Motherhoodmaymakewomensmarterandmayhelppreventdementia(痴呆)inoldagebybathingthebraininprotectivehormones(荷尔蒙),U.S.reseachersreportedonThursday.Testsonratsshowthatthosewhoraisetwoormorelittersofpups

　　Motherhoodmaymakewomensmarterandmayhelppreventdementia(痴呆)inoldagebybathingthebraininprotectivehormones(荷尔蒙),U.S.reseachersreportedonThursday.

　　Testsonratsshowthatthosewhoraisetwoormorelittersofpupsdoconsiderablybetterintestsofmemoryandskillsthanratswhohavenobabies,andtheirbrainsshowchangesthatsuggesttheymaybeprotectedagainstdiseasessuchasAlzheimer’s(早老痴呆症).UniversityofRichmondpsychologyprofessorCraigKinsleybelieveshisfindingswilltranslateintohumans.

　　“Ourresearchshowsthatthehormonesofpregnancy(怀孕)areprotectingthebrain,includingestrogen(雌激素),whichweknowhasmanyneuroprotective(保护神经的)effects,”Kinsleysaid.

　　“It’sratdatabuthumansaremammalsjustliketheseanimalsaremammals,”headdedinatelephoneinterview.“Theygothroughpregnancyandhormonalchanges.”

　　KinsleysaidhehopedpublichealthofficialsandresearcherswilllooktoseeifhavinghadchildrenprotectsawomanfromAlzheimer’sandotherformsofage-relatedbraindecline.

　　“Whenpeoplethinkaboutpregnancy,theythinkaboutwhathappenstobabiesandthemotherfromtheneckdown,”saidKinsley,whopresentedhisfindingstotheannualmeetingoftheSocietyofNeuroscienceinOrlando,Florida.

　　“Theydonotrealizethathormonesarewashingonthebrain.Ifyoulookatfemaleanimalswhohavenevergonethroughpregnancy,theyactdifferentlytowardyoung.Butifshegoesthroughpregnancy,shewillsacrificeherlifeforherinfant—thatisagreatchangeinherbehaviorthatshowedingeneticalterations(改变)tothebrain.”

　　小题1:Howdoscientistsknow“Motherhoodmaymakewomensmarter”?A．Someresearchershavetoldthem.B．Manywomensayso.C．Theyknowitbyexperimentingonrats.D．Theyknowitthroughtheirownexperience.小题2:Whatdoesthephrase“littersofpups”meaninthesecondparagraph?A．Babyrats.B．Animals.C．Oldrats.D．Grown-uprats.小题3:Whatcanprotectthebrainofawomanaccordingtothepassage?A．Estrogen.B．Thehormonesofpregnancy.