Modern breeds (狗的品种) are often recognized by physical traits. Breeds are frequently associated with certain behaviors, too. But new evidence suggests that the breed is a poor predictor of your dog’s behaviors. A study collected genetic information from more than 2,000 dogs. That information was paired with answers to surveys by thousands of dog owners. On average, the breed explains only 9 percent of the behavioral differences between individual dogs, the study shows.
Elinor Karlsson, who works at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical Schoo1 in Worcester, studies dog genetics. “Everybody is assuming that the breed is predictive of behaviors in dogs,” she said. But “that has never really been asked particularly well”.
The team needed genetic and behavior data from a lot of dogs. So they developed Darwin’s Ark. It’s a database where pet owners can share information about their animals. More than 18, 000 owners took part. They answered more than 100 questions about their dog’s traits and observable behaviors.
The researchers also collected genetic data from 2,155 dogs. The team made sure to include both pure-bred and mixed-bred dogs, or mutts. Stereotypes (刻板印象) about purebreds could affect how those dogs are treated-and thus behave. Mutts don’t come with the same expectations. So mutt data could help focus on how genes seem to affect behaviors.
The team then combined the genetic and survey data for individual dogs. They looked for genes that appeared linked to particular traits. Comfort around people emerged as the behavior- al factor most strongly tied to genetics. Movement-based behaviors are also passed down through genes more than other traits.
That makes sense. Modern breeding has only been around for the last few hundred years. Before that, dogs were chosen for how well they did jobs, such as hunting or herding. The effects of those choices still show up in breed groups today. It’s not surprising, then, that a breed as a whole might be more likely to display certain behaviors. As their name suggests, retrievers (寻回犬) are more likely to retrieve than individuals of other breeds. But in the study, breed didn’t always predict how an individual dog would behave. As a group, retrievers were less likely to howl. Some owners, though, reported their retrievers howled often.
1. What does the study find?A.Dogs are as individual as people. |
B.One dog can share another breed’s behaviors. |
C.Breeds have nothing to do with certain behaviors. |
D.Breeds don’t relate much to dog behavioral differences. |
A.To study the evolution of dogs. |
B.To help pet owners find their dogs. |
C.To collect information of rare dogs. |
D.To learn more about dogs’ behaviors. |
A.People have stereotypes of them. |
B.There is less information about them. |
C.Their breeds are less predictive of behaviors. |
D.They show more distinct traits than pure-bred dogs. |
A.Dogs are as smart as people |
B.We may be unfairly stereotyping dogs |
C.Pay less attention to its breed when buying a dog |
D.Dogs are often recognized by physical traits |
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Greetings from the Great Barrier Reef! I’m riding on a sailing boat with some relatives as I write this. We’re diving here all next week. The reef is located in the Coral Sea that is off the northeast coast of Australia.
The reef is made up of many corals. Corals are very hard and made of many tiny animals called “polyps” that look like underwater flowers. The corals need help to eat. They have a special relationship with other small animals, “algae” (藻类), that take in sunlight and make energy for the coral. It’s the algae that give color to the corals. Because algae need sunlight, the corals are very close to the surface of the water.
Together, the many corals create a magical environment. They make a home for the animals that live in the sea. When I went diving the other day, I saw all types of different animals-dolphins, turtles (海龟) and sea snakes. I was surprised at being able to see some fish I see only in movies, like clown fish (小丑鱼). As I am diving, I can feel the spirit of this magical place. It seems that these animals aren’t surprised to see me. Maybe they think I’m another fish!
Sadly, according to scientists, the Great Barrier Reef is dying because the water is getting warmer due to global warming. As the ocean gets warmer, the algae that live in the corals are cut off from the food they need for making energy. As a result, they leave the corals, and the corals die and lose their color. We see many dead white corals when we dive. We need to stop global warming and keep the water from getting hotter!
See you soon,
Gloria
1. Where is Gloria writing from?A.A sailing boat. | B.Great Barrier Reef. |
C.A hotel room. | D.A relative’s house. |
A.They give sunlight to the corals. |
B.They make energy for the corals to grow. |
C.They capture fish for the corals to eat. |
D.They allow the corals to move around. |
A.The author had never been there before. |
B.The area can allow the animals to do magical things. |
C.It’s another world with many animals and colors. |
D.Corals grow only at the Great Barrier Reef. |
A.She fears they will eventually die from global warming. |
B.When corals die, they lose their color and turn to a boring white. |
C.Not enough people will have a chance to see this magical place. |
D.She’s sad that the corals and algae will break their relationship. |
【推荐2】A research paper recently reported that the Chinese paddlefish (中华鲟) — one of the world’s largest freshwater fish — has been declared extinct.
Scientists say the Chinese paddlefish and its close relatives have been around for at least 200 million years. The species, reaching up to seven meters in length, survived unimaginable changes, such as the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs. But there’s one phenomenon this ancient species, sometimes called the “panda of the Yangtze”, could not survive humans.
Their huge size and plentiful flesh made them a popular target for fishermen and a welcome addition to inner tables in China. In the 1970s, 25 tons of paddlefish were harvested per year on average.
But the construction of the Gezhouba Dam on the Yangtze forever changed the Yangtze River habitat of paddlefish, because it was constructed without a fish ladder or sideway and cut off the paddlefish from their only breeding (繁殖) grounds upstream. Populations of the fish continued to decrease after the completion of the dam in 1981, but nobody had yet figured out how terrible the situation was. As is often the case, there can be a significant delay between major disturbances and their consequence. The researchers say the fish had become functionally extinct by 1993, meaning there were not enough fish to meaningfully reproduce.
Pan Wenjing is an ocean expert with Greenpeace East Asia. She told The Associated Press the extinction of the Chinese paddlefish was “a huge loss” for nature. She said the development confirms that the Yangtze River is experiencing major environmental damage.
“The ecosystem of the Yangtze River is close to its breaking point due to human activity in past decades.” Pan said. “The paddlefish’s extinction should serve as a wake-up call to protect other freshwater species. Moving forward, we need to balance the needs of humans with the needs of life in rivers and seas. Humans should not live alone on this planet.”
1. What can we say about the Chinese paddlefish?A.It is the largest fish. |
B.It appeared earlier than dinosaurs. |
C.It is a kind of ancient fish. |
D.It was a welcome dish for the fishermen. |
A.The design problems of the Gezhouba Dam. |
B.The worsening ecosystem in the Yangtze River. |
C.The population development of the Chinese paddlefish. |
D.The main reason for the dying out of the Chinese paddlefish. |
A.Angry. | B.Doubtful. |
C.Worried. | D.Unconcerned. |
A.Environment. | B.Science. |
C.Culture. | D.Tourism |
【推荐3】Biologists Slagsvold and Wiebe have spent years studying tits, flycatchers, and other birds that lay their eggs into holes in trees, walls and even human-made boxes. “Holes are rare, so there’s great competition,” Wiebe said. Birds will sometimes get into fights. Even after a bird gets a hole, it has to watch out: There’s always a chance that a passerby tries to possess it. Owners don’t have many options to wait for and stop thieves. Some police their nest’s entrance hole, but preparing for parenthood is hungry work, and eventually the birds have to leave to get food. So Slagsvold and Wiebe started to look for alternative home-defense systems the birds might be using.
They noticed feathers, usually helping animals keep warm, but that doesn’t seem to be how these particular birds are using them. Blue tits, for instance, get feathers on top of the nest, rather than putting them in. Some other birds dump feathers into holes before gathering other materials. “They’re white, and often noticeable,” Wiebe said, “as if the birds want to send a message.”
To find out, they built nest boxes — some feathery, some not — in Europe and America, and recorded how tits, flycatchers and swallows reacted. The birds entered feather-free boxes quickly. But they froze at the sight of white feathers, sometimes hesitating outside for an hour. Black feathers scared them less, perhaps because they were harder to see. The feathers didn’t stop the birds as most eventually went inside. But even a brief delay can make a huge difference, Wiebe said. “Even 20 minutes can give the owner enough time to circle back, and fight off their competitors.”
The birds’ behavior shows their high-risk lifestyle. They have to think twice as the holes may be hiding danger. The feathers represent possible violence, showing a predator might be inside.
The experiment reflects the lies animals tell where nest sites are rare. They build a scene so horrible to discourage nest stealers. Birds are terrified of death. And they can exploit that reality to safeguard what’s theirs.
1. What inspired Slagsvold and Wiebe to seek birds’ other possible ways to protect homes?A.Birds have to fight to get the limited holes. | B.Birds get tired from watching out in nests. |
C.Birds face many nest stealers on their own. | D.Birds leave their nests unattended sometimes. |
A.To show a friendly welcome. | B.To help stealers avoid danger. |
C.To buy time for the nest owners. | D.To confirm this place is occupied. |
A.Understandable. | B.Confusing. | C.Possible. | D.Worrying. |
A.Some birds refuse to build their nests | B.It’s important for birds to have feathers |
C.High risks of life lead birds to turn to lies | D.Birds create a false scene to protect their nests |
【推荐1】Bill Gates and the president of General Motors have met for lunch, and Gates is going on and on about computer technology. “If automotive technology had kept pace with computer technology over the past few decades, you would now be driving a V-32 instead of a V-8, and it would have a top speed of 10,000 miles per hour,” says Gates. “Or, you could have an economy car that weighs 30 pounds and gets a thousand miles to a gallon of gas. In either case, the sticker price of a new car would be less than $50. Why haven’t you guys kept up?”
The president of GM smiles and says, “Because the federal government won't let us build cars that crash four times a day.”
Why is that funny (or not funny, as the case may be)? Human beings love to laugh, and the average adult laughs 17 times a day. Humans love to laugh so much that there are actually industries built around laughter. Jokes, sitcoms and comedians are all designed to get us laughing, because laughing feels good. For us it seems so natural, but the funny thing is that humans are one of the only species that laughs. Laughter is actually a complex response that involves many of the same skills used in solving problems.
Laughter is a great thing — that’s why we’ve all heard the saying, “Laughter is the best medicine.” There is strong evidence that laughter can actually improve health and help fight disease. In this article, we’ll look at laughter — what it is, what happens in our brains when we laugh, what makes us laugh and how it can make us healthier and happier. You’ll also learn that there’s a tremendous amount that no one understands yet.
1. What’s the best title of the passage?A.Laughter |
B.The joke between Gates and the president of General Motors |
C.Why do we laugh? |
D.Laughter and health |
A.Computer technology has developed quickly during the past few decades. |
B.Automotive technology has developed as fast as computer technology according to Bill Gates. |
C.The president of GM thinks it is impossible to build cars worth less than 50 dollars. |
D.If cars were less than 50 dollars, a large number of accidents would happen per day. |
A.situation comedies | B.tragedies | C.body language | D.fictions |
A.introduction of an article about Microsoft |
B.introduction of an article about laughter |
C.article about health |
D.introduction of an article about General Motors |
【推荐2】A recent experiment proves that bees can save time and energy when they fly around to different flowers.
Dr Nigel Raine, from the Royal Holloway University of London, has always been interested in finding out why animal behave like they do. He is also interested in bees. It was not a surprise when he and some other scientists from Queen Mary University of London discovered that bees can quickly solve a problem that takes computers many days.
Flowers make pollen (花粉), and when bees visit them, they carry the pollen to other flowers. The plants need the pollen to make seeds that will grow. Dr Raine notes that we get a lot of our food from plants, so it is important to know how the bees move around and take the pollen between flowers. The scientists wanted to examine the journey that the bees take and how they save energy when they do this. They completed the experiment on the roof of Queen Mary University, using artificial flowers and a large amount of nectar, a sweet liquid produced by flowers. They taught one bee to visit all the flowers in one place at the same time. When the bee got to know the location of the flowers well, they saw how it flew around and returned home with the nectar. After this, they changed the locations of the flowers. The scientists thought the bee would follow the route it knew already. This would mean that it followed a longer route than it needed to, and so it would use more energy. They watched the bee carefully as it travelled between the flowers in their new location, and they made notes. But in the experiment, the bee changed its route and flew a shorter distance.
The problem that the bee solved is similar to a maths puzzle called the ‘travelling salesman problem’. A salesman who goes to different places to sell things wants to travel the shortest distance. But he has to calculate the length of many possible routes to know which one is the shortest. A computer can calculate this but the experiment shows bees can do the same calculation quickly with a tiny brain. Scientists are very interested in how they do this. It would help us to understand how pollen is moved around. In addition, if they find this out, it could help us to improve communication networks. This might help humans to reduce traffic jams when there is an accident, for example.
1. The underlined word “nectar” in the third paragraph means_________.A.powder | B.honey |
C.vitamin | D.water |
A.bees could manage to avoid accidents |
B.bees showed signs of being very intelligent |
C.bees could take the same route they knew before |
D.bees were faster at calculating distance than computers |
A.pollen is moved around |
B.traffic jams can be reduced |
C.bees can calculate so quickly |
D.communication networks are improved |
A.A novel. | B.A website. |
C.A science magazine. | D.An advertisement. |
【推荐3】Can you imagine getting a major dental procedure without novocaine (一种麻醉药)? A scientist colleague of mine recently told me, rather than use it, he used a “focus in” meditation (冥想) technique to direct all of his attention to his mouth with as much calming equanimity as he could gather. Doing so transformed the pain for a few minutes.
A stream of scientific articles suggests that there are benefits in turning toward discomfort or negative emotions with acceptance. In addition, all of us can gain from finding ways to cope with stress and suffering — particularly when larger circumstances are beyond our control. As a researcher who has studied meditation for more than 20 years, I believe that the cultivation of equanimity can help.
It’s important to first define the idea of turning toward discomfort. I’m not advocating for people to put themselves in dangerous positions. But when we push ourselves into challenging or embarrassing situations, much like trainers who push athletes just past their comfort zone to make gains, learning often happens.
My own research indicates that meditation provides an ideal way to practice turning toward discomfort — particularly when it trains up one’s equanimity. In my laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University, we conducted several clinical trials on developing equanimity during mindfulness meditation training. This approach includes guided meditation exercises such as using a matter-of-fact voice to label uncomfortable feelings in the body or welcoming uncomfortable feelings by saying “yes” aloud each time a feeling is detected.
We hired 153 stressed adults and offered them a mindfulness meditation training program with or without training in equanimity. Our equanimity skills training group had significantly better outcomes on several measures. After just 14 days of training, for example, the participants who learned equanimity skills had significantly lower biological stress responses when asked to deliver a difficult speech and solve math problems in front of experts in white lab coats. This group also had significantly lower blood pressure and stress levels. In the days after training, people introduced to equanimity exercises also reported significantly higher positive emotions and well-being throughout the day and more meaningful social interactions than participants who received mindfulness training without the equanimity component. It was as though developing equanimity had transformed their emotional reactivity to stress, helping them better appreciate and enjoy daily life’s many little positive experiences and making them more curious and open to connecting with others.
We are expanding on this work in several ways—including through the development of an app that offers equanimity training on demand and with trials involving participants with stress-related gastrointestinal (胃肠的) disorders. Meanwhile other scientists are further exploring equanimity’s power. We are convinced we can each build our resilience (恢复力) on a personal level by cultivating greater acceptance of our experience — good or bad, painful or pleasant — in the present moment.
1. What can be learned about equanimity?A.It is a state of mental calmness. |
B.It is a form of negative emotions. |
C.It is a replacement for novocaine. |
D.It is the result of mindfulness meditation. |
A.Ignoring discomfort totally. | B.Detecting unusual behavior. |
C.Keeping emotions to oneself. | D.Seeing negative feelings objectively. |
A.the benefits of developing equanimity |
B.the procedure of mindfulness meditation |
C.the performances of two meditation training groups |
D.the relationship between equanimity and well-being |
A.Stress contributes to physical disorders. |
B.Pleasant experiences result in greater equanimity. |
C.People are likely to have easy access to equanimity training. |
D.Resilience can help people gain more acceptance of hardship. |
【推荐1】Remember being told by your mother to “go out and play” ? She is right. Aside from fun and exercise, there’ s another advantage to be outdoors: the better immune(免疫的) system. And this is not just for kids—everyone can benefit from a little biodiversity.
A study published in Science Advances shows that children’ s immune markers improved after just four weeks of playing in nature. Researchers looked at a group of children aged 3 to 5 years old at ten daycare centers in two Finnish cities. The playgrounds at the urban daycare centers were constructed from manmade, inorganic materials. The researchers transformed these urban playgrounds to forest floors complete with grass, soil, and planters filled with flowers. Children were encouraged to climb on them, play and dig in the earth, and be involved in the gardening.
Comparing the immune system of the children before and after, researchers noticed a huge improvement in children who attended the urban daycares after just 28 days.
The outcome offers hope for improving health, especially for those living in cities. A lack of biodiversity in cities is making the world sick, according to the World Economic Forum(WEF), noting that urban residents have more illnesses.
The WEF is also connecting this to a loss of biodiversity in cities. Many cities have paved the green spaces with concrete, leaving urbanites with less access to biodiversity and a lack of what is referred to as “old friend microbes(微生物)” . Found in forests and grasslands, the places where man originally evolved, these microbes strengthen and regulate our immune systems.
The Finnish research shows that interaction with microbiologically diverse dirt and plants can improve both the skin and gut microbiota(肠道菌群). As soil is one of the most biodiverse habitats on the planet, the WEF recommends that adults and children alike should be getting dirty and touching the earth.
The next time you suggest your children go out and play, join them. Head outside to a green space and become reacquainted with those old friend microbes!
1. Why did the researchers transform the playgrounds at the daycare centers?A.To get the kids to do housework. |
B.To urbanize the present environment. |
C.To create more natural environments. |
D.To entertain the kids and their parents. |
A.They are too busy to play and relax. |
B.They are unwilling to go into nature. |
C.They pay no attention to their health. |
D.They have less access to biodiversity. |
A.Living far away from cities. |
B.Keeping clean and healthy. |
C.Getting exposed to nature. |
D.Avoiding getting dirty in nature. |
A.Improving Kids’ Health Proves Urgent |
B.Nature Can Benefit the Immune System |
C.Join Your Children in Funny Activities |
D.Children’ s Immune System Is Improving |
【推荐2】The Mars 2020 rover(02W), which sets off for the Red Planet this year, will not only search for traces of ancient life, but pave the way for future human missions, NASA scientists said Friday as they introduced the vehicle.
The rover has been constructed in a large, sterile room at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, near Los Angeles, where its driving equipment was given its first successful test last week.
Shown to invited journalists on Friday, it is scheduled to leave Earth in July 2020 from Floridas Cape Canaveral, becoming the fifth US rover to land on Mars seven months later in February.
“It's designed to seek the signs of life, so we’re carrying a number of different instruments that will help us understand the geological and chemical context on the surface of Mars,” deputy mission leader Matt Wallace told AFP.
Among the devices on board the rover are 23 cameras, two “ears” that will allow it to listen to Martian winds, and lasers used for chemical analysis.
Approximately the size of a car, the rover is equipped with six wheels like the former US rover, Curiosity, allowing it to travel along rocky land.
Speed is not a priority for the vehicle, which only has to cover around 200 yards(180 metres) per Martian day -approximately the same as a day on Earth.
Fuelled by a tiny nuclear reactor, Mars 202(has seven-foot-long(2 metres) articulated arms and a drill to crack open rock samples in locations scientists identify as potentially suitable for life.
We are hoping to move fairly quickly. We'd like to see the next mission launched in 2026 which will get to Mars and pick up the samples, put them into a rocket and finally bring them back to the Earth, "said Wallace. NASA’s Mars 2020 will remain active for at least one Martian year, which is around two years on Earth.
1. What does the underlined part “pave the way” in Paragraph 1 mean?A.Making preparations | B.Finding suitable landing sites |
C.Setting up research centers. | D.Constructing roads. |
A.It looks much like a car with six wheels. |
B.It is an updated of the US rover Curiosity. |
C.It is solar-powered and can crack open rock samples. |
D.It is able to perform different tasks on Mars in search of the signs of life |
A.Lifestyle | B.Regional |
C.World | D.Culture |
A.The Mars 2020 rover has successfully passed its first driving test. |
B.NASA is planning a new round of space exploration |
C.Future human missions on Mars are on the way |
D.A new rover will be launched to carry out scientific research on Mars |
【推荐3】Many teens may feel anxious sometimes. It’s the kind of nervousness that makes you bite your nails before a big test. We spend more time online than we should. We feel good about ourselves or bad based on how many Likes and Followers we get on social media. Young people are developing a false view of life.
On the screen, we see what people want to show us. People usually only post photos where they are looking their best. They are surrounded by friends and seem that they are having a great time. No one seems sad or lonely. In short, life is fabulous. But sooner or later, our young people compare their real life to it. They find that theirs doesn’t seem as fun or exciting and grow worried that they may be missing out.
No wonder teachers are reporting more anxious students. It’s reported that a lot more college students feel ―overwhelming anxiety. The percentage jumped from 50% in 2011 to 62% in 2016. Anxiety is now the most common mental-health problem in my country. It affects nearly one-third of teens and adults.
Certainly, we can’t blame it on social media alone. We expect too much from our children and a lot of these expectations aren’t reasonable. Their schedules are packed with sports, clubs and homework. They don’t have enough free time. We want our children to succeed, and we don’t care how much it costs.
As parents, we must have more balance. On one hand, we push too hard, and on the other hand, we make life too easy for children. We shouldn’t and can’t promise our children that they will always be happy. We shouldn’t try to protect them from the problems of everyday life. Let them solve the problems in person.
1. What is the text mainly about?A.What causes teens’ nervousness. |
B.How to deal with teens’ anxiety. |
C.What a view of life means to people. |
D.How to treat social media appropriately. |
A.Wonderful. | B.Encouraging. | C.Anxious. | D.Doubtful. |
A.To draw teachers’ attention. |
B.To show teachers’ mental problems. |
C.To present the seriousness of teens’ anxiety. |
D.To show adults have more problems than teens. |
A.Try to meet their expectations. |
B.Help them with their homework. |
C.Give them more free time to play sports. |
D.Allow them to solve their own problems in life. |