1 . An unusual experiment in Botswana suggests that painting eyes on the rear (臀部) ends of cows may help protect them from large predators (食肉动物) like lions. Protecting cows could also end up protecting the lions from angry farmers.
Large predators like lions are under pressure. Much of the land they used to roam (徜徉) has been taken over by humans. Many are hunted illegally. One serious threat to large predators comes from farmers, who often shoot or poison them after losing farm animals for their attacks.
This has long been a problem in the Okavango Delta. Some parts of the Okavango are protected, but there are also many small farms in the area, with between 6 and 100 cows. Lions are the biggest threat to cattle in the area. At night, farmers normally keep their animals in closed areas protected from predators. But in the daytime, when many predators are most active, the cattle are allowed out to eat grass.
Scientists from the University of New South Wales wondered if painting pictures of eyes on the cows' rear ends might protect them. The idea isn't as strange as it may sound. There are many examples of animals such as butterflies or fish using fake “eyes” to protect themselves.
Working with over 2,000 cows 8 on 14 different farms in the Okavango area, the scientists tested their ideas in a four-year study. The researchers separated the cows into three different groups. They painted large eyes on the rear ends of one group of cows. The second group got simple Xs. The final group got nothing.
The eyes worked very well. Of the 683 cows with eyes painted on them, none were killed in the four-year period. Cows with nothing on their rear ends didn't do so well. Fifteen of the 835 cows with bare backsides were killed. The scientists were surprised to learn that even Xs seemed to give the cows some protection. Only 4 of the 543 cows with Xs were killed.
1. What makes farmers become a threat to large predators?| A．Hunting them for meat. |
| B．Defending themselves. |
| C．Protecting farm animals. |
| D．Shooting them for pleasure. |
| A．They are close to life. |
| B．Their colors vary. |
| C．They are fierce enough. |
| D．Their fake eyes work. |
| A．By listing the number of cows. |
| B．By presenting the facts of tests. |
| C．By analyzing the varieties of tests. |
| D．By showing the differences of tests. |
| A．Protecting Cows Proves Urgent. |
| B．Lions Become Enemies of Cows. |
| C．Fake Eyes Protect Cows from Lions. |
| D．Cows Are in Danger of Extinction. |
2 . A new study found evidence that dogs developed in physical ways to present “puppy dog eyes” as a way to help connect with humans.
The study compared the facial muscles(肌肉) of dogs and wolves, which share ancestral history. Dogs broke off from wolves after being domesticated (驯化) about 33, 000 years ago. During that time dogs changed physically and behaviorally to adapt to life with humans.
The researchers examined the heads of six dogs and two wolves for comparison. They found the facial structures of both animals were mostly very similar. But one major difference was found above the eyes. The dogs were found to have two well-formed muscles around the eye that were not present in the wolves. These small muscles permit dogs to raise their inner eyebrows, the study found.
Juliane Kaminski, a comparative psychologist from the research suggests this eyebrow-rising movement causes “a warm” feelings in humans because it makes the dogs’ eyes appear larger. This expression also makes the dog look more like a human baby. The eye movement is similar to that which humans make when they are sad.
“The evidence is very obvious that dogs developed a muscle to raise the inner eyebrows after they were domesticated from wolves, ” Kaminski said.
In a separate part of the study, the researchers observed how 27 dogs and nine wolves interacted with a human. “We also studied dogs’ and wolves’ behavior. And when exposed to a human for two minutes, dogs raised their inner eyebrows more and higher than wolves,” Kaminski said.
The researchers suggest that the eye movements developed over time as a way for dogs to get humans to do things for them, such as giving them food, care or attention.
The only dog species in the study that did not have the muscles was the Siberian husky, which is an ancient kind of dog. The husky could be the best living example of what the link between dogs, and wolves looked like.
1. What is the difference found between dogs and wolves?| A．Dogs have nice eyebrows. |
| B．They have different ancestors. |
| C．They have easily distinguishable faces. |
| D．Dogs have additional muscles around the eyes. |
| A．Dogs have developed in order to get along with humans. |
| B．Dogs have learned facial expressions from human babies. |
| C．Dogs are intentionally raising their eyebrows to please humans. |
| D．Dogs have changed their behaviors to get food from humans. |
| A．It has lovelier eyes than the other dogs. |
| B．It seems much more like a wolf than a dog. |
| C．It can raise its eyebrows higher than most dogs do. |
| D．It is better at linking with humans than an ordinary dog. |
| A．The evolution of the wolves. |
| B．Dogs’ ability to connect with humans. |
| C．The similarities between dogs and wolves. |
| D．Changes in dogs caused by domestication. |
3 . Sleeping is important, but we all know that, right? Many people have experienced strange sleeping patterns, unusual dreams and a feeling of restlessness and sleepiness during the coronavirus lockdown, despite a good night’s sleep. So what sort of things can help you to improve your sleep?
Wrong Habits
Many myths related to sleep can be quite damaging for our health. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher famously claimed that she only hit the sack for five hours a night. But according to experts this is harmful to health.
Likewise, falling asleep in front of the TV is another thing to avoid. The bright lights can prevent you from entering deep sleep.
Wrong Ways to Help Go to Sleep
From a young age we’re told to count sheep to help us to nod off, with some choosing to stay in bed to battle with insomnia (失眠). However, some experts advise getting up and doing something mindless, like folding socks, to help us get in the mood to catch forty winks.
Psychologist Seth J. Gillihan PhD. recommends walking to help in the battle against insomnia. He talks about a sleep study published in the journal Sleep Health which suggests that those who walk slightly more will experience better quality and length of sleep. Watching what you eat or drink can also improve the amount of REM, or rapid eye movement you experience.
Snoring (打鼾)Can be Dangerous
If you’re a snorer, you might also want to take note. While most breathing noisily is harmless, it could be a sign of sleep apnoea, with people suffering from the condition more likely to have strokes or heart attacks, irregular heartbeats or high blood pressure.
A Short Sleep during the Day May Refresh You
Finally, decent nap, or even- power nap, can help you to be more alert, calm and focused. So while there are some good tips like exercising or folding socks to help us get a good night’s sleep, sometimes a good afternoon’s sleep can help us deal with the day ahead.
1. Why do some people still feel tired and sleepy in spite of having a good night sleep according to the passage?| A．They have slept for too long. |
| B．Their sleeping quality needs improving. |
| C．Their dream should be nice and happy. |
| D．Coronavirus lockdown makes them depressed. |
| A．Hitting the sack is bad for health. |
| B．Five hours is not enough for people to keep fit. |
| C．The bright lights of TV will stop people sleeping soundly. |
| D．Margaret Thatcher didn’t have a healthy sleeping habit. |
| A．Snoring will surely result in damage to people’s health. |
| B．When one is sleepy, quick eye movements increase. |
| C．A decent nap will affect your night sleep |
| D．Taking exercise may do good to your afternoon sleep. |
| A．a psychology textbook |
| B．a medical essay collection |
| C．a health and care section in a newspaper |
| D．an advertising leaflet in a drug store |
4 . We all know that friends are special people who we share our lives with, and who share their lives with us in return. But seeking friends and keeping the friendship going are never easy.
According to research recently published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, the key is to use “we-talk”.
Led by University of California psychologist Megan Robbins and her colleague, the researchers reviewed and analyzed 30 different studies involving over 5,000 participants. This largest-ever analysis “we-talk” suggested that the frequent use of “we” and “us” is linked to happier and healthier relationships.
The word “we” moves people from an individual position into a partnership, which makes us more interdependent. “The pronouns offer an insight into whether people see themselves as individuals or as part of a whole… Word use is a window into what people are thinking and feeling without asking them,” Robbins told Science Daily.
Their research also found that “we-talk” is helpful for solvi ng conflicts. “The primary point is that interdependence may bring about supportive and relationship-centered behaviors and positive perceptions of the partner—especially important in times of stress and conflict,” according to a statement released by Robbins’ lab.
US-based magazine Psychology Today used the word “union” to describe the impact on a partner upon hearing “we-talk”.
Contrary to “we-talk”. there is “I-talk”, which refers to the frequent use of first-person-singular pronouns, such as “I”, “me” and “mine”, when writing or speaking.
Earlier this year, researchers from the University of Arizona, US, analyzed set of data that came from 4.700 people in Germany and the US. They found that too much “I-talk” was an accurate linguistic marker for the likelihood that someone is feeling stressed or experiencing negative emotions.
“If you are speaking in a personal context—so you’re speaking about something that’s of relevance to you”, lead researcher Allison Tackman told The Independent. “But if you’re communicating in a context that’s more impersonal, such as describing a picture, we did not see the relationship emerge.”
As you can see from the two studies, too much “I-talk” can make you feel depressed. But “we-talk” can encourage you to become more positive and create a chain effect of healthy interdependence with others.
So next time you’re talking to a friend, try using more “we-talk”. You may find yourself feeling more positive and the effect it will have on your friend will be positive as well.
1. According to Megan Robbin and her colleagues’ research, we can infer the following EXCEPT ____.| A．Too much “I-talk” always shows pressure or depression. |
| B．“We-talk” makes us more dependent on each other. |
| C．The more we use “we” and “us”, the happier we may feel. |
| D．“We-talk” may help us build better teamwork in our work. |
| A．We may avoid arguments and conflicts with it. | B．It may help promote friendship in our life. |
| C．It can help produce a feeling of individualism. | D．We can become more independent of others. |
| A．A person tends to use “I-talk” too much if he is experienced. |
| B．“I-talk” is an exact linguistic marker for people’s feelings. |
| C．If person uses “I-talk” a lot, he is probably in a bad mood. |
| D．Someone likes “I-talk” in an impersonal context. |
| A．Using “we-talk” contributes to building good social relationships. |
| B．The importance of choosing the word in our daily conversation. |
| C．Using too much “I-talk” may lead you to become upset. |
| D．Introduction to “we-talk” in our daily communication. |
5 . Counseling(咨询)Services
Counseling Services is a place on campus where you can find someone to talk when you're feeling hopeless, lonely, depressed, confused, upset over a relationship, or just anxious. If you or anyone you know has been disturbed by recent events, please come to Counseling Services, which can provide a safe and comfortable environment for all students.
Service Time
Counseling Services will be closed from Monday. December 21st 2020 through the beginning of Spring Term 2021. But we will continue to provide Tele-health services by phone and email Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. We will be fully closed on the following dates: December 24th. 25th. 30th. 31st. January 1st. 2021.
Appointment
To make an appointment, call (715) S36-552I during our business hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 am-12:00 am, 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm. We are open 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on Wednesdays.
What You Can Get
In addition to services on phones or on line, you can now check out our Attacking. Anxiety and Depression Workshop Videos, or see what our office is up to on Instagram and Facebook. We have also been collecting COVID-19 specific online resources.
If you want to know more, please click here.
1. Who may need Counseling Services?| A．Anyone living alone | B．Pupils wanting to live comfortably |
| C．Students suffering from anxiety | D．Students feeling hopeful |
| A．Wednesday | B．Friday | C．Monday | D．Tuesday |
| A．Counseling Services will be closed on Monday. |
| B．COVID-19 specific online resources are provided. |
| C．Counseling Services is a place outside school. |
| D．Counseling services are available on December 25th. |
| A．A textbook. | B．A guidebook. |
| C．A magazine. | D．A website |
6 . It was in my first year of work as a doctor. My mouth was dry, my palms sweaty and my voice trembling. The only thing that kept me focused was the thought that things were so much worse for the family I was talking to.
A woman in her early twenties had been brought in after a road traffic accident. She had suffered multiple injuries and had been rushed up to theatre. The surgeons had been unable to save her life and she died on the table. Ashen-faced, the consultant (会诊医生) told the woman's family the news. “Tom, I think it would be nice if it came from you,” my consultant said.
I stared blankly. “What?” I asked.
“About organ donation,” he replied. I swallowed hard. Surely this would be the last thing they'd want to talk about. It felt acutely awkward and ill-timed to be considering this kind of conversation while they were being engulfed in grief. But the problem with organ donation is that every minute counts. The clock is ticking because the sooner organs can be transplanted, the better the chance they will survive in the recipient's (接受者) body.
I began to feel sick. I opened the door and sat opposite them, convinced that I was only going to make things worse for them.
“It's what she'd have wanted,” the mother said before I'd even finished. The father nodded. “She was always so generous,” her father added.
As my consultant and I left them, it occurred to me that I'd been wrong in thinking it would be an awkward conversation. Nothing could take away the pain of having lost their daughter. Yet this last, final act had comforted them and helped them feel that the spirit of their daughter lived on m this act of generosity. Strangely, it is one of the most heart-wanning conversations I have ever had.
1. The first two paragraphs suggest________.| A．the woman died on the scene |
| B．it was hard for the author to face death |
| C．the author witnessed the traffic accident |
| D．the woman's death was told by the consultant |
| A．He was caught in a dilemma. | B．He was seriously ill at that time. |
| C．He failed to transplant the organ. | D．The woman's chance of survival was slim. |
| A．To do the author a favor. | B．To show respect for the doctor. |
| C．To follow then daughter’s will. | D．To end the awkward conversation. |
| A．The consultant’s assistance. | B．The author’s consideration. |
| C．The donor’s kindness. | D．The recipient’s appreciation. |
7 . I took a job at a vet clinic almost five decades ago. As an animal lover, I accepted the position on the condition that I wouldn’t have to assist with any wounded animals. I couldn’t bear to see any creature in pain.
At the end of my first week, we were closing the office when a young man ran up to us holding severely injured Doberman pinscher puppy (杜宾幼犬) in his arms and begging us to save his life. The four-month-old puppy had been hit by a car.
The doctor and I ran back into the operating room. The only place the skin was still attached to this poor little animal’s body was around one shoulder. The vet worked tirelessly, sewing him back together again. That was the easy part. The puppy had broken multiple bones, including his spine (脊椎). If he survived the next few days, we were quite sure he would never walk again.
That day forever changed my life. I became the vet’s assistant in all things medical. One of my first jobs was to give that puppy daily physical therapy. I remember moving his tiny legs to try to keep his muscles from weakening.
Weeks went by until one day. I felt this little fighter push back ever so slightly. And eventually he could finally use his legs.
Fast-forward about a year, I walked into the clinic’s crowded waiting room and called the name of the next client. Suddenly, a huge Doberman who had been standing quietly with his owner broke loose and dashed toward me. I found myself pinned against the wall with this magnificent dog standing on his hind legs, his front paws on my shoulders, washing my face with abundant and joyful kisses!
I still tear up in amazement at the display of love and gratitude the dog had for me that day all those years ago.
1. Which was the possible position the author took originally at the clinic?| A．A professional vet. | B．A medical assistant. |
| C．A regular receptionist. | D．An enthusiastic volunteer. |
| A．She fixed his spine. | B．She sewed his wounds. |
| C．She helped him to recover. | D．She taught him to jump. |
| A．He got well immediately. |
| B．He got fierce afterwards. |
| C．He was a loyal and adventurous companion. |
| D．He had great affection for the author. |
| A．A Loving Vet. | B．A Lucky Dog. | C．A Grateful Patient. | D．Life-exchanging Story. |
8 . Most of our everyday plastic items end up in landfill, left to rot away for many years. But some of it blows away, spoiling the countryside and causing damage to the natural environment and harming wildlife. The problem is most severe in our oceans. Research has found a deserted island in the South Pacific is littered with the highest density (密度) of plastic waste anywhere in the world.
The study described how remote islands act as a ‘sink’ for the world’s rubbish. They become collecting points for fishing items and everyday things including toothbrushes, cigarette lighters and razors-things that we throw away. Dr Jennifer Lavers from the University of Tasmania says “Almost every island in the world and almost every species in the ocean is now being impacted one way or another by our waste.”
This highlights the potentially deadly effect of our disposable (用后即丢弃) culture. When we throw something away, it doesn’t just disappear, it goes somewhere and because of the nature of plastic, it takes a long time to rot away and stays there causing great damage to the ocean’s ecology (生态). And worse still, plastic is broken down into tiny particles over a long period by the wind and the waves, then sea creatures at the bottom of the food chain swallow them. These creatures are eaten by the fish that we eventually consume.
The solution to this problem would be to use less plastic. Several countries now charge for using plastic carrier bags which reduces the amount used and some products now use natural and recyclable materials.
1. What does the author really want to tell us in the first parapraph?| A．It is a good idea to end plastic items in a landfill. |
| B．Plastic items blow away easily in the strong wind. |
| C．It is a bad habit to throw away plastics everywhere. |
| D．Plastic pollution in oceans is a most serious issue. |
| A．The islands begin to sink with much rubbish on them. |
| B．The islands have become gathering places for rubbish. |
| C．The islands are ideal places to hide the plastic products. |
| D．The islands are inaccessible due to the white pollution. |
| A．Impact on sea species. | B．Thrown-away rubbish. |
| C．The nature of plastic. | D．The ocean’s ecology. |
| A．Breaking the balance of ocean ecology. | B．Causing many sea creatures to die out. |
| C．Presenting potential risks to our health. | D．Cutting off the food chain of sea creatures. |
9 . The history of microbiology begins with Dutch cloth maker named Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, a man of no formal scientific education. In the late 1600s. Leeuwenhoek, inspired by the magnifying lenses（放大镜）he used to examine cloth, built some of the first-microscopes. He developed technique to improve the quality of tiny, rounded lenses, some of which could magnify an object up to 270 times. After removing some plaque from between his teeth and examining it under a lens, Leeuwenhoek found tiny twisting creatures, which he called “animalcules”.
His observations, which he reported to the Royal Society of London, are among the first descriptions of microbes（微生物）. Leeuwenhoek discovered an entire universe invisible to the human eye. He found different microbes in samples of pond water, rain water, and human blood. He gave the first description of red blood cells, observed plant tissue, examined muscle, and investigated the life cycle of insects.
Nearly two hundred years later, Leeuwenhock’s discovery of microbes helped French chemist and biologist Louis Pasteur to develop his “theory of disease”. This concept suggested that disease originates from tiny organisms attacking and weakening the body. Pasteur’s theory later helped doctors to fight infectious diseases including anthrax, diphtheria, polio, smallpox, tetanus, and typhoid. All these breakthroughs were the result of Leeuwenhoek’s original work. Leeuwenhoek did not foresee this legacy.
In a 1716 letter, he described his contribution to science this way: “My work, which I’ve done for a long time, was not pursued in order to gain the praise I now enjoy, but chiefly from a strong desire for knowledge, which I notice resides in me more than in most other men. And therefore; whenever I found out anything remarkable, I have thought it my duty to put down my discovery on paper, so that the scientific community might be informed thereof.”
1. Which of the following best describes Leeuwenhoek?| A．trained researcher with an interest in microbiology |
| B．A curious amateur who made pioneer studies of microbes |
| C．A talented scientist interested in finding a cure for disease |
| D．A bored cloth maker who accidentally made a major discovery |
| A．the discovery of microbes |
| B．Pasteur’s theory of disease |
| C．Leeuwenhoek’s contribution |
| D．the origin of the tiny organism |
| A．He admitted that many of his discoveries happened by chance. |
| B．He considered his work to be central to later medical breakthroughs. |
| C．He was greatly concerned with improving people’s living conditions. |
| D．He believed the sharing of knowledge was a key to scientific progress |
a. Magnifying lenses were built.
b. The “theory of disease” was put forward
c. Microbes were discovered in samples of waters.
d. Leeuwenhoek’s first microscopes were successfully developed.
e. Leeuwenhoek explained his thoughts upon his own contribution.
| A．a-d-c-e-b | B．d-a-c-e-b | C．a-c-d-b-e | D．d-a-e-b-c |
10 . GALAXIES AND TIIE UNTVERSE
Galaxies are huge groups of stars, planets, gas and dust. Our sun in the MILKY WAY galaxy, which measures about 100,000 light-years across. That long thin milky bright shape across the middle of the night sky is made up of about several billion stars in our galaxy. Our galaxy is spiral（旋转的）galaxy, but there are other types.
The Milky Way is only one galaxy among a few hundred million galaxies in our universe（each with hundreds of billions of stars）.
SPIRAL GALAXY: Galaxies that have spiral arms that emerge from the center. Our solar system in located on one of the arms of the Milky Way galaxy. Our galaxy has a huge black hole at its center that billions of stars resolve around. |  |
ELLIPTICAL GALAXY: shaped like a huge egg. The stars in these galaxies tend to be very old. Furthermore, the old stars in ellipticals tend to be yellow and reddish, which according to our understanding of stellar evolution, means they are smaller, dimmer stars. |  |
IRREGULAR GALAXY: There are many other shapes of galaxies that aren't spiral or elliptical. They are fit into the irregular category Like the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, they have rather unusual-looking shapes. |  |
1. What is true about the Milky Way?
| A．There are only stars inside it. |
| B．There is a black hole at its center. |
| C．It’s the biggest spiral galaxy in the universe. |
| D．It takes 100,000 years to get there from Earth. |
| A．Shape. | B．Size. | C．Number of stars. | D．Distance from the sun. |
| A．Whale Galaxy—similar to the Milky Way both in size and shape. |
| B．Cygnus A（3C 405）Galaxy—the brightest egg shape we can observe. |
| C．Cigar Galaxy—long and narrow galaxy that looks like an ashy cloud |
| D．Sunflower Galaxy—galaxy with multiple arms radiating from its bright core. |
