Some creatures have developed ways to protect the most valuable in their group by practicing social distancing strategically. The most impressive examples occur in social insects, where different members of the group have different roles.
Nathalie Stroeymeyt, a professor of the University of Bristol in England used tiny digital tags to track the movements of garden ant groups during an outbreak of a deadly fungus(真菌). The fungi are passed from ant to ant through physical contact.
To measure how ants respond when disease first invades(入侵) their group, the researchers applied the fungi directly to a small group of the worker ants that regularly leave the group. The worker ants are most likely to accidentally encounter fungi while out searching for food. The researchers used the natural way this fungus would be introduced. The behavioral responses of ants in 11 fungus-treated groups were then compared with the same number of control groups, where a harmless liquid was applied to worker ants. Ants in fungus-exposed groups started rapid and strategic social distancing after treatment. Within 24 hours those worker ants self-isolated by spending more time away from the group compared with control-treated worker ants.
Healthy ants in fungus-treated groups also strongly reduced their social interaction. Uninfected worker ants, which interact frequently with other worker ants that might carry disease, kept their distance from the group, when disease was present. This prevents them from putting the valuable group members (the queen and “nurses”that care for young ants) at risk. The nurses also took actions, moving young ants farther inside the nest and away from the worker ants once the fungus was detected in the group. The signals that the ants use to detect and rapidly respond to fungus exposure are still unknown. This strategic group was so effective that all queens and most nurses from the study groups were still alive at the end of the experimental outbreaks.
1. What aspect does the first paragraph discuss about the research?| A．Its background. | B．Its findings. | C．Its significance. | D．Its process. |
| A．To compare how differently ants respond to the invasion. |
| B．To watch how worker ants send signals to others. |
| C．To do the research in a natural and convincing way. |
| D．To prevent fungi from spreading in the ant group. |
| A．In fungus-treated groups. | B．In garden ant groups. |
| C．In 11 control groups. | D．In social insects. |
| A．All queens and most nurses survived the invasion. |
| B．All the worker ants spend more time outside the nest. |
| C．Researchers have found how the ants found fungus exposure. |
| D．Worker ants in both study and control groups self-isolated. |
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【推荐1】With the help of modern technology, people have killed up to 99 percent of certain types of whales. Some scientists thought this would cause krill (磷虾), tiny shrimp-like animals that many whales eat, to explode in number. But that didn’t happen. Krill numbers in Antarctic waters with of whale hunting have dropped by more than 80 percent. New research suggests a lack of whale poop (粪便) may explain this. A new study finds whales eat more than we thought. Lots more food means lots more poop that is rich in iron. So with fewer whales, ecosystems get less iron and other crucial nutrients that they need to thrive. That hurts other species, including krill.
Figuring out whale diets isn’t easy. In the past, scientists looked at the contents of dead whales’ stomachs to see what they ate. Or they estimated how much food whales should need based on their size. However, the new study, led by Matthew Savoca, a marine biologist at Stanford University, used some different techniques. Savoca’s team put sensors on 321 whales. The sensors tracked when the whales hunted for food.
Using all this information, the scientists found that whales eat about three times as much food as earlier estimates had suggested. The amount of food that whales eat and poop out is astonishing. And it suggests that whales play a bigger role in shaping ocean ecosystems than previously thought.
Whales are nutrient cyclers. If whales and krill returned to their early 1900s numbers, the productivity of the Southern Ocean could be boosted by 11 percent, the researchers calculate. That increased productivity would translate into more carbon-rich life. Together, those creatures would store 215 million tons of carbon each year. The carbon stored in those creatures wouldn’t be able to escape into the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．The present situation of whale killing. |
| B．The reason for krill numbers declining. |
| C．The help from the modern technology. |
| D．The relationship between food and poop. |
| A．Grow happily. | B．Change rapidly. |
| C．Develop well. | D．Stay wealthy. |
| A．By referring to past studies. |
| B．By tracking whales with sensors. |
| C．By observing whales’ sizes. |
| D．By examining whales’ stomachs. |
| A．Whales hurt other ocean species. |
| B．Whales eat as much as estimated. |
| C．Whales slow ocean productivity. |
| D．Whales matter more than expected. |
【推荐2】One spring morning many years ago, I had been prospecting for gold along Coho Creek in southeastern Alaska. Suddenly, no more than 20 paces away was a huge Alaskan timber wolf-caught in a trap.
From her appearance, I guessed she had been trapped for several days. She needed my help, I thought. But if I tried to release her, she would turn aggressive to me. The wolf was clearly suffering. The trap's steel jaws had imprisoned two toes. They were swollen and lacerated, but she wouldn't lose the paw (爪子) — if freed. Yet each time I moved closer, she would make a frightening growl. If I could only win her confidence, I thought. It was her only hope.
Over the next few days, I divided my time between prospecting and trying to win the wolf's trust. I talked gently with her, throwing her some meat. Gradually, I kept edging closer — though I was careful to remain beyond the length of her trap chain.
At dusk on the fifth day, I delivered her dinner. Suddenly, I saw a slight wagging of her tail. I moved within the length of her chain. She remained sill. As a towering man, my heart was in my mouth, though. Within her reach, I wrapped my blanket around myself and slowly settled onto the cold ground. It was long before I fell asleep.
The next morning, I slowly placed my hand on the wolf's injured leg. Unexpectedly; she made no threatening move. Then I applied pressure, the trap sprang open, and the wolf pulled free.
My experience told me the wolf would vanish into the woods quickly. But cautiously, she crept toward me and sniffed my hands and arms. This went against everything I'd ever heard about timber wolves. Yet, strangely, it all seemed so natural.
1. What happened to the timber wolf?| A．She was stuck in a trap. | B．Her food ran out. |
| C．Her legs were swollen. | D．She was caught in the author's trap. |
| A．Some food. | B．The author's care. |
| C．Her trust in the author. | D．Winning the author's confidence. |
| A．He was too close to the wolf. | B．The ground was too cold. |
| C．The wolf remained still. | D．The wolf wagged her tail. |
| A．It was frightening and surprising. | B．It was unexpected but natural. |
| C．It was humorous and natural. | D．It was terrifying but encouraging. |
【推荐3】When I first saw my dog, she was about the size of a little rabbit, so fluffy (毛茸茸的) that I could barely see her eyes. She just lay in the corner of the cage, absolutely terrified of me and my family. We fell in love with her at first sight and took her home immediately.
In our first few weeks as dog owners, my family witnessed our dog use the house as her toilet, chew on our chairs, eat our socks and shoes and bark at all hours of the night. Despite the countless dog parenting books that my mother had read before we adopted our dog, we were not prepared for the lovely trouble-making fluffball that came our way.
We entered her in a puppy class, where she could learn how to be a man’s best friend, and spent hours upon hours trying to train her by giving her meat flavored treats for any sign of good behavior. Unfortunately for us, the puppy class teacher and my father, who can’t say no to the puppy dog face, gave her far too many treats for behavior both good and bad, and now, at age 3, my dog is a master con artist (行骗高手).
She purposefully steals towels, napkins, tissues, socks, cardboard boxes, plastic wrap and anything else forbidden, just because she knows that we will do anything to get it back from her. She takes all sorts of things, not wanting them at all, and just sleeps on them, waiting for someone to notice her tricks. It is her way of saying that if we don’t give her whatever she wants, she will cause us endless trouble.
And what can I do with her? She’s my baby puppy after all.
1. Why did the author send her dog to a puppy class?| A．To give her some punishment. | B．To help her find a best friend. |
| C．Tо teach her to behave well. | D．To make her learn some skills |
| A．He liked to give the dog meat-flavored treats. | B．He knew everything about how to train dogs. |
| C．He worked in a puppy school. | D．He loved the dog very much. |
| A．Smart but annoying. | B．Naughty but cute. |
| C．Active but frightening. | D．Lovely but shy. |
| A．A Pretty Trouble Maker | B．A Master Con Artist |
| C．The Dog Stealing Things | D．Man’s Best Friend |
【推荐1】An artificial intelligence (AI) trained on personal data covering the entire population of Denmark can predict people’s chances of dying more accurately than any existing model, even those used in the insurance industry. The researchers behind the technology say it could also have a positive impact on early prediction of social and health problems.
Sune Lehmann Jorgensen at the Technical University of Denmark and his colleagues used the data covering various aspects of 6 million people from 2008 to 2020 from Denmark. They changed the data into words that could be used to train a large language model, the same technology that powers other AI apps. These models work by looking at a series of words and determining which word is statistically most likely to come next, based on vast amounts of examples. In a similar way, the researchers’ Life2vec model can look at a series of life events that form a person’s history and determine what is most likely to happen next.
In experiments, Life2vec was trained on all but the last four years of the data, which was held back for testing. The researchers took data on a group of people aged from 35 to 65, half of whom died between 2016 and 2020, and asked Life2vec to predict who lived and who died. It was 11 percent more accurate than any existing AI model used to price life insurance policies in the finance industry.
Jorgensen believes that the model has consumed enough data that it is likely to be able to shed light on a wide range of health and social topics. This means it could be used to predict health issues and catch them early, or by governments to reduce inequality. But he stresses that it could also be used by companies in a harmful way. “Clearly, our model should not be used by an insurance company, because the whole idea of insurance is that, by sharing the lack of knowledge of somebody who is going to be the unlucky person struck by some incidents or deaths, we can kind of share this burden,” says Jorgensen.
1. What makes Life2vec more powerful in forecasting death risks?| A．It is trained on vast amounts of data. |
| B．It goes through a large number of tests. |
| C．It uses the same technology as other AI apps do. |
| D．It is intended for the government to make policies. |
| A．Revise. | B．Recognize. | C．Resolve. | D．Reveal. |
| A．To remove social inequality. | B．To guard public interests. |
| C．To keep its technology a secret. | D．To maintain the government’s authority. |
| A．Life2vec: Superior To Other AI Apps |
| B．New AI Can Predict Risk Of Early Death |
| C．Advanced Technology Addresses Social Problems |
| D．Insurance Companies: Keep Away From Life2vec |
【推荐2】Most of you will have noticed hosting a dinner party is harder than before. One friend needs dairy-free food, one can’t eat onion and two are vegetarian. Are food intolerances increasing? Or do we just hear more about them now?
Food intolerances are reactions to eating foods, in normal quantities, which do not involve the immune system. They are very different from food allergies (过敏) which happen when the body mounts an immune response to a food that is either eaten or even touches the skin. This immune response is very quick (within 20 minutes to two hours) and releases chemicals that can affect the person’s breathing and heart. The reasons behind food intolerances can vary greatly. A common one is people lack enzymes (酶) needed for breaking down nutrients.
While it may seem as if food intolerances are increasing, we lack the data and actual numbers, perhaps because food intolerances generally do not lead to taking medications or seeking urgent (紧急的) medical treatment. A 2009 report suggests about 20% of the population has one or more food intolerances, with no change since 1994. A more recent survey from 2020 of self-reported intolerances in internet users indicated about 25% of the population.
The increase may result from many factors. Some people may self-diagnose (自我诊断) a food intolerance from well-intended but misleading health advice from family and friends. Additionally, people may incorrectly owe medical symptoms (症状) to foods they have eaten. We also have an increased ability to self-diagnose, thanks to Dr Google. Today, when attending social events with food, we can provide our dietary requirements. This also contributes to normalising food intolerances, compared to even a decade ago. Previously people would have suffered in silence or simply avoided consuming their problematic foods at events. Another factor could be more and more people of different nations living in one area, some of whom are genetically more likely to have a food intolerance.
If you suspect you have a food intolerance, you’d better see a doctor to ensure you are not ignoring a potentially concerning medical problem. Also, this can make sure you are not needlessly missing out on essential nutrients required for good health.
1. What is the main message of paragraph 2?| A．Most people suffer from food allergies. |
| B．People should take food allergies lightly. |
| C．Food intolerances may develop into food allergies. |
| D．Food intolerances are different from food allergies. |
| A．Internet users are more likely to have food intolerances. |
| B．20% of the population self - diagnoses a food intolerance. |
| C．The number of people having food intolerances remained the same between 1994 and 2009. |
| D．The number of people having food intolerances might increase by 5% in the next ten years. |
| A．People’s wide use of the internet. |
| B．People attending social events more often. |
| C．People suffering from various gene problems. |
| D．People’s failure to recognise problematic foods. |
| A．To correct a mistake. | B．To give a suggestion. |
| C．To make a prediction. | D．To make a promise. |
【推荐3】Why would human beings waste a third of their lives sleeping when they could be doing more important things like looking after their families or working? Some scientists believe sleeping helps recharge the body, while others think it is important for strengthening newly-formed memories. Now, there is new evidence which suggests that the purpose of sleep may be to forget some of the millions of new things we learn each day.
The neurons (神经元) in the human brain consist of fibers called dendrites (树突). These grow as we learn new things and connect the brain's cells to each other at contact points called synapses (突触). The larger the dendrites become and the more cells they connect, the more information we store.
In 2003, Giulio Tononi and Chiara Cirelli, both biologists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, suggested a new idea: The things our brains learn each day result in so many synapses that things start to get a little messy. Sleeping allows us to sort through the "noise" and dispense all the unnecessary information, leaving behind only the most important memories-
Recently, the university's research has provided direct evidence to support the theory. The experiment involved analyzing 6,920 synapses in the brain shavings from two groups of mice over a four — year period; one group had been allowed to sleep, while the other had been kept awake and entertained with toys. The researchers discovered that the brain shavings of the sleeping mice had nearly 20 percent fewer synapses than those that had been kept awake and entertained.
It was also evident during the study that the brain does not shave every synapse. 20% of neurons remained unchanged; these were most likely well-established memories. Therefore, although we may be sleeping to forget some of what we've learned, the brain "forgets" in a smart way.
Most researchers believe clearing our brains is not the only purpose of sleep. Resting our minds and bodies has also been found to help with other biological functions like strengthening our immunity. Though scientists may never agree on a single reason, they are all sure of one thing — a good night's rest is essential for our health. So try and spend at least a third of your day sleeping!
1. What will happen when we learn new things?| A．We tend to forget some key information. |
| B．We develop the ability to recharge the body. |
| C．The dendrites expand and connect brain's cells. |
| D．The neurons gather at what are called contact points. |
| A．Pick up. | B．Get rid of. |
| C．Bring down. | D．Pull out of. |
| A．To prove a new theory. |
| B．To report a new discovery. |
| C．To show sleep good for memory. |
| D．To discuss how long one should sleep. |
Because they follow the actions of their role models so closely, children adopt the personality and attitude of their role models. Children learn to like or dislike certain things by mimicking the personality and attitude of the people they admire.
One reason why children keep changing their answers to “what would you like to be when you grow up” is that they are influenced by individuals in a certain field.
Children view the social relationships (family or public) mainly in the light of the importance these relationships hold in the life of their role models. Their expression of their feelings is many times a reflection of their role model’s outlook.
According to a study, around 56% of teenagers identified with the role models. Out of these, those having personal or direct contact with their role models had higher self-esteem and were better at academics compared to those who didn’t. As such, children who have positive role models, have more self-confidence and are more optimistic about their future. They learn to handle themselves well in social settings and positively interact with those around them.
Of course, children who have their parents as positive role models have a well-rounded outlook towards life. They find it easier to deal with the highs and lows of life because they have seen their parents do it before. They find a sense of stability and security knowing that they will overcome failures just like their parents before them. Besides, it becomes easier for parents to discipline and guide children. So it is no wonder why children who have parents as their role models have fewer behavioral issues.
1. This article is mainly about______.
| A．the importance of role models to children |
| B．how to be a good role model for children |
| C．the relation between role models and children |
| D．how to change children’s personality and attitude |
| A．studying | B．accepting |
| C．changing | D．imitating |
| A．there is a decrease in children’s self-esteem |
| B．there are fewer children better at academics |
| C．children may have a strong desire to succeed |
| D．children may feel more optimistic about their future |
| A．children’s behavioral issues are serious |
| B．people should learn the latest studies on role models |
| C．parents should set a good example for children |
| D．teaching children strategies for security is important |
【推荐2】It could be said that the northernmost part of our planet holds the secrets of our past as well as our future.
Through our exploration of the Arctic, scientists have discovered more about the biodiversity (生物多样性) of the area as well as how to preserve Earth’s ecosystems. Yet as one of the most severe but most primitive (原始的) places on Earth, the Arctic has been affected by human activities---research and exploration, booming tourism and above all, global warming---in recent decades.
Jonathan Smith, producer of the BBC documentary Blue Planet II, shared his filming experience in the Arctic. “We were all set and ready to film but we needed two major things---walrus (海象) and ice. I had expected that walrus may be hard to find, but I didn't expect it to be hard to find ice,” he told the BBC. “The crew was all commenting on how surprisingly warm it was.”
They were not mistaken. Scientists have been recording changes in the Arctic. Its sea ice minimum in summer, for example, has reduced by 40 percent in the past 30 years, NASA data showed. These changes have had bad influences on the Arctic and the human, animal and plant life that calls it home.
But the effects of these changes are not limited to the inhabitants of this area alone. In fact, it could be said that the weight of the world relies on this icy region. The Earth’s steady climate depends on the Arctic’s sea ice, which acts as a huge white reflector (反光体) at the top of the planet, bouncing some of the sun’s rays back into space. The more Arctic sea ice melts, the less light is reflected, and the more the dark oceans will absorb the sun’s radiation. The Arctic also helps circulate ocean movement, moving cold and warm water around the globe.
With visible changes in the global climate, the Arctic has given us a wake-up call---what happens “up in the North” doesn’t just stay there. It comes with a high cost to the world at large. It's time for us to pay attention to this chilly region and learn more about what’s happening there, as well as its past and possible future.
1. According to the passage, which of the following is the most threatening challenge the Arctic faces?| A．Coldness. | B．Darkness. | C．Global warming. | D．Wilderness. |
| A．To give an example. | B．To support an idea. |
| C．To clarify a question. | D．To provide more information. |
| A．The sea ice absorbs the sun’s radiation to keep the Earth’s climate steady. |
| B．The Arctic helps circulate air around the world. |
| C．The Arctic is home to the human, animal and plant life. |
| D．The sea ice helps reduce global warming by reflecting the sunlight. |
| A．Concerned. | B．Approving. | C．Optimistic. | D．Contradictory. |
【推荐3】NAIROBI—Tin Tin, a Chinese restaurant located in central Nairobi, has been serving local Kenyans for nearly four decades with its delicious dishes and unique cultural background .
"This is a restaurant definitely worth a try,” said Steven, a local resident in his 30s."It has provided Chinese food since my grandfatherJ s time. ”
According to Henry Tin, the restaurant owner, Tin Tin was established in 1978 at the heart of the Nairobi Central Business District ? upholding Chinese cuisines while adapting to Kenyan preferences .
For years, it has become a defining part of the city's landmark—Kenya International Conference Center—attracting lots of office workers nearby and even presidential customers .
"The former president of Kenya, Moi, was a very good customer for us. He came almost always in cash. Then former president Mwai Kibaki and now president Uhuru. They all like to enjoy our food," Tin said.
Danis, an office worker of an insurance company near the KICC says he is a frequenter of the restaurant.
“ It is the only Chinese restaurant in the highly competitive downtown area. Besides, its food has been adapted to our taste," Danis said, " My favorite dishes are fried shrimp and fried pork, which you can also find in a Kenyan restaurant. ”
“ High-quality food consistently served over the decades has helped maintain loyal customers, ” Enoch Kivunaga said, at Tin Tin.
"My experience depends on the customers・ If I cook good food, they always come back, whether they are presidents or ministers, ” he said.
Tin said he speaks Swahili well and perfectly pronounces local names, which shows the Chinese culture and its Kenyan counterpart are quickly combining・"I am a Kenyan Chinese. I love both great countries. ”
1. Why was the Chinese restaurant serving local Kenyans popular there ?| A．Because it supplied its unique Kenyan dishes. |
| B．Because it created favorite fried shrimp and fried pork . |
| C．Because it served foods in both Kenyan and Chinese flavor. |
| D．Because it provided only Chinese food of unique characters . |
| A．Tin Tin. | B．The Nairobi Central Business District. |
| C．An insurance company building. | D．Kenya International Conference Center. |
| A．Chinese restaurants are highly competitive. |
| B．He really enjoys the delicious Chinese food now. |
| C．He only has his favorite dishes in Kenyan restaurant. |
| D．The Chinese restaurant is the only competitive one there. |
| A．giving accurate data | B．following time order |
| C．comparing different ideas | D．recording people's words |
