2008年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题
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2006-2007考研阅读笔记整理
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名师指导应对考研英语阅读
TEXT ONE
If you found yourself in a cocktail bar with a Neanderthal man, what would he say? A good conversation is one of the great joys of being human, but it is not clear just how far back in the hominid lineage the ability to use language stretches. The question of when grunts and yelps turned into words and phrases is a tricky one. One way of trying to answer it is to look in the fossil record for evidence about what modern humanity's closest relatives could do.
Svante Pääbo, of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, and his colleagues have done just that. Dr Pääbo is an expert in extracting and interpreting the DNA of fossils. As he reports in the latest issue of Current Biology, he and his team have worked their magic on a gene called FOXP2 found in Neanderthal remains from northern Spain. The reason for picking this particular gene is that it is the only one known so far to have a direct connection with speech. In 1990, a family with an inherited speech disorder known as verbal dyspraxia drew the attention of genetics researchers. Those researchers identified a mutation in FOXP2 as the cause of the dyspraxia.
Since then FOXP2 has been the subject of intensive study. It has been linked to the production of birdsong and the ultrasonic musings of mice. It is a conservative type, not changing much from species to species. But it has undergone two changes since humans split from chimpanzees 6m years ago, and some researchers believe these changes played a crucial role in the development of speech and language.
If these changes are common to modern humans and Neanderthals, they must predate the separation of the line leading to Homo sapiens from the one leading to Homo neanderthalensis. Dr Pääbo's research suggests precisely that: the FOXP2 genes from modern humans and Neanderthals are essentially the same. To the extent that the gene enables language, it enables it in both species.
There has been much speculation about Neanderthals' ability to speak. They were endowed with a hyoid bone, which anchors the tongue and allows a wide variety of movements of the larynx. Neanderthal skulls also show evidence of a large hypoglossal canal. This is the route taken by the nerves that supply the tongue. As such, it is a requisite for the exquisitely complex movements of speech. Moreover, the inner-ear structure of Homo heidelbergensis, an ancestor of Neanderthals, shows that this species was highly sensitive to the frequencies of sound that are associated with speech.
That Neanderthals also shared with moderns the single known genetic component of speech is another clue that they possessed the necessary apparatus for having a good natter. But suggestive as that is, the question remains open. FOXP2 is almost certainly not “the language gene”. Without doubt, it is involved in the control and regulation of the motions of speech, but whether it plays a role in the cognitive processes that must precede talking remains unclear—jokes about engaging brain before putting mouth in gear notwithstanding. The idea that the forebears of modern humans could talk would scupper the notion that language was the force that created modern human culture—otherwise, why would they not have built civilisations? But it would make that chat with a Neanderthal much more interesting.
1. Which one of the following statements is NOT true of Neanderthal men?
[A] they are derived from a branch of early Neanderthals called Homo heidelbergensis.
[B] they are existent descendant of Homo neanderthalensis.
[C] they are Homo sapiens’s closest relatives.
[D] they are officially named Homo neanderthalensis in the academic circle.
2. Svante Pääbo and his team carried out a study on FOXP2 in order to_____
[A] trace the appearance and evolution of the speech ability.
[B] find out how far back in the hominid lineage the ability to use language stretches.
[C] find evidence proving the gene which controls the motion of speech.
[D] identify the crucial changes that had taken place on this gene and the consequent influence.
3. The gene of FOXP2 is regarded as a gene with a direct connection with speech because_____
[A] it was found in Neanderthal remains from northern Spain.
[B] it was found that sudden change of FOXP2 may lead to speech disorder.
[C] it was linked to the production of birdsong and the ultrasonic musings of mice.
[D] it does not change much from species to species.
4.The word “scupper” (Line 8, Paragraph 6) most probably means _____
[A] deny.
[B] defeat.
[C] demolish.
[D] destory.
5. From the findings of Dr Pääbo's research it may be inferred that_____
[A] FOXP2 is the gene that enables the speech ability in both humans and Neanderthals.
[B] the fork seprating the line leading to Homo sapiens from that to Homo neanderthalensis is wrong.
[C] more important genes should be identified which control speech ability and cognitive pcrocess.
[D] the establishment of human civilization as a result of language ability might be false.
篇章剖析：
这篇文章讲述科学家对于人类语言能力问题的新研究。第一段用生动的叙述来提出问题;第二段讲述了Pääbo博士报告的主要内容;第三段讲述FOXP2的一些情况;第四段讲述对穴居人说话能力的猜测;第五段讲述目前仍然存有的疑问。
词汇注释：
hominid n 原始人类 chimpanzee n. 黑猩猩
larynx n. 喉 hypoglossal adj. 舌下神经的
natter n. 闲谈 scupper v. 破坏，摧毁
难句突破：
(1) But it has undergone two changes since humans split from chimpanzees 6m years ago, and some researchers believe these changes played a crucial role in the development of speech and language.
[主体句式] But it has undergone two changes since humans split from… and some researchers believe these changes…
[结构分析] 这是一个复合句，since…引导的是时间状语从句;believe后面是濒于从句。
[句子译文] 但是自从人类于600万年前由黑猩猩分离出来后，该基因已经发生了两次变化，一些研究者认为这些转变在语音和语言的发展中发挥了重要作用。
(2)0If these changes are common to modern humans and Neanderthals, they must predate the separation of the line leading to Homo sapiens from the one leading to Homo neanderthalensis.
[主体句式] If these changes are common to …, they must predate the seperation of the line… form the one…
[结构分析] 这是一个复合句, if引导的是一个条件状语从句。
[句子译文] 如果现代人类和穴居人有共同的变化，那么他们就必须将智人人类和穴居人的分界线推前了。
题目分析：
1. Which one of the following statements is NOT true of Neanderthal men?1.关于尼安德特人，下列哪个陈述是错误的?
[A] they are derived from a branch of early Neanderthals called Homo heidelbergensis.[A] 他们源自早期名叫Homo heidelbergensis的穴居人。
[B] they are existent descendant of Homo neanderthalensis.[B] 他们是智人人类现存的后代。
[C] they are Homo sapiens’s closest relatives. [C] 他们是智人人类最近的亲属。
[D] they are officially named Homo neanderthalensis in the academic circle.[D] 他们在学术界的官方名称是穴居人。
[答案] C
[难度系数] ☆☆☆
[分析] 细节题。A选项，根据文章四第四段“the inner-ear structure of Homo heidelbergensis, an ancestor of Neanderthals”说明Homo heidelbergensis是穴居人的祖先，而该选项混淆了二者的关系，因而是不正确的。B选项，尼安德特人是一种原始人类，因此B是错误的。C选项，从文章的分析来看，尼安德特人和智人人类有许多共同点，可能是其最近的亲属。答案为C选项。D选项看似正确，具有较强的干扰性，但其实该说法没有在文章中提到。
2. Svante Pääbo and his team carried out a study on FOXP2 in order to_____2. Svante Pääbo和其团队开展了一项关于FOXP2的研究，目的是为了_____
[A] trace the appearance and evolution of the speech ability.[A]追寻语言能力的出现和发展。
[B] find out how far back in the hominid lineage the ability to use language stretches.[B]找出原始人类使用语言的能力要追溯到哪里。
[C] find evidence proving the gene which controls the motion of speech.[C]找到能证明这种基因控制着语言活动的证据。
[D] identify the crucial changes that had have taken place on this gene and the consequent influence.[D] 找出在该基因上发生的变化以及相应的影响。
[答案] A
[难度系数] ☆☆☆
[分析] 推理题。结合第一段和第二段. 首先第一段指出“The question of when grunts and yelps turned into words and phrases is a tricky one”，即为了找出什么时候咕哝声转变成了语言和短语才进行这样研究的，之后文章主要谈论的话题就是语言能力是在什么时候出现和发展出来的。因此，正确答案为A选项。
3. The gene of FOXP2 is regarded as a gene with a direct connection with speech because_____3.FOXP2基因被看作是和语言有直接联系的基因，因为_____
[A] it was found in Neanderthal remains from northern Spain.[A]在西班牙北部穴居人的遗址中发现了这种基因。
[B] it was found that sudden change of FOXP2 may lead to speech disorder.[B]人们发现FOXP2突变可能会导致语言障碍。
[C] it was linked to the production of birdsong and the ultrasonic musings of mice.[C]该基因鸟类唱歌和老鼠超声波相关。
[D] it does not change much from species to species.[D] 物种间该基因的变化不大。
[答案] B
[难度系数] ☆☆☆
[分析] 推理题。根据第二段“In 1990, a family with an inherited speech disorder known as verbal dyspraxia drew the attention of genetics researchers. Those researchers identified a mutation in FOXP2 as the cause of the dyspraxia”，有着遗传性语言障碍——语言运动障碍的一个家庭引起了基因研究者的注意，而研究者认为FOXP2突变是这种语言障碍的原因，因此被紧密联系了起来。答案为B选项。
4.The word “scupper” (Line 58 Paragraph 6) most probably means _____4. “scupper”(第六段第八行) 最有可能的意思是_____
[A] deny.[A] 否定。
[B] defeat.[B] 打败。
[C] demolish.[C] 摧毁。
[D] destory.[D] 毁坏。
[答案]A
[难度系数] ☆
[分析] 猜词题。根据上下文，现代人类的祖先可以说话会推翻语言是现代人类文化创造的力量这样的论点，选项中A最为符合这个意思。
5. From the findings of Dr Pääbo's research it can be inferred that_____5.从Pääbo博士研究的发现可以推导出_____
[A] FOXP2 is the gene that enables the speech ability in both humans and Neanderthals.[A] FOXP2就是使人类和穴居人拥有语言能力的基因。
[B] the fork seprating the line leading to Homo sapiens from that to Homo neanderthalensis is wrong.[B]分割智人人类和穴居人的分叉点是错误的。
[C] More important genes should be identified which control speech ability and cognitive process.[C] 应该找出那些控制语言和认知过程的更加重要的基因。
[D] the establishment of human civilization as a result of language ability might be false.[D]语言创造现代人类的文明这一论点是错误的。
[答案] B
[难度系数] ☆☆☆☆
[分析] 细节题。根据第四段，如果现代人类和穴居人有共同的变化，那么他们就必须将智人人类和穴居人的分界线推前了。Pääbo博士的研究表明了这一点：现代人类和穴居人类的FOXP2基因基本相同。可以得出分割智人人类和穴居人的分叉点是错误的。因此答案为B选项。其余的基点并不是Pääbo博士研究可以推导出的。A选项错误的原因在于文章最后一段明确提出“FOXP2几乎肯定不是‘语言基因’”。C选项在文中没有相应的内容。而D选项也是错误的，因为根据最后一段“The idea that the forebears of modern humans could talk would scupper the notion that language was the force that created modern human culture—otherwise, why would they not have built civilisations”，可见这种说法不是研究的结论，而只是一个猜测而已。
参考译文：
如果有一天你在鸡尾酒吧发现旁边是一个尼安德特人，他会说些什么呢?比较好的话题就是作为人类是多么快乐的一件事啊，但是这种原始人类使用语言的能力要追溯到哪里就不清楚了。什么时候咕哝声转变成了语言和短语，这个问题很难回答。现在就有人试图从化石记录中找出证据，看看现代人类最近的祖先做了什么。
莱比锡Max Planck进化人类学研究院的Svante Pääbo及其同事就进行了这种尝试。Pääbo博士是提取并解读化石中DNA的专家，在最新一期的《当今生物学》中，他报告了自己带领的小组在从西班牙北部穴居人遗址中发现的一种叫FOXP2的基因，并对此进行了研究。选择这种基因是因为这是到目前唯一能确定与语言有直接关系的基因。1990年，一个有着遗传性语言障碍——语言运动障碍的家庭引起了基因研究者的注意。这些研究者认为FOXP2突变是这种语言障碍的成因。
自那之后，FOXP2成为许多研究的对象，甚至还有人将它与鸟类唱歌和老鼠超声波联系了起来。这种基因是守恒类型，物种之间的变化不大。但是自从人类于600万年前由黑猩猩分离出来后，该基因已经发生了两次变化，一些研究者认为这些转变在语音和语言的发展中发挥了重要作用。
如果现代人类和穴居人有共同的变化，那么他们就必须将智人人类和穴居人的分界线推前了。Pääbo博士的研究也表明了这一点：现代人类和穴居人类的FOXP2基因基本相同。如果该基因赋予了人类语言能力，那么这两个物种应该都有这种能力。
关于穴居人的说话能力有许多猜测。他们用舌骨来支撑舌头，允许喉部有许多不同的运动。穴居人头骨也有大的舌下神经通道，这是提供给舌头神经经过的路线。同样，这也是实现说话这个复杂活动的一个必备条件。而且，穴居人祖先Homo heidelbergensis,的耳内构造表明该物种对与发音相关的声音频率有非常高的敏感性。
穴居人和现代人还拥有到目前为止已知的共同发音基因，这是能够证明他们有聊天所必要器官的另外一个线索。但是虽然情况可能如此，这还是个开放的问题。FOXP2几乎肯定不是“语言基因”。毫无疑问，该基因与控制、调节语音活动有关，但它是否在语言发生之前的认知过程中发挥了作用还是个未解之谜，尽管我们有这样的笑话，即说动嘴前要先动脑。如果现代人类的祖先能够说话，这将推翻诸如语言是创造现代人类文化的力量这样的论点，否则，祖先们怎么没有建立起文明来呢?但如果人类的祖先可以说话，那么和穴居人聊天就变得有意思多了。
 
2006-2007考研阅读笔记整理
名师指导应对考研英语阅读
TEXT ONE
If you found yourself in a cocktail bar with a Neanderthal man, what would he say? A good conversation is one of the great joys of being human, but it is not clear just how far back in the hominid lineage the ability to use language stretches. The question of when grunts and yelps turned into words and phrases is a tricky one. One way of trying to answer it is to look in the fossil record for evidence about what modern humanity's closest relatives could do.
Svante Pääbo, of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, and his colleagues have done just that. Dr Pääbo is an expert in extracting and interpreting the DNA of fossils. As he reports in the latest issue of Current Biology, he and his team have worked their magic on a gene called FOXP2 found in Neanderthal remains from northern Spain. The reason for picking this particular gene is that it is the only one known so far to have a direct connection with speech. In 1990, a family with an inherited speech disorder known as verbal dyspraxia drew the attention of genetics researchers. Those researchers identified a mutation in FOXP2 as the cause of the dyspraxia.
Since then FOXP2 has been the subject of intensive study. It has been linked to the production of birdsong and the ultrasonic musings of mice. It is a conservative type, not changing much from species to species. But it has undergone two changes since humans split from chimpanzees 6m years ago, and some researchers believe these changes played a crucial role in the development of speech and language.
If these changes are common to modern humans and Neanderthals, they must predate the separation of the line leading to Homo sapiens from the one leading to Homo neanderthalensis. Dr Pääbo's research suggests precisely that: the FOXP2 genes from modern humans and Neanderthals are essentially the same. To the extent that the gene enables language, it enables it in both species.
There has been much speculation about Neanderthals' ability to speak. They were endowed with a hyoid bone, which anchors the tongue and allows a wide variety of movements of the larynx. Neanderthal skulls also show evidence of a large hypoglossal canal. This is the route taken by the nerves that supply the tongue. As such, it is a requisite for the exquisitely complex movements of speech. Moreover, the inner-ear structure of Homo heidelbergensis, an ancestor of Neanderthals, shows that this species was highly sensitive to the frequencies of sound that are associated with speech.
That Neanderthals also shared with moderns the single known genetic component of speech is another clue that they possessed the necessary apparatus for having a good natter. But suggestive as that is, the question remains open. FOXP2 is almost certainly not “the language gene”. Without doubt, it is involved in the control and regulation of the motions of speech, but whether it plays a role in the cognitive processes that must precede talking remains unclear—jokes about engaging brain before putting mouth in gear notwithstanding. The idea that the forebears of modern humans could talk would scupper the notion that language was the force that created modern human culture—otherwise, why would they not have built civilisations? But it would make that chat with a Neanderthal much more interesting.
1. Which one of the following statements is NOT true of Neanderthal men?
[A] they are derived from a branch of early Neanderthals called Homo heidelbergensis.
[B] they are existent descendant of Homo neanderthalensis.
[C] they are Homo sapiens’s closest relatives.
[D] they are officially named Homo neanderthalensis in the academic circle.
2. Svante Pääbo and his team carried out a study on FOXP2 in order to_____
[A] trace the appearance and evolution of the speech ability.
[B] find out how far back in the hominid lineage the ability to use language stretches.
[C] find evidence proving the gene which controls the motion of speech.
[D] identify the crucial changes that had taken place on this gene and the consequent influence.
3. The gene of FOXP2 is regarded as a gene with a direct connection with speech because_____
[A] it was found in Neanderthal remains from northern Spain.
[B] it was found that sudden change of FOXP2 may lead to speech disorder.
[C] it was linked to the production of birdsong and the ultrasonic musings of mice.
[D] it does not change much from species to species.
4.The word “scupper” (Line 8, Paragraph 6) most probably means _____
[A] deny.
[B] defeat.
[C] demolish.
[D] destory.
5. From the findings of Dr Pääbo's research it may be inferred that_____
[A] FOXP2 is the gene that enables the speech ability in both humans and Neanderthals.
[B] the fork seprating the line leading to Homo sapiens from that to Homo neanderthalensis is wrong.
[C] more important genes should be identified which control speech ability and cognitive pcrocess.
[D] the establishment of human civilization as a result of language ability might be false.
篇章剖析：
这篇文章讲述科学家对于人类语言能力问题的新研究。第一段用生动的叙述来提出问题;第二段讲述了Pääbo博士报告的主要内容;第三段讲述FOXP2的一些情况;第四段讲述对穴居人说话能力的猜测;第五段讲述目前仍然存有的疑问。
词汇注释：
hominid n 原始人类 chimpanzee n. 黑猩猩
larynx n. 喉 hypoglossal adj. 舌下神经的
natter n. 闲谈 scupper v. 破坏，摧毁
难句突破：
(1) But it has undergone two changes since humans split from chimpanzees 6m years ago, and some researchers believe these changes played a crucial role in the development of speech and language.
[主体句式] But it has undergone two changes since humans split from… and some researchers believe these changes…
[结构分析] 这是一个复合句，since…引导的是时间状语从句;believe后面是濒于从句。
[句子译文] 但是自从人类于600万年前由黑猩猩分离出来后，该基因已经发生了两次变化，一些研究者认为这些转变在语音和语言的发展中发挥了重要作用。
(2)0If these changes are common to modern humans and Neanderthals, they must predate the separation of the line leading to Homo sapiens from the one leading to Homo neanderthalensis.
[主体句式] If these changes are common to …, they must predate the seperation of the line… form the one…
[结构分析] 这是一个复合句, if引导的是一个条件状语从句。
[句子译文] 如果现代人类和穴居人有共同的变化，那么他们就必须将智人人类和穴居人的分界线推前了。
题目分析：
1. Which one of the following statements is NOT true of Neanderthal men?1.关于尼安德特人，下列哪个陈述是错误的?
[A] they are derived from a branch of early Neanderthals called Homo heidelbergensis.[A] 他们源自早期名叫Homo heidelbergensis的穴居人。
[B] they are existent descendant of Homo neanderthalensis.[B] 他们是智人人类现存的后代。
[C] they are Homo sapiens’s closest relatives. [C] 他们是智人人类最近的亲属。
[D] they are officially named Homo neanderthalensis in the academic circle.[D] 他们在学术界的官方名称是穴居人。
[答案] C
[难度系数] ☆☆☆
[分析] 细节题。A选项，根据文章四第四段“the inner-ear structure of Homo heidelbergensis, an ancestor of Neanderthals”说明Homo heidelbergensis是穴居人的祖先，而该选项混淆了二者的关系，因而是不正确的。B选项，尼安德特人是一种原始人类，因此B是错误的。C选项，从文章的分析来看，尼安德特人和智人人类有许多共同点，可能是其最近的亲属。答案为C选项。D选项看似正确，具有较强的干扰性，但其实该说法没有在文章中提到。
2. Svante Pääbo and his team carried out a study on FOXP2 in order to_____2. Svante Pääbo和其团队开展了一项关于FOXP2的研究，目的是为了_____
[A] trace the appearance and evolution of the speech ability.[A]追寻语言能力的出现和发展。
[B] find out how far back in the hominid lineage the ability to use language stretches.[B]找出原始人类使用语言的能力要追溯到哪里。
[C] find evidence proving the gene which controls the motion of speech.[C]找到能证明这种基因控制着语言活动的证据。
[D] identify the crucial changes that had have taken place on this gene and the consequent influence.[D] 找出在该基因上发生的变化以及相应的影响。
[答案] A
[难度系数] ☆☆☆
[分析] 推理题。结合第一段和第二段. 首先第一段指出“The question of when grunts and yelps turned into words and phrases is a tricky one”，即为了找出什么时候咕哝声转变成了语言和短语才进行这样研究的，之后文章主要谈论的话题就是语言能力是在什么时候出现和发展出来的。因此，正确答案为A选项。
3. The gene of FOXP2 is regarded as a gene with a direct connection with speech because_____3.FOXP2基因被看作是和语言有直接联系的基因，因为_____
[A] it was found in Neanderthal remains from northern Spain.[A]在西班牙北部穴居人的遗址中发现了这种基因。
[B] it was found that sudden change of FOXP2 may lead to speech disorder.[B]人们发现FOXP2突变可能会导致语言障碍。
[C] it was linked to the production of birdsong and the ultrasonic musings of mice.[C]该基因鸟类唱歌和老鼠超声波相关。
[D] it does not change much from species to species.[D] 物种间该基因的变化不大。
[答案] B
[难度系数] ☆☆☆
[分析] 推理题。根据第二段“In 1990, a family with an inherited speech disorder known as verbal dyspraxia drew the attention of genetics researchers. Those researchers identified a mutation in FOXP2 as the cause of the dyspraxia”，有着遗传性语言障碍——语言运动障碍的一个家庭引起了基因研究者的注意，而研究者认为FOXP2突变是这种语言障碍的原因，因此被紧密联系了起来。答案为B选项。
4.The word “scupper” (Line 58 Paragraph 6) most probably means _____4. “scupper”(第六段第八行) 最有可能的意思是_____
[A] deny.[A] 否定。
[B] defeat.[B] 打败。
[C] demolish.[C] 摧毁。
[D] destory.[D] 毁坏。
[答案]A
[难度系数] ☆
[分析] 猜词题。根据上下文，现代人类的祖先可以说话会推翻语言是现代人类文化创造的力量这样的论点，选项中A最为符合这个意思。
5. From the findings of Dr Pääbo's research it can be inferred that_____5.从Pääbo博士研究的发现可以推导出_____
[A] FOXP2 is the gene that enables the speech ability in both humans and Neanderthals.[A] FOXP2就是使人类和穴居人拥有语言能力的基因。
[B] the fork seprating the line leading to Homo sapiens from that to Homo neanderthalensis is wrong.[B]分割智人人类和穴居人的分叉点是错误的。
[C] More important genes should be identified which control speech ability and cognitive process.[C] 应该找出那些控制语言和认知过程的更加重要的基因。
[D] the establishment of human civilization as a result of language ability might be false.[D]语言创造现代人类的文明这一论点是错误的。
[答案] B
[难度系数] ☆☆☆☆
[分析] 细节题。根据第四段，如果现代人类和穴居人有共同的变化，那么他们就必须将智人人类和穴居人的分界线推前了。Pääbo博士的研究表明了这一点：现代人类和穴居人类的FOXP2基因基本相同。可以得出分割智人人类和穴居人的分叉点是错误的。因此答案为B选项。其余的基点并不是Pääbo博士研究可以推导出的。A选项错误的原因在于文章最后一段明确提出“FOXP2几乎肯定不是‘语言基因’”。C选项在文中没有相应的内容。而D选项也是错误的，因为根据最后一段“The idea that the forebears of modern humans could talk would scupper the notion that language was the force that created modern human culture—otherwise, why would they not have built civilisations”，可见这种说法不是研究的结论，而只是一个猜测而已。
参考译文：
如果有一天你在鸡尾酒吧发现旁边是一个尼安德特人，他会说些什么呢?比较好的话题就是作为人类是多么快乐的一件事啊，但是这种原始人类使用语言的能力要追溯到哪里就不清楚了。什么时候咕哝声转变成了语言和短语，这个问题很难回答。现在就有人试图从化石记录中找出证据，看看现代人类最近的祖先做了什么。
莱比锡Max Planck进化人类学研究院的Svante Pääbo及其同事就进行了这种尝试。Pääbo博士是提取并解读化石中DNA的专家，在最新一期的《当今生物学》中，他报告了自己带领的小组在从西班牙北部穴居人遗址中发现的一种叫FOXP2的基因，并对此进行了研究。选择这种基因是因为这是到目前唯一能确定与语言有直接关系的基因。1990年，一个有着遗传性语言障碍——语言运动障碍的家庭引起了基因研究者的注意。这些研究者认为FOXP2突变是这种语言障碍的成因。
自那之后，FOXP2成为许多研究的对象，甚至还有人将它与鸟类唱歌和老鼠超声波联系了起来。这种基因是守恒类型，物种之间的变化不大。但是自从人类于600万年前由黑猩猩分离出来后，该基因已经发生了两次变化，一些研究者认为这些转变在语音和语言的发展中发挥了重要作用。
如果现代人类和穴居人有共同的变化，那么他们就必须将智人人类和穴居人的分界线推前了。Pääbo博士的研究也表明了这一点：现代人类和穴居人类的FOXP2基因基本相同。如果该基因赋予了人类语言能力，那么这两个物种应该都有这种能力。
关于穴居人的说话能力有许多猜测。他们用舌骨来支撑舌头，允许喉部有许多不同的运动。穴居人头骨也有大的舌下神经通道，这是提供给舌头神经经过的路线。同样，这也是实现说话这个复杂活动的一个必备条件。而且，穴居人祖先Homo heidelbergensis,的耳内构造表明该物种对与发音相关的声音频率有非常高的敏感性。
穴居人和现代人还拥有到目前为止已知的共同发音基因，这是能够证明他们有聊天所必要器官的另外一个线索。但是虽然情况可能如此，这还是个开放的问题。FOXP2几乎肯定不是“语言基因”。毫无疑问，该基因与控制、调节语音活动有关，但它是否在语言发生之前的认知过程中发挥了作用还是个未解之谜，尽管我们有这样的笑话，即说动嘴前要先动脑。如果现代人类的祖先能够说话，这将推翻诸如语言是创造现代人类文化的力量这样的论点，否则，祖先们怎么没有建立起文明来呢?但如果人类的祖先可以说话，那么和穴居人聊天就变得有意思多了。