Most people associate space with silence. But the story of how we came to understand the universe is just as much a story of listening as it is by looking. And yet despite this, hardly any of us has ever heard space. How many of you could describe the sound of a single planet or star?
And you may wonder: How do we know what these sounds are? How can we tell the difference between the sound of the sun and the sound of a pulsar (脉冲星)? Well, the answer is the science of radio astronomy. Radio astronomers study radio waves from space using sensitive antennas (天线) and receivers, which give them precise information about what an astronomical object is and where it is in our night sky. And just like the signals that we send and receive here on earth, we can convert these transmissions into sound using simple analog techniques (模拟技术). And therefore, it’s through listening that we’ve come to uncover some of the universe’s most important secrets—its scale, what it’s made of and even how old it is.
In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell worked with Thomas Watson on the invention of the telephone. A key part of their technical set-up was a half-mile long length of wire, which was thrown across the rooftops of several houses in Boston. The line carried the telephone signals that would later make Bell a household name. But like any long length of charged wire, it also inadvertently became an antenna. Thomas Watson spent hours listening to the strange crackles and hisses and whistles that his accidental antenna detected...
As he correctly guessed, some of these sounds were caused by activity on the surface of the sun. So while inventing the technology that would usher in the telecommunications revolution, Watson had discovered that the star at the center of our solar system emitted (发射) powerful radio waves.
1. How do the radio astronomers discover the universe’s secrets?A.By watching. | B.By calculating. | C.By listening. | D.By measuring. |
A.By chance. | B.On purpose. | C.In surprise. | D.On average. |
A.Antennas and receivers. | B.Telephone signals. |
C.Activities of the sun. | D.Radio waves. |
A.Society. | B.Nature. | C.Culture. | D.Entertainment. |
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【推荐1】Heading soccer balls seems to take greater injuries on women than on men, according to a new study which focused on the brains of soccer players.
Head knocks can really hurt the brain. Female athletes tend to suffer more brain damage than males do after injuries, the study points out. But until now, no one had directly compared damage in men and women after heading balls.
Michael Lipton, a brain-imaging expert at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in NewYork City, led the research. He noted, “It’s important to figure out how males and females might be different after brain injury. Hopefully, determining how the sexes differ after brain damage will help choose better treatments for each.”
Researchers chose 98 soccer players from amateur teams. The players estimated how often they had headed a ball in the past year. The average headers among men were 487 while women 469. The researchers then studied the brain scans of each player looking for signs of damage. They used a special type of scan to highlight changes in the brain’s white matter. White matter is made up of fibers (纤维), which carry electrical signals from nerve cells in one part of the brain to those in another. So damage to white matter affects how well the brain works. The scans turned up more widespread brain damage in the female players. In women, eight regions showed potential damage linked to frequent headers. In men, only three regions did.
The brain changes studied here weren’t big enough to cause brain damage. But repeated blows to the brain can contribute to memory loss, depression and other problems. One bigger concern is CTE, which can lead to confusion, trouble remembering things and emotional outbursts. Researchers don’t know why women’s brains appear at greater risk. Differences in their heads and necks may play a role. So might genetics and hormones.
1. What does the new study focus on?A.Comparison of brain damage between sexes. | B.Causes of brain injuries among players. |
C.Functions of white matter in our brain. | D.Effect of repeated blows on athletes. |
A.To find out the differences between men and women. | B.To contribute to treatments for brain injury. |
C.To prevent soccer players from getting hurt. | D.To make a breakthrough in soccer skill study. |
A.By interviewing soccer players. | B.By studying the brain scans. |
C.By using a computer model. | D.By referring to former studies. |
A.It is hard to identify brain damage. | B.The study proves to be a total failure. |
C.Reasons for brain damage remains unclear. | D.Mental problems cause physical differences. |
【推荐2】Many of us have wondered what Earth is like beneath the surface. So have writers and scientists. In French novelist Jules Verne’s masterpiece Journey to the Center of the Earth, explorers go down to Earth’s center and discover amazing wonders.
But in real life, human beings haven’t even come close to the planet’s core (核心). The core is over 6,000 km down. The deepest hole ever created, according to the BBC, is the Kola Superdeep Borehole in Russia, which only goes 12.3 km down.
So how do we know about everything down below without any samples?
One good way to start is to think about the Earth’s density (密度), Simon Redfern of the University of Cambridge in the UK told the BBC.
“The density of the material on Earth’s surface is much lower than the average density of the whole Earth, so that tells us there’s something that has greater density,” Redfern said.
The challenge is to find out which heavy materials the core is made of. And the main material scientists have found is iron. The idea is that when Earth formed 4.5 billion years ago, a lot of iron made its way down to the core, taking up about 80 percent of it. Today scientists are still working on finding out which other materials the core could be made up of.
You might also wonder how we know the size of the core. There’s a one-word answer: seismology (地震学).
When an earthquake happens, seismic stations around the world record the shockwaves it sends throughout the planet. It’s like hitting one side of the planet with a huge hammer and listening on the other side for the noise.
Early research found that some shockwaves, called “S-waves”, went missing. S-waves can only travel through solid material, but not through liquid, so they must have found something molten in Earth’s center. By following the S-waves’ paths, scientists found out that rocks became liquid around 3,000 km down.
There are still many questions about the Earth’s core to answer. But the study of the dark world below isn’t just for scientists’ curiosity.
The movement of Earth’s molten iron core builds up a powerful magnetic (有磁力的) field. It protects us from radiation from the sun and is needed for compasses and GPS systems to work.
So perhaps none of us will ever set eyes on the core, but it’s good to know it’s there.
1. The author mentions Jules Verne’s novel Journey to the Center of the Earth in the first paragraph to .A.discuss the possibility of going down to Earth’s center |
B.show how much humans have discovered about Earth |
C.paint a picture in our imagination of the dark world below |
D.show humans’ deep interest in Earth’s center |
A.are often used to predict earthquakes |
B.cannot travel through liquid material |
C.are the most noticeable shockwaves produced by earthquakes |
D.can travel most rapidly at 3,000 kilometers below Earth’s surface |
A.research into Earth’s core has hardly made any progress in recent years |
B.improvements in GPS systems could help people find out more about Earth |
C.Earth’s core helps to protect humans from harm |
D.scientists are likely to reach Earth’s center within dozens of years |
【推荐3】When special occasions such as birthdays or other big holiday events come around, parents often look for that special toy for their children. But there is a growing understanding that gifts of time and bonding, such as vacations and other experiences, make better and more lasting gifts for children.
Experts agree that gifting children with memorable trips and fun experiences is better for their body and mind, and has corresponding positive impacts on the rest of the family!
In a 2017 study that surveyed about 500 women between 18 and 93 years old, Dr. Oravecz, a human development and family studies professor at Pennsylvania State University, asked, “Most people feel loved when...” The study showed that the most popular answers had nothing to do with any material item. Dr. Oravecz said, “Our research found that micro-moments of positivity, like a kind word, a hug with a child or a sympathetic expression, make people feel most loved.”
Clinical psychologist Oliver James agrees. He stated that as opposed to toys, details from a trip are more likely to “stick with them for long after the vacation ends.” When families interact in a stress-free environment, this creates warm, generous feelings towards one another, which are likely to be remembered with fondness. Vacations create strong emotional responses that don’t often come with material possessions.
In addition, British child psychologist Dr. Margot Sunderland believes that vacations make children smarter. “What is less widely known is that vacations can also advance brain development in children. This is because on a family vacation, you are exercising two genetically ingrained systems deep in the brain’s limbic (边缘的) area, which can all too easily be ‘unexercised’ in the home.” Citing the work of neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp, Dr. Sunderland said, “These are the PLAY system and the SEEKING system.” “The brain’s PLAY system is exercised every time you bury your child’s feet in the sand or take them for a ride on your back. The SEEKING system is exercised each time you go exploring together: the beach, a cave, a hidden village...” She continued, “So when you take your child on a vacation, you are supporting their explorative urge (SEEKING system)—a vital resource for living life well, and their capacity to play (PLAY system). In adulthood, this translates into the ability to play with ideas—essential, for example, to the successful entrepreneur(企业家).”
In a busy household, perhaps the fun of having the latest toy may not last, but the space it occupies in the house could be there and gather dust. So for the next round of gift-giving with the children, consider an experiential gift instead. The return is definitely priceless.
1. What can be inferred from the passage?A.The capacity to play can translate into the ability to seek. |
B.The SEEKING system can develop when adventuring in the wild. |
C.PLAY and SEEKING systems are more easily exercised at home. |
D.Burying your child’s feet in the mud is exercising the SEEKING system. |
A.material gifts are better for a child’s body and mind |
B.children spending vacations with their parents are more generous |
C.trips with family can form better emotional interactions than material gifts |
D.vacations with employees are a waste of time for a successful entrepreneur |
【推荐1】Growing Vegetables in Space
Have you ever dreamed of travelling in space? Well, you may not go, but you may be able to eat vegetables grown from seeds that have! China, the USA and Russia have all become interested in whether it is possible to eat food grown from seeds that have been in space. Indeed since 1987 China has sent 1,000 species of seeds into space to do experiments. These include green peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce and wheat.
The most advanced work on growing vegetables in space has been undertaken on the International Space Station run by Russian and American astronauts. One of the most exciting moments was when soybean seeds were brought back to Earth and planted. These seeds were the first to come from a crop grown entirely in space.
The scientists chose to grow soybeans in space because they are an important source of protein in the human diet. Mark Nall, director of Space Product Development Programme for National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA), said that “this experiment and others are paving the way for improving crops grown on Earth, as well as potentially feeding people living in space.” The problem is that producing a new strain of soybean is a slow procedure on Earth so the scientists hope that it can be speeded up in space. Perhaps the seeds may also develop some characteristics that will be useful for farmers-for example, produce more oil or protein.
However, the scientists are aware that there may be problems. “Conditions in outer space such as radiation and low gravity may cause big changes in the seeds,” said Jin Xing, a Chinese researcher. He knows that genetically modified food is still being debated and so some people will be very suspicious of these “space vegetables”. However Jin has a more positive view. He thinks that unlike genetically modified crops, no new genes are being introduced into space vegetables so they will be safe.
The Chinese government certainly thinks so because they have been cooperating with NASA to produce a new strain of virus-free potatoes. Their scientists hope that in space it may be possible to produce a new crop every 40-50 days instead of one crop a year. So watch out for these special potatoes on the supermarket shelves. Maybe some day you will find them on your dinner table!
1. The scientists chose to grow soybeans in space because ________.A.scientists know more about soybeans |
B.it’s easy to begin agricultural experiment from soybeans |
C.the soybeans share some common characteristics with other plants |
D.the soybeans contain protein needed by the human body |
A.to build a new road | B.to make things easier |
C.to explore a new area | D.to solve a problem |
A.astronauts have tried eating some space vegetables |
B.space vegetables are like genetically modified crops |
C.no new genes are being introduced into space vegetables |
D.scientists have found that it’s safe to eat space vegetables |
A.the new programme may produce a sound crop |
B.people are looking forward to the new product |
C.people can buy the new product in the supermarket |
D.the new product will have a wide market |
【推荐2】If you have plans to run, then the first thing that you have to purchase is a good pair of running shoes. Put simply, how can you possibly run without running shoes, right? There are many ways about how to choose the right running shoes but these ways differ from one person to another. That is why first-hand experience is greatly recommended. By this we mean that you have to go to the store yourself to check and try on a pair of running shoes that you are looking at to see whether or not they are good for your feet and comfortable.
No matter what else you take into consideration, the most important thing is for you to be able to start choosing the right running shoes because there are a lot of options out there. These options might make you feel confused as to which pair to actually buy. But when you begin your search, you will have enough time to see which pair is best for you.
In the end, whatever you choose to buy should not require you to spend too much. That is to say, you have to make sure that what you buy is just right for your budget and the kind of activity you plan to take part in. This is to ensure as well that whatever you buy can be used for a long time.
So what more are you waiting for? Get up and start running by going to the different stores that sell running shoes and then see which pair is the best one for you. When you find the right pair, buy it immediately and start your new and far more active lifestyle now.
1. At the beginning of the text, the author ___________.A.recommends several kinds of running shoes |
B.introduces the importance of doing exercise |
C.stresses the necessity of choosing the right running shoes |
D.suggests a couple of ways of choosing the right running shoes |
A.past experience | B.professional advice |
C.advice from people older than you | D.experience gained by doing something yourself |
A.The variety of running shoes. | B.The price of running shoes. |
C.The style of running shoes. | D.The size of running shoes. |
A.How to Choose the Right Running Shoes | B.What Kind of Store You Should Visit |
C.How to Save More Money on Shoes | D.How to Start Running |
【推荐3】Good health is a precious thing. When we are healthy, we can learn, work, and support ourselves and our families. When we are sick, we struggle, and our families and communities fall behind.
That's why the World Health Organization is needed. Working with 194 Member States, across six regions, and from more than 150 offices, WHO staff are united in a shared commitment to achieve better health for everyone, everywhere.
The purpose that all people should enjoy the highest standard of health, regardless of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition, has guided WHO's work for the past 72 years, since it was first set up as the lead agency for international health in the United Nations, which was founded in 1945.
Since 1970, the world has seen a rise in noncommunicable(非传染性的)diseases such as cancer, diabetes(糖尿病)and heart disease. Driven by forces such as rapid unplanned urbanization, globalization of unhealthy lifestyles and population ageing, these diseases now account for 70% of all deaths. So WHO has shifted focus, along with health authorities around the world, to promote healthy eating, physical exercise and regular health checks.
The organization has run global health campaigns on the prevention of diabetes and high blood pressure and on healthy cities. It negotiated(谈判)the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, a powerful tool to help reduce diseases and deaths caused by tobacco.
Achieving these goals will require unfailing political and financial commitment, from Member States and donors, and continued and expanded collaboration with colleagues from academia, Partners on the ground, and other members of the UN family.(From the official website of WHO, 2020. )
1. What is the goal of WHO?A.To work with more countries. |
B.To unite everyone in the world. |
C.To try to make everyone healthy. |
D.To stop our families falling behind. |
A.In 1918. | B.In 1945. | C.In 1948. | D.In 1970. |
A.The world population has stopped ageing. |
B.WHO has succeeded in controlling tobacco. |
C.The people's lifestyles have become healthier. |
D.The noncommunicable diseases have increased. |
A.The Goals of WHO | B.A Health Organization |
C.The History of WHO | D.An Organization Foundation |