Foals are on their feet not long after being born．Chicks break through their shells and within hours are pecking around for food． Snakes hatch and just slither away．Humans，on the other hand，are completely helpless at birth and remain dependent on their parents for many years．
So why does it take humans so long to develop?Why is such an intelligent species helpless for so many years?The quick answer，experts believe，is that humans are the most complex living system．And the more complex the system，the longer it takes to build．
The more involved answer has to do with evolution． It took billions of years for life to evolve from single—celled microorganisms to large warm-blooded mammals．“The ultimate cause of this evolution，the why and the how one genetic program is selected over another is not yet clear to us，”says Calvin，a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle．But researchers have identified some of the evolutionary factors that may have affected our developmental process，he says．
One of those factors dates back to around haIf fl billion years a90，when two strategies for protecting offspring emerged．One group of species began to operate under a more-is-better strategy，where species produced thousands of eggs so the odds increased that some of them would survive to reproduce．①The second group of species，which includes humans，took the opposite approach．They began having fewer offspring and investing more energy in the development of each．The logic is that the Ionger the young are protected and taught the tricks of the trade，so to speak，the better chance they have of surviving to reproduce．
Another factor is called neoteny，a developmental trend where a juvenile appearance is retained well past biological adulthood(the age at which we can reproduce)．Just the fact that we look young and vulnerable increases our chances of being taken care of．
Experts say it’s likely that our development also is related to the gradual increase in human brain size over millions of years．Limited by the size of the female pelvis，we evolved in a way that allows for postnatal brain growth．Because the brain plays a key role in the development of the body，this adaptation may have，in turn，forced the delay in much of our growth until we are outside the womb．The higher intelligence and inquisitiveness of humans，our capacity for abstract thought and ability to plan ahead also play a huge role in our slow development．“Humans are capable of doing things that no other species can，”says Calvin，and it simply takes us a while to master the tasks that we need to survive．
Language is a good example of this．Learning fl language and the specifics of grammar，syntax and context takes years，but humans are born with an innate drive to master it．kaoshida．[484 words]
1．The proper title for this passage should be ______．
A．Investing in our Youth
B．A General Feature of Higher Primates
C．The Higher Intelligence of Humans
D．Why Do We Take So Long to Develop?
2．It can be inferred from the passage that the author must be ______．
A．a professor of psychiatry
B．interested in mysteries of the universe
C．fully aware of the ignorance of humans
D．disappointed to realize the hopeless state of humans
3．Calvin thinks that the development process of humans is ______．
A．wholly beyond comprehension
B．1imited by the size of the female pelvis
C．primarily related to evolution
D．affected merely by two significant factors
4．According to this passage，the development of humans______．
A．the strategy of investing in youth plays a significant role in
B．more-is-better strategy plays a key role in
C．neoteny is the dominant factor affecting
D．the innate drive to master language is the chief factor affecting
5．The author’s attitude towards the issue of“humans’slow development”is______．
A．amazed
B．biased
C．curious
D．puzzled [NextPage]
难句透析
①One group of species began to operate under a more-is—better strategy，where(species produced thousands of eggs)so(the odds increased(that SOllle of them would survive to reproduce))]．
【结构】方括号所标示的是“strategy”的后置定语从句；尖括号所标示的是“the odds”的同位语从句。
【释义】有一类物种开始实行的是多多益善的策略，按这种策略，一次产下成千上万的卵，从而提高一些卵子存活下来繁殖成后代的可能性。
②The logic is[that the longer the young are protected and taught the tricks of the trade，so to speak，the better chance they have of surviving to reproduce]．examda.
【结构】方括号所标示的是表语从句；其中的介词短语“of surviving to reproduce”是“chance”的后置定语，被“they have”分隔。
【释义】所依据的逻辑是：年幼动物受关护的时间越长，学习生存技能的时间越长，可以说，其存活下来繁殖后代的几率就越大。
③”Because the brain plays a key role in the development of the body]，this adaptation may have，in turn， forced the delay in much of our growth [until we are outside the womb]．
【结构】第一个方括号所标示的是原因状语从句；第二个方括号所标示的是时间状语从句。
【释义】因为大脑对人体发育起关键作用，很可能是这种适应性迫使我们的大部分成长过程推迟到我们脱离子宫之后。
④Learning a language and the specifics of grammar，syntax and context takes years，but humans are born with an innate drive to master it．
【结构】这是一个由两个分句组成的并列句，之间用连词“but”连接起来。
【释义】学习语言，学习语法、句法和上下文前后关系的各种细节需要花许多年时间；但是，人类天生就有掌握语言的动力。
全文翻译
骡、马等的幼崽出生后不久就能自行站立。小鸡钻出蛋壳后几个小时就满地地啄食。蛇一孵化之后就自已滑走了。而从另一方面来看，人类在出生后是处于根本无助的状态，并且此后的多年也要依靠着父母。
为什么人类的生长要花那么长时间?为什么这么高智商的物种多年之间会显得无助?专家们认为，如果简单一点说就是因为人类是一个复杂的生命系统。而且这个系统越复杂，用来构建他的时间也就越长。
更具体深入的答案则要从进化的角度来说。生命由单细胞微生物形态进化到大型温血哺乳动物花去了几十亿年的时间。位于西雅图的华盛顿大学的精神病学及行为科学教授加尔文说，“进化的终极起源，以及为什么和怎么样某个基因程序超越其他得以运行，现在我们都还不知道。”但他也补充说，研究者们现在发现了一些与进化相关的因素，这些因素有可能影响到我们发展的过程。
这些因素中的一个要追溯到5亿年之前，当时产生了两种保护后代的策略。有一类物种开始实行的是多多益善的策略，按这种策略，一次产下成千上万的卵，从而提高一些卵子存活下来繁殖成后代的可能性。另一类物种，其中包括人类，正好选择了相反的方法。它们生养的后代数量越来越少并且对单一后代的抚养也投入更多的精力。所依据的逻辑是：年幼动物受关护的时间越长，学习生存技能的时间越长，可以说，其存活下来繁殖后代的几率就越大。另一个因素被称为幼期延长，这种发展趋势是指在生物的年轻外表一直维持到成年期(即我们可以繁殖后代的年龄)及以后。因为如果我们看上去还年轻并且有可能受到外来伤害的话，就会增加我们受照顾的可能性。 专家们认为我们的发展还可能与千万年之间人类大脑容量的增长有关。由于受到女性盆骨大小的限制，我们
的进化总是允许出生后大脑持续发育的。因为大脑对人体发育起关键作用，很可能是这种适应性迫使我们的大部分成长过程推迟到我们脱离子宫之后。
人类自身的高智商以及好奇心理，以及我们能够进行抽象思维和预先安排事务的能力都对我们的迟缓发展有很大的影响。加尔文说，“人类可以从事别的物种根本干不了的事”，我们只不过需要一点时间来掌握能够保证我们生存的技能罢了。
语言就是一个好的例证。学习语言，学习语法、句法和上下文前后关系的各种细节需要花许多年时间；但是，人类天生就有掌握语言的动力。
超纲词汇
Foal n．(马、驴、骡)驹
Genetic adj．遗传的，起源的
innate adj．先天的
Mammal n．哺乳动物
Neoteny n．性早熟，幼态持续
peck vt．／vi．／n．啄食
Pelvis n．骨盆
Postnatal ]adj．出生后的
psychiatry n．精神病学
Slither vi．滑动
syntax n．句法
womb．子官；(如子宫)包含、容纳
参考答案：1．D 2．B 3．C 4．A 5．C
