1 . Barbara McClintock was one of the most important scientists of the 20th century. She made important discoveries about genes and chromosomes(染色体).
Barbara McClintock was born in 1902 in Hartford, Connecticut. Her family moved to the Brooklyn area of New York City in 1908. Barbara was an active child with interests in sports and music. She also developed an interest in science.
She studied science at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Barbara was among a small number of undergraduate students to receive training in genetics in 1921. Years later, she noted that few college students wanted to study genetics.
Barbara McClintock decided to study botany, the scientific study of plants, at Cornell University. She completed her undergraduate studies in 1923. McClintock decided to continue her education at Cornell. She completed the master’s degree in 1925. Two years later, she finished all her requirements for the doctorate degree.
McClintock stayed at Cornell after she completed her education. She taught students botany. The 1930s was not a good time to be a young scientist in the United States. The country was in the middle of the great economic depression. Millions of Americans were unemployed. Male scientists were offered jobs. But female geneticists were not much in demand.
An old friend from Cornell, Marcus Rhoades, invited McClintock to spend the summer of 1941 working at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. It is a research center on Long Island, near New York City. McClintock started a temporary job with the genetics department. A short time later, she accepted a perpetual position in the laboratory and got continual incomes. This gave her the freedom to continue her research without repeatedly asking for financial aid.
By the 1970s, her discoveries had had an effect on everything from genetic engineering to cancer research. McClintock won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1983 for her discovery of the ability of genes to change positions on chromosomes. She was the first American woman to win an unshared Nobel Prize.
1. When did McClintock get a doctorate degree?| A．In 1921. | B．In 1923. | C．In 1925. | D．In 1927 |
| A．male scientists were in great demand |
| B．male scientists were out of work |
| C．female geneticists were not in demand at all |
| D．young female scientists might have trouble finding a job |
| A．A permanent position in the laboratory. |
| B．A temporary job in the genetics department. |
| C．A job as a botany teacher. |
| D．A job to research cancer. |
| A．Because she received a degree in genes and chromosomes. |
| B．Because she contributed to genetic engineering and cancer research. |
| C．Because she made important discoveries about genes and chromosomes. |
| D．Because she was the first American woman who studied genes and chromosomes. |
2 . Educational programs often use fear-based messaging and films of crash scenes to reduce risky driving behavior among young people. But does this “scary” approach work? A new study suggests that fear-based messaging fails to reduce risky driving behavior, while fear-based Virtual Reality (VR) films showing a violent collision may actually lead young drivers to take more chances behind the wheel.
A team of psychologists in Belgium conducted a study of 146 students who had been legally driving for less than five years. The researchers examined the impact of both content (fear vs. positive) and delivery mode (2D vs. VR) of driver safety intervention programs.
By showing a serious consequence such as death, fear-based driver education films attempt to arouse a sense of fear and persuade young people to drive more carefully. Positively framed films take the opposite approach, using humor and modeling safe driving behaviors that result in positive consequences.
Three tests were used to analyze the risk-taking behavior of the young drivers before and after participating in the intervention program. One was a questionnaire. Another was a test on traffic, which asks participants to watch video clips of driving situations and choose whether they view a situation as too risky, for example, choosing whether to pass another car in icy conditions. A third test was used to measure the level of emotional arousal (such as feeling afraid) after watching a film.
The results showed that participants who viewed the fear-based VR film reported riskier driving behaviors afterward, while those who viewed a positively framed VR film exhibited the greatest reduction in risky driving behavior. This finding supports other research that has shown that exposing participants to an extreme collision tends to activate defensive mechanisms, such as paying attention for a shorter time, disengaging, rejecting a message, and an increase in risky behaviors.
“Fear appeals have been used in many health and environmental campaigns, such as smoking and anti-drug,” says Dr. Cutello of the research team. “Further experimental research is needed to determine whether the use of fear is effective.”
1. What is the new study about?| A．VR’s application on driving education. | B．Young drivers’ risky driving behaviors. |
| C．The deadly consequence of violent crashes. | D．The effect of drivers’ educational programs. |
| A．To assess driving emotions. | B．To judge driving behaviors. |
| C．To gain driving competence. | D．To keep safe driving in mind. |
| A．Drivers show fewer risky behaviors. | B．Drivers were less able to focus long. |
| C．Drivers were unwilling to cooperate. | D．Drivers became more open to advice. |
| A．More research should be conducted. | B．Fear-based education shouldn’t be used. |
| C．The result of his research is unconvincing. | D．The use of fear education has been cut down. |
3 . Babies are surrounded by human language, always listening and processing. Eventually, they put sounds together to produce a “Daddy” or a “Mama”. But what still confuses neuroscientists is exactly how the brain works to put it all together.
To figure it out, a team of researchers turned to a frequent stand-in (代替) for babies when it comes to language learning: the song-learning zebra finch. “We’ve known songbirds learn their song by first forming a memory of their father’s song or another adult’s song. Then they use that memory to guide their song learning,” said Neuroscientist Todd Roberts. “It’s been a long-term goal of the field to figure out how or where in the brain this memory is. This type of imitative learning that birds do is very similar to the type of learning that we engage in regularly—particularly when we’re young, we use it to guide our speech learning.”
Roberts and his team had a feeling that the interface (交叉区域) between sensory areas and motor areas in the brain was critical for this process, and they focused on a group of brain cells called the NIf.
“In order to prove that we could identify these circuits, we thought if we could implant a false memory.” First, they used a virus to cause the neurons (神经元) in the birds’ NIf to become sensitive to light. Then, using a tiny electrode as a flashlight, they activated (激活) the neurons. The length of each pulse of light corresponded with the amount of time the neurons would fire. And the birds’ brains interpreted that time period as the length of each note.
Soon enough, the birds began to practice the notes they had learned, even though they never really heard the sounds. Amazingly, the birds produced them in the correct social situations. The researchers say this is the first time anybody has found exactly a part of the brain necessary for generating the sorts of memories needed to copy sounds.
“This line of research is going to help us identify where in the brain we encode memories of relevant social experiences that we use to guide learning. We know that there are several neurodevelopmental disorders in people that have really far-reaching effects on this type of learning.”
1. The zebra finch is researched because its song-learning mode ________.| A．decides whether it will sing songs |
| B．helps it to say “Daddy” or “Mama” |
| C．is like the way babies learn speech |
| D．reflects its talent for imitating its father’s song |
| A．The interface in the brain. |
| B．Guidance from adults. |
| C．Imitative learning type like birds’. |
| D．The way of regular learning. |
| A．Scientists activated some neurons by using an electrode. |
| B．A bird only sings what it heard before. |
| C．The brain produces tiny electrodes. |
| D．Birds are sensitive to light. |
| A．A change in our way of listening and processing. |
| B．A chance to have relevant social experiences. |
| C．A better knowledge of the secrets of learning. |
| D．Identification of neurodevelopmental disorders. |
4 . COVID-19 Campus Rules Of UBC Okanagan
The rules apply to all students, faculty and staff at UBC’s Okanagan campus.
Travel in BC
A Public Health Order for all health regions in British Columbia calls on all individuals, places of work and businesses in BC to significantly reduce social interactions and travel. The current order is in effect until February 1, 2021.
As many are currently making plans for the upcoming Winter Break, all members of the campus community are reminded all non-essential travel should be avoided. The current orders suspend all events and social gatherings to significantly reduce COVID-19 transmission related to social interactions. The order allows for university students to join family for the holidays as this is not considered a social gathering, but it is important to maintain a narrow household bubble.
International travel
If you plan to travel out of Canada during the Winter Break, make sure you are aware of current travel restrictions and are prepared for your trip. Carefully review the updated Travelling to Canada Guide for important information on who is eligible to travel, documents to prepare, ensuring you have health insurance, making a quarantine (self-isolation) plan, and more.
Measurement of body temperature and daily self-assessment when coining to campus
UBC's COVID-19 Campus Rules require that all students, faculty and staff must have their temperatures taken and assess themselves daily for COVID-19 symptoms prior to attending UBC premises. Please use the BC self-assessment tool at https：//bc. thrive, health/. Anyone experiencing symptoms should follow the guidance provided in the self-assessment tool.
Maintaining physical distancing and wearing non-medical masks
Public Health Orders require all members of our community maintain physical distance and wear non-medical masks. As a reminder, UBC (University of British Columbia) students, faculty, staff and visitors are required to wear non-medical masks, when indoors on our campuses.
Be well, be safe and thank you for following public health and campus rule guidance.
1. According to the current orders, a university student is allowed to________.| A．attend a concert | B．host a party |
| C．organize a football match | D．get together with his family |
| A．To stand in line. | B．To wear medical masks. |
| C．To have temperatures taken. | D．To show health insurance. |
| A．in December | B．in February | C．in August | D．in September |
5 . Looking for a place to take a rest，sip a cup of coffee and have a furry companion? Welcome to animal-themed cafes.
In recent years，the combination of pets and catering has become incredibly popular in many cities throughout China. While many cafes started out offering the company of cats and dogs，others are expanding their range. Some cafes include animals like squirrels，raccoons and even capybaras.
In reviews，internet users have commented that their main reason for visiting these businesses is to interact closely with animals they have only seen from afar.
“The customers love animals. They are curious about these pets and want to raise one at home，but circumstances don’t allow it，”said pet cafe owner Tian Rui，Liu Jing，a Beijing resident who works in finance，loves pigs，but her parents would not endorse her getting one as a pet. The 24-year-old had to admire the animals through videos and images. But now，she can have close contact with an adorable pig every weekend in a pet cafe.
Also，these pet cafes serve as a shelter for those who find comfort in being around animals. “In this place，you can get close to the cute little ones in a very comfortable way without having to worry about safety and hygiene(卫生)—overall，it is an extremely comfortable experience，”said Zhao Ming from Tianjin，30，a frequent pet cafe visitor.
Animal lovers also expect the pet cafes to change people’s attitudes toward pets. Animals like ducks，pigs and sheep have been served as food for many years. People hardly see them as pets. But the pet cafes help shift their attitude from seeing them as playthings to regarding them as family members or close friends.
“Whether at home or in stores，these little animals are there for companionship and they bring warmth to our hearts. They care and understand just like family members. They give us much more than the love we give to them，”Zhao said.
1. Why do people visit pet cafes?| A．To pursue inner peace. | B．To appreciate animal images. |
| C．To experience a clean environment. | D．To have close contact with animals. |
| A．Believe in. | B．Approve of. | C．Prevent. | D．Suspect. |
| A．change our views of animals |
| B．teach us how to look after pets better |
| C．show us the importance of having pets |
| D．remind us to value our family and friends |
| A．Cafes Enjoy Great Popularity | B．Ideal Shelters for Lovely Animals |
| C．Animals Turn into Companions | D．Animal Lovers from Different Cities |
6 . The Polish take great pride in their culture.Our culture has many different customs and traditions.I will discuss three of these traditions and customs.
The Polish will say “Dziekuje” (“thank you”) only after receiving their change.What I mean by this is that when you are in Poland，you should wait to say “thank you” until after you have been given your change back.If you do not，you are telling cashiers (收银员) that they can “keep the change”.Often，people visiting Poland will feel that things are very expensive，until they learn that they are giving the store clerk permission to keep the money that would have been given back.
Polish people break “bread” with their families during their Christmas Eve meal.The Christmas Eve celebration starts with the breaking of the Oplatek，which is a thin piece of “bread”．In my family，the eldest in the family (my grandfather) takes the big Oplatek and breaks it into large pieces that he then hands down to each of his four children (my aunt，uncles，and father)．Then，these family members break their pieces into smaller sizes and pass them out to their own children.Once the last piece is passed down to the youngest，we say a prayer (祷告) and eat the piece of thin bread.
Polish people celebrate “Imieniny”,or Name’s Day.This day is more important than one’s birthday.They often name their children after a saint (圣徒) whose day is closest to the date that they were born on.Then their saint’s day that they were named after becomes their “new” birthday.On Name’s Day，families and friends gather together and enjoy a variety of food，drinking，and dancing.
As you can see，Poland has a few very unique (独特的) traditions and customs.I honor my Polish culture and will pass it on to my own children because it is important to know one’s own culture.
1. In Poland，if you say “Dziekuje” before getting your change，___________ .| A．the store clerk will keep it |
| B．the product will be changed |
| C．the store clerk will check the money |
| D．the product will be returned to the store |
| A．his grandfather | B．his uncle |
| C．his aunt | D．his father |
| A．a day to visit families and friends |
| B．more important than Name’s Day |
| C．near to his or her birthday |
| D．a day to honor a saint |
| A．He feels proud of them. |
| B．He shows no interest in them. |
| C．He is worried about them. |
| D．He considers them very funny. |
7 . Com has been a significant part in American food since before European arrival. After the Civil War, grits(粗玉米粉), which are made out of corn, became a diet mainstay(支柱) because water-powered mills turned up. They were relatively inexpensive and could be eaten with almost anything, making it possible for everyone to enjoy.
Grits are usually cooked with water, cream and butter over the course of many hours. There can be varied types of grits from smooth to grainy. There are even instant grits for those without the hours to cook. Worth noting is that sugar is not typically added.
Grits can be served for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but they’re commonly used as a base, usually topped with seafood and a delicious sauce. It’s a dish eaten by everyone from sitting presidents to blue-collar workers in a variety of ways, both in fine dining restaurants and oily spoons.
Shrimp and grits is the most well-known dish incorporating grits, especially in coastal areas like Charleston, South Carolina. It was originally a fisherman’s breakfast, a hearty meal before a long day of work, and today, it’s found on menus throughout the nation.
Chefs have also become creative with the dish, adding modern elements to the traditional. Mashama Bailey has a foie gras(鹅肝酱) and grits dish at The Grey in Savannah, Georgia. Edward Lee has prepared it like the porridge his Korean parents cooked during his growing up, but uses Kentucky’s Wiesenberger grits. Nathalie Dupree has made her career on the dish with her cookbook titled “Shrimp and Grits” , while Virginia Willis has appropriately titled “Grits”.
1. Why did grits become main food?| A．Com played a key role. | B．Dried com was extremely cheap. |
| C．The Civil War broke out. | D．Water-powered mills showed up. |
| A．They are popular among all walks of life. | B．They are smooth to feel. |
| C．They are placed on top of other foods. | D．They are expensive to purchase. |
| A．Grits with Shrimp. | B．Grits with sugar. | C．Grits with butter. | D．Grits with cream. |
| A．To introduce Lee’s upbringing experiences. | B．To promote Lee’s cooking techniques. |
| C．To explain a modern flavor of grits. | D．To advertise a newly-published cookbook. |
8 . Have you ever wondered if you see the same colours as other people? Most people know what blue is when they see it. They call it "blue” because they were taught the word and connected it with what they saw. But how do you know what you see as blue isn't someone else's red?
The ability to perceive （感知）different colours is up to receptors （接受器）in our eyes. Light waves hit these receptors and they react depending on which colour the light is, sending signals to the brain. The brain then reads these signals to determine which colour light the eyes are receiving.
Some people's receptors are more developed than others. The inability of the receptor to feel the light waves correctly means that some people cannot tell the differences between similar colours. Those with more developed receptors can see more colours. We sometimes hear people having an argument about whether something is dark blue or black. It might be because one person has stronger receptors to feel the light than another.
In the past, most scientists would argue that everyone saw colours in the same way. However, research was conducted on monkeys, in which their receptors were changed. This enabled them to see more colours than usual. Normally monkeys can only see blue and green, but the change allowed them to see red. Their brains automatically got used to new colours. This suggests that our brains may find new colors of the things we see. Colours could be a very personal experience , unique to everyone.
So, the next time you talk about your favourite colour, just remember if yours is blue and your friend says red, you two might actually be thinking about the same colour. What if everyone in the world has the same favourite colour, but just calls it different names?
1. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．How we perceive colours. |
| B．The inability to see colours. |
| C．What the brain does with signals. |
| D．The connection between receptors and light waves. |
| A．Some people cannot feel colours with their developed receptors. |
| B．The more light people feel, the weaker receptors they have. |
| C．People with poor receptors usually have colour weakness. |
| D．People who have strong receptors can see dark blue. |
| A．To test the monkeys with colours. |
| B．To develop the receptors of humans. |
| C．To enable monkeys to find more colors. |
| D．To prove everyone sees colours in a different way. |
| A．A film review. | B．A science magazine. |
| C．An art journal. | D．A business newspaper. |
9 . It may seem as if Mother's Day was invented by a company named Hallmark, but people have been taking time on the calendar to give a shout-out to Mom for a long time. The Greeks and Romans had mother goddess festivals — although their celebrations didn't involve the menfolk taking their underappreciated mothers out to dinner. A more recent tradition was Mothering Sunday, which developed in the British Isles during the 16th century. On the fourth Sunday in April, young men and women who were living and working apart from their families were advised to return to their mothers’ houses.
Mother's Day as it is observed in the United States started in the 1850s with Ann Jarvis, a West Virginia woman who held “Mothers' Work Days” to promote health and hygiene(卫生 ) at home and in the workplace. During the Civil War, Jarvis organized women to improve sanitary conditions for soldiers on both sides, and after the war she became a peacemaker, furthering the cause by bringing together mothers of Union and Confederate soldiers and promoting a Mother's Day holiday.
Jarvis's work inspired another 19th-century woman, Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 Howe published her “Mother's Day Proclamation”, which envisioned(设想) the day not as appreciation of mothers by their children but as an opportunity for women to exercise their collective power for peace. Howe started holding annual Mother's Day celebrations in Boston, her hometown, but after about a decade she stopped footing the bill and the tradition faded away.
It was Jarvis's daughter Anna who succeeded in getting Mother’s Day recognized as a national holiday. After her mother died, in May 1905, Anna started holding yearly ceremony on the anniversary and conducting a tireless PR campaign to have the day made a holiday. In 1908 she succeeded in enlisting the support of John Wanamaker, the Philadelphia department store magnate and advertising pioneer, and by 1912 West Virginia and a few other states had adopted Mother's Day. Two years later, President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution declaring the second Sunday in May a national holiday.
It wasn't long, though, before whatever ideals the day was supposed to celebrate were buried under an amount of greeting cards and candy. By the 1920s Anna Jarvis was campaigning against the holiday she had been instrumental in creating. “I wanted it to be a day of emotionalism, not profit,” she said.
1. It can be inferred from the first paragraph that .| A．mothers didn't get enough appreciation in the past |
| B．Mother's Day was invented by Hallmark |
| C．young people all returned to their mothers' houses |
| D．Greeks and Romans were the first to celebrate Mother's Day |
| A．Ann Jarvis. | B．Julia Ward Howe. |
| C．Woodrow Wilson. | D．Anna Jarvis. |
| A．Because it was extremely emotional. |
| B．Because the festival was not profitable. |
| C．Because the celebrations went against the original spirit. |
| D．Because the day was celebrated in the form of exchanging greeting cards and candy. |
| A．The Definition of Mother’s Day |
| B．The Argument on Celebrating Mother's Day |
| C．The Story Behind the Creation of Mother's Day |
| D．Different Forms of Celebration on Mother's Day |
10 . Some Must-see Travel Destinations for 2020
National Geographic has issued its 2020 list of best travel destinations across the world and it's sure to inspire would-be vacationers.
Guizhou Province, China
Historically one of China's most undiscovered provinces, southwestern Guizhou is gaining global notice as a big data center. The mountainous region's plentiful water and cool climate are attractive to Huawei, Apple and dozens of other tech powerhouses that have been established there. This has improved access to the entire province, including the traditional villages of ethnic minority groups, such as Dong and Miao.
Zakouma National Park, Chad
Home to a rapidly growing African elephant population — some 559 in 2019 and a thousand expected by 2024 — Zakouma National Park is an off-the map African destination. The park's location, in southeastern Chad, one of the world's least-visited countries, makes Zakouma a best-kept secret. Illegal hunting previously had made the park nearly a war zone, with 90 percent of the wild elephants killed. Funding from the European Union has brought back life to the region.
Cairo, Egypt
The Great Pyramid, one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World, can be found just outside Cairo. This triangular structure has been of interest to travelers far and wide for more than 4,000 years. Yet splendid as it is, it also houses some of the most interesting mysteries. It makes visitors wonder what's inside the pyramid.
National Blue Trail, Hungary
Hungary is a dream hiking destination thanks to the country's National Blue Trail. Winding its way from Irottko Mountain to the northeastern village of Hollóháza, the Blue Trail is a wonderfully diverse web of paths labeled with white-and-blue way markers. As Europe's first long-distance trail, it's part of the nearly 6,500-mile European long distance walking route E4.
1. What can we know about Guizhou Province?| A．It remains a remote and little-known place. | B．It is gaining global attention for its history. |
| C．Its ethnic regions are more accessible now. | D．Few tech companies have been set up there. |
| A．Cairo, Egypt. | B．Guizhou Province, China. |
| C．Zakouma National Park, Chad. | D．National Blue Trail, Hungary. |
| A．The number of elephants in Zakouma is increasing. |
| B．The Great Pyramid lies in the inner city of Cairo. |
| C．National Blue Trail is the longest path in Europe. |
| D．All four destinations are ideal for animal lovers. |
