【推荐1】Weighing a dinosaur is no easy task. These extinct creatures were massive, and for the most part, all that remains are their bones, as their organs and skin have long since disappeared. However, new research has found more than one way to measure the mass of these creatures.

In a paper published recently in Biological Reviews, scientists evaluated the two existing ways that calculate how much a Tyrannosaurus rex (翻王龙) might have weighed. Led by Nicolas Campione from the University of New England, they examined an extensive database of dinosaur body mass estimates from as far back as 1905, with weight estimates for an individual ranging from 3 tons to 18 tons.

In an essay published by The Conversation, Campione explains that for years, scientists followed two rival (对立的) approaches for calculating a dinosaur’s weight. These methods were long thought to be at odds with each other, but Campione’s team found that both techniques are actually quite accurate.

Using limb circumference (肢体周长) to work out an animal’s mass is already widely used across a variety of modern land animals. The same method can be applied to dinosaurs. Researchers essentially measure the bones in living animals, such as the femur (股骨) in an elephant’s leg, and compare that figure to a dinosaur’s femur.

The second method involves calculating the volume of 3D reconstructions of dinosaurs, which serve as approximations (近似值) of what the creature would have looked like when it was still alive. Occasionally, these methods have come to very different conclusions.

David Evans, a researcher at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, says it’s important to use both methods because dinosaurs, like humans, did not come in one neat package. “There will always be uncertainty around our understanding of long-extinct animals, and their weight is always going to be a source of it,” he says in a statement. “Our new study suggests we are getting better at weighing dinosaurs, and it’s paving the way for more realistic dinosaur body-mass estimation in the future.”

1. Why is it difficult to weigh dinosaurs?

A．Almost all they left are their bones.	B．They have long disappeared.
C．There is no more than one way to find their bones.	D．Their organs and skin are too light.

2. Which idea may Campione agree with?

A．Measuring a living animal is not challenging.

B．Either existing technique is quite precise to weigh a dinosaur.

C．There is only one way to calculate a dinosaur’s weight.

D．Existing ways to weigh a dinosaur are at odds with each other.

3. How can one accurately measure the dinosaurs according to David Evans?

A．By measuring limb circumference.

B．By combining different methods together.

C．By working out 3D reconstructions of dinosaurs.

D．By comparing the figure of a living animal to a dinosaur femur.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．How to Weigh a Dinosaur Properly

B．The Way to Distinguish the Types of Dinosaurs

C．What Equipment to Be Used in Estimating a Dinosaur

D．The Method of Getting Accurate Data About Dinosaurs

【推荐2】One night, as I was driving down the road, I found something was sitting in the middle of the road. A few seconds later, I realized I was looking at a large turtle (海龟). Afraid of it being crashed by cars, so I pulled over, ran across the road and dragged the turtle to safety. But I’d made one big mistake.

I had heard that the best way to pick up a turtle without hurting it was picking it by the tail in order not to get bitten. So I’d made that big mistake. While the turtle turned out OK generally, I was determined to figure out how to move a turtle properly. I needed to find someone who dealt with turtles. I found the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre. I talked to Dr. Sue, its Executive and Medical Director.

Dr. Sue told me that the organization dealt with a number of aspects of turtle conservation, including rescue, settlement, birth programs, research, and education. Sue explained that southern Ontario is home to a vast majority of turtles in Canada, but is also one of the vastest road networks of the country.

“Ninety percent of injured turtles brought in are caused by cars. These turtles spend a lot of time on land. And they do travel many kilometers on land for a variety of reasons, to find a nesting spot, or to hang out for the summer or winter. Turtles know where they want to go. So, just keep them going in the direction they want to go and you may have saved a turtle’s life,” Dr. Sue said.

Once an injured turtle arrives at the center, there are medical facilities (设备) ready to go, including an X-ray machine. That’s when the team gets to work with healing injuries, and help their patient.

1. Why did the author stop the car?

A．To help the turtle.	B．To see the thing clearly.
C．To prevent a car accident.	D．To find something good.

2. What happened to the turtle?

A．It got hurt by people before.	B．It was injured a little bit.
C．It was run over by a car.	D．It lost its direction.

3. What did Dr. Sue suggest at last?

A．Leaving the turtles alone.

B．Making Ontario home to turtles.

C．Changing the road conditions.

D．Helping turtles find nesting spots.

4. What does the underlined word “patient” refer to in the last paragraph?

A．The director.	B．The driver.
C．The author.	D．The turtle.

【推荐1】Air pollution may be causing baldness, scientists have shown for the first time. A new study found that fine particulate matter emitted by cars would damage the skin that holds hair follicles (毛囊) in place. A series of laboratory tests on human cells showed that levels of the crucial proteins needed for hair to grow and be retained decreased when they were exposed to pollution particles. While there is a growing body of evidence showing how these tiny particles can damage internal health, including by entering the bloodstream through the lungs, this is the first to demonstrate such a risk to the surface of the body.

The study was conducted by exposing cells from the human follicle dermal papilla cells(HFDPCs), to various concentrations of PM10-like dust and diesel particles (柴油颗粒). After 24 hours the researchers performed a process, known as western blotting, to detect the levels of specific proteins in the cells.

The results showed that the presence of PM10 and diesel particles decreased levels of B-catenin, the protein responsible for hair growth. The study also revealed that the levels of three other proteins — cyclin D1, cyclin E and CDK2, which are responsible for hair growth and hair retention, were decreased by PM10-like dust and diesel particles in a “dose-dependent” manner.

Dr Hyuk Chul Kwon, who led the study at the Future Science Research Centre, said, “While the link between air pollution and serious diseases such as cancer and lung diseases is well established, there is little-to-no research on the effect of particulate matter exposure on the human skin and hair in particular. Our research explains the mode of action of air pollutants on HFDPCs, showing how the most common air pollutants lead to hair loss.”

Sources of PM include the burning of fossil fuels — petrol and diesel, as well as other solid fuels,and other industrial activities such as building, mining and the manufacturing of building materials like bricks.

“While it is difficult to escape from the surrounding pollution, limiting the time for walking in busy streets, especially during rush hour, should help reduce exposure,” said Dr Kwon. “If you are exercising outdoors, try to do so in areas that are less polluted and do not spend too much time waiting at traffic hot spots such as traffic lights.”

1. What did the new study find?

A．Air pollution can do great harm to our lungs.

B．The color of our skin can be influenced by air pollution.

C．Serious air pollution can probably prevent hair from growing.

D．Air pollution can affect hair growth by entering the bloodstream.

2. What is western blotting used to do?

A．To discover the protein helpful for hair growth.

B．To show the protein contents in the cells.

C．To compare different proteins in the cells.

D．To analyze the composition of hair cells.

3. What can we learn from Dr Hyuk Chul Kwon’s words?

A．His new research is superior to previous research.

B．The research he conducted is really of great importance.

C．The results of his new research need to be further improved.

D．A link between air pollution and diseases needs to be established.

4. What does Dr Kwon advise us to do?

A．To do as much exercise as possible.

B．To take action to reduce air pollution.

C．To avoid being exposed to air pollution.

D．To take public transport to avoid traffic jams.

【推荐2】A woman held her phone tightly to her heart the way a churchgoer might hold a Bible. She was anxious to take a picture of an impressive bunch of flowers that sat not so far away, but first she had to get through a crowd of others pushing their way to do the same. The cause of this was Bouquets to Art, one of the most popular events at the de Young Museum in San Francisco.

Flower sellers were asked to create flower arrangements that respond to pieces of art on display, from ancient carvings to contemporary sculptures. It’s extremely attractive and also memorable, to the point that it has become a problem.

In recent years, the de Young received more than a thousand complaints from people who felt that cell phones had spoiled their experience of the exhibit. Institutions of fine art around the world face similar problems as the desire to take photographs becomes a huge attraction for museums, as well as something that upsets some of their patrons(资助人). So the de Young responded with a kind of compromise: carving out “photo free” hours during the exhibition’s six-day run.

One common complaint about the effect of social media on museum culture is that people seem to be missing out on experiences because they are so busy collecting evidence of them. A study recently published in the journal Psychological Science suggests there is some truth to this. It finds that people who keep taking photos of an exhibit and posting them on social media rather than simply observing it, have a hard time remembering what they see. But the issue is complex for the professionals running museums. Linda Butler, the de Young’s head of marketing and visitor experience, acknowledges that not everyone wants a museum to be “a photo-taking playland”. Yet a lot of people do and she believes that the de Young is in no position to judge one reason for buying a $28 ticket to be more valid than another. “If we removed social media and photography,” she says, “we would risk becoming irrelevant.”

1. What was the woman eager to do according to paragraph 1?

A．To get her phone.	B．To escape the crowd
C．To take a photo.	D．To push ahead.

2. How did the de Young respond to the complaints from visitors?

A．By setting periods without photo-taking.

B．By making the exhibition free of charge.

C．By compromising with the government.

D．By extending the free exhibition hours.

3. The recent study finds that the use of social media in museums may ________.

A．uncover the truth	B．cause irrelevancy
C．bring more pleasure	D．play a negative role

4. Which of the following may Linda Butler support?

A．Reducing admission prices.	B．Meeting different needs of the visitors.
C．Reserving judgement in public.	D．Banning social media and photography.

【推荐3】Shyness is the cause of much unhappiness for a great many people. Shy people are anxious and self-conscious; that is, they are over concerned with their own appearance and actions. Worrisome thoughts are constantly occurring in their minds; what kind of impression am I making? Do they like me? Do I sound stupid? Am I wearing unattractive clothes?

It is obvious that such uncomfortable feelings must affect people unfavorably. A person’s self-concept is reflected in the way he or she behaves and the way a person think about themselves which has a deep effect on all areas of their lives. Shy people, who have low self-esteem（自尊）, are likely to be passive and easily influenced by others. They need faith that they are doing “the right thing”. Shy people are very sensitive to criticism. It makes them feel inferior（自卑）. They also find it difficult to be pleased by praises because they believe they are unworthy of praise. A shy person may respond to a praise with a statement like this one: “You’re just saying that to make me feel good, I know it’s not true.” It is clear that, while self-awareness is a healthy quality, overdoing it is harmful. Can shyness be completely got rid of, or at least reduced? Fortunately, people can overcome shyness with determination. It is important for people to accept their weaknesses as well as their strengths, for example, not fair for them to label themselves inferior because they have to be realistic. Living on the impossible leads to a sense of inadequacy（不适当，不充足）. Each one of us has his or her own characteristics. We are interested in our own personal ways. The better we understand ourselves, the easier it becomes to live up to our chances for a rich and fulfilling life.

1. The first paragraph is mainly about ________.

A．the thoughts of shy people	B．the cause of shyness
C．the effect of shyness on people	D．the questions in the minds of shy people

2. According to the writer, self-awareness is ________.

A．harmful to people	B．a weak point of shy people
C．the cause of unhappiness	D．a good characteristics

3. What is the shy people’s reaction to praise?

A．They are pleased by it	B．They feel it is not true
C．They are very sensitive to it	D．They feel they are worthy of it

4. We can learn from the passage that shyness can ________.

A．block our chances for a successful life

B．help us to live up to our full development

C．enable us to understand ourselves better

D．have nothing to do with lack of self-esteem