Have you ever said to a friend “That rose’s smell is really sweet!”, only to find that your friend can’t smell anything at all?
According to a study published in the journal PNAS in May, people have different abilities to recognize certain odors (气味) — and it’s linked to different genes.
For the study, 300 people were placed among 150 jars with different odors. At a given time, they had to smell an odor and then rate the intensity (强度) and pleasantness of the odor on a scale from 1 (extremely weak/unpleasant) to 7 (extremely strong/pleasant). Before they left, the participants needed to leave a blood sample.
After comparing genes of the participants, researchers found all had different smelling abilities and that the differences between these abilities could be traced to certain genes.
According to The New York Times, human beings have nearly 400 genes that directly control receptors (器官) and influence the way these receptors become active.
“Odors ... turn on specific receptors, which then tells us if we’re smelling a flower, how strong we find it, and whether we like it,” said Casey Trimmer, a geneticist and the lead author of the study. “One small change in the gene for the receptor can change its shape and how well the odor fits, thereby changing the awareness of the odor.”
Though genes play a decisive role in our ability to smell, other factors, including attention, past associations and expectations, are important as well. For example, if we love the smell of roses, we are drawn to their smell and pay special attention to it.
But what does our different abilities to sense odors mean?
“Smelling is the most important sense for the rest of the animal kingdom,” said Trimmer. Although, unlike other animals, humans aren’t any longer dependent on their sense of smell to find food or detect danger, smell is still a significant sense. There is also evidence that a reduced sense of smell is an early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease.
1. What did the study find about smelling?| A．Men and women have different smelling abilities. |
| B．Differences between smelling abilities lie in genes. |
| C．People’s abilities to smell change over time. |
| D．Human beings can tell 150 odors apart. |
| A．Our receptors won’t work when we smell an unpleasant smell. |
| B．People’s preferences for smells can affect their health. |
| C．Small changes in genes for smelling make a difference. |
| D．The sense of smell is the most important human sense. |
| A．Past experiences. | B．The environment. |
| C．Other senses. | D．The cultural belief. |
| A．Man has a better sense of smell than animals. |
| B．Man can use their sense of smell to detect danger. |
| C．The loss of smelling causes many health problems. |
| D．Poor smelling ability may be a signal of early disease. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Crossing your legs is an extremely common habit; most people don’t even notice that they’re doing it when they sit down. While you may find it comfortable to sit with one knee crossed over the other, it might be causing health problems that you are not aware of.
A study published in Blood Pressure Monitoring stated that sitting with your legs crossed can increase your blood pressure. Actually, the blood in your legs has to work against gravity to be pumped back to your heart. Crossing one leg over the other increases resistance, making it even harder for the blood to circulate. This causes your body to increase your blood pressure to push the blood back to the heart.
Crossing your legs can also lead to neck and back pain. When you sit with your legs crossed your hips are in a twisted position, which can cause one of your pelvic bones to turn a bit. Since your pelvic bone supports your neck and spine, this can cause pressure on your lower and middle back and neck.
You also might notice that when you sit with your legs crossed for long periods of time your feet and legs have the feeling of being asleep. This is because when one leg sits on top of the other the veins and nerves in them are pressed, thus bringing about temporary paralysis in the legs, ankles, or feet. While the feeling of discomfort may only last a minute or two, repeatedly crossing your legs until they feel numb can cause permanent nerve damage.
So next time you sit down, try to get yourself in the habit of sitting with both of your feet planted flat, hip width apart, on the floor. Not only will it help your posture and stability, but it will also save your health in the long run.
1. Crossing your legs when you sit can lead to _________________.| A．permanent paralysis | B．high blood pressure |
| C．leg numbness | D．bone damage |
| A．A scientific journal. | B．A healthcare guidebook. |
| C．A medical brochure. | D．A medical textbook. |
| A．analyze the effect of crossing legs | B．emphasize the importance of a good habit |
| C．explain the function of our body | D．alert readers to the harms of crossing legs |
【推荐2】Eyesight plays an important part in our daily life. Every waking moment, the eyes are working to see the world around us. Over forty percent of Americans worry about losing eyesight, but it’s easy to include steps into our daily life to ensure healthy eyes. Here are some suggestions for a lifetime of healthy eyesight:
I. Schedule yearly exams.
II. Protect against UV rays(紫外线).
Long-term stay in the sun creates risk to your eyes. No matter what the season is, it’s extremely important to wear sunglasses.
III. Give your eyes a break.
Two-thirds of Americans spend up to seven hours a day using computers or other digital products.
IV. Eat your green.
As part of a healthy diet, eat more fruits and vegetables each day. Vitamins C and E help protect eyesight and promote eye health.
V. Practice safe wear and care of contact lenses (隐形眼镜).
Many Americans use contact lenses to improve their eyesight. While some follow the medical guidance for wearing lenses, many are breaking the rules and putting their eyesight at risk.
| A．Eye care should begin early in life |
| B．They can properly protect your eyes |
| C．Stay in good shape by taking more vitamins |
| D．Parents usually don’t care about their own eyesight |
| E．Always follow the doctor’s advice for appropriate wear |
| F．This frequent eye activity increases the risk for eye tiredness |
Think of the body like a school. At the top of the school is the headmaster, known as the brain. This is the organ that controls the rest of the organs, just like the headmaster controls the school. After this comes the heart. It is like a teacher. This organ pumps the blood around the body so it can run well.
| A．They are like the cleaners, repairmen and security guards who look after our school. |
| B．This is similar to the learning process. |
| C．This is what we learn at school. |
| D．This is similar to the knowledge a teacher gives to students. |
【推荐1】Life beneath the sea surface can be lovely and lively. But many organisms there produce poisonous chemicals to hunters. Divers are now collecting such poisons as drugs for human medicine.
Sharks aren't the scariest things in the ocean for scientists who dive to work. Powerful currents, creating where the ocean floor drops away, can be just as deadly. But the scientists who work underwater are trained to deal with these dangers. The rewards of research and underwater adventures are greater than the risks.
The sea may seem like a strange place to look for new drugs. But organisms in the ocean have had to adapt to a tough environment. The chemicals they make for survival might help people, too. More than 50 years ago, scientists discovered a new anticancer drug in a sea sponge. Since then, researchers have been hunting for more of such useful natural products in the seas.
With the help of underwater robots and small submarines, scientists are searching the seas—from shallow reefs to the ocean's great depths.
Bacteria living in the Arctic's cold waters break down their food using more different ways than organisms on land do. This process of turning food into energy for growth, activities and reproduction is called metabolism (新陈代谢). These pathways also produce chemicals called “secondary metabolites”. One day they also might help people.
During a fouryear project called PharmaSeas, scientists made thousands of extracts from those seafloor samples. In about a dozen of them, researchers found mixtures that can kill bacteria that some of today's antibiotics (抗生素) cannot kill. Three other newfound chemicals reduce epileptic seizures (癫痫病发作) in mice. Yet another compound may reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
1. Why do sea organisms produce chemicals?| A．To warn themselves in the sea. | B．To benefit other creatures. |
| C．To change their environment. | D．To struggle for survival. |
| A．Medicinal value. | B．The way of hunting. |
| C．The way of breaking down food. | D．Importance to humans. |
| A．They have the same effects as today's medicine. |
| B．They have unique functions. |
| C．They can treat most diseases. |
| D．They can kill all bacteria. |
| A．Diving for New Medicines | B．Threats from the Ocean |
| C．Future Sources of Bacteria | D．Danger of Diving in the Sea |
【推荐2】Investing In the Graphite (化石墨) Revolution
December 21st, 2014
Graphene (石墨烯) is the future. Plain and simple.
Its 200 times stronger than steel, thinner than a sheet of paper, and more conductive than copper.
And that’s not all…
Researchers all over the world are using it for critical advances in a variety of industries. Graphene makes:
·Solar cells — 50x～100x more efficient
·Semiconductors — 50x～100x faster
·Aircraft — 70% lighter
We’re talking about batteries that charge 10x faster and store 10x more power…
Phones and computer displays that bend and fold…
It’s so vital to our future that it’s been named a “supply critical mineral” and a “strategic mineral” by the United States, Japan and the European Union.
Yet only a few companies around the world have access to mineral resource that is required to make graphene. And 70% of supply is controlled by China.
So the setup is perfect for any non-Chinese supply to become an extremely profitable investment, just like rare earths a few years ago.
A new report from the Outsider Club fully outlines the situation:
·What grapheme is used for…
·And why now is the perfect time to invest in this world changing discovery.
To get this new report, simply drop your name in the box below. And in a few moments, you’ll be fully informed on the ins and outs of grapheme. All I ask in return is for you to sign up to receive our financial and economic news elater, Outsider Club.
In each issue, well bring you the financial news from the “Outsiders” perspective. It will show you how to plan your own finances, and manage your own investments. Become a reader of Outsider Club today.
So what are you waiting for?
1. What do you know about graphene?| A．It can conduct electricity very well. | B．It is much stronger than paper. |
| C．It is much heavier than steel. | D．It is very easy to obtain now. |
| A．move much faster | B．work more efficiently | C．save more energy | D．weighs much less |
| A．Cheap | B．common | C．profitable | D．worthless |
【推荐3】Rollerblading is an excellent sport that just about anyone can enjoy. After you have mastered the basics of rollerblading, you can begin to master the sport. There are a variety of different methods and styles that you can try.
Some types of rollerblading, including free skating and aggressive skating, have a heavy emphasis on tricks. Free skating is a type of rollerblading that is primarily about getting from start to finish as fast as possible.
Some inline skaters prefer to go the way of inline speed skating.
Each of these sports requires different skills and is comprised of a different group of people.
| A．Inline speed skating is all about racing |
| B．Many people enjoy rollerblading just for the simple pleasure of exercise |
| C．In addition to emphasizing speed, free skating often includes different tricks |
| D．Free skating is set in an urban setting and participants must travel through streets |
| E．Roller hockey is of course another, yet completely different form of rollerblading |
| F．Those inline skaters can also try sports like inline figure skating and speed skating |
| G．Each sport requires skill, and experience, as well as having different equipment requirements |
【推荐1】Best Summer Jobs for High School Students
Working during the summer when school is out of session is a great opportunity for teenagers to make money and gain valuable workplace experience.
Restaurant Server
Food and drink service jobs are plentiful. Although average base pay is poor, workers who carts tips can do well for themselves. And some national chains have the resources to pay more Starbucks employees can earn about $12 per how on average, and may qualify for a benefits package that includes health insurance.
Grocery Store Worker
Grocery store jobs are also relatively plentiful. Although most grocery employees don’t earn tips, base pay is generally above the federal minimum wage—about $12 per hour. Jobs that require workers to operate heavy machinery are inaccessible to workers under age 18. Grocery store employees typically work in shifts, with part-timers polling four to eight hours at a stretch. Peak shopping hours tend to fall on weekends and early evenings.
Tutor
If you’ve already taken and done well on standardized tests like the SAT or ACT, you can help these students and earn decent pay as a tutor. Tutor pay varies by specialty, experience, and educational attainment. Tutors who themselves are high school students or recent graduates aren’t likely to earn much more than the national average rate of S18 per hour.
Career-Track Intern(实习)
Even if you haven’t yet decided what you want your “rear” career to be, high school summers offer the perfect opportunity to test a job you think you’ll like. Summer internships are often unpaid, forcing students to consider whether the opportunity is worth the cost. That’s likely to come down to the value of the experience and the connections that could land you a higher-paying, career-track job down the road.
1. What is the feature of grocery store jobs?| A．No employees get tips. |
| B．They are tough to obtain. |
| C．They are for people aged |
| D．The employees do shift work. |
| A．It’s often done without payment. |
| B．It is worth the big expense. |
| C．It guarantees you a good career. |
| D．It provides you with experience. |
| A．Restaurant Server. | B．Grocery Store Worker. |
| C．Career-Track Intern. | D．Tutor. |
【推荐2】By now, most people know they should be eating more vegetables. But are there ways to get more from the vegetables you already eat? A research shows that when it comes to vegetables, it’s not only how much we eat, but also how we prepare them, that decides the vitamins and other nutrients that enter our body.
Many studies show that people who eat lots of vegetables have less heart disease, and eye problems and even cancer. But raw vegetables are not always best. The researchers found that 198 Germans who eat raw food were short of lycopene, the matter found in tomatoes and other red vegetables. “There is an idea that raw foods are always going to be better,” says Steven K. Clinton, a professor at Ohi o State University. “For fruits and vegetables, sometimes a little bit of cooking can be helpful.”
A number of factors decide how the vegetables do good to people’s health before they reach the table, including where and how they were grown and stored before being bought. No single cooking way is best. Some nutrients are easily lost in cooking if they are cooked in different ways.
Vitamins C and B are often lost. In January, another report said that boiling was better for carrots than frying or serving them raw. Frying was the worst way to cook.
What cooked with the vegetables can also be important? When the vegetables were cooked with fat, the diners can get more nutrients. Fat can also make the taste of vegetables better, meaning that people will eat more of them. Putting on some other things that make it taste better—a little salt—can make the food taste better.
1. The writer mainly wants to tell us that ________.| A．people should eat more vegetables |
| B．the way people eat vegetables is important |
| C．eating vegetables is good for us |
| D．how much vegetables one should eat |
| A．have the eyes problems | B．have heart disease |
| C．be in need of lycopene | D．hate eating tomatoes |
| A．the place where the vegetables are grown |
| B．the way how the vegetables are stored |
| C．the way how the vegetables are prepared |
| D．the price at which the vegetable are sold |
| A．It’s better to cook vegetables with fat |
| B．the more fat in the cooking, the fewer vegetables people will eat |
| C．It’s better to cook the vegetables without salt |
| D．the fat will increase the nutrition of the vegetables |
They found that when people listened to their favorite music, their blood vessels (血管) dilated in much the same way as when they are laughing, or taking blood medications.
"We have a pretty impressive effect," said Dr Michael Miller, director of preventive cardiology (心脏病学) at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.
"Blood vessel diameter improved," he said. "The vessel opened up pretty significantly. You can see the vessels opening up with other activities such as exercise." A similar effect is seen with drugs such as statins.
When blood vessels open up more, blood flows more smoothly and is less likely to form the clots (凝块) that cause heart attacks and strokes. "We are not saying to stop your statins or not to exercise but rather to add this to an overall program of heart health," said Miller, who presented his findings to a meeting of the American Heart Association in New Orleans.
Miller's team tested 10 healthy, non-smoking men and women, who were told to bring their favorite music. They spent half an hour listening to the recordings and half an hour listening to music they said made them feel anxious while the researchers did ultrasound tests designed to show blood vessel function.
Compared to their normal baseline measurements, blood vessel diameter increased 26 percent on average when the volunteers heard their joyful music. Listening to music they disliked — in most cases in this group heavy metal — blood vessels narrowed by six percent, Miller said.
Miller said he came up with the idea after discovering that laughter caused blood to literally flow more smoothly. "I asked myself what other things make us feel really good, besides calories from dark chocolate of course. Music came to mind. ... It makes me feel really good," he said.
Most of the volunteers chose country music but Miller said the style is not so important rather than what pleases each individual.
1. The underlined word dilate (in paragraph 2) is closest in meaning to “_____”.
| A．widen | B．move | C．change | D．increase |
| A．Taking exercise. | B．Listening to unpleasant music. |
| C．Bursting into laughter. | D．Taking drugs like statins. |
| A．blood clots are caused by heart attacks and strokes |
| B．music is better than chocolate for your health |
| C．the style of music has different effects on different people |
| D．a person’s overall health is more influenced by how much exercise he gets |
| A．A scientific journal. | B．A school textbook. |
| C．A medical brochure. | D．A local newspaper. |
| A．Pleasant Music Cures | B．Research into Blood Vessel |
| C．Music and Heart Attack | D．Music and Happiness |
【推荐1】The USA's Best Drive-in Movie Theatres
Gather your friends, pile into the car, and enjoy an evening of America at these classic theatres.
Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop-Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop holds the title for the world's largest drive-in theatre. The drive-in theatre opened on 22 November 1963 with one screen. Now, the theatre has 13 new screens and nearly 12 million people visit it annually. The original screen is still up in running, although it's now called screen nine. Thanks to Florida's amazing weather, the theatre is open 365 days a year.
Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In-Gibson City, Illinois
Built in 1954, this two-screen drive-in is making a name for itself thanks to a decision to switch to wind power. The owners at Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In started using wind power as a way of keeping the costs of running the theatre down. By doing so, the drive-in is able to keep their prices consistent and if you want to catch a film at this green theatre, it's open from March until October.
Coyote Drive-In-Fort Worth, Texas
Opened in 2013, Coyote Drive-In was built with the goal of bringing back the drive-in magic to the community (社区）. One ticket will give you access to nightly double features-two movies back to back- available on four different screens. A unique feature of the theatre is that pets of all shapes and sizes are welcome, including horses.
Field of Dreams-Liberty Center, Ohio
Paying honour to the film Field of Dreams, Rod and Donna Saunders built the Field of Dreams drive-in theatre on their farmland in Liberty Center, Ohio in 1989. The Saunders' project provides cost-effective family entertainment for the locals of their countryside community.
1. What is special about Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In?| A．It has the most screens. | B．Its ticket price is steady. |
| C．It has a quiet environment. | D．It has newly imported equipment. |
| A．A wonderful film of the same name. | B．Their famous farmland in the countryside. |
| C．The locals'demands for entertainment. | D．The cultural promotion of their community. |
| A．Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop. | B．Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In. |
| C．Coyote Drive-In. | D．Field of Dreams. |
【推荐2】The UK is filled with unbelievable palaces and historic castles. Now you can take 360 degree virtual (虚拟的)tours of the attractions by just clicking(点击)your mouse at home.
Buckingham Palace
The Queen's palace offers 360 degree virtual tours of rooms including the Throne Room, Grand Staircase and the White Drawing Room. There are clickable “information points" which when clicked can explain the history of the rooms. CLICK HERE
Palace of Holyrood House
The Queen's official palace in Edinburgh is packed with history. The palace is usually open year round to the public, but for those who can't visit for whatever reasons, you can take virtual tours of some of the amazing rooms including the Morning Drawing Room and Royal Dining Room. CLICK HERE
Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace offers 360 degree virtual tours of some of its beautiful state rooms from the grand Drawing Rooms and Saloons to the Great Hall. You can choose to listen to the audio (声首) guide which not only gives you a quick look inside, but offers lots of exciting details. CLICK HERE
Edinburgh Castle
Here is a great visual trip to Edinburgh Castle. You can visit the historic ruins and have some wonderful views of Edinburgh itself. You can also zoom in (拉近)or out to get an idea of the museums and interesting places to explore, as well as 3D models of the castle. CLICK HERE
1. What do the four places have in common?| A．They are the Queen's palaces. |
| B．They provide online virtual tours. |
| C．They are open to the public all year round. |
| D．They have clickable "information points”. |
| A．It has become ruins. | B．It offers audio guides. |
| C．3D models of it are provided. | D．History of the castle is unknown. |
| A．A website. | B．A travel guidebook. |
| C．A newspaper. | D．A medical magazine. |
【推荐3】We have written this to give you an idea of what will happen on your first day in high school. We also have a New Student Handbook that will answer many of the questions that you might have.
If you come on a school bus, you will arrive at school at 7：30 am, and if you are coming by car, you should be here at the same time. Registration starts at 7 ：45 am. When you arrive, you will wait in our reception ( 接待) area for a few minutes. You will be met by our Admissions Officer ( 招生负责人). You will be introduced to your buddy—a student in the same class as you who will be looking after you for the first few days.
You will be taken to your form room（年级办公室）by your buddy, and be introduced to your teacher who will give you your timetable and planner. When form time finishes, your buddy will take you to your first class. You will have some tests to do so that we can place you in the right group.
For the first couple of days, you will mainly go to lessons with your buddy as we think this helps you to settle in. After that, you will be placed in your appropriate ( 合 适 的 ) group for Maths, Science and English which are taken by all students.
At lunchtime, your buddy will show you around the school, show you how to get lunch, and make sure you are spending time with friends and are included in social activities.
At the end of the day, your buddy will show how to get your bus or where to wait for your car. We hope you have a really good day, and we look forward to having you here.
1. What will happen on your first day in high school?| A．You will take some tests. | B．You will receive a big welcome. |
| C．You will be guided by a teacher. | D．You will be asked to join an interest group. |
| A．Making plans for you. | B．Making friends with you. |
| C．Helping you get used to the school. | D．Inviting you to visit his or her group. |
| A．Live at school. | B．Take the school bus. |
| C．Bring their own lunch. | D．Learn Maths, Science and English. |
| A．High school teachers. | B．High school newcomers. | C．Visitors to the high school. | D．Parents of high school students. |
