1. Blood is blue inside your body.
Human blood is the same color inside your body as it is outside: red. Our veins look blue because the tissue covering them changes the way light is absorbed and scattered, which affects our perception of their color.
2. Paul Revere shouted “The British are coming!”
You can thank Henry Weds-worth Longfellow and his poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” for spreading that tale. No one knows what, if anything. Revere shouted through the streets of Lexington, Massachusetts, though we don know he told one guard that “the regulars are coming out.”
3. The hottest part of a chill pepper is the seeds
Capsaicia, a chemical compound that binds to the pain receptors on our nerves to produce that very heat, is most concennrated in the inner white rib of the chili pepper. The seeds don’t actually contain any capsaicin, but they may be coated in it because they touch the rib.
4. Jesus Christ was born on December 25.
The Gospels of Matthew and Luke never mention the date of Jesus’s birth. So why do we celebrate December 25 as the day that Christ was born? It could be because of a Roman Catholic historian from the third century, Sextus Julios Africanus, who believed Jesus was conceived on March 25 - nine months before what is now Christmas Day.
5. The Sahara is the world’s largest desert.
Technically, Antarctica is. The U. S. Geological Survey defines a desert as “arid land with meager rainfall [usually less than ten inches per year] that supports only sparse vegetation and a limited population of people and animals.” Antarctica averages only six inches of rain a year (mostly as snow) and is almost 5.5 million square miles. The Sahara is only 3.3 million square miles.
6. Chameleorts can change their coloring to match any background.
The lizards do adjust their skin tone to camouflage themselves in certain environments, but their color range is limited. The really vibrant hues you see on TV and in books aren’t usually meant for tricking predators. Those chameleons are trying to attract a mate or defend their territory. Male chameleons have even been known to change their colors to appear female, which helps them sneak by other males without the threat or fight.
1. It is _________ that essentially make(s) the pepper taste spicy.| A．the concentration of capsaicin | B．the coating of the seeds |
| C．the pain receptors on our nerves | D．the size of the inner rib |
| A．The Sahara isn’t seen as the world’s largest desert because it receives less rain than Antarctica. |
| B．Chameleons change their coloring to serve purposes other than fooling their enemies. |
| C．Wads-worth witnessed Paul Revere shout “The British are coming” with his own eyes. |
| D．The absorption of light by the tissue changes the blood inside our body from red into blue. |
| A．Discoveries That Are Amazing | B．Facts That Are Misleading |
| C．Findings That Are Significant | D．Myths That Are Unknown |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Every year, about 10 million people worldwide develop dementia( 痴呆). That number is expected to rise as the population ages. In fact, many countries will see a doubling of the dementia rate between 2018 and 2050, reports non-profit Alzheimer Europe. The Netherlands is one of them, but it’s also a leader in a creative supplement to nursing-home care called care farms.
Care farms—the Netherlands has over l,300 of them, a third of which cater to people with dementia—provide opportunities to spend two or more days a week in an outdoor natural environment, tending chickens or collecting vegetables, among other activities. Here, people can be active, get fresh air and stimulation, and feel valued while interacting with other workers md volunteers.
Professional care staff are there to assist as needed. “They’re providing the same care as an institution would, but it doesn’t feel like an institution.” says Maarten Fischer, director of the Federation of Dutch Care Farms.
Some care farms serve people with developmental disabilities, addictions or criminal records. Care farms have existed in a few countries since the 1970s and 1980s? And they’re been renowned. Fischer regularly receives calls from organization in Japan, Switzerland, South Korea and other locations. ‘‘Giving is important for self-esteem and for healing, but most people who receive care are no longer in a position to give, Fischer notes.” “On a farm, everyone contributes.”
According to Steve, who enjoyed a happy time In a care farm, “There has been a shift in the food that I eat, with vegan and vegetarian options becoming more predominant (主要的). I’m continuing to exercise regularly, I try to maintain more healthy sleep habits. I find myself checking in mentally to see if I am in a place where the glass of wine is being used as a numbing or coping tool or whether it is purely for enjoyment. I’m trying to spend more time in nature while I am not on the farm because I recognize its positive influence on my well-being.”
1. Why is “dementia” mentioned in paragraph?| A．To introduce the topic. |
| B．To show peopled health condition. |
| C．To encourage people get rid of it. |
| D．To draw doctors5 attention. |
| A．All the care fauns in Netherlands cater to people with dementia. |
| B．People with dementia can communicate with volunteers in care farms. |
| C．Care farms provide indoor activities to people with health problems. |
| D．Netherlands has 1300 care farms treating people with dementia. |
| A．Popular | B．Slight | C．Immediate | D．Relieved |
| A．Indifferent | B．Positive | C．Negative | D．Critical |
【推荐2】Alcohol and Language Speaking
Take a quick tipple and you could find yourself speaking a second tongue more naturally, according to new research. The foreign language skills of participants in the study were found to be improved after a drink of alcohol, which suggests the way booze can put us at ease outweighs the negative effects on our brain—at least for the first drink, anyway. The international team of researchers is warning against reading too much into their experiment, but it could reveal some interesting insights into the anxiety associated with speaking another language, and how alcohol can help us overcome it.
“Our study shows that acute alcohol consumption may have beneficial effects on the pronunciation of a foreign language in people who recently learned that language,” says one of the team, Inge Kersbergen from the University of Liverpool in the UK. The study involved 50 native German speakers studying Dutch at a Dutch university, who had recently learned to speak, read, and write in the new language. Based on random selections, participants were either given alcohol or water as a control beverage. The amount of alcohol varied based on body size, but was the equivalent of just under a pint(460 milliliters) of 5 percent beer for a 70kg male. They then chatted to a researcher for five minutes, before an audio recording was assessed by two native Dutch speakers who weren’t told whether alcohol had been consumed or not. The participants were also asked to rate their own Dutch language skills over the course of the chat. While the alcohol didn’t affect how the students rated themselves, those people who had been given the alcoholic drink were given better ratings by the observers, especially for their pronunciation.
With only 50 people involved in the research, we should be wary of making too many generalizations on this study alone, but it’s an interesting pointer towards how a little bit of drink could grease the wheels as far as talking in a foreign language is concerned.
“It is important to point out that participants in this study consumed a low dose of alcohol,” adds one of the team, “Higher levels of alcohol consumption might not have beneficial effects on the pronunciation of a foreign language.” In other words, this effect probably doesn’t get better if you just keep on drinking—eventually no one will be able to understand you at all.
1. What does “outweigh” mean in the first paragraph?| A．The former is heavier than the latter. |
| B．The former is of greater importance, benefit, or significance than the latter. |
| C．The former is lighter than the latter. |
| D．The former is of less importance, benefit, or significance than the latter. |
| A．Researchers of the team agree to all public interpretations of their experiments. |
| B．The team finds that alcohol may have beneficial effects on the pronunciation of a foreign language in people who recently learned that language. |
| C．Their study involved 50 native Dutch speakers studying German at a German university. |
| D．Every participant is given the same amount of alcohol. |
| A．The study is not accountable and authoritative. |
| B．The study hasn’t been carried out yet. |
| C．The size of participants is too small. |
| D．The process of the study is flawed. |
| A．The research may be published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. |
| B．The research may be published in the Journal of History. |
| C．The research may be published in the Journal of Archaeology. |
| D．The research may be published in the Journal of Arts and Culture. |
| A．If you want to improve your pronunciation, you should drink as much as possible. |
| B．Higher levels of alcohol consumption will have beneficial effects on the pronunciation of a foreign language. |
| C．Man needs a great larger dose of alcohol than woman does so as to improve their oral speaking. |
| D．A low dose of alcohol will be helpful for language speaking. |
【推荐3】When pups are between 2 and 3 months old, their mothers will abandon them for any number of reasons. With no mother to watch out for them, infant(婴儿) mortality of pups under one year skyrockets(飞涨) to around 90%. So, only about 10% of motherless, homeless pups survive.
Without mothers, how are these abandoned pups supposed to survive? For the study, researchers Clive Wynne at Arizona State, Nadine Chersini at Utecht University, and Nathan Hal at Texas Tech University brought in 51 college students and asked them to rate the attractiveness of headshots(头部特写) of puppies at different ages.
The pups peaked at different ages, but they were all ranked likable between six to eight weeks, since newly abandoned pups are competing with each other for human heartstrings(怜悯), evolution says they should be most likable around 6 and 11 weeks. This is around the time they are weaned (断奶) and let go of by their mothers.
There are a few characteristics that humans find particularly adorable across species: big, forward-facing eyes, floppy and unstable limbs (肢), and a soft, rounded body shape. We’re also keen to scream when animals have large heads in comparison to their bodies, and this reaction goes back to evolution.
Called kinderschema (婴儿萌), these qualities are also apparent in human babies and necessary for their survival. The characteristics activate the decision-making part of the brain to encourage you to protect and nurture the baby. At the same time, the brain’s pleasure center releases dopamine (多巴胺). With these two reactions, your brain makes you want to protect the baby and rewards you for doing so. With your protection, the baby can survive.
1. What does the underlined word "mortality" in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Birth rate. | B．Injury. | C．Growth. | D．Death rate. |
| A．To get their mothers' love. | B．To draw their mothers' attention. |
| C．To get human's love and protection. | D．To get food and milk. |
| A．Some characteristics of humans | B．Comparison between animals and humans |
| C．Some characteristics of being adorable. | D．Description of some species |
| A．They can encourage you to make a decision. |
| B．They have some qualities in common with pups. |
| C．They can't survive without mothers' protection. |
| D．They have similar brains as pups. |
【推荐1】Information on school visits to Kew Gardens
Enjoy yourselves in a wonderland of science with over 50,000 living plants and a variety of educational events or amusing activities. Here is essential information about planning a school visit to Kew.
Educational course prices
You can plan a self-led visit or book one of our educational courses. Students will take part in the educational courses in groups of 15. Prices vary according to different situations.
EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) to Key Stage 4:
45-minute course: 35/group 90-minute course: 70/group
Key Stage 5:
Half day (one course): 80/group Full day (two courses): 160/group
Teachers and adults:
Up to required key stage proportions (比例): Free
Adults needed for 1:1 special educational needs support: Free
Adults above the required proportions: 11/person
The payment will due within 28 calendar days of making the booking.
Health and safety
Required supervising (监护) adult-student proportions:
Key Stage 1: 1:5 Key Stage 2: 1:8
Key stage 3: 1:10 Key Stage 4: 1:12
Key Stage 5: 1:12
The group sizes should be controlled if you are visiting potentially busy areas such as the glasshouse and other attractions. The maximum number of students visiting the glasshouses is 15 per group and each group to Kew shops should include no more than 10 students.
If there is an emergency, please contact the nearest Kew staff member or call Constabulary on 0208 32 3333 for direct and quick support. Please do not call 999.
Planning your visit
Your tickets and two planning passes will be sent to you upon receipt of your payment. You can complete your risk assessment with the passes, ensure you bring your tickets and the receipt document and show them to the staff members at the gate on the day of your visit.
Recommended timings
The Kew Gardens opens at 10 am. You are recommended to spend at least three to five hours on your visit. The closing time varies throughout the year. But the earliest is 3:30 pm. We have a fixed schedule for educational courses, which is from 10:30 am to 2:20 pm.
1. How much should a group of 15 Key Stage I students and 4 teachers pay for a 45-minute course?| A．35 | B．46 | C．57 | D．81 |
| A．Check the risk assessment. |
| B．Call 999 immediately. |
| C．Ask adults or teachers for help. |
| D．Seek help from the staff member nearby. |
| A．To introduce Kew Gardens. |
| B．To give tips on visiting Kew Gardens. |
| C．To attract potential visitors to Kew Gardens. |
| D．To inform coming activities in Kew Gardens. |
Lovely dog aged 5 I'm moving and can't take him with me. Very good with children. I'd like to give it away to a good home. Tel: 8631966 | Wanted Welcome to the Hilo's Store Take any old pair of shoes to us between now and 30 Sep. And you will pay not more than ten dollars for any new pair of shoes. Your old shoes will be given to the poor people. Tel: 2455919 or 2456836 |
A women's dress size 12 silk $150. Also three dresses for girls between 5 and 9 years old, $120 the three. More information call Laura at 5998326. |
1. What can you get for free according to the given information?
| A．a pair of shoes | B．a women's dress | C．a girl's dress | D．a lovely dog |
| A．8631966 | B．5998326 | C．2455919 | D．2456836 |
| A．Recycling. | B．Sales. | C．Charity. | D．Exhibition. |
【推荐3】Photography is important because it allows people to admire the most diverse situations recorded in a frozen moment. If you are thirsty to improve your photography skills, City Academy is a good choice.
Why Choose City Academy?
• Situated in Central London, it runs a wide range of evening and weekend photography classes.
• All tutors are industry professionals with rich teaching experience.
• Small class sizes mean you can be paid one-to-one attention.
• Online course materials are available for a small charge.
Our Photography Courses
• Introduction to Digital Photography, by James Ross on April 22nd. The course, either in the classroom or on London street for some shooting, is perfect for anyone new to digital photography.
• Fine Art Photography, by Georgia Metaxas on May 9th. You will be given projects and try out various techniques in a studio environment to create photos that express your personal ideas.
• Studio Lighting for Photography, by James Ross on June 29th. This course is designed to guide you through the science of studio lighting. Working in a studio environment, you will practice using flash lighting equipment.
• Documentary Photography, by Toby Glanville on July 3rd. The course, focused on photographing events or environments which are significant and relevant to historical events, will be perfect for photographers to produce a photo essay on a given theme in our classroom.
Special Offers
Any course above costs £295, but you can save 10% when you purchase two courses in the same booking. Save 20% when you buy three or more courses in the same booking.
1. What does City Academy offer to students?| A．Experienced tutors. | B．Weekday lessons. |
| C．Free online materials. | D．One-to-one classes. |
| A．Fine Art Photography. |
| B．Documentary Photography. |
| C．Studio Lighting for Photography. |
| D．Introduction to Digital Photography. |
| A．£944. | B．£1,044. | C．£1,062. | D．£1,180. |
