Question

For many men, the idea that they have a better sense of direction than women has been improved by a scientific study.

Researchers from Norway scanned on the brains of volunteers as they completed navigation (導航) tasks to discover men are more skillful at finding their way because they use a separate part of their brain. According to lead researcher Dr. Cal Pintzka from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), men and women have different navigational strategies.

Med use basic directions—the use of north, south, east and west—during navigation to a greater degree. Men’s sense of direction was more effective. They quite simply got to their destination faster. “If they’re going to the Students Society building in Trodheim, for example, men usually go into the general direction where it is located.” Dr. Pintzka explained.

Women usually orient (標定方向) themselves along a route to get there, for example, go past the hairdresser and then up the street and turn right after the shore.

The study shows that using the basic directions is more efficient because it is a more flexible strategy. The destination can be reached faster because the strategy depends less on where you start.

Meanwhile, the study also shows both men and women use large areas of the brain when they navigate, but some areas were different. The man used the hippocampus (海馬體) more, whereas women use their frontal areas to a greater extent. That degrees with the fact that the hippocampus is necessary to make use of basic directions. Losing one’s sense of direction is one of the first symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease.

Understanding how men and women use different brain areas and strategies to navigate, researchers will be able to enhance the understand of the disease’s development, and develop coping strategies for those already affected.

1. How are men different from women in navigation?

A. They use a separate part of their brain.

B. They deal with navigation in complex ways.

C. They make different actions to the road signs.

D. They form different images of road conditions.

2. What strategy do men usually take to find a place?

A. Finding out all possible routes.

B. Remembering all the landmarks.

C. Making out the general direction.

D. Drawing a general map of the place.

3.Why is men’s strategy more efficient?

A. Because it is much easier to be carried out.

B. Because it is more helpful to identify roads.

C. Because it is simpler for telling directions.

D. Because it is less limited by the starting place.

4.What does the passage mainly tell us?

A. Getting to the destination is no more a difficult thing.

B. Men have a better sense of direction than women.

C. Alzheimer’s disease can be prevented effectively.

D. Hippocampus is playing a key role in navigation.

Answer 1