People think of cats as cute. But research published in a psychology journal calls them neurotic （神经质的）unstable. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and the Bronx Zoo in New York compared the personalities of domestic house cats with those of four different types of wildcats.
To better understand their personalities, the researchers rated a number of animals’ behaviors on what psychologists call the Big Five human personality traits（特征）. Domestic house cats have similar personality structures to African lions. "It’s what cats do pretty much on a daily basis, things like being anxious, being timid, being excitable, being aggressive toward humans, being aggressive toward each other,” said Max Wachtel, a Denver psychologist who didn't participate in the study. “All of those are characteristics you see in those cute little house cats, and you also see them in lions.”
If you ever thought your cat was anxious, insecure, tense, suspicious or aggressive toward you, you aren't making it up, he said. If they were bigger, they probably would consider killing you.
But the news isn’t all bad: Just like lions, house cats are also playful, excitable and impulsively funny. They just aren't very predictable. One moment cats will be enjoying belly scratches, and the next they will be biting you to make you stop.
“It is good to understand the personality characteristics of our pets,” Wachtel said. "Different cats have different personalities, but as a species, there are a lot of commonalities.”
The researchers also studied personality traits of Scottish wildcats and some other animals. "Across the five species we assessed, personality structure was strikingly similar and also seemed to be related to other studies’ findings, such as in tigers,” the researchers wrote in their study in the November 2014 issue of the Journal of Comparative Psychology. But house cats were most like lions, potentially because they live in semi-social surroundings and lions are the most social of cats.
“They’re cute and furry, but we need to remember when we have cats as pets, we are inviting little predators into our house,” Wachtel said, “Cats can be fantastic, sweet companions ---until they turn on you.”
61. Cats can be described as_________.
A. funny and safe B. playful and stable
C. fantastic and devoted D. neurotic and unpredictable
62. How did the researchers conduct the research?
A. By making comparisons. B. By analyzing cause and effect
C. By giving examples. D. By providing explanations.
63. Which of the following “turn on”s shares the same meaning as the underlined phrase?
A. The book really turned me on to science.
B. Upon entering the room, he turned on the light
C. The hungry suddenly turned on each other for food.
D. The trial turned on the medical evidence presented by the defense.
64. Which of the following can be used as a suitable title?
A. Cats are best pets. B. Domestic cats and wildcats.
C. Your cat may want to kill you. D. Different cats, different personalities.
DACC
To better understand their personalities, the researchers rated a number of animals’ behaviors on what psychologists call the Big Five human personality traits（特征）. Domestic house cats have similar personality structures to African lions. "It’s what cats do pretty much on a daily basis, things like being anxious, being timid, being excitable, being aggressive toward humans, being aggressive toward each other,” said Max Wachtel, a Denver psychologist who didn't participate in the study. “All of those are characteristics you see in those cute little house cats, and you also see them in lions.”
If you ever thought your cat was anxious, insecure, tense, suspicious or aggressive toward you, you aren't making it up, he said. If they were bigger, they probably would consider killing you.
But the news isn’t all bad: Just like lions, house cats are also playful, excitable and impulsively funny. They just aren't very predictable. One moment cats will be enjoying belly scratches, and the next they will be biting you to make you stop.
“It is good to understand the personality characteristics of our pets,” Wachtel said. "Different cats have different personalities, but as a species, there are a lot of commonalities.”
The researchers also studied personality traits of Scottish wildcats and some other animals. "Across the five species we assessed, personality structure was strikingly similar and also seemed to be related to other studies’ findings, such as in tigers,” the researchers wrote in their study in the November 2014 issue of the Journal of Comparative Psychology. But house cats were most like lions, potentially because they live in semi-social surroundings and lions are the most social of cats.
“They’re cute and furry, but we need to remember when we have cats as pets, we are inviting little predators into our house,” Wachtel said, “Cats can be fantastic, sweet companions ---until they turn on you.”
61. Cats can be described as_________.
A. funny and safe B. playful and stable
C. fantastic and devoted D. neurotic and unpredictable
62. How did the researchers conduct the research?
A. By making comparisons. B. By analyzing cause and effect
C. By giving examples. D. By providing explanations.
63. Which of the following “turn on”s shares the same meaning as the underlined phrase?
A. The book really turned me on to science.
B. Upon entering the room, he turned on the light
C. The hungry suddenly turned on each other for food.
D. The trial turned on the medical evidence presented by the defense.
64. Which of the following can be used as a suitable title?
A. Cats are best pets. B. Domestic cats and wildcats.
C. Your cat may want to kill you. D. Different cats, different personalities.
DACC
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