Charles Darwin was a British scientist known for his support of evolution and his publications that helped bring the idea into the scientific mainstream. His theory regarding natural selection was supported by sufficient scientific evidences that were collected during his travels around the globe.
Darwin Becoming a Naturalist.
In 1828, Darwin joined Christ’s College, Cambridge, to study to become a parson. However, he was unqualified to join in any course other than an ordinary degree course. He passed his Bachelor of Arts degree in the year 1831. It was in Christ’s College where he met two influential people - Adam Sedgwick and John Stevens Henslow. They would help shape the rest of Darwin’s life as a naturalist and change our understanding of the natural world forever.
Henslow helped Darwin get aboard the HMS Beagle in 1831. During the course of his trip, Darwin collected samples of various natural specimens including fossils, plants, and birds. During this time, Darwin read Principles of Geology, written by Lyell, which suggested that fossils are animals that lived thousands of years ago.
This argument was reinforced in Darwin’s mind by the various geographical features and rich animal life he saw during his voyage. In 1835, the Beagle reached the Galapagos Islands which had a large number of animal and bird species. He collected various specimens and noted that those specimens that belong to the same geographical location were closely related, even though their feeding habits and structures were different.
Making the Theory
In 1836, Darwin returned to England and started to solve the riddles of his observations and understand how species evolve. He then proposed a theory of evolution by the process of natural selection after getting influenced by the ideas of Malthus. According to him, the animal and plant species that are best suited to their surroundings will survive and reproduce easily. They will then pass on the characteristics that helped them survive to their offspring. Gradually, the species change over time.
In 1838, Darwin married Emma Wedgewood. They moved to Down House in 1842 along with their children. This is about the time when he developed the theory of evolution through natural selection more fully. However, it took around 15 years to finalize his manuscript.
In 1858, Darwin joined with another scientist who had similar ideas on evolution. In 1859, Darwin published his book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. The book was criticized widely so he tried to answer their questions in an additional five editions which were published during his lifetime. Charles Darwin died in 1882 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
1. What is the best sub-title for Pragraph 3?| A．Species on the Islands | B．Travels on the Beagle |
| C．Inspired by Fossils | D．Species Collecting |
| A．It took Darwin 17 years to polish his theory. |
| B．Darwin firmly opposed Lyell’s argument after starting his voyage. |
| C．Darwin led a peaceful elder life without disturbance. |
| D．The Evolution Theory was criticized by the public, but Darwin ignored those voices. |
| A．In college, Darwin was unqualified to join in any course. |
| B．It is Adam and John that helped Darwin develop his artistic talent. |
| C．Not until Darwin went on travelling did he deeply understand the statement of fossils. |
| D．In 1842, he put forward a complete theory. |
| A．To introduce the Evolution Theory. |
| B．To show readers the proof of natural selection. |
| C．To introduce Charles Darwin. |
| D．To show how the Evolution Theory was developed. |
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【推荐1】Huawei Technologies Co. displayed its much-anticipated in-house operating system Harmony OS on Friday, marking what some call the Chinese tech giant’s biggest push yet to build its own software ecosystem for the era of the internet of things.
The move is also expected to weaken the influence of the United States government’s restrictions on Huawei using Google’s Android operating system in smartphones, analysts said.
Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei’s consumer business group, speaking in Dongguan, Guangdong province, said it is difficult to deliver a smooth experience across different devices with the huge amount of codes involved in the Android and Linux operating systems. Linux is an open-source operating system widely used in personal computers and other hardware.
“Harmony is a next-generation operating system designed to address the challenge,” Yu said, adding that it will be able to support a wide range of application situations, including smart TVs, automobiles and wearables.
The internet of things refers to a network of devices and other objects that can connect with each other and exchange data.
Yu said the US government’s restrictions have accelerated the company’s marketing of the system, which now has about 4,000 employees working on it.
The senior executive said Harmony can be used in its smartphones. But Android is still Huawei’s preferred choice for handsets if the company is allowed to use it.
“But when Android is not available, Harmony can be applied immediately to smartphones. Harmony is ready,” Yu added.
Jia Mo, an analyst at market research company Canalys, said even if Huawei does not use Harmony in its smartphones in the short term, its smartwatches and smart TVs can be equipped with Harmony to widen its use and accumulate more experience in building an ecosystem.
“Also, more importantly, Huawei chose to build Harmony into an open-source operating system and allow it to be compatible with Android. Thus Harmony will be more accepted by current Android users. This will prevent Huawei from repeating the fate of Microsoft in promoting smartphone systems,” Jia said. Microsoft failed to popularize the use of its Windows system in smartphones years ago.
1. What is the significance of the Harmony OS?| A．It symbolizes Huawei has finished its own software ecosystem. |
| B．It may reduce the threat from US government’s restrictions. |
| C．It will accumulate more experience in building an ecosystem. |
| D．It successfully borrows from Microsoft's Windows system. |
| A．Used harmoniously. | B．Operated quickly. |
| C．Resisted fiercely. | D．Monitored closely. |
| A．Fashion magazines. | B．TV interviews. |
| C．Historic documents. | D．News websites. |
【推荐2】The best way to see the world’s architectural marvels is to visit them in person.
Singapore
The architecture of Singapore is futuristic, to the point that visitors may feel like they have stepped onto a science fiction film. The Gardens by the Bay is one of the most visually striking creations that it has to offer, consisting of large parkland dotted with strange but wonderful structures.
Barcelona
Every year millions of people flood into this colorful Spanish city to see the unique works of famed architect Antoni Gaudi. The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia is the most popular of these and is still being built, in spite of the fact that work began all the way back in 1882. So if you want to avoid the crowds you can take your pick on your trip.
Athens
Ancient architecture is abundant in Athens, with buildings that have stood for thousands of years still managing to tower. From the inspiring remains of the Parthenon to various spirits including Zeus and Hephaestus, Athens is the place to visit if you are eager to see architecture filled with history.
Dubai
If you are looking for breath-taking architecture, Dubai will satisfy your curiosity. From the eye-watering height of the Burj Khalifa to the impressive achievement of the Palm Island, everything seems bigger in Dubai and there is luxury (奢华) in almost every aspect of the city, earning it a serious reputation on the international travel scene.
1. What is special about the architecture of Singapore?| A．Super modern. | B．Extremely old. |
| C．Pretty colorful. | D．Rather plain. |
| A．Burj Khalifa. | B．The Gardens by the Bay. |
| C．Parthenon Temple. | D． The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia. |
| A．To Singapore. | B．To Barcelona. | C．To Athens. | D．To Dubai. |
【推荐3】Surf holidays don’t have to mean noisy backpacker hotels and sticky floors. You can also book some truly unique surf stays right here.
The house on an island, Newquay, England
Separated from the mainland and accessed via a suspension bridge, this island is completely isolated (隔绝的) by water. It’s particularly famous for surfing and storm watching. Once on the island, you can pick your own flag from the collection in the house and raise it to let everyone know you’ve arrived.
Sleeps Six, from £ 1,776 for Three Nights.
The eco turf house, Isle of Lewis, Scotland
Folks in the northern hemisphere (半球) have been building such houses since 4,000 BC. Special roofs keep the houses naturally warm. These cottages also attract wildlife. For extra warmth, there’s under-floor heating and fuel-burning stoves. And stay guilt free－a wind turbine 300 metres away provides all the power to these eco houses.
Sleeps two, from £ 600 for two nights.
The inland surf camp, Bristol, England
The Camp at The Wave is minutes from an artificial surf break producing 1,000 perfect waves of varying sizes and shapes an hour. Unlike other surf destinations, you can book your trip for whenever suits you and be guaranteed perfect waves. These tents have a kitchen. There’s also a cafe on site.
Sleeps eight, two-night minimum stay mid-week and three-night minimum stay on weekends. From £ 105.
The coastal carriage, Ceredigion, Wales
The last of its type in existence, this Edwardian original sleeper carriage was built in 1905 for the London and South Western Railway. It used to form part of the Plymouth-Waterloo “boat train”, before it was retired from service in 1931 and transported here. Excellent waves can be found down the coastal path at Tresaith beach.
Sleeps five, from £ 354 for three nights.
1. What can we know about “The house on an island”?| A．It offers flag service. | B．It is surrounded by water. |
| C．It appeals to water skiers. | D．It is accessible by vehicles only. |
| A．The house on an island. | B．The eco turf house. |
| C．The inland surf camp. | D．The coastal carriage. |
| A．The eco turf house, Isle of Lewis, Scotland. |
| B．The coastal carriage, Ceredigion, Wales. |
| C．The inland surf camp, Bristol, England. |
| D．The house on an island, Newquay, England. |
【推荐1】Grace Murray Hopper was at the forefront of computer and programming language development from the 1930s through the 1980s. One of the achievements of her 4-year career was the development of computer languages written in English, rather than mathematical concept—the common business computing language known as COBOL, which is still in use today. Hopper’s contribution is still honored by the annual Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference.
Edith Clarke was a pioneering electrical engineer at the turn of the 20th century. She worked as a “computer”, someone who performed difficult mathematical calculations before modern-day computers and calculators were invented. Clarke struggled to find work as a female engineer instead of the “usual” jobs allowed for women of her time, and became the first professionally employed female electrical engineer in the United States in 1922.
On June 18,1983, Sally Ride transformed history when she became the first American woman to fly into space. After her second space flight, Ride decided to retire from NASA and pursue her passion for education by inspiring young people. As a result, she founded Sally Ride Science, an organization devoted to supporting students interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Ride passed away in 2012, but her work continued to inspire young women across the country.
Virginia Holsinger was an American chemist known for her research on dairy products and food security issues. Holsinger developed a nutritious drink mixture that is distributed internationally by food donation programs as a substitute for milk. She also created a grain blend that can be prepared with water to provide food for victims of famine (饥荒), drought, and war. Additionally, her work formed the basis for commercial products to make milk digestible by people. Through these discoveries, Holsinger’s work has had a major influence on worldwide public health.
1. What do Grace Murray Hopper and Edith Clarke have in common?| A．They were both programmers. | B．They were good at computers. |
| C．They achieved a lot in their own careers. | D．They struggled to find their suitable jobs. |
| A．The majority of engineers of her day were men. |
| B．Eith Clarke invented modern computers and calculators. |
| C．Edith Clarke was not expert at mathematical calculations. |
| D．Female engineers became popular due to Edith Clarke’s efforts. |
| A．She was talked into retiring from NASA. |
| B．She gave up her work in Sally Ride Science. |
| C．She continued to lead young American women. |
| D．She started to offer help to students keen on STEM. |
| A．Donation | B．Mixture. | C．Producer. | D．Container. |
【推荐2】British chemist David Evans has become an overnight celebrity（名人） on Chinese social media His chemistry experiments have attracted over 2 million followers in just a few months. Evans is a chemistry professor at Beijing University of Chemical Technology. The 60-yearold always wears a white lab coat, a pair of safety goggles（护目镜）, and smiles often. Some web users say he looks just like “the Grandpa of KFC”.
Evans has posted videos of various experiments. His most popular experiments have attracted millions of hits on video-sharing apps. Excited children's cheers and shouts cam be heard in his vides “I hope my experiments can arouse people's interest in science.” he says.
Evans has been interested in China since childhood. In the early 1970s, before the reform and opening-up, he viewed China as “a country full of mysteries”. He first visited the Chinese mainland in 1987 to attend a chemistry conference in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. He quit his job in the United Kingdom and moved to Beijing in 1996. Many of his friends though he was crazy. But Evans said they just saw China's challenges but not it potential.
Since 2011, Evans has turned to the Internet to popularize science. He learned short-video apps are also popular in small cities and rural areas. And he realized this enables him to reach more students, who lack opportunities to perform fun experiments. But even a one-minute video requires a considerable amount of work. Still, he thinks it's worth it to perform his responsibility to popularize science.
His experiments always fill schools' lecture halls with laughter. Some viewers call him “a Harry Potter-like magician”, but he disagrees. “A magician never tells the secrets behind his tricks, but a scientist always gives an explanation.” He sees himself as a teacher. He performs experiments t spread knowledge, inspire thinking, remove misunderstandings and show that science can create change. Evans says he looks forward to more “chemical reactions” with China.
1. Who is David Evans according to the passage?| A．A manager of KFC. | B．A film celebrity. |
| C．A chemistry teacher. | D．A British magician |
| A．Evans considered the U. K to be a country full of mysteries. |
| B．Evans first visited the Chinese mainland in the 1970s. |
| C．Evans didn't want to move to Beijing. |
| D．Evans attended a chemistry conference in China in 1987. |
| A．To popularize science. | B．To rise to fame. |
| C．To apply short-video apps. | D．To make money. |
| A．Evans knows exactly how a magic works. |
| B．Evans will continue to post videos of experiments in China. |
| C．Evans' students aren't interested in his experiments. |
| D．Evans' friends admired his decision to move too China. |
【推荐3】Most people know that Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner.
Born in September, 1897, Irene Curie was the first of the Curies’ two daughters. Along with nine other children whose parents were also famous scholars, Irene studied in their own school, and her mother was one of the teachers. She finished her high school education at the College of Sévigné in Paris.
Irene entered the University of Paris in 1914 to prepare for a degree in mathematics and physics. When World War I began, Irene went to help her mother, who was using X-ray facilities (设备) to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued the work by developing X-ray facilities in military hospitals in France and Belgium. Her services were recognised in the form of a Military Medal by the French government.
In 1918, Irene became her mother’s assistant at the Curie Institute. In December 1924, Frederic Joliot joined the Institute, and Irene taught him the techniques required for his work. They soon fell in love and were married in 1926. Their daughter Helene was born in 1927 and their son Pierre five years later.
Like her mother, Irene combined family and career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband, in 1935. Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed leukemia because of her work with radioactivity (辐射能). Irene Joliot-Curie died from leukemia on March 17, 1956.
1. Why was Irene Curie awarded a Military Medal?| A．Because she received a degree in mathematics. |
| B．Because she contributed to saving the wounded. |
| C．Because she won the Nobel Prize with Frederic. |
| D．Because she worked as a helper to her mother. |
| A．At the Curie Institute. |
| B．At the University of Paris. |
| C．At a military hospital. |
| D．At the College of Sévigné. |
| A．In 1932. | B．In 1927. |
| C．In 1897. | D．In 1926. |
| A．Irene worked with radioactivity. |
| B．Irene combined family and career. |
| C．Irene won the Nobel Prize once. |
| D．Irene died from leukemia. |
