11_Washoe Learned American Sign Language

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2024年1月9日发(作者：)

Washoe Learned American Sign Language

Washoe学会了美国手语

1 An animal that influenced scientific thought has died. A chimpanzee named Washoe and

born in Africa died of natural causes late last month at the age of 42 at a research center in the

American state of Washington. Washoe had become known in the scientific community1 and

around the world for her ability to use American Sign Language2. She was said to be the first

non-human to learn a human language. Her skills also led to debate3 about primates and their

ability to understand language. 一个影响科学思维的动物已经死亡了。一个出生在非洲名为Washoe的黑猩猩上个月月底在 美国华盛顿州的一个研究中心自然死亡,死时42岁。Washoe在科学界和世界各地众所周知，是 因为它能够使用美国手语。它是第一个了解人类语言的非人类。它的技能也导致有关灵长类动物和它们所能理解的语言的争议。

2 Research scientists Allen and Beatrix Gardner began teaching Washoe sign language in

1966. In 1969, the Gardners7 described Washoe's progress in a scientific report. The people who

experimented with Washoe said she grew to understand4 about 250 words. For example, Washoe

made signs to communicate when it was time to eat. She could request foods like apples and

bananas. She also asked questions like, "Who is coming to play?" Once5 the news about Washoe

spread, many language scientists began studies of their own6 into this new and exciting area of

research. The whole direction of primate research changed. 科学家Alien和Beatrix Gardner于1966年开始教Washoe手语。1969年，Gardners在科学的报 告中描述了 Washoe的进步。对Washoe做实验的人说Washoe逐渐掌握了约250个单词。例如， Washoe能用手语表达“该吃饭了”!它能要苹果和番蕉这样的食品。它也问诸如“谁要来玩”之 类的问题。Washoe能用手语的消息一散开，许多语言学家开始在他们自己这一令人振奋的新研究 领域展开研究。灵长类动物的整个研究方向改变了。

3 However, critics argued Washoe only learned to repeat sign language movements from

watching her teachers. They said she had never developed true language skills. Even now, there

are some researchers who suggest that primates learn sign language only by memory, and perform

the signs only for prizes. Yet Washoe's keepers disagree. Roger Fouts is a former student of the

Gardners7. He took Washoe to a research center in Ellensburg, Washington. There, Washoe taught

sign language to three younger chimpanzees, which are still alive. 然而，批评者认为Washoe只学会了看它的教师的手语重复动作。他们说Washoe从来没有发 展真正的语言技能。即使是现在，也有一些研究表明灵长类动物学习手语只是机械重复、死记硬 背、物质刺激的结果。可是Washoe的饲养员不同意这种说法。Roger Fouts以前是Gainer夫妇的 学生。Roger

Fouts把Washoe带到了华盛顿埃伦斯堡的一个研究中心。在这里，Washoe教三个年 轻的黑猩猩手语，这三个黑猩猩依然活着。

4 Scientists like private researcher Jane Goodall believes Washoe provided new information

about the mental workings of chimpanzees8. Today, there are not as many scientists studying

language skills with chimps. Part of the reason is that this kind of research takes a very long time.

像Jane Goodall这样的独立的科学家认为，Washoe为黑猩猩心理活动的研究提供了新信息。

今天，没有那么多科学家研究黑猩猩的语言技能。部分原因在于这类研究需要花费很长的时间。

5 Debate continues about chimps' understanding of human communication. Yet, one thing is

sure -- Washoe changed popular ideas about the possibilities of animal intelligence. 对黑猩猩懂得人类交流方式与否的辩论仍在继续。然而，有一件事却是肯定的~"Washoe改 变了有关动物智能可能性的普遍观点。

词汇:

chimpanzee n.黑猩猩 critic n.评论家，批评家

community n.社区，圈子 workings n.活动，运行

primate n.灵长类动物 chimp n.=chimpanzee

注释：

1. in the scientific community : 在科学界，在科学家的圈子里

2. American Sign Language(ASL): 美国手语。利用手、脸部表情、身体姿势表达思想的美国聋哑人语言。在加拿大、墨西哥等地也使用ASL。ASL与British Sign Language(BSL英国手语)不同，两者不能相互理解。

3. led to debate: 引起辩论。lead to意为“导致”，to为介词，debate为名词。

4. she grew to understand about 250 words: 她渐渐掌握约250个单词。9row t0是“渐渐”的意思。

5. Once : 一旦。0nce是连接词。例:Children like to cycle once they have learned how. 小孩一旦学会了如何骑自行车，就会喜欢上它。

6. of their own: 属于自己的。of their own的含义与on their own不同， on their own是“独自”的意思。

7. the Gardners: Gardner夫妇

8. Scientists like private researcher Jane : 像个体研究者Jane Goodall这样的科学家相信……。like(像，跟……一样)是介词，本句的谓语是believe。句子中的private

researcher意为“不受雇于任何单位，自己独立工作的科研人员。”

练习：

1. Paragraph 1▁▁

2. Paragraph 2▁▁

3. Paragraph 3▁▁

4. Paragraph 4▁▁

A Reason Why Not Many Scientists Carry out This Research Nowadays

B Report about Washoe's Progress in Learning Sign Language

C General Information about Washoe

D The Gardeners' Contributions Recognized

E Debate on Chimps' Intelligence

F Washoe's Love for Three Young Chimps

5. Washoe could make signs to communicate

6. Some scientists doubted

7. Washoe taught three younger chimps sign language

8. The experimenters thought Washoe was intelligent

A if the Gardeners' argument was sound

B because she was cleverer than other chimps

C when she wanted to eat

D while she was at a research center in Ellensburg

E because she could use sign language to ask for fruits

F while Washoe was learning sign language

答案与题解：

1. C 第一段主要介绍猩猩Washoe的出生地、死亡年龄、被带到美国学习美式手语等一般情况。用General Information about Washoe来概括是很准确的。

2. B 第二段的关键句是In 1969, the Gardners described Washoe's progress in a scientific

report.随后的句子简略的介绍了Washoe的学习情况和结果，如已学会了250个单词，并能用手语表达“该吃饭了”等概念。所以，Report about Washoe's Progress in Learning Sign

Language(选项B)是答案。

3. E 第三段介绍了对Gardener夫妇发表的报告有两种不同的解读。一派认为Washoe的手语能力只是机械重复、死记硬背、物质激励的结果，不是智能的表现。另一派认为知识智能的表现，其证据是Washoe还能教三个小猩猩学习手语。争论的焦点是猩猩有没有智能。选项E用debate来概括上述争论，所以是答案。

4. A 第四段解释了为什么现在从事这项研究的科学家人数不多。部分原因是研究周期太长。

5. C 选C 的第四段第二句：Washoe made signs to communicate when it was time to eat.

6. A 第三段的上半段说了一些科学家对Gardener 夫妇的试验的解读所持怀疑态度。题干中出现的doubted引导我们选A。

7. D 选D DE 依据是第三段的最后一句,即“He took Washoe to a research center in

Ellensburg, Washington. There, Washoe taught sign language to three younger chimpanzees,

which are still alive.”

8. E 本文第二段谈到试验的成果时有一个句子：“She could request foods like apples and

bananas”。根据全段意思和上述句子，选择E是正确的。

本文标签： 手语研究动物美国黑猩猩