Section A

1. Section A Genes and Emotions

2. Preparation Getting the Message Direction: Answer the following questions according to the text. 1. What has the increase in research on genes led to? 2. What are David Brown and George Yule? 3. In the twin study mentioned in the text, what were the results about the identical twins? 4. Why do the researchers believe there is a physical link to happiness? 5. What were the results of the research on identical twins that had been separated at birth? 6. What did the research on twins prove according to Hammer? 7. What's the view held by opponents of Hammer's theory? 8. What are the four characteristics of happy people?

3. Reading Through • Main Idea This text deals with a academic question: the relationship between genes and emotions, or, to put it in another way, the question is whether happiness is largely a biological or physical matter, or happiness comes from other things. Two different views are presented in the text.

4. gene debate biology packet geneticist respectively identical servant sketch poll extrovert row interact chemical anxiety tablet underlying outlook Prompt introvert torch settlement New Words

5. Phrases and Expressions pass down warn (sb.) against attach importance to bring on in sight

6. Detailed Study of Text A …Some scientists now believe it to be a matter of biology, though many believe the answer cannot be wrapped up in such a neat little packet. Meaning: Some scientists now believe that human happiness is a biological matter, though many believe that the answer is not that simple.

7. Geneticist John Hammer believes there are genes that make some people happier or sadder than others. Meaning: Geneticist John Hammer believes that there are genes that make some people happier while making some people sadder.

8. In the first study, David Brown and George Yule —a psychologist and a geneticist, respectively —tried to measure happiness in 1,500 sets of twins, half of which were identical. Please notice that: "identical twins (同卵双胞胎)" are twins of the same sex who look exactly like each other.

9. Upon receipt of the completed surveys, it became clear that the responses, or happiness scores, of the twins who were not identical were almost no different than the responses of unrelated pairs of people. Meaning: The results of the survey showed clearly that the twins who were not identical gave the same responses, or got the same happiness scores, as those pairs of people who were not related.

10. Hammer viewed the research on twins as strong proof that people's basic personality is a matter of biology, passed down as a row of interacting genes. Meaning: Hammer believed that the study of twins has strongly proved that people's basic personality is biological, passed down from parents to children in the form of genes that influence one another.

11. Likewise, medical researchers believe that depression and anxiety are caused by an imbalance of such chemicals, and often prescribe them in tablet form to patients who cannot produce enough. Meaning: Similarly, medical researchers believe that depression and anxiety occur because the amount of such chemicals is not balanced. So they often prescribe tablets to the patients who cannot produce enough of such chemicals.

12. On the other hand, opponents of Hammer's theory note that any number of factors may have affected the researchers' studies, and warn against attaching great importance to these results. Meaning: On the other hand, those who are against Hammer's theory point out that many factors may have affected the researcher's studies, and warn people not to attach too much importance to these results.

13. Others say that these studies provide a mere sketch of a much larger and complicated picture. Meaning: Others say that these studies only give a very simple description of a much greater and complicated situation.

14. Research that has been done in prisons, nursing homes, and other places where people are highly controlled, has all conveyed the depressing effects of a life without personal freedom. Meaning: Research that has been carried out in prisons, nursing homes, and other places where people are highly controlled, has all showed that a life without personal freedom has bad effects which make people depressed.