19．In China，as in many countries，the north-south divide runs deep．People from the north are seen as hale and hearty，while southerners are often portrayed as cunning，cultured traders．Northerners are taller than southerners．The north eats noodles，while the south eats rice-and according to new research，when it comes to personality，that difference has meant everything．
A study published Friday by a group of psychologists in the journal Science finds that China's noodle-slurping northerners are more independent，show more"analytic thought"and divorce more frequently．By contrast，the authors write，rice-eating southerners show more qualities traditionally associated with East Asian culture，including more"holistic thought"and lower divorce rates．
The reason？Cultivating rice，the authors say，is a lot harder．Picture a rice paddy，its delicate seedlings tucked in a bed of water．They require careful tending and many hours of labor-by some estimates，twice as much as wheat-as well as reliance on irrigation systems that require neighborly cooperation．As the authors write，for southerners growing rice，"strict self-reliance might have meant starvation．"
Growing wheat，by contrast，the north's staple grain，is much simpler．One Chinese farming guide from the 1600s quoted in the study advised aspiring farmers that"if one is short of labor power，it is best to grow wheat．"
To produce their findings，the authors evaluated the attitudes of 1，162Han Chinese students in Beijing and Liaoning in the north and in Fujian，Guangdong，Yunnan and Sichuan in the south．To control for other factors that distinguish the north and south-such as climate，dialect and contact with herding cultures-the authors also analyzed differences between various neighboring counties in five central provinces along China's rice-wheat border．
According to the authors，the influence of rice cultivation can help explain East Asia's"strangely persistent interdependence．"For example，they say South Korea and Japan have remained less individualistic than Western countries，even as they've grown wealthier．
The authors aren't alone in observing the influence various crops have on shaping culture．Malcolm Gladwell in his 2008book"Outliers"also drew connections between a hard-working ethic （measured by a willingness to fill out long，boring questionnaires） and a historical tradition of rice cultivation in places such as South Korea and Japan，given that the farming of such crops is arguably an equally boring chore．
| How China's North-south Divide Has Influence on （71）Shaping Personality |
（72）Difference（s）/Distinction（s）
in personality | China's northerners （73）feed （live） on noodles，and they are thought of as hale，hearty and taller with more（74）independence and"analytic thought"as well as higher divorce rates．
On the contrary，the southerners prefer eating rice and have more"holistic thought"and lower divorce rates． |
| Reasons | •Planting rice needs twice more （75）labor than planting wheat．
•Cultivating rice relies on irrigation system that requires neighbors to （76）cooperate well．
•If you are over independent，you might （77）starvein the south．
•If you are （78）lacking （weak） in labor power，it is best to grow wheat in the north． |
| The Research | •The attitudes of 1162Han Chinese students were evaluated．
•Other unrelated factors like climate，dialect and herding cultures were carefully （79）controlled．
•The result shows the influence of rice cultivation can result in more cooperation and explain East Asia's"strangely persistent interdependence"． |
Another
（80）similar（related，relevant） observation | Malcolm Gladwell also found the influence crops have on culture in his 2008book"Outliers"． |
