Feitian Dancing Centre Would you like to master a special skill? Come here and join us! ¥50 / class (¥2,300 / year) Every Sunday (2:00 p. m. —5:00 p. m.) No. 123 on Liufu North Road |
| A．¥50. | B．¥1,300. | C．¥123. | D．￥2,300. |
2 . Polar bears are icons of the Arctic. Detailed monitoring of their populations is crucial for their conservation—but because polar bears are so difficult to find, we are missing critical data about population size. Scientists have now developed a new tool to help: DNA analysis using skin cells left in the bears’ footprints in the snow.
The scientists were inspired by the techniques that can be applied to tiny, degraded DNA samples. With these techniques, it isn’t necessary to physically capture bears, which can be stressful and dangerous for both bears and humans. Instead, the researchers can turn to the snow tracks of polar bears and look at sources of DNA left in passing—environmental DNA. "The tracks usually contain fresh cells, and the DNA is intact because of the cold’ storage’ temperature, "said Dr. Melanie Lancaster of the World Wide Fund, lead author.
The scientists collected snow from individual tracks made by Alaskan polar bears in the wild. Additional materials like hair and saliva(唾液)were sampled, confirming that the tracks provided accurate genotype(基因型) 24 wild polar bear tracks were sampled. The researchers melted and filtered the snow to collect environmental DNA, then carried out micro-satellite analysis. Although the concentrations (浓度)of DNA taken from trucks sampled in the wild were very low, 13 of the wild polar bear samples could be genotype, identifying 12 different individuals.
This technique has huge potential to inform conservation of these animals, to better understand their populations and behavior. Although the sampling has a lower success rate, ease of collection means that it can significantly expand sample sizes.
"We hope this method will be taken up by the polar bear research community, with the involvement of hunters, volunteers, and local communities, as a new way to collect information on polar bears, "said Lancaster. "We also hope the method will be expanded to other animals living in snowy environments. "
1. Why do scientists develop the new method?| A．To improve the environment in the Arctic. |
| B．To protect humans from the polar bears attack. |
| C．To find solutions to global climate change. |
| D．To gather essential data for monitoring polar bears. |
| A．Unknown. |
| B．Undamaged. |
| C．Unusual. |
| D．Unstable. |
| A．They tracked and caught polar bears in the wild. |
| B．They recorded the bears’ behaviors with cameras. |
| C．They analyzed DNA from polar bears’ snowy footprints. |
| D．They compared the polar bears’ genotype with other animals? |
| A．Disapproving. |
| B．Favorable. |
| C．Uncertain. |
| D．Suspicious. |
3 . I was surprised to find the congestion (拥塞) outside Layla’s primary school was unusually absent—I’d driven right into a parking space, and I was on time, for once. The school bell rang, and in a moment a stream of children made their way through the gate. But something was different—the kids were piling into vehicles in threes and fours.
Before I could enquire my daughter Layla, Mr Trent, the deputy head, approached. “Mrs Pavis, did you not read our letter?” Letter? What letter? I had a history of not looking out for them, and not reading them in most cases. “The letter? Of course. It must have just slipped my mind—I’ve been away with work.”
Now I was digging around in Layla’s messy schoolbag at home. Eventually, I found several letters, all addressing the same topic—parking outside the school gates. Apparently with some parents parking illegally, the police were about to get involved. “Why didn’t you give me these letters?” I demanded. Layla shrugged. “I forgot.” I was about to launch into a severe lecture when it occurred to me that I had always forgotten—I had forgotten to give Layla her money for cookery that morning and forgotten to hang out the kids’ washed clothes.
I contained myself and figured out that they wanted the parents to car-pool (拼车). I spent the next half hour ringing round Layla’s friends’ parents, enquiring if they would like to car-pool with us. Unfortunately, they were all sorted. It was my own fault—I should have read those letters ages ago. “Er... I overheard others talking about it,” Layla said, “They said they didn’t know who would car-pool with us, because we’re always late.” I flushed instantly. We were a disorganised family, and I was the one to blame.
I resolved to change. With responsibility for my kids, I find I am never, ever late. It’s good for Layla and for her older brothers, and it’s good for me, because now I never leave the house unprepared. I’ve even started checking the kids’ schoolbags for notes from school.
1. What did the author notice when the school was over?| A．It was hard to find a parking space. | B．Children were picked up in groups. |
| C．Her daughter was absent from class. | D．She arrived much earlier than others. |
| A．The reflection of her daily routine. | B．The realization of her carelessness. |
| C．The knowledge of her kid’s character. | D．The awareness of her kid’s depression. |
| A．Because they contacted them late. | B．Because they failed to keep the house tidy. |
| C．Because they couldn’t be on time. | D．Because they ignored the school’s request. |
| A．Action creates motivation. | B．Mother’s love never changes. |
| C．It’s never too late to mend. | D．Patience is the key to success. |
4 . China Science and Technology Museum has teamed up with space experts to spark students’ interest in the final frontier by opening an experience center to share knowledge about the country’s Tiangong space station.
The museum says it hopes to help young people understand how the space station works and foster greater interest in China’s manned space program. The experience center’s first event on Monday attracted space enthusiasts of all ages. To satisfy the students’ curiosity, the museum even had a replica (复制品) of the Tiangong space station’s core module on exhibit.
“I learned that the core module of Tiangong actually has three parts. I thought it was just one,” said Lang Xujun, an eight-year-old student from Yuxin School in Beijing.
..........................
1. Why has the museum cooperated with experts?
| A．To open an experience center in space. |
| B．To develop students’ interest in space. |
| C．To display China’s great achievements in space. |
| D．To attract more people to take part in the event. |
| A．Differently. | B．Critically. | C．Curiously. | D．Enthusiastically. |
5 . So the Columbia researchers came up with a system called Easy Secure Photos (ESP), which they presented at a recent conference. “We wanted to see if we could make it possible to encrypt data while using existing services,” says computer scientist Jason Nieh, one of the developers of ESP. “Everyone wants to stay with Google Photos and not have to register on a new encrypted-image cloud storage service.”
What’s the advantage of ESP?
| A．It can provide clear images. |
| B．It can decrease the upload time. |
| C．It can classify images automatically. |
| D．It can encrypt data on the original platform. |
6 . Aside from being beautiful and promoting growth, the team observed that due to these lights, they needed to use 50 percent less pesticides (杀虫剂) on the crop. This is because this specific recipe of lights activated the defense system of the plants. And as it works on all crops, not just leeks, Roosegaarde foresees a way to reduce the use of pesticides on many other plants. And his project will soon be touring 40 countries, and sending its dancing lights across the world.
Why are less pesticides needed on the crop with the lights alongside?
| A．The lights make it more resistant to pests. |
| B．The lights kill off most of the pests on it. |
| C．The lights are too bright for pests to tolerate. |
| D．The lights are equipped with a defense system. |
7 . A schoolgirl saved her father’s life by kicking him in the chest after he suffered a serious allergic (过敏的) reaction which stopped his heart.
Izzy, nine, restarted father Colm’s heart by stamping (踩) on his chest after he fell down at home and stopped breathing.
Izzy’s mother, Debbie, immediately called 999 but Izzy knew doctors would never arrive in time to save her father, so decided to use CPR.
However, she quickly discovered her arms weren’t strong enough, so she stamped on her father’s chest instead.
Debbie then took over with some more conventional chest compressions (按压) until the ambulance arrived.
Izzy, who has been given a bravery award by her school, said: “I just kicked him really hard. My mum taught me CPR but I knew I wasn't strong enough to use hands. I was quite scared. The doctor said I might as well be a doctor or a nurse. My mum said that Dad was going to hospital with a big footprint on his chest.”
What’s the right order of the events?
①Izzy kicked Colm. ②Debbie called 999. ③Izzy learned CPR. ④Colm’s heart stopped.
| A．③①②④ | B．④②③① | C．③④②① | D．④③①② |
8 . Companies which sell liquids like drinks or shampoo rely on bottles for their packaging. Usually these bottles are made of plastic or glass. But as customers have become more concerned about the environment, many companies have begun working to develop paper bottles.
Paper bottles are easy to recycle. They also weigh less than glass or plastic, meaning they’ll require less energy to produce and to move around. They’re usually made from wood pulp (纸浆), which is pressed into a mold (模具) to create the bottle shape. Since paper is soft and easy to mold, companies can design their bottles to take almost any shape they choose.
What’s the main purpose of developing paper bottles?
| A．To make packaging less heavy. |
| B．To reduce the use of raw materials. |
| C．To be more environmentally friendly. |
| D．To cut down on the costs of packaging. |
9 . Mr. Ferguson earned a bachelor’s degree in 1961 at Holy Cross University, where he developed an interest in painting. He served in the Army for two years until being discharged in 1963, and after studying briefly at the Boston Museum School, registered at the Chicago Art Institute, where he studied until 1966, when he entered the University of Illinois Chicago, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in 1966 in fine arts. Mr. Ferguson developed his interest and skills as a sculptor after moving to Baltimore to do further studies at the Maryland Institute College of Art’s Rinehart School of Sculpture, from which he graduated in 1971 with a master’s degree in fine arts.
What did Mr. Ferguson do first after serving in the army?
| A．He studied at the Boston Museum School. |
| B．He got a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. |
| C．He entered the University of Illinois Chicago. |
| D．He continued his studies at the Maryland Institute College. |
10 . Recently, a 1935 letter in which Ernest Hemingway detailed his catch of a 500lb blue marlin (青枪鱼), an adventure that is believed to have partly inspired his novel The Old Man and the Sea, has been sold for $28,000 (￡22,000).
...
Nate D Sanders, the auction (拍卖) company which sold the letter, said it documented for the first time in Hemingway’s own words not only the size of the marlin, but also the attack by sharks, reflecting the plot of the novel.
...
The Old Man and the Sea was also inspired by an anecdote told by Hemingway’s Cuban friend Carlos Gutierrez. In 1936, Hemingway wrote in a magazine ... about an old fisherman who caught a great marlin alone.
Three years later, Hemingway ... was planning a short story ... he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1954.
Which is the correct order of time for the following facts in the passage?
①Hemingway wrote a letter to describe his adventure.
②Hemingway caught a big blue marlin.
③The letter was sold at auction.
④The Old Man and The Sea won the Nobel Prize.
| A．①③②④ | B．②①④③ | C．②④①③ | D．②③①④ |
