【推荐2】People have been wondering why elephants do not develop cancer even though they have lifespans(寿命)that are similar to humans, living for around 50 to 70 years.

Now scientists believe they know why. A team at the University of Chicago, US has found that elephants carry a large number of genes that stop tumors(肿瘤)developing. To be precise, they found 20 copies of an anti-tumor gene called TP53 in elephants. Most other species, including humans, only carry one copy.

According to the research, the extra copies of the gene improved the animal’s sensitivity to DNA damage, which lets the cells quickly kill themselves when damaged before they can go on to form deadly tumors.

“An increased risk of developing cancer has stood in the way of the evolution of large body sizes in many animals,” the study author Dr Vincent Lynch told The Guardian. If every living cell has the same chance of becoming cancerous(癌变的),large creatures with a long lifespan like whales and elephants should have a greater risk of developing cancer than humans and mice. But across species, the risk of cancer does not show a connection with body mass.

This phenomenon was found by Oxford University scientist Richard Peto in the 1970s and later named “Peto’s paradox(悖论)”. Biologists believe it results from larger animals using protection that many smaller animals do not. In the elephant’s case, the making of TP53 is nature’s way of keeping this species alive.

The study also found that when the same genes were brought to life in mice, they had the same cancer resistance as elephants. This means researchers could use the discovery to develop new treatments that can help stop cancers spreading or even developing in the first place.

“Nature has already figured out how to prevent cancer,” said Joshua Schiffman, a biologist at the School of Medicine, University of Utah, US. “It’s up to us to learn how different animals deal with the problem so that we can use those strategies to prevent cancer in people.”

1. Why are elephants unlikely to develop cancer?

A．Certain genes in their body kill existing tumors.

B．They have a rather large body size.

C．They carry many genes to prevent tumors developing.

D．Their genes suffer no DNA damage.

2. According to the passage, what has been a risk in the evolution of large animals?

A．The huge body mass.

B．Deadly tumors.

C．Cells killing themselves.

D．Sensitivity to DNA damage.

3. What does the underlined part “This phenomenon” in Paragraph 5 probably refer to?

A．The risk of cancer is not related to body size.

B．Larger animals have protection from TP53.

C．Larger animals suffer the same risk of cancer as smaller ones.

D．The larger animals are, the bigger risk of cancer they will have.

4. What can be concluded from the passage?

A．Depending on nature is surely enough to fight against cancer.

B．The TP53 genes have proved useful in stopping cancer in people.

C．The extra copies of elephants’ genes are used to cure cancer patients.

D．Humans are expected to prevent cancer with the making of TP53.

【推荐3】The fear of the novel corona virus has turned into discrimination against certain groups of people, including people from Wuhan, Chinese people or Asians in general. However, the outbreak of the disease can’t be an excuse to isolate these groups. What we should do is get rid of discrimination and show sympathy instead.

Since the outbreak of novel corona virus pneumonia (NCP), many people have been living in fear. This is normal, as the disease is infectious and dangerous. However, some people turn pale at the mention of “people from Wuhan or Hubei province”, the center of the outbreak.

Ding Baixing, a doctor at Huashan Hospital in Shanghai, has seen this himself. He treated a suspected patient surnamed Chen who traveled from Wuhan to Shanghai. Chen appeared desperate and avoided other patients, as he worried that they would be afraid of him.

Chen is not alone. Chen Xue, an editor working in Beijing, went to Chongli in Hebei for a ski trip on Jan 23. Though her temperature was fine and she hasn’t been to her hometown – Hubei province – since October last year, the hotel she was in told her that it wouldn’t receive Hubei guests from the next day.

However, the real enemy is the virus – not the patients or people from Wuhan or Hubei province. Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shared this idea in a speech at the Chinese New Year dinner. “Even though the virus started in Wuhan, it doesn’t respect nationality or race. It does not check your passport before it goes into your body. Anybody can be infected,” he said.

It is not the patients’ fault that they have been infected. There is no reason to blame them. If patients didn’t go to the hospital for fear of discrimination, the virus could spread to more people. “Protecting them is just as important as protecting ourselves,” Ding said.

At the CCTV Spring Festival Gala (春节联欢晚会), six hosts read a poem to inspire people across the country. It called for greater respect for medical workers, as well as called on everyone to work together to fight the virus. One of the lines – “we isolate the virus, but we don’t isolate love” – has been widely posted online.

“This is the time for facts, not fear. This is the time for science, not rumors.This is the time for solidarity, not stigma.”

– Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization

1. Why do some people treat those from Wuhan or Hubei province unfairly?

A．Because those people look dangerous.

B．Because they want to live a normal life.

C．Because those people carry the virus.

D．Because they are afraid of getting infected.

2. Chen Xue was told to _____.

A．get treatment in a hospital

B．avoid meeting other patients

C．check her temperature three times while skiing

D．check out of the hotel she was in the next day

3. Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is telling us that _____.

A．we shouldn’t be afraid of NCP

B．it isn’t safe to stay in other countries

C．the real enemy is the virus

D．the virus has affected many people

4. What is the purpose of the story?

A．To call on people to stop discrimination.

B．To show how people’s lives are affected by NCP.

C．To encourage suspected patients to go to hospitals.

D．To find out who to blame for the NCP outbreak.

【推荐2】Basketball is a great sport that is not only fun, but also brings children many benefits in different ways.     1    .

Playing basketball has physical benefits. Children are full of energy—they need to move, jump and run constantly. Basketball will allow them to control that energy in a positive way. It’s a full-body sport.     2     Since it’s a fast and dynamic sport, children need to follow the game and the continuous movement of the ball. The ball moves quickly from one side of the court to the other and the kids move at the same pace which helps improve both resistance and speed.

Playing basketball has cognitive (认知的) benefits. Children who practice playing basketball develop skills that help them fight against opponents and move around the court. This sport helps them increase their ability to concentrate.     3     Children will learn to assess surrounding situations and problems that may arise, and then find the best and fastest solution. The fast pace of the game encourages quick decision-making and stimulates their concrete and abstract thinking.

    4     Since it’s a team sport, basketball promotes sociability, coexistence and respect among peers. It’s ideal for shy children because they will have to learn to interact with other players. This is important both to get better at the sport and to have more fun. They will also learn important values like cooperation, teamwork and competitiveness.

    5     In fact, there are many other benefits. The most important thing is that it’s a very fast and fun sport. This tends to make the vast majority of children enjoy it.

A．Playing basketball just has entertaining benefits.

B．Playing basketball has social and emotional advantages.

C．These are not all of the advantages of playing basketball.

D．This means that it strengthens muscles in their whole body.

E．It also makes them more aware of the environment around them.

F．This sport promotes healthy development in children for a number of reasons.

G．However, there are some disadvantages when children keep running on the court.

【推荐1】In the live-streaming channel of Yang Weiyun, no singing or dancing is performed nor are products sold. Yang teaches pinyin, reading and writing, something that has been most familiar to her for the past 50 years. The difference is that her students are mostly adults.

The 73-year-old, an experienced and respected educator, had taught Chinese in an elementary school for 50 years. In retirement, Yang also wanted to do something meaningful. The rise of short video platforms gave her the idea of continuing her education attempt through live-streaming online. The retiree opened her live-streaming account in May 2021 and offered free pinyin courses designed for kindergarten pupils about to attend primary schools. However, she gradually learned among her viewers there are a lot of adults who cannot read.

Yang said she found many illiterate adults develop a sense of lack of confidence. They are afraid to go to new places, worried that they couldn’t teach their children or read their boss’s instructions. “Many illiterate adults didn’t have the chance to go to school when they were young. They are the ones in urgent need of becoming literate. I wanted to give them a new starting point,” Yang said.

To better meet their needs, Yang added targeted content. Considering the schedule of most adult students, she even held two sessions everyday starting at 8:30 am and 8:30 pm. Yang’s live-streaming channel offers an easy and private way for those who want to overcome adult illiteracy. Now she has nearly 300,000 followers on the short video platform Douyin.

Yang said students learning through her live-streaming channel each have their own demands. So she always prepares her classes carefully after concluding a live-streaming session. She has tried her best to figure out what ways the students can learn and remember better, and her biggest wish now is to see these students graduate from her classes.

1. What’s Yang’s original purpose when she attempted teaching online?

A．To help illiterate adults to read.	B．To spread Chinese character culture.
C．To teach kids before primary school.	D．To sell products in her channel.

2. What can be inferred about Yang’s main audience?

A．They have a hard time getting along with their boss.

B．They hope to improve their lives through such courses.

C．They are confident though they not well-educated.

D．They have little access to learning sources online.

3. Why did Yang’s live-streaming class become a hit among adults?

A．Her classes are carefully adapted to the needs.

B．Her videos are easy and long enough to learn.

C．She is an experienced and respectable teacher.

D．Her sessions respect the audience’s privacy.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A．It’s never too late to learn

B．Illiterate adults need help in education

C．A retired teacher helps illiterate adults online

D．A video platform offers new ways of education

【推荐2】“Father, do you see Mother in your dreams?” the young girl asks. “You know sometimes I do.”
“Mother comes to see me a lot, you know. We sit and talk.” The father smiles. “How is your homework coming along?”
“Why do I have to study so hard?”
“It is what your mother would have wanted!”
She regrets speaking her mind. “I’m sorry, Father, I shouldn’t have said that.” She looks up and sees his eyes well up with tears.
“It’s okay, love,” he gets up and pours himself a drink. “I’ll just sit outside for a while. You finish up your work, okay?”
“I’m sorry, Father; Mother did love you very much. She told me all the time.”
“Homework, first, eh? Then we can chat about your mother.”
He heads off outside and sits in his usual chair, looking around the courtyard. The whole area relaxes the mind and somehow soothes the soul.
“All finished, Father. May I get a drink and sit with you? I have some questions.”
She comes with two drinks one for him and one for herself. He looks surprised. She never really liked him having a drink. Although he had cut back a lot from before he brought her here, it still seemed strange.
“Mother told me all about you. That is before she passed away. We would laugh together at your love stories.”
He listens without uttering a single sound.
“Why didn’t you come and take her away with you? She really wanted that. Did you know that?”
Her father looks at his daughter lovingly. “Circumstances were difficult back then. It was just the way things were. When it came time to…” He sighs. “To visit her it was too late.”
The girl smiles. “I hope I will have the same kind of love you and mother had.”
“Without all the heartache,” her father adds.
“She always knew you loved her. She told me every day,” the child mentions cheerfully. “I saw her crying sometimes when she read your letters.”
“Did she make you promise to look after me?” She inquires.
“She asked me to take care of you.”
“You promised her, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I did.”
“It is nice out here, isn't it? Mother would have been very happy here.”
She talks with some authority. Her father remains silent. A smile comes to his weary brow. He nods his head.
“Mother wanted me to give you something. I think now the time is right.” She runs to her room. Upon returning she hands her father a book. “It’s mother’s diary! She wanted me to give it to you.”
He takes the book and holds it in his trembling hands, “Thank you.”
“Mother said you would understand things better.”
“Wise woman, your mother.”
He places the book on the table as he gets up. The girl gets up and wraps herself around her father.
“I love you.” she looks up at his face.
He picks her up and hugs her. “I love you, too.” His voice trembles.
“It’s okay, Father. We have each other now and mother is in both of us.”
He kisses her head.
“Time you went to bed,” her father softly says.
He puts her down and she scampers off to get washed and ready for bed.
Clearing up everything he checks on his daughter. She is in bed waiting for her good night kiss. He tucks her in and bids her goodnight.
Just as he is to leave she tells him. “Mother told me she adopted me when I was a baby.”
He stands at her bedroom door. Words fail him. Yes, he knew she was adopted.
“I am really lucky for being loved by my parents, even if I am not really theirs.”
“___________________?” he tells her.
She giggles, “Goodnight, Father. I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
His face lights up as he wipes his dampened eyes.
The door closes and the child falls asleep dreaming of her mother.
Sitting outside he picks up the diary and opens it and reads the first line: “I love you, my dearest, if only things could have been different…”
1. Why isn’t the mother with her family?

A．She has already died.	B．She is ill in hospital.
C．The couple is divorced.	D．She lives in another city.

2. What can we know about the couple’s relationship?

A．They understood each other very well.

B．They quarreled a lot and are separated.

C．They used to have misunderstandings.

D．They were quite sure of each other’s love.

3. What can we learn from the story?

A．The girl was adopted because the couple couldn’t give birth.

B．Father looks after the girl just because the girl is alone.

C．The girl feels unfortunate that she was adopted.

D．Father was not very close to the girl before she moved in with him.

4. Why didn’t father bring mother home when she was ill?

A．Because he was too busy with his work

B．Because he didn’t know he was wanted

C．Because he was too poor to afford the medical fees

D．Because he didn’t know she was in hospital

5. What does the sentence “You trying to bring on the water works?” mean?

A．You want another cup of water?

B．Are you kidding me?

C．Are you trying to make me cry?

D．Are you thinking about the water factory?

6. Which word best describes father’s feeling at the end of the story?

A．Regretful	B．Satisfied
C．Confused	D．Doubtful

【推荐3】There have been many great violinists but none could hold a candle to Kuznetsov, a miraculous young Russian. On his emergence while still in his teens, his playing was filled with timeless wisdom beyond his years; he now holds the stage with immense authority. So it comes no surprise that he is about to add a new string to his bow. When he performs with the English Chamber Orchestra, it will be as both soloist(独奏者) and conductor. “It’s something I’ve often thought about,” he says.

Other musicians who have traded the bow or piano for the baton(指挥棒) have failed; the transition is not easy, of which he is aware. “The most crucial thing is the human chemistry between conductor and players. You must avoid at all costs being an outsider, as though saying to the orchestra,‘You make your music while I imagine mine. ’”

He is quite relaxed about not yet having his own hand-language---every conductor is different. Kuznetsov believes the connection between notes is not just physical, but also spiritual. Spiritually is, for Kuznetsov, the conductor’s key characteristic. “And it should ideally be expressed through beauty of movement,” he says. Some conductors throw themselves about, others hardly move a muscle. Where will Kuznetsov fit on that scale? “We must wait and see,” he says.

Kuznetsov himself moved straight as an arrow toward his goal. His father was an oboist(双簧管演奏者) and his mother conducted a choir, but at the age of four, young Leonid settled on the violin. “The violin is located at the front of the orchestra. It seemed very desirable to sit there and show off.” He gave his first concert at the age of five. “When I went on stage, I bowed so deeply and so long that the audience laughed---but I knew that this was what great artists always did. I felt it was an honour for the audience to listen to me.” His programme that day included Paganini variations, “which were very easy for me”.

What is his view now of the recordings he made at that age? “I didn’t have the technique I have now but across the years the intuition has not changed. I still feel every time I go on stage as though I’m newborn.”

Kuznetsov cautiously paces his own development. He didn’t give his first performance of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto until he felt ready for it, and he’ll let Bach’s works stay in his mind for some years.

One of Kuznetsov’s admirers wonders whether he is in danger of not hanging onto “the fearlessness of youth”. On the evidence of Kuznetsov’s bravely assured new interpretation of the Brahms Concerto, which he plays on a new CD release, I’d say that his fearlessness is in no danger yet.

1. Kuznetsov thinks ________ is most important in conducting.

A．the players’ recognition of the conductor

B．the understanding between the conductor and the orchestra

C．whether the conductor has cooperated with the players before

D．the conductor’s and the orchestra’s knowledge of the composition

2. What can be learned about Kuznetsov from the passage?

A．He isn’t as enthusiastic as before about the violin.

B．He was confident while giving his first concert.

C．He didn’t start to play the violin until five.

D．He plans to give Bach’s works a try first.

3. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．It’s easy for piano or violin players to become conductors.

B．Violin players are usually those who like to show off in an orchestra.

C．The writer thinks highly of Kuznetsov’s performance as a conductor.

D．Kuznetsov hasn’t decided which conductor’s hand-language to follow.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．A violinist’s understanding of music.

B．Kuznetsov’s efforts that have led to his success.

C．A violinist’s new attempts in his musical ambitions.

D．Kuznetsov’s insight into how techniques matter in performance.

【推荐1】A Four-Year-Old Boy Convinced Father Is a Fool After 45th Hide-and-Seek Victory

GLENDALE, PENNSYLVANIA-Expressing embarrassment and disappointment over being the son of such a loser, local four-year-old Connor Heyward was convinced that his father, Craig Heyward, was a fool after losing 45 games of hide-and-seek. “God, this is bad. I’ve hidden behind that bush a dozen times, and he still can’t find me, “ said Connor, admitting that after finding his father crouched behind a chair half his size, he had started to worry he might grow up to be a “ complete idiot” just like his dad. “At first, I thought I might be really good at this game, but after succeeding in hiding underneath a clothes basket with visible holes, I realized the kind of game was not his cake. It’d be one thing if he were only bad at seeking, but so far, his best hiding spot was behind the back door. Who hides behind a door? There’s no strategy to it whatsoever. “

Reality of Fatherhood Never Truly Dawned on Man Until He Held Newborn Son’s Hospital Bill

MISSOULA, MONTANA-Describing how he suddenly found himself overwhelmed by a flood of intense emotions, local man Mike Bentzen told reporters the reality of fatherhood didn’t truly set in for him until the moment he held his newborn son’s hospital bill. “Wow, this is going to totally change my life,” said Bentzen as tears welled up in his eyes. “Some friends tell me about their experience, but you can’t understand what it feels like until you’re looking down at it in your own hands.” Bentzen reportedly started weeping softly as he sat down with his son’s hospital bill in his lap and began imagining how he would deal with this for the next 18 years.

1. Which of the following best describes Craig Heyward as a father?

A．Foolish.

B．Childish.

C．Loving.

D．Embarrassed.

2. What made Mike Bentzen truly come to know the reality of fatherhood?

A．His plan for the future.	B．His friends’ experience.
C．His overwhelming emotions.	D．His newborn son’s hospital bill.

3. Where is this text most likely from?

A．A joke collection.	B．A loca A Four-Year-Old Boy Convinced l newspaper.
C．A speech selection.	D．A child-breeding guidebook.

4. What another story can be added to the text?

A．What to Read While Social Distancing

B．This Is What Your Dog’s Behaviors Really Mean

C．Police Chief Vows to Take Concrete Steps to Reduce Violence

D．Children’s Fondest Memories Times When Dad Trying to Make Up for Things

【推荐2】If you were to see the Great Banyan Tree in the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden from a distance, you could be forgiven for mistaking it for a forest. Covering more than 14,493 square meters, the tree is the widest in the world. It is so large that it covers more ground than the average Wal-Mart.

No one is quite sure exactly how old the Great Banyan Tree is due to the lack of official records, but experts guess that the tree is at least 250 years old. The earliest references to the tree have been found in travel writing dating from the 19th century. Over the years, the tree has gone through a lot. Not only has it survived two major disasters in 1864 and 1867, but its main trunk also caught a deadly disease. And because of the disease, the main trunk of the tree needed to be removed in 1925.

Despite going through such a major surgery, the Great Banyan Tree proved resilient (能复原的).This is because of thousands of aerial roots (气生根) that grow from the tree's branches and go into the ground. And that is what gives the impression of a full forest rather than a single tree.

Taking care of this large tree is so difficult that it takes a 13-member team. Not only do they make sure the tree stays healthy, but they also “train” the roots to grow correctly.

In Indian culture, banyan trees are among the most venerated. It is considered to be a sacred tree in various religions. For example, in Hinduism, it symbolizes longevity and represents the great God, Brahma. In Buddhism, banyan trees are also significant because it is believed that Buddha sat beneath one for 7 days.

Want to see the Great Banyan Tree for yourself? The botanical garden is easily accessible by car or bus from the Kolkata city center. As well as the Great Banyan Tree, you can also see a wide variety of plants from all around the world, making it an amazing journey.

1. According to the article, the Great Banyan Tree___________.

A．is the tallest tree in the world	B．is the widest tree in the world
C．is the strangest tree in the world	D．has the most branches in the world

2. What can we learn from Paragraph 2?

A．The tree is exactly 250 years old.

B．The tree has survived many disasters.

C．The government has detailed records of the tree.

D．The tree was planted in another place in the 1920s.

3. Which of the following best explains “venerated” in Paragraph 5?

A．respected.

B．recorded.

C．reminded.

D．relieved.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．India's Great Banyan Tree.	B．Places you can visit in India.
C．A botanic garden in India.	D．The protection of the Great Banyan Tree.

【推荐3】What is language for? Some people seem to think it's for practicing grammar rules and earning lists of words—the longer the list, the better. That's wrong．Language is for the exchange（交流）of ideas and information．It's meaningless knowing all about a language if you can't use it freely. Many students I have met know hundreds of grammar rules, but they can't speak correctly or fluently（流利地）．They are afraid of making mistakes．One shouldn't be afraid of making mistakes when speaking a foreign language. Native speakers make mistakes and break rules, too．Bernard saw once wrote, "Foreigners often speak English too correctly．"But the mistakes that native speakers make are different from those that Chinese students make. They're English mistakes in the English language．And if enough native speakers break a rule, it is no longer a rule. What used to be wrong becomes right．People not only make history, they make language．But a people can only make its own language．It can't make another people's language. So Chinese students of English should pay attention to grammar, but they shouldn't overdo（做过头）it. They should put communication first.

1. Language is used to ________.

A．express oneself	B．practise grammar rules
C．talk with foreigners only	D．learn lists of words

2. Generally, when an American or an Englishman speaks English, he ________.

A．never makes mistakes	B．often makes mistakes
C．can't avoid making mistakes	D．always makes mistakes

3. "Foreigners often speak English too correctly．"This sentence means that ________.

A．foreigners speak correct English

B．foreigners speak incorrect English

C．foreigners speak English according to the grammar rules

D．foreigners never make mistakes when they speak English

4. When we speak a foreign language, we should ________.

A．speak in Chinese way

B．speak by the rules

C．speak to native speakers

D．not be afraid of making mistakes