阅读理解(每题3分)Ear BreakthroughNew research published

阅读理解(每题3分)

Ear Breakthrough

New research published in the journal Current Biology has added significantly to understand-ing of how the ear works,giving hope to millions of deaf and hard of hearing people.

The latest research,conducted by Dr.T. Albet,a Deafness Research UK research fel-low at the UCL Ear Institute,together with scientists at the University of Cologne,shows that fruit flies have ears which mechanically amplify sound signals in a remarkably similar way to the senso- ry（感觉的）cells found in the inner ear of vertebrates（脊椎动物）including humans. The finding means that the wealth of genetic techniques already available to study the fruit fly can now be used to target how the ear works.

Dr. Albert says.“The biophysical parallels between the ways both fruit flies and humans convert sound into nerve signals are truly amazing.We may be allowed to hope that these mecha- nistic（机械学的）similarities extend further down to the genes and molecules that bring about hearing.But even if it finally should turn out that hearing in fruit flies relies on different mole-cules than does hearing in humans,the little fruit fly can help us find answers to some key ques-tions of hearing research and -what is sometimes even more important -will surely help us ask the right questions.”

The work is welcomed by Deafness Research UK,the country’s only medical research charity for deaf people.Vivienne Michael,chief executive of Deafness Research UK.says,“This is an important advance that paves the way toward a clear understanding of the genetics of deafness.The charity will continue to support culling-edge（尖端的）research through its Fellowship programme at the UCI.Ear institute and at other top research centres in the UK to achieve our goal of secu-ring audial improvements in the prevention,diagnosis and treatment of all forms of hearing impair-ment.”

There are nine million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK and in most cases deafness results from loss of sensory cells in the inner ear known as“hair” cells.The cells can be damaged and lost through ageing,noise,genetic defects and certain drugs and,because the cells don’t re- generate,the result is progressive— and irreversible—hearing loss .Damage to these cells can al-so lead to tinnitus（耳鸣）,which affects around five million people in the UK.

A person who is hard of hearing is______.

A. not able to hear properly

B..totally deaf form birth

C..unwilling to listen to others

D..ignorant of how the ear works