomatoes.Theyatedifferentgrains,suchascorn.Theyatedifferentmeat,suchasturkeyandotherwildbirds.Theyalsousedspicessuchaschocolateandhotchilipeppers.NoneofthesefoodsexistedinEurope500yearsago.

Nowlet'stalkaboutthebigchangeintheworlddiet500yearsago,afterColumbusandtheEuropeanswenttotheAmericas.

AfterEuropeanswenttotheAmericas,thedietofthenativeAmericanschangedalot.WhentheEuropeanswenttotheAmericas,theytookmanynewkindsoffoodwiththem.TheEuropeansgavesomeofthefood,themeat,dairyproducts,andgrainstothenativeAmericansandthenthenativeAmericansstartedtousetheEuropeanfoodintheircooking.Asaresult,thedietintheAmerica'stodayisverydifferentfromtheirdiet500yearsago.Forexample,ifyougotoacountrylikeMexico,youcanseethatthetraditionalMexicanfoodusesalotofbeef,pork,cheese,wheat,andrice,allfoodsthatcamefromEuropewithColumbus.

AftertheEuropeansreturnedtoEuropefromtheAmericas,therewasalsoabigchangeinthedietofpeopleinEuropeandtherestoftheworld.WhentheEuropeansreturnedtoEurope,theytookmanynewkindsoffoodbackfromtheAmericas.Theytookbackthevegetables,grains,andspicesthattheyfoundintheAmericas.Littlebylittle,peoplealloverEuropestartedusingthenewfoodsintheircooking,andthenthefoodsspreadaroundtheworldtoAfrica,theMiddleEastandAsia.

Someofthenewfoodspreadveryquicklyaroundtheworld.Oneexampleisthechilipepper.Youmaybesurprisedtoknowthat500yearsago,thechilipepperdidn'texistinmanycountriesthatarefamoustodayfortheirhotandspicyfoodmadewithchilies.Actually,wethinkthatthefirstchilipepperwastakentoSpainbyColumbusin1493,whenhereturnedfromtheAmericas.Afteronly100years,chilipeppershadspreadallaroundtheworld.Theygroweasilyinwarmweather.TheonlyplacethatthechilipepperdidnotbecomepopularwasNorthernEurope,probablybecauseitistoocoldtogrowchilipepperseasily.

Althoughchilipeppersspreadquickly,otherfoodsfromtheAmericasspreadveryslowly.Potatoesareagoodexample.Ittookabout250yearsforthepotatoestospreadaroundtheworld.ThereasonittooksolongisthatEuropeansthoughtthatpotatoeswerepoisonous.ThepotatolookedalotlikeaverypoisonousplantthatgrewinEurope.Peoplewereafraidtoeatpotatoes!Foralongtime,peopleonlyusedpotatoestof

6.Wherewasthemailataplantationpassedontome?

7.聽力原文：Iwanttotalktodayaboutsomestudies.Theyseemtoindicatethatthereisastartlingworld-widedeclineinthenumberofamphibians,suchasflogs,toadsandsalamanders.There'slittledoubtthatonereasonwhythenumberofamphibiansisdecliningistheirhabitatshavebeendestroyedwhenthedevelopersfillinpondsandmarshestobuildhouses.Amphibianscan'tjustmovesomewhere.Theyneedwatertolaytheireggsin.Anotherproblemisthegrowingfishindustry.Anotherrangeofpopularpoolfishsuchascarphavebeenintroducedtomanylakesandpondsallovertheworld.Raisingandsellingthesefishcanbeprofitable,butthefisheattheeggsandoffspringofamphibiansthatwerealreadylivinginthelakesandponds.Otherfactorscouldbecontributingtothedeclineincludeacidrainandthespreadofpesticideresidues.Manypesticidesthatfarmersaddedtotheircropsareeventuallywashedawaybytherainandendupinpondsandotherbodiesofwaterwhereamphibianslive.Amphibiansareespeciallyvulnerabletopesticidesdissolvedinthewaterbecauseoftheirmoistskins.Watercanpassthroughamphibiansallowingtoxinsdissolvedinthewatertoentertheamphibians'body.

Whatdoesthespeakermainlydiscuss?

A.Thedistributionofdifferentspeciesofamphibians.

B.Possiblereasonsforreductioninthenumberofamphibians.

C.Theeffectsofenvironmentalchangeonthefishindustry.

D.Guidelinesfortheresponsibleuseofpesticides.

8.Healthexpertssaythatallkindsofpeopleshoulddrinkatleastabout2litersofliquidseveryday.

A.TrueB.Fasle

9.PartC

Directions:Youwillhearatalk.Asyoulisten,answerthequestionsorcompletethenotesinyourtestbookletforQuestions21-30bywritingNOTMORETHANTHREEwordsinthespaceprovidedontheright.YouwillhearthetalkTWICE.

Younowhave1minutetoreadQuestions21-30.

聽力原文：Todaywetakeitforgrantedthatthemailwillbedelivereddailyatourdoor．Butmanyyearsagoitmighthavebeenplacedinatreetrunkorunderneatharock．Intheearlydaysofthemailnoonecouldbesureaboutwhereorwhenitwouldarrive．

AtthesoutherntipofAfricatherewasonceapostofficeunderarock．IntheolddaystheroutefromEnglandtoIndiawasaroundtheCapeofGoodHope．Thejourneywasstormyanddangerous．Ittooksixlongmonths．Sailorsoftenwishedtosendmailhome．buttheyseldommetshipsboundbacktoEngland．Soatthecapethesailorswouldgoashore．Theyheadedforacertainlargestone．Onthestonewerescratchedthewords“Lookhereunderforletters．”Theywouldleavetheirlettersthere．knowingthatthenexthomeward-boundshipwouldstopandpickthemup．

TherewasanotherpostofficelikethisatthesoutherntipofSouthAmerica．Duringthegoldrushdays，boatssailedaroundCapeHorntoCalifornia．AtCapeHornwasakegnailedtoapost．Boatscomingfromtheeastcoastwouldsendasmallboatashoretothispostoffice．Theypickedupanylettersinthekeg．Atthesametimetheymailedlettershomethatboatssailingeastcouldpickup．

InthestateofWashingtonstandsthestumpofahugecedar．It，too，wasonceapostoffice．Settlersneededaplaceforthemailcarrierstoleavetheirletters．Theirhousesweresowidelyscatteredthatthemailcarriercouldnotreachallofthem．andthepostofficewasfarawayoverroughroads．Sothesettlersfoundatreethatstoodwhereseveraltrailscrossed．Theycutthetreedowntenfeetfromtheground．holloweditout．andcovereditwitharoof．Inside,theynailedarowofwoodenboxes．Eachboxwasmarkedwithafamily'sname．Themailcarriercouldleavelettersthereforeveryoneformilesaround．

ForthefirstfewyearsaftertheEnglishcolonistscarnetoAmerica，therewasnoregularpostalservice．Peoplegavetheirletterstoanytravelerwhohappenedtobegoingintherightdirection．Oftentheygavethemtoapeddleroratravelingshoemaker．Whenthetravelerreachedthetownwheretheletterwasgoing，hemightstopataninn．Hewouldleavethelettersthere．Buttheretheystayeduntilthepersontheywereaddressedtohappenedtocomebyandstoppedattheinn．

WhataboutplaceslikeVirginiawheretherewereveryfewinns?Peoplewhowishedtosendletterswouldleavethematoneofthelargeplantations．Theownersoftheplantationwouldthensendthelettersontoaneighbor．Theneighborwoulddothesame．Itwasaslowmailsystem．

Aftermanyyears，regularmailcarriersonhorsebackwerehired．Theywentfromonebigtowntoanother．BetweenNewYorkandBoston，forexample．therewasone“postrider”amonth．Hetraveledonlybydayandtooktwoweeksforthetrip．Oftenthepostriderleftallthemailforawholetownatacrossroadsstore．ItstilltookmanyweeksforalettertoreachthepersonItwasaddressedto．

Finally，abouttwohundredyearsago，BenjaminFranklinwasmadepostmasterforallthecolonies．Hisfirstactwastomakealongjourneytofindoutthebestroutesforcarryingthemail．Thenhesetupalineofpoststationbetweenthenorthernandsoutherncolonies．Heorderedhispostriderstotravelbynightaswellasbyday．

Franklin'spostriderscouldcarrymorelettersinashortertimefromonecolonytoanother．TheletterservicehelpedtheyoungAmericancolonieslearnmoreabouteachother．Theylearnedthattheywereallinterestedinthesamethings．Thisgavethemthefeelingofunitythatlaterhelpedthemwintheirindependence．

10.Thetalkismainlyabouttheimportanceof"feltimages".

A.RightB.Wrong

11.Whocanbedescribedas"amantohavehisnoseputoutofjoint"?

A.Agayman.

B.Asickman.

C.Amanwhowantstosmellaflower.

D.Amanwhofeelshurtanddepressed.

12.WhendidDicksongotoBostonforeyetreatment?

A.In1848.

B.Intheearly1850s.

C.Inthelate1850s.

D.Intheearly1860s.

13.WhichofthefollowingCanbecalledasa“l(fā)ameduck”?

A.Adisabledlittlechild．

B.Ahard-workingfarmer．

C.Apoliticianwhohastocometotheendofhispower．

D.Anabsent-mindedoldprofessor．

14.ThosewhovisitLondonwillcertainlygoto______.

A.theTowerofLondon

B.Harrods

C.BuckinghamPalace

D.TheGreenwichvillage

15.Paulcouldreachalltheswitchesbecausetheywereoriginallyinstalledattherightheightofhim.

A.TrueB.Fasle

二、2.UseofEnglish(10題)16.

【C15】

17.Childrenwhogriptheirpenstooclosetothewritingpointarelikelytobeatadisadvantageinexaminations,【31】______tothefirstseriousinvestigationintothewayinwhichwritingtechniquecandramaticallyaffecteducationalachievement.

Thesurveyof643childrenandadults,rankingfrompre-schoolto40-plus,alsosuggests【32】______pen-holdingtechniqueshavedeterioratedsharplyoveronegeneration,withteachersnowpayingfar【33】______attentiontocorrectpengripandhandwritingstyle.

StephanieThomas,alearningsupportteacher【34】______findingshavebeenpublished,wasinspiredtoinvestigatethisarea【35】______henoticedthatthosestudentswhohadthemosttroublewithspelling【36】______hadapoorpengrip.WhileMr.Thomascouldnotestablishasignificantstatisticallink【37】______pen-holdingstyle.andaccuracyinspelling,he【38】______findhugedifferencesintechniquebetweentheyoungchildrenandthematureadults,andadefinite【39】______betweennear-pointgrippingandslow,illegiblewriting.

Peoplewho【40】______theirpensatthewritingpointalsoshowothercharacteristics【41】______inhibitlearning,【42】______aspoorposture,leaningtoo【43】______tothedesk,usingfourfingerstogripthepen【44】______thanthree,andclumsypositioningofthethumb(whichcanobscure【45】______isbeingwritten).

Mr.Thomasbelievesthatthe【46】______betweenelderandyoungerwritersis【47】______toodramatictobeaccountedforsimplybythepossibilitythatpeoplegetbetteratwritingastheygrow【48】______.Heattributesittoafailuretoteachthemosteffectivemethods,pointingoutthatthedifferencesbetween【49】______groupscoincideswiththeabandonmentofformalhandwritinginstructioninclassroomsinthesixties."The30-year-oldshowedahugediversityofgrips,【50】______theover40sgroupallhadauniform.'tripod'grip."

(31)

18.(42)

19.RecentsurveysshowthatJapaneseyouthhavebecomea"MeGeneration"thatrejectstraditionalvalues.

"Around1980manyJapanese,【31】______youngpeopleabandonedthevaluesofeconomicsuccessandbegan【32】______fornewsetsofvaluesto【33】______themhappiness,"writessociologistYasuhiroinComparativeCivilizationsReview.Japaneseyouthareplacingmoreimportanceontheindividual'spursuitof【34】______andlessonthevaluesofwork,family,andsociety.

Japanesestudentsseemtobelosingpatiencewithwork,【35】______theircounterpartsintheUnitedStatesandKorea.Ina1993【36】______ofcollegestudentsinthethreecountries,only10%oftheJapaneseregarded【37】______asaprimaryvaluecomparedwith47%ofKoreanstudentsand27%ofAmericanstudents.Agreater【38】______ofJapaneseaged18—24alsopreferredeasyjobs【39】______heavyresponsibility.

TheyoungerJapaneseare.showinglessconcernforfamilyvaluesastheypursueaninnerworldofprivatesatisfaction.Datacollected【40】______theJapanesegovernmentin1993showsthatonly23%ofJapaneseyoutharethinkingaboutsupportingtheiragedparents,incontrast【41】______63%ofyoungAmericans.Itappearsthatmanyyounger-generationJapaneseare【42】______bothrespectfortheirparents【43】______asenseofresponsibilitytothefamily.AuthorYoshizakiattributesthechange【44】______Japaneseparents'over-indulgenceoftheirchildren,materialaffluence,andgrowing【45】______forprivatematters.

Theshift【46】______individualismamongJapaneseismostpronouncedamong【47】______veryyoung.

Accordingto1991data【48】______theBunkaCenterofJapan,50%ofJapaneseyouthaged16—19canbelabeled"self-centered"comparedwith33%among【49】______aged25-29.Toearntheself-centeredlabel,theyoungpeoplerespondedpositivelyto【50】______ideasas"Iwouldliketomakedecisionswithoutconsideringtraditionalvalues"and"Idon'twanttodoanythingIcan'tenjoydoing."

(31)

20.

【C9】

21.

【C19】

22.

【C13】

23.(34)

24.

【C12】

25.

【C11】

三、3.ReadingComprehension(15題)26.(68)

27.Themanbehindthisnotion,JackMaple,isadandywhoaffectsdarkglasses,homburgs(翹邊帽)andtwo-toeshoes;yethehasbecomesomethingofalegendinAmerica'spolicedepartments.Forsomeyears,startinginNewYorkandmovingontohigh-crimespotssuchasNewOrleansandPhiladelphia,heandhisbusinesspartner,JohnLinderhavemarketedatwo-tiersystemforcuttingcrime.

First,policedepartmentshavetosortthemselvesout:rootoutcorruption,streamlinetheirbureaucracy,andmakemorecontactwiththepublic.Second,theyhavetoadoptacomputersystemcalledComstatwhichhelpsthemtoanalyzestatisticsofallmajorcrimes.Theseareconstantlykeyedintothecomputer,whichthendisplayswhereandwhentheyhaveoccurredonacolor-codedmap,enablingthepolicetomonitorcrimetrendsastheyhappenandtospothigh-crimeareas.InNewYork,Comstat'sstatisticalmapsareanalyzedeachweekatameetingofthecity'spolicechiefandprecinctcaptains.

MessrsMapleandLinder("specialistsincrime-reductionservices")havenodoubtthattheirsystemisamaincontributortothedropincrime.WhentheyintroduceditinNewOrleansinJanuary1997,violentcrimedroppedby22%inayear;whentheymerelystartedworkinginformallywiththepolicedepartmentinNewark,NewJersey,violentcrimefellby13%.Policedepartmentsarenowlininguptopayasmuchas$50,000amonthforthesetwomentoputthemstraight.

Probablyallthesenewpoliciesandbitsoftechnicalwizardry,addedtogether,havemadeabigdifferencetocrime.Butthereremainanomaliesthatcannotbeexplained,suchasthefactthatcrimeinWashingtonD.C.,hasfallenasfastasanywhere,althoughthepolicedepartmenthasbeencorruptandhopelessand,inlargestretchesofthecity,neitherpolicenorresidentsseemdisposedtofightthecriminalsintheirmidst.

Themoreimportantreasonforthefallincrimerates,manysay,isamuchlesssophisticatedone.Itisafactthatcrimerateshavedroppedastheimprisonmentratesoared.In1997thenationalincarcerationrate,at645per100000peoplewasmorethandoubletheratein1985,andthenumberofinmatesincityandcountyjailsroseby9.4%.almostdoubleitsannualaverageincreasesince1990.Surelysomecriminologistsargue,onesetoffiguresisthecauseoftheother.Itisprecisebecausemorepeoplearebeingsenttoprison,theyclaimthatcrimeratesarefalling.A1993studybytheNationalAcademyofSciencesactuallyconcludedthatthetriplingoftheprisonpopulationbetween1975and1989hadloweredviolentcrimeby10-15%.

Yetcauseandeffectmaynotbesoobviouslylinked.Tobeginwith,thesaleandpossessionofdrugsarenotcountedbytheFBIinitscrimeindex,whichislimitedtoviolentcrimesandcrimesagainstproperty.Yetdrugoffencesaccountformorethanathirdoftherecentincreaseinthenumberofthosejailed;since1980,theincarcerationratefordrugarrestshasincreasedby1000%.Andalthoughaboutthree-quartersofthosegoingtoprisonfordrugoffenceshavecommittedothercrimesaswell,thereisnotyetacrystal-clearconnectionbetweenfillingthejailswithdrug-pushersandadeclineintherateofviolentcrime.Again,thoughnationalfiguresaresuggestive,localonesdiverge:theplaceswherecrimehasdroppedmostsharply(suchasNewYorkCity)arenotalwaystheplaceswhereincarcerationhasrisenfastest.

JackMaplestartedhiscareerin______.

A.PhiladelphiaB.OregonC.NewOrleansD.NewYork

28.(75)

29.

Whatcanweinferfromthesecondparagraph?

A.Somefamiliesaretoopoortopaythefullamountofthetuition.

B.Theparentsdonotfavortheform.ofloans.

C.Payingthetuitionmakestheparentsfeelhumble.

D.Thosewhoareingreatneedmaynotgetwhattheyneed.

30.(76)

31.(67)

32.

Toaudience,thetypicalAmericanastronaut______.

A.hasalimitedvocabulary

B.isaclean-cut,cheerfulandfrankguy

C.can'tunderstandasophisticatedjoke

D.iswell-builtbutratherslow-witted

33.PaulStraussmann,retiredvicepresidentofXerox,indicatesinhisbookInformationPay-offthat"almosthalfoftheU.S.informationworkersareinexecutive,managerial,administrativeandprofessionalpositions."Hefurtherstatesthat"managersandprofessionalsspendmorethanhalfoftheirtimeincommunicatingwitheachother."

Inotherwords,peopleareacorporation'smostexpensiveresource.Foratypicaloffice,over90percentoftheoperatingbudgetisforsalaries,benefitsandoverhead.Withthisinvestment,isitanywonderthatmanagersarefocusingmoreandmoreattentiononemployeeproductivity?Theyrealizethatthepaperjunglecannotbetamedsimplybyhiringmorepeople.Toreceiveareturnontheirinvestment,wisecorporateexecutiveofficersarerealizingwhatindustrialistsandagriculturistslearnedlongago—efficienttoolsareessentialforincreasedproductivity.

Adirectrelationshipexistsbetweenefficientflowofinformationandthequalityandspeedoftheoutputoftheendproduct.Forthosecompaniesusingtechnology,theperdocumentcostofinformationprocessingisonlyafractionofwhatitwasafewyearsago.Thedecreasingcostofcomputersandperipherals(equipmenttiedtothecomputer)willcontinuetomaketechnologyacost-effectivetoolinthefuture.AnexampleofthistypeofsavingisillustratedinthecaseoftheWesternDivisionofGeneralTelephoneandElectronicsCompany(GTE).Bymakingaone-timeinvestmentof$10milliontoautomateitsfacilities,managementestimatesanannualsavingof$8.5millionforthecompany.Thissavingsisgainedmainlythroughtheeliminationofsupportpeopleonceneededforproposalprojects.Throughatelecommunicationsnetworkthatsupports150computerterminalswithgoodgraphicscapabilities,theengineerswhoconceptualizetheprojectsarenowdirectparticipants.Theyusethegraphicscapacitiesofthecomputerratherthanrelyondrafterstopreparedrawings,theyentertheirowntextratherthanemploytypists,andtheyusethenetworktotrackprojectprogressratherthanconductingmeetings.

Inthefirstparsgraph,theauthorquotesStraussmann'swordsinordertomakeclear______.

A.theimportanceofcommunicativecapabilityinbusiness

B.theneedibrpeopleofhigherpositionsinacompany

C.theimportanceofassigningpeopletoproperpositions

D.thenecessityforpeopleinhigherpositionstoknowinformationscience

34.(78)

35.PartC

Directions:Answerquestions71-80byreferringtothefollowinggames.

Note:AnswereachquestionbychoosingA,BorCandmarkitonANSWERSHEET1.Somechoicesmayberequiredmorethanonce.

A=HydropowerB=NuclearpowerC=SolarpowerD=WindpowerWhichpower(power's)...

wasdevelopedtoprovideelectricityforsatellitesatthebeginning?71.______

canpromotetourismdevelopment?72.______

maygiveoffdangerousradioactivepollutionintotheair?73.______

mayaffectthedownstreamwaterqualityandhaveanimpactonplantlife?74.______

stationscanincreasetofullpowerveryquickly?75.______

producessmallamountsofwaste?76.______

isagoodmethodofsupplyingenergytoremoteareas?77.______

providesaround20%oftheworld'selectricity?78.______

canbeusedtoheatyourwaterathomeinsteadofsomuchgasorelectricity?79.______

isnotrenewable?80.______

A

Hydropower

Introduction

Wehaveusedrunningwaterasanenergysourceforthousandsofyears,mainlytogrindcorn.

ThefirsthouseintheworldtobelitbyhydroelectricitywasCragsideHouse,inNorthumberland,England,in1878.In1882ontheFoxRiver,intheUSA,hydroelectricityproducedenoughpowertolighttwopapermillsandahouse.

Nowadaystherearemanyhydro-electricpowerstations,providingaround20%oftheworld'selectricity.Thenamecomesfrom"hydro",theGreekwordforwater.

Howitworks

Adamisbuilttotrapwater,usuallyinavalleywherethereisanexistinglake.

Waterisallowedtoflowthroughtunnelsinthedam,toturnturbinesandthusdrivegenerators.

Advantages

Oncethedamisbuilt,theenergyisvirtuallyfree.

Nowasteorpollutionproduced.

Muchmorereliablethanwind,solarorwavepower.

Watercanbestoredabovethedamreadytocopewithpeaksindemand.

Hydro-electricpowerstationscanincreasetofullpowerveryquickly,unlikeotherpowerstations.

Disadvantages

Thedamsareveryexpensivetobuild.

Buildingalargedamwillfloodaverylargeareaupstream,causingproblemsforanimalsthatusedtolivethere.

Findingasuitablesitecanbedifficult—theimpactonresidentsandtheenvironmentmaybeunacceptable.

Waterqualityandquantitydownstreamcanbeaffected,whichcanhaveanimpactonplantlife.

Isitrenewable?

Hydro-electricpowerisrenewable.

TheSunprovidesthewaterbyevaporationfromthesea,andwillkeepondoingso.

B

Nuclearpower

Introduction

NuclearpowerisgeneratedusingUranium,whichisametalminedinvariouspartsoftheworld.

Thefirstlarge-scalenuclearpowerstationopenedatCalderHallinCambria,England,in1956.

Somemilitaryshipsandsubmarineshavenuclearpowerplantsforengines.

Howitworks

Nuclearpowerstationsworkinprettymuchthesamewayasfossilfuel-burningstations,exceptthata"chainreaction"insideanuclearreactormakestheheatinstead.

ThereactorusesUraniumrodsasfuel,andtheheatisgeneratedbynuclearfission.Neutronssmashintothenucleus

36.Women'smindsworkdifferentlyfrommen's.Atleast,thatiswhatmostmenareconvincedof.Psychologistsviewthesubjecteitherasamatterorfrustrationorajoke.Nowthebiologistshavemovedintothisminefield,andsomeofthemhavefoundthattherearerealdifferencesbetweenthebrainsofmenandwomen.Butbeingdifferent,theypointouthurriedly,isnotthesameasbeingbetterorworse.

Thereis,however,adefinitestructuralvariationbetweenthemaleandfemalebrain.Thedifferenceisinapartofthebrainthatisusedinthemostcomplexintellectualprocesses—thelinkbetweenthetwohalvesofthebrain.

Thetwohalvesarelinkedbyatrunklineofbetween200and300millionnerves,thecorpuscallosum.Scientistshavefoundquiterecentlythatthecorpuscallosuminwomenisalwayslargerandprobablyricherinnervefibersthanitisinmen.Thisisthefirsttimethatastructuraldifferencehasbeenfoundbetweenthebrainsofwomenandmenanditmusthavesomesignificance.Thequestionis"What?",and,ifthisdifferenceexists,arethereothers?Re-searchshowsthatpresent-daywomenthinkdifferentlyandbehavedifferentlyfrommen.Aresomeofthesedifferencesbiologicalandinborn,aresultofevolution?Wetendtothinkthatistheinfluenceofsocietythatproducesthesedifferences.Butcouldwebewrong?

Researchshowedthatthesetwohalvesofthebrainhaddifferentfunctions,andthatthecorpuscallosumenabledthemtoworktogether.Formostpeople,thelefthalfisusedforwordhanding,analyticalandlogicalactivities;therighthalfworksonpictures,patternsandforms.Weneedbothhalvesworkingtogether.Andthebettertheconnections,themoreharmoniouslythetwohalveswork.And,accordingtoresearchfindings,womenhavethebetterconnections.

Butitisn'tallthateasytoexplaintheactualdifferencesbetweenskillsofmenandwomenonthisbasis.Inschoolsthroughouttheworldgirlstendtobebetterthanboysat"languagesubjects"andboysbetteratmathsandphysics.Ifthesedifferencescorrespondwiththedifferencesinthehemispherictrunkline,thereisanunalterabledistinctionbetweenthesexes.

Weshan'tknowforawhile,partlybecausewedon'tknowofanypreciserelationshipbetweenabilitiesinschoolsubjectandthefunctioningofthetwohalvesofthebrain,andwecannotunderstandhowthetwohalvesinter-actviathecorpuscallosum.Butthisstrikingdifferencemusthavesomeeffectand,becausethedifferenceisinthepartsofthebraininvolvedinintellect,