Question 16 is based on the passage you have just heard.

听力原文

        (16) [A new study carried out by the University of Lincoln has found a link between the personalities of cat owners and the behaviour and wellbeing of their cats.] The finding suggest that just as a parent’s personality can affect the personality of a child, the same is true for a cat and its owner. Owners defined as individuals with high levels of anxiety, fear, anger, depression, and loneliness were more likely to have cats with behavioural issues. Such cats displayed more aggressive and anxious behavioral styles as well as more stress related sickness. They were also more likely to have an ongoing medical condition and be overweight.

        The research also found that mentally well-adjusted owners had calmer, happier, and healthier cats. The researchers explained that many owners regard their pets as a family member and form close social bonds with them. (17) [The majority of owners want to provide the best care for their pets,] and it’s therefore possible that pets could be affected by the way their owners interact with and manage them. The study highlights an important relationship between our personalities and the wellbeing of our pets. (18) [Further research is needed to investigate the cause or nature of this relationship,] and to look at how owners’ personalities are directly influencing their pets behavior and wellbeing. It is possible that the wellbeing of pets is driven by the underlying nature of the owner, not simply by their conscious decisions and behaviors.

16. What do we learn from the new study by the University of Lincoln?

解析：A。录音开头说到，林肯大学的一项新研究发现，猫的行为和健康状况与主人的性格存在某种联系（a link between the personalities of cat owners and the behavior and wellbeing of their cats）。A项是对此内容的同义转述，其中personalities、behaviour和wellbeing原词复现，affect对应录音中的a link between...，故A项为正确答案。

错项排除：录音中提到父母的性格会影响孩子的性格，但这只是一个例子，用来说明猫主人和猫的关系，并不是林肯大学的研究结果，故B项错误。C项利用录音中出现的parents、cat owner和high levels of anxiety进行拼凑，故排除。录音中没有提到人们将猫当做自己的孩子，D项主观臆断，故排除。