1 . A gene variant (变体) that causes the “alcohol flush (脸红)” reaction increases the risk of heart disease by causing inflammation of blood vessels (脉管), especially in drinkers. Around 8 percent of the world’s populations has a gene variant called ALDH2*2 that impairs the body’s ability to break down alcohol and causes unpleasant symptoms such as flushing soon after people drink. Now, researchers have shown why this change also raises the risk of heart disease.
“We are trying to understand why ALDH2*2 is associated with a higher risk of coronary arte (冠状动脉) disease at a cellular (细胞的) level,” says Hongchao Guo at Stanford University in California.
The ALDH2*2 gene encodes one version of the enzyme (酵素) alcohol dehydrogenase (脱氢酶), which breaks down the toxic acetaldehydes (乙醛) produced when alcohol is metabolized (代谢), and also mops up other harmful substances known as free radicals.
The gene variant also impairs the growth of new blood vessels. “That means that when there is a heart attack, when there is a need of blood vessel growth, carriers have less ability to generate new blood vessels,” says Guo.
The team found that an existing diabetes (糖尿病) drug called empagliflozin may reduce these harmful effects in people with ALDH2*2 who drink a lot of alcohol. But for Wu, the take-home message is clear. “If you’re missing this enzyme, try not to drink,” he says. “If you drink consistently, you are at much higher risk of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and cancer.”
Given its many negative consequences, there has been debate about why this change spread and became common, today being found in more than a third of people of cast Asian origin.
“My only explanation is that if you are missing this enzyme, you tend to drink less and there’s therefore less chance of you becoming alcoholic,” says Wu.
1. Which of the following may be caused by “alcohol flush”?A.Heart disease and high blood pressure. | B.A gene variant called ALDH2*2. |
C.Inflammation of blood vessels. | D.Diabetes and cancer. |
A.Exiting diabetes drug can help people witALDH2*2. |
B.People with ALDH2*2 shouldn’t drink alcohol. |
C.People with ALDH2*2 have less chance of becoming alcoholic. |
D.Drinking alcohol can bring about diabetes and cancer. |
A.Diabetes drug can free people with ALDH2*2 of alcohol flush. |
B.If you are missing this enzyme, you will easily become alcoholic. |
C.People with ALDH2*2 tend to suffer from cancer. |
D.More than a third of people of cast Asian origin may be affected by ALDH2*2. |
A.To explain the impact of genetic variant causing the “alcohol flush”. |
B.To introduce ways to stop drinking alcohol. |
C.To introduce dangers of drinking alcohol. |
D.To persuade people to get rid of drinking alcohol. |
2 . The art of living is to know when to hold fast and when to let go. Many people
Surely we ought to hold fast to life, for it is
We remember a beauty that
A recent experience re-taught me this truth. I was
One morning, I had to have some additional tests. The required machines were located in a building at the opposite end of the hospital, so I had to be
As we
I looked to see whether anyone else enjoyed the sun’s golden glow, but everyone was
Never too busy for the wonder and the awe of life. Embrace each hour,
A.take | B.put | C.make | D.get |
A.closed | B.tight | C.open | D.smooth |
A.amazing | B.surprising | C.frightening | D.frustrating |
A.gossip | B.fact | C.message | D.truth |
A.faded | B.ran | C.escaped | D.jumped |
A.tackled | B.reflected | C.failed | D.succeeded |
A.hospitalized | B.transferred | C.exchanged | D.delivered |
A.rolled | B.wheeled | C.pushed | D.pulled |
A.jumped | B.turned | C.disappeared | D.emerged |
A.horrible | B.terrible | C.awesome | D.shocking |
A.smiling | B.hurrying | C.trembling | D.lying |
A.indifferent | B.patient | C.innocent | D.excellent |
A.useful | B.expensive | C.valueless | D.precious |
A.strike | B.hit | C.seize | D.use |
A.accept | B.give up | C.stick to | D.cope with |
3 . Caffeine (咖啡因) is linked to lower body mass index (BMI) and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (糖尿病). Genetic differences in how people metabolise (代谢) caffeine may influence how overweight they are, but this doesn’t mean drinking more coffee will make you slimmer.
Genetic evidence indicates that higher levels of caffeine in a person’s blood may be linked with lower weight. But people shouldn’t assume that drinking more coffee will be a route to weight loss, says Dipender Gill at Imperial College London, who helped carry out the study. Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive (对精神起作用的) substance, with many people consuming much coffee or caffeinated soft drinks a day.
Numerous studies have previously suggested that caffeine consumption is linked with lower weight. But these were mainly observational studies, which recorded people’s health and their caffeine consumption, making it hard to know if caffeine caused the effects or just correlated with them. Gill’s team used an alternative approach, looking at genetic differences in how quickly people break down caffeine to mimic (模仿) the effects of giving different amounts in a random trial.
There are two genes that affect people’s ability to break down caffeine, meaning that after consuming the same amount of it, people with different variants would have different levels of it in their blood. Gill and his colleagues analysed data from several previous studies that recorded people’s DNA and tracked their health. They included nearly 10,000 people in total, although most included only people of European ancestry.
The studies didn’t analyse blood samples, but previous work has shown that those who break down caffeine more slowly have higher levels of it in their blood on average — even though they tend to drink less coffee. The team found that people genetically predisposed (有倾向的) to have higher caffeine levels had a lower BMI, a measure of a person’s weight in relation to their height; lower fat mass; and a lower likelihood of having type 2 diabetes, a condition linked with being overweight.
“We know that caffeine affects metabolism (新陈代谢) and how energetic someone is. It makes sense that there might be an association,” says Benjamin Woolf at the University of Bristol, UK, who also worked on the study. Gill says people shouldn’t change their drinking habits based on these results — and that people wanting to lose weight should be especially wary of consuming milky and sugary coffee drinks. “A lot of caffeinated drinks are quite calorific,” he says. “Caffeine can have other harmful effects, including effects on sleep and heart function.”
1. What can we learn about caffeine?A.Caffeine can make you have a slim figure. |
B.The people thinner may have higher levels of caffeine in their blood. |
C.Caffeine is the most psychoactive substance in the world. |
D.Caffeine can be only found in people’s blood. |
A.By finishing a questionnaire. | B.By doing investigation. |
C.By analyzing previous data. | D.By collecting blood sample. |
A.Cautious. | B.Scared. | C.Aware. | D.Doubtful. |
A.People should drink more coffee to lose weight. |
B.Europeans are more likely to be affected by coffee. |
C.Those breaking down caffeine more slowly have higher levels of it in their blood. |
D.Caffeine may have an impact on your sleep and heart. |
4 . Age has never been a problem for Thessalonika Arzu-Embry. After all, she’s already got her master’s degree.
The North Chicago-area girl started homeschooling at the age of 4. She began having an influence on others soon after. When she was 6 years old, she was an inspirational speaker at an organization called Tabitha House Community Service, a shelter for people who were forced to leave their homes due to the situations such as earthquakes, flood and other natural disasters.
At the age of 11, she graduated from high school and then earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2013. She completed those classes online as she was traveling for leadership meetings.
She doesn’t stop there, though. The girl plans to focus on aviation psychology(航空心理学) for her further study, a decision inspired by her father who is a pilot. She grew up around airplanes and took flights all the time. Her goal is to use it to determine whether pilots are dealing with problems that could have deadly results once the plane takes off—a topic that has been in the news lately. For her, it’s a mix of two of her interests.
In her free time, Thessalonika enjoys playing tennis, swimming and being active in her youth group. She also has three self-published books, which are on her site. Jump the Education Barrier is written to help students finish college, and In the Future aims to help business owners deal with trends. Her third book The Genius Race has a wider appeal. It is designed to help people to be geniuses in various areas of life.
1. What can we know about Thessalonika from the passage?A.She majored in science and technology. |
B.She gained her master’s degree at the age of 11. |
C.She started homeschooling when she was 6 years old. |
D.She got her bachelor’s degree through online courses. |
A.Majoring in aviation psychology. |
B.Being active in her youth group. |
C.Making inspiring speeches for leadership meetings. |
D.Writing another book to help people to be geniuses. |
A.To help people to be successful. |
B.To raise concern about psychology. |
C.To share her own experience with others. |
D.To give students a hand to complete college. |
A.Homeschooling | B.To Be a Genius |
C.Three Published Books | D.The Story of Thessalonika |
5 . 3-D printers are very hot today. They are being put to all kinds of uses, ranging from creating car models for movies to architectural models. However, none of these ideas are as shocking as the one suggested by Anjan Contractor, who believes that they will be the key to ending world hunger.
According to some experts, world population will increase to 10-12 billion by the end of this century. This means that food will become very expensive and possibly, even out of reach, for billions of people.
This is where 3-D printing may save the day. Anjan thinks that the only way to solve the problem will be to equip every kitchen with a 3-D printer and print out meals from tubes of powder and oil. He believes that these meals with a shelf life of over 30 years would result in less food wastage.
Most important of all, it would be easier to make food from things that we now do not consider edible (可食用的). A great example of that is the protein from meat. Most experts believe that as the population grows, the supply is not going to be enough to feed everyone. Anjan believes that we could easily get the same protein from insects. Though all this futuristic food may sound unappealing, the scientists believe that when faced with a terrible food crisis, it will be very welcomed.
While this may sound a little difficult to believe, Anjan seems to have convinced the scientists at NASA, who are looking for a solution to feeding astronauts when they go on really long missions, like the one being planned to Mars. They gave Anjan $125, 000 to start building the first real 3-D printer that creates the food.
Anjan is not the only one with this idea. A group led by Professor Hod Lipson has been experimenting with this idea since 2011 and has even succeeded in printing out cube-shaped creations from powdered milk and cookies with limited sugar!
For more information click here.
1. The passage mainly talks about .A.whether 3-D printers will have a bright future |
B.3-D printers will be used in every field in future |
C.3-D printers will solve the problem of the increasing population |
D.whether 3-D printers will be the key to ending world hunger |
A.people get unappealing futuristic cube-shaped creations |
B.3-D printers can only create powdered milk and cookies |
C.futuristic food that contains protein can be made by 3-D printers from insects |
D.insects will be the most popular food in the future, though unappealing now |
A.The people in Africa. |
B.The scientists and researchers. |
C.The astronauts working in space. |
D.The farmers and off-land workers. |
A.On a notice board. |
B.In a college newspaper. |
C.In an institution brochure. |
D.On a high technology website. |
6 . As the Chinese saying goes, a seed can change the world; a variety can benefit a nation.
Zhang Daorong, who has spent the last 26 years
The research into new varieties requires strict standards and
“Generally speaking, a good new
“Agricultural research work is
A.advertising | B.developing | C.discussing | D.observing |
A.journalist | B.teacher | C.researcher | D.manager |
A.precise | B.efficient | C.simple | D.expensive |
A.way | B.attempt | C.step | D.question |
A.encouragement | B.support | C.management | D.experiment |
A.begin | B.continue | C.follow | D.repeat |
A.practice | B.application | C.declaration | D.invitation |
A.environment | B.machine | C.farmland | D.variety |
A.produce | B.improve | C.show | D.develop |
A.Besides | B.However | C.Therefore | D.Otherwise |
A.watered | B.bought | C.protected | D.planted |
A.reporting | B.designing | C.conducting | D.studying |
A.normal | B.tough | C.varied | D.specific |
A.end up | B.run out | C.break up | D.pay off |
A.answers | B.comfort | C.dreams | D.courage |
7 . Ways to Improve Vocabulary in Just One Day
The average American has a vocabulary in the thousands. Try these tricks to make sure yours builds up.
Watch movies
“If you see the movie version of your favourite book you’re likely to have a deeper understanding and knowledge of the words in it,” says Neuman, professor of Childhood and Literacy Education at New York University. “Seeing and reading something on the same topic is really important.”
Read magazines
If you want to improve vocabulary, don’t just flip through your favourite magazine, really read it.
Listen to how words sound
Many people won’t remember tricky words unless they come across them frequently. But if you hear a word that you think sounds interesting, you become word conscious (有意识的) and start using it yourself, says Neuman.
Join a book club
“Book clubs are a wonderful strategy to learn new words,” says Neuman. Not only will it force you to set aside time in your day to read, but it’s also a good way to discover books you might not normally be drawn to.
Listen to the radio
Those types of programs can expose you to topics you may not be familiar with. Don’t miss these middle school vocabulary words adults still don’t know.
Pay attention to your surroundings
Next time walk down a busy street or take a walk in the park, try to describe what you’re seeing as much as possible inside your head.
Read, read, read
Even if you don’t stop to look up every single foreign word, chances are you can improve vocabulary simply by figuring out (想出) their meaning based on the context.
1. How many tricks mentioned above are through hearing?A.1. | B.2. | C.3 | D.4. |
A.By listening to the radio. | B.By joining a book club. |
C.By walking around. | D.By watching movies. |
A.A novel. | B.A science report. | C.A sports magazine. | D.A website. |
8 . Some places are to be appreciated and visited during the winter months, with fresh layers of snow transforming already beautiful landscapes into wonderlands. Read on to discover these winter resorts around the world that are enough to wake you up.
Gullfoss Waterfall, Iceland
The falls are especially impressive in winter. It has two impressive layers, reaching up to 36 feet and 69 feet, and it’s quite dramatic to see the golden light reflected off its steep water at sunset. If you want to catch a sight of the polar lights on your trip, you can also see it from September to mid-April in Iceland.
Tromso, Norway
Tromso is a charming fishing village and energetic university town. Located on the Norwegian Sea off the northern coast of Norway, Tromso is particularly suitable for winter holidays as it is a popular gateway to the Arctic Circle. Surrounded by picturesque glaciers (冰川), the winter landscape of this region is unforgettable. You can also take part in many guided tours designed around the local Sami culture and maritime history.
Banff National Park, Canada
As Canada’s first national park, Banff National Park offers excellent views of the snow- covered Canadian Rockies. Located about two hours’drive from Calgary, the park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with cross-country skiing opportunities.
Crater Lake National Park, United States
Crater Lake National Park, about a four-hour drive south of Portland, Oregon, is especially notable during the winter when the volcano lake is covered in snow. Crater Lake was formed as a result of a volcanic eruption some 7,700 years ago and is now a must-see for travelers seeking natural experiences, such as camping and cross-country skiing.
1. Where will you go if you are interested in Sami culture?A.Gullfoss Waterfall. | B.Banff National Park. |
C.Tromso. | D.Crater Lake National Park. |
A.They feature the polar lights. | B.They offer cross-country skiing. |
C.They are formed by volcanic eruptions. | D.They are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. |
A.To share winter travel tips. | B.To ask us to enjoy delights of nature. |
C.To persuade people to come to Iceland. | D.To recommend winter tourist attractions. |
9 . For many years, Croatian-American recording artist Nenad Bach toured the world performing with famous musicians like Bono and Pavarotti. Everything came to a stop in 2010, however, when Nenad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease — a progressive disease that affects a person’s movement.
“I love music,” he said. “When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2010, I didn’t know what it was. Five years later, I couldn’t even play the guitar.”
One day, a friend of Nenad’s asked him to play ping-pong with him, and Nenad said yes. The effects were immediate and positive: he woke up the next day filled with a “desire to live”, and his physical and mental issues had improved. Encouraged, he kept playing.
For months he told everyone around him about how ping-pong was helping his Parkinson’s, but his praise fell on deaf ears. Finally, he took matters into his own hands and started hosting Ping Pong Parkinson’s events at the Westchester Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville, New York. Once the events attracted enough attention, he started an organization called Ping Pong Parkinson (PPP) in March 2017.
PPP hopes to encourage people living with Parkinson’s to play ping-pong for its benefits. In addition to promoting social connectivity, PPP also says that it increases neuroplasticity (神经可塑性) which creates new neural pathways in the brain. Nenad has seen evidence of this with his own eyes many times in the past years. He said that their “facial expression changes from when they arrive until they leave. In addition, some people start walking again.”
Nenad has made spreading the word about the power of ping-pong his new life’s work! He hopes others will take up the sport and see the same improvements he’s enjoyed since the first time he picked up a paddle (乒乓球拍).
1. What happened to Nenad in 2015?A.His disease got worse. | B.He learned to perform. |
C.He began to play the guitar. | D.His acting journey ended. |
A.Organizing social events. | B.Taking his mind off his work. |
C.Setting up Ping Pong Parkinson. | D.Playing ping-pong with his friend. |
A.Uncertain. | B.Favorable. | C.Uninterested. | D.Curious. |
A.Nenad’s fighting against Parkinson |
B.The benefits of playing ping-pong |
C.The severity of Parkinson’s disease |
D.The sporting experience of Nenad |
10 . Tea culture is varied in different countries by the way tea is made and drunk, and by the places for tea drinking. How to make tea may be different. According to the ways of making tea, tea is classified (分类) into white tea, green tea, black tea, etc. And how to prepare tea may be different, too. In Tibet, tea is commonly boiled with salt and butter. People may drink tea at home or in public, for example, at tea houses.
As part of culture, tea has a relationship with history, health, education, communication and so on. It is commonly used at social activities. For example, afternoon tea is a British custom. Families or friends can communicate with each other while having afternoon tea.
Tea has remained a way of daily life in China and drinking tea has a lot of advantages. It makes people less tired, clears heat in the human body and helps people lose weight.
Chinese people are good at using tea to make other things delicious. Tea, originally (最初) served as a medicine in ancient times, is now not just a kind of drink, but also excellent seasoning (调味品). Here are two delicious dishes made with tea:
Tea Eggs: You can find them cooked and sold in street markets in almost every city in China. Dragon Well Tea Shrimp (龙井虾仁). It’s one of the most well-known dishes in Hangzhou. Before you drink tea, please check the following tips:
♦ Drink tea hot.
♦ The best time to drink is in between meals. It is bad for your stomach if you drink tea just before meals, during meals or soon after meals.
♦ Do not drink too much strong tea.
1. Afternoon tea in Britain is a _________ according to the passage.A.way of communication | B.hobby |
C.game | D.weekend activity |
A.a medicine | B.a drink | C.seasoning | D.a dish |
A.just before meals | B.during meals |
C.soon after meals | D.in between meals |
A.ways of making tea | B.places to drink tea |
C.tools for drinking tea | D.advantages of drinking tea |