As the costs of fuel, groceries and housing increase suddenly around the world, scientists are fighting inflation (通货膨胀) at the bench. Almost all items needed to conduct science are more expensive than they were just a year ago. And that means that nearly every researcher is feeling the pressure. “Nobody is immune to this economy,” says Tola Olorunnisola, who leads innovation in the lab at Avantor, an international science-management company in Pennsylvania. Olorunnisola visited labs in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Ireland to help researchers find ways to enlarge their budgets. “Scientists are becoming more conscious of costs,” she says.
The increase in lab costs has forced scientists to make some difficult choices. Scientific budgets are pretty fixed. If they pay double for something, it means they’re not buying something else. Scientists can keep their research projects moving forward, but to avoid overspending on their budgets, they’ll probably need to adjust their buying habits and take steps to make their labs more efficient.
Julien Sage, a cancer researcher and geneticist at Stanford University in California, estimates that lab supplies historically account for roughly 20%of his overall budget, but he says that the balance is shifting.
Without significant boosts in funding to keep pace with inflation, it’s up to scientists to find creative ways to diminish costs. One option is to rethink experimental design.
“It will probably take more than discounts from lab-supply companies to truly protect scientists from the impact of rising prices,” Sage says. “Unless something is done on a large scale to either stabilize costs or increase funding, science is likely to suffer. If you have less money, you’re going to have fewer people or be less productive, which means you’re going to have fewer grants (拨款) which means you’re going to have fewer people. That’s probably happening to a lot of labs these days, and the question is: When is it going to stop?”
1. For what did Olorunnisola visit some labs in different places?| A．Seeing how researchers struggle against inflation. |
| B．Proving everyone has to face the rising price. |
| C．Learning about the pressure of researchers. |
| D．Helping researchers overcome economic difficulty. |
| A．The cause of increasing lab costs. | B．The effects of the rising lab costs. |
| C．The tough choices of researchers. | D．The ways of making labs efficient. |
| A．Reduce. | B．Calculate. | C．Restore. | D．Keep. |
| A．Scientists face many problems | B．The price of goods is rising quickly |
| C．Labs have to tighten supplies budgets | D．People hold different opinions of price |
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【推荐1】Ridgewood is a small town 20 miles from Manhattan, New York. It is a quiet town, perfect for raising children away from the rapid pace of the city. However, besides hours of homework, many Ridgewood children have too many after-school activities — from swimming to piano classes. Some kids compare their life to that of a New York general manager who has an 80-hour workweek.
Children's schedules filled with homework and activities made a lot of townspeople worried, so the town decided to start a movement called “Ridgewood Family Night — Ready, Set, Relax!” The mayor (市长) made a public statement, calling for a town-wide night for families to do nothing. And schools and clubs agreed to support the movement so families could relax and get together.
Some parents like to talk about their childhood, one without so many scheduled after-school activities. As kids, they just went out to play with neighborhood friends after school. However, almost all these parents take their children to their regularly scheduled activities. These fathers and mothers feel it is their duty to make sure their children are prepared to survive in today's high-pressure work environment. They are afraid that their children can't enter the “right” universities and won't succeed in a more and more competitive world.
However, it seems that Family Night worked, at least to a certain degree. Cars moved freely around Ridgewood's normally busy downtown streets. Some families ate supper together for the first time in months. One family watched home movies of when the children were little, baked cookies and played games together.
At first, some people were excited that they could take back their lives. But sadly, few families now believe that one night will change them. Nearly all of the townspeople are sure that they will fall back into the old habit.
1. How can people benefit from Family Night?| A．They can learn and share knowledge. |
| B．They can rest and enjoy family time. |
| C．They have more time to discuss family matters. |
| D．They have enough time to talk about schoolwork. |
| A．It is held once a week. |
| B．It was partly successful. |
| C．It first started in Manhattan. |
| D．It needed the mayor's support. |
| A．It won't change their lifestyle. |
| B．It will help take back their lives. |
| C．It can't be accepted by the public. |
| D．It may help break kids' bad habits. |
【推荐2】Different contexts affect food production, processing, trade, marketing and consumption. As a result of this, the food availability, accessibility, and affordability as well as consumers’ eating behaviour and nutritional status vary. One possible picture is presented here to provide an idea on how Covid-19 might impact the global food system.
Consumer demand plays a crucial role in food production and their demands depend on purchasing power and preference. Because of the lockdown, there is no work for many people. As a result, they do not have enough money to buy adequate food for their families. The closure of restaurants, school meals and tourism businesses may reduce the demand for fresh food. People buy frozen, dried and canned food with longer shelf life. Energy-dense, less nutritious foods are often more affordable than fresh and nutritious one.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Covid-19 is not likely to be transmitted through food. However, workers can get infected by each other if they do not maintain social distance properly. Shortage of labor can not only hamper food production, but also the processing and handling of food. On the other hand, non-perishable food with longer shelf life may get priority over perishable food considering the demand. Some of these foods have lower nutritional value.
Around the world, millions of people depend on international trade either for their livelihood or food security. The virus outbreak might slow down global trade and marketing of food. As a result, countries depending on imported food can face difficulties. The closure of ports and other supply restrictions will prevent food supply. The price of transferring food within and outside of the country may get more expensive. It means import may get more expensive and export may bring less money.
On the other hand, the restriction in transport and supply can be the cause of food loss particularly for fresh fruits and vegetables. Companies may face difficulties to import the ingredients for different products, which may disturb the production.
1. Why do people purchase foods with longer shelf life after the lockdown?| A．Because the foods are more nutritious and more affordable. |
| B．Because they can buy enough food for their families. |
| C．Because the foods are fresh and frozen. |
| D．Because Covid-19 reduced people’s purchase power. |
| A．Promote. | B．Block. | C．Spread. | D．Resist. |
| A．Companies may make more profits depending on imported food. |
| B．The outbreak of the virus limits the import and export of food. |
| C．The cost of food around the country will increase sharply. |
| D．Inadequate ingredients leads to the shortage of fresh food. |
| A．Could Food Production Stand Up to COVID-19? |
| B．Do You Change the Purchasing Preference? |
| C．Can Universal Food System Survive the Lockdown? |
| D．Will Perishable Food Give Way to Non-perishable Food? |
Will you buy a 10-square-meter hallway in Beijing for 1.5 million yuan ($224,300)?
This seemingly absurd price was actually listed on the website of Homelink, the largest real estate agency in the capital. But why?
The hallway in Beijing's Xicheng District was shabby but it had independent property rights-and the children of the hallway's owner could seek admission to Beijing First Experimental Primary School, one of the best in the city.
The hallway is the latest example of the craze for buying houses near “good” primary schools. Since the average property price near the Beijing First Experimental Primary School has reached about 150,000 yuan per sq meter, the hallway seemed a good bargain.
Although the news created an uproar and the Beijing housing authorities ordered Homelink to stop promoting “constructions that are not designed for living purpose,” those who buy such properties often do not care much about their living conditions.
For parents who don't have connections but also don't want their children to study in “ordinary” primary schools near their homes, buying a house near a good school offers an expensive but easy solution to their problem. Cases of families selling their spacious houses to buy shabby properties near “good” schools are not rare, even though a “good” primary school does not guarantee good academic performance for a child.
Despite this, many Chinese parents don't want their “children to lag behind at the starting line. “For such parents, compromising their living conditions is nothing compared to the prospect of sending their children to a “good” school.
Perhaps the uneven distribution of education resources is to blame for the problem.
Earlier this year, the central education authorities announced a new policy to tackle the problem. Instead of going to the school closest to their community, children can now seek admission to several schools nearby. This gives the impression that parents now have a wider choice. But this has increased the worries for those who have bought houses near their target schools.
Buying a house near a “good” school and managing to get a child enrolled in it are like gambling on a stock exchange.
The gap between the increasing demand for better elementary education and the limited number of “good” schools cannot be bridged in a short time.
| A．So people should weigh the pros and cons carefully before doing so. |
| B．The school authorities will have to pick and choose candidates if there are more applications. |
| C．Still, the government should provide more funds for education and try to distribute education resources as fairly as possible. |
| D．No wonder the demand for and prices of houses near such schools have continued to rise. |
| E．The so-called good schools, which are limited in number, often get more government funds and resources than the rest. |
| F．All this creates a huge risk for people who have paid high prices to buy a house near a “good” school. |
【推荐1】Is there something that you’ve always wanted to try but just never had the time? Well, make plans to try it now since you are on summer vacation. Not all vacations call for taking a tour bus to take photos of famous landmarks. Some vacations allow you plenty of opportunities to learn.
The most difficult aspect of a learning vacation may be choosing one because the possibilities are endless. If you enjoy cooking, various companies can take you to Italy, France, Spain, Mexico or even Peru. Once there, you can learn to prepare the local cuisine (烹饪). Trips are often planned to fit in with local food festivals or special events.
The term “learning vacation” often brings language to mind.The best way to learn a language is in an environment where it’s spoken. Study Spanish, French or English. Or attempt a more unusual language like Polish, Estonian or Thai. You’ll be able to learn about the country and absorb the culture at the same time.
If you are fond of sports, you can polish your skills or learn new ones.Golf and tennis schools welcome players of all levels. If you want a bigger thrill, you can learn to surf, go climbing or race cars. It’ s even possible to learn the art and techniques of bull fighting while on vacation!
You can also discover our inner artist.Many places offer painting classes in different mediums.The scenic locations of the schools offer plenty of subjects that provide inspiration for practice.
If you prefer capturing the world on film, take a photography vacation. Travel with a small group to photograph beautiful animals or scenery. You can also practise your technique on people or at historical sights.
Once you decide on a vacation, choose a company carefully. Request names of recent customers you can contact, and then ask them for an evaluation.The more you know before you go, the better prepared you’ll be. Then go out and learn something!
1. Why is it hard for you to decide on a learning vacation?| A．Because it is hard for you to make plans. |
| B．Because the possibilities are unlimited. |
| C．Because there are many good foods from abroad. |
| D．Because there’re too many food festivals or events. |
| A．the environment is fit for you to use the language |
| B．you are able to learn the original foreign language |
| C．native speakers offer you a lot of chances to practise |
| D．you can learn the language and experience its culture |
| A．Car racing. | B．Playing tennis. | C．Rock climbing. | D．Surfing. |
| A．advertise some popular summer programmes |
| B．encourage readers to have a good time relaxing |
| C．offer some tips on how to enjoy a learning vacation |
| D．attract more readers to spend summer time learning |
【推荐2】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 |
| A．harmful to people | B．a weak point of shy people |
| C．the cause of unhappiness | D．a good characteristics |
| 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 |
| 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 |
【推荐3】While learning the science lessons, I used to get a doubt-why ears, nose, tongue and eyes should be called as special senses? The basic reason is that these are the channels through which we maintain contact with the surroundings. Though apparently it may feel like these are individual sensory organs, they do show some connectivity. Interestingly, our hearing is less sharp after we eat a heavy food. Isn't it good for a sound nap after a stomach-full meal? That does not mean we go deaf after a meal, but the hearing pitch does change after a heavy meal.
We usually give credit of the taste to our tongue, but do you know that unless saliva dissolves something, our tongue cannot recognize the taste of the food eaten？Taste is nothing but the food chemicals dissolved in the saliva being sensed by the taste buds present on the tongue. Try to dry off your tongue and mouth with a tissue paper and then taste something.
Women are much better smellers than men. They are born with this characteristic ability and can correctly pinpoint the exact fragrance of the sample. We all can store almost 50, 000 different scents, which are strongly tied to the memories.
Pupils do not respond to light alone, but to the slightest bit of noise around too. Thus surgeons, watchmakers and those professionals who have to perform a much delicate job do prefer to have a sound-free environment. Even a small noise can dilate their pupils, change the focus and blur their vision. If you do not wear glasses or contact lens due to having a 6/6 vision, you are just among the one third of the human population. It is now statistically proved that only one third of the population has perfect vision, the rest all are either wearing glasses or are trying to read with a compromised vision.
Each and every one of us has a particular or individualistic or characteristic smell, which is unique to us, except for the identical twins. This smell is very subtle yet can be sensed even by a newborn. It may be due to this scent that the newborn recognizes the presence of his parents around. Many of us can pinpoint the smell of our significant friends and colleagues. A significant part of this phenomenon is guided by genetics but it is also changed by the environment, diet and personal hygiene. This all together creates the unique chemistry that is individualistic for each person.
1. What does the example of “heavy meal and hearing” in the first paragraph prove?| A．Every sensory organs has its specific function. |
| B．We easily fall asleep after eating a heavy meal |
| C．We feel the world through our eyes, ears, nose and tongue. |
| D．All the individual sensory organs are actually connected. |
| A．Our sense of taste becomes sharper when our tongue is dry. |
| B．The chemical dissolved in the saliva helps digest food eaten. |
| C．Saliva plays an important role in identifying the taste of food. |
| D．The taste buds works better when there is less saliva in the mouth. |
| A．A craftsman who is working on a diamond. | B．An actor who is doing rehearsal. |
| C．A pilot who is flying a plane. | D．An engineer who is checking machines. |
| A．The identical genes guide him. | B．He can recognize their unique smell |
| C．He can hear their individual voices. | D．The sensor in his brain picks them out. |
| A．The discovery of special senses. | B．The functions of sensory organs. |
| C．The connectivity of our organs. | D．The differences in sense among people. |
