1 . Those days of sucking (吮吸) up the sides of your rapidly melting (融化) ice cream may soon be over. Researchers have discovered a natural protein that could be added to everyone’s favorite summertime snack to keep it solid for longer, according to a press release from the University of Edinburg in Scotland.
Most people know that, at its most basic, ice cream is made of milk and sugar. But it has other ingredients that give it a solid consistency (黏稠度) — a fat (often oil), air bubbles, and ice crystals. The protein that the researchers discovered, called BsIA, coats all three of them to slow down the rate at which the ice melts and the air escapes. In one study of the protein, published earlier this year, the researchers call BsIA a “raincoat” that can act as a film to keep everything inside it for just a little longer. That same quality prevents big pieces of ice crystals from forming, which can happen if you leave ice cream in the fridge for too long.
BsIA is found in bacteria called Bacillus subtilis that is common in soil, and is already present in some foods. So adding the protein to ice cream wouldn’t bring the same sorts of long-term health concerns as would artificial ingredients (人造添加剂). The researchers note that producers could also add BsIA to ice cream to reduce their fat and sugar content.
Though the researchers have published two papers about BsIA and have tested it in the lab, they are staying quiet on the most recent data they collected, as the Washington Post notes. Importantly, the researchers make no mention about how the new ingredient might affect ice cream’s taste or how much we might enjoy eating it. What’s the good of long-lasting ice cream if you don’t even like it? But it might not be too long before you can try it out for yourself; ice cream with BsIA might be available within three to five years.
1. According to the passage, what is BsIA?| A．A group of ice crystals. | B．A sort of natural protein. |
| C．A kind of man-made bacteria. | D．A type of artificial film. |
| A．Covers. | B．Produces. | C．Melts. | D．Changes |
| A．It exists widely in food. |
| B．It has the same function as sugar. |
| C．It can speed up the freezing of ice crystals. |
| D．It can slow down the melting rate of ice cream. |
| A．They can add extra flavor to food. |
| B．They are more costly than BsIA. |
| C．They may do harm to people’s health. |
| D．They can’t be mass-produced like BsIA. |
| A．There is still uncertainty in BsIA. |
| B．BsIA faces an unpromising future. |
| C．BsIA won’t affect the taste of ice cream. |
| D．Everyone likes the ice cream with BsIA. |
| A．A guidebook. | B．A magazine. | C．A novel. | D．A diary. |
2 . Thanks to its harsh environment, Antarctica remained largely untouched by humans for many millennia, allowing a thriving ecosystem to evolve. However, since the 1990s, the last true wilderness on the planet is becoming an increasingly popular destination for adventure-seeking tourists. Now, a new study declares that the visitors may be leaving behind harmful bacteria which could devastate the area's native bird population.
Humans can infect animals with illnesses such as the flu. Researchers, however, believed that the Antarctic animals were immune to the danger due to the continent's extreme weather. However, microbiologist Marta Cerda-Cuellar was not convinced.
She and some colleagues decided to examine waste samples from Antarctic birds for evidence of human bacteria. To ensure the waste was not polluted, the scientists had to collect it from the birds themselves.
The results of their study revealed the presence of several types of human bacteria in the bird waste. This included a common strain (品种) of bacteria that causes food poisoning in humans. The researchers say the bacteria strains were resistant to commonly-used human antibiotics, indicating they were brought in by the visitors, rather than migratory birds (候鸟).
“These strains, which are a common cause for infections in humans and livestock, do not usually cause death outbreaks in wild animals," says Gonzalez-Solis. "However, the emerging or invasive pathogens (病原体) that arrive to highly sensitive populations could have severe consequences and cause the local collapse and extinction of some populations." The researcher also fears the presence of these bugs could foreshadow the arrival of other, more deadly, pathogens as the number of tourists people increases.
Experts believe the only way to prevent the mass destruction of the birds is to impose stricter regulations or, at least, put the ones already in place into effect. For example, while the Antarctica Treaty requires visitors to carry their waste back home to safeguard the pristine environment, the regulation is rarely enforced. Nowadays, some officials are taking steps to save the vulnerable birds before it's too late.
1. What problem is Antarctica facing according to Paragraph 1&2?| A．The increasing number of tourists. | B．The worsening wilderness. |
| C．The replaced native bird population. | D．The spread of infectious illnesses. |
| A．Destroy. | B．Increase. | C．Protect. | D．Benefit. |
| A．To treat their illness. | B．To get their waste. |
| C．To raise them as pets. | D．To study their lifestyles. |
| A．Bacteria can be killed by human antibiotics. |
| B．Extreme weather keeps Antarctic animals healthy. |
| C．Humans bring bacteria to Antarctica. |
| D．Antarctic animals are immune to human bacteria. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Doubtful. | C．Ambiguous. | D．Optimistic. |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Travel. | C．Nature. | D．Education. |
3 . A night in the African rainforest camping under the stars is just one of the many never-to-be-forgotten experiences of our latest offer to Weekly News readers.
Day 1: The 5* Victoria Falls Hotel will meet your needs during your first day in Africa after the 30 km drive from the international airport. Located only minutes from the falls, the hotel has splendid views of the breathtaking waters.
Day 2: Your night under the stars, within few minutes’ walk of the Victoria Falls. Our purpose-built campsite offers our guests a chance to feel the atmosphere of the rainforest. Your evening starts with a great barbecue cooked by our head chef, followed by a program of African music and dance. Then, as moon rises and the stars shine, you retire to your tent to sleep or to listen to the fascinating sounds of the African rainforest.
Days 3-4: The 5* Zimbabwe National Hotel will accommodate you in the heart of the Zimbabwean wilderness. By jeep from your campsite near the Falls, you arrive at midday via the Zambezi river. The hotel offers you everything you would expect from 5* luxury hotel. In the evening, enjoy our international menu, or relax in the gardens. Those who love adventure can join our specially arranged rafting trip down the Zambezi river.
Days 5-6: Arrive by helicopter at the 5* Plaza Hotel, only 20 minutes’ drive from the airport. Day 5 includes an amazing safari to see some of the world’s most unusual animals in their natural habitats. On the final day, you can make shopping trip into town.
Included in this special offer: 6 nights in 5* hotel accommodation. Depart from London Heathrow Airport. Bed and breakfast meal basis. Price (£1, 355) is per person based on two people sharing a room.
1. During Day 2, the tourists will have a chance to _________.| A．cook a barbecue | B．dance African dances |
| C．have a sleep outdoors | D．walk around the rainforest |
| A．helicopter | B．ship | C．jeep | D．raft |
| A．Day 1 | B．Day 2 | C．Day 3 | D．Day 6 |
| A．can enjoy free meals during the whole trip |
| B．have to pay extra money for a single room |
| C．should book in advance to get a discount |
| D．are required to be London locals |
| A．A travel guide. | B．A geography textbook. |
| C．A hotel advertisement. | D．An introduction to Weekly News. |
4 . Great Barrier Reef Choking on Pollutants
Attempts to protect the Great Barrier Reef are failing. A report released Monday by the government in Australia says water quality in the Great Barrier Reef is far below what it should be. It showed that pollution have decreased, but not enough to reach environmental targets.
Sediment (沉淀物) and chemicals can weaken coral, hurting its ability to feed and grow. Coral are live animals that take root in the ocean floor, but they are not plants. Reefs are the hard skeletons (骨架) left at the bottom of the sea by small marine creatures called polyps (珊瑚虫). The polyps then form the larger structure of a reef. Corals also are some of the most diverse ecosystems on the entire planet. They can make a home for invertebrates, crustaceans, fish, and sea snakes.
Steve Miles is Queensland’s environment minister. He says the research shows the Reef needs more protection. “Over that five-year period, we did see some progress towards our targets. Sediment is down 12 percent and pesticides (杀虫剂) loads are down 30 percent. But what is most disturbing is that these results are far from our targets. Progress towards these targets flat-lined in the period 2013-2014. If one of my kids came home with a report card like this, I would be a bit disappointed. There is more bad news here than good news. ” said Steve Miles.
The report also found that fewer than one-third of Queensland’s sugar plantations used techniques to reduce the use of pesticides. Only 28 percent of land managers managed their land properly. They had reduced harmful water run off to protect the health of the Reef. The official target is a 90 percent reduction in pesticide use within three years.
Scientists at the University of Queensland and the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences published their findings Wednesday, July 18 in the journal Science Advances. It found between 1992 and 2010, the recovery rate dropped by an average of 84 percent. But there is hope. The study also found some corals can recover quickly if “acute and chronic stressors” are lessened.
Meanwhile, the Australian government released its updated reef protection plan Friday. It clearly states global temperatures must be stopped from rising in order to save the world’s largest living structure.
1. What does the underlined word “They” in Paragraph 2 refer to?| A．Diverse ecosystems. | B．Sediment and chemicals. |
| C．Reefs and corals. | D．Small sea creatures. |
| A．He is satisfied with the protection of the Reef. |
| B．He thinks that the Reef needs more protection. |
| C．He feels angry with what his children did. |
| D．He is very happy about the Reef progress protection. |
| A．Not increase significantly. | B．Disappear. |
| C．Speed up. | D．Miss the chance. |
| A．were tough to deal with | B．failed to manage their land properly |
| C．reduced the amount of harmful water | D．were eager to quit pesticide soon |
| A．A news report. | B．A science fiction. |
| C．A book review. | D．A guide book. |
5 . While flat bread has a history that dates back to ancient Egypt, real pizza—pizza with tomato sauce—was invented in Naples, Italy. Legend holds that pizza margherita—filled with tomato, cheese, and basil, in the red white and green of Italy’s flag—was first created by Naples’ Pizzeria Brandi to honor Queen Margherita of Italy during an 1886 visit.
Today, of course, there are all kinds of pizza shapes, sizes and flavors around the world, but the original Neapolitan pizza is round, with a soft, thin center and thinker, crunchier sides. You should be able to fold it in four and eat it like a crepe. And that's the delicious treat that's now up for protection as an irreplaceable piece of global human heritage: This year, Italy is putting "the art of the Neopolitan pizza maker" on the list of candidates to become treasures of world heritage recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Universally recognizable, "pizza" happens to to the Italian language's best-known word, but that doesn't mean it's a shoo-in. "UNESCO has never listed a cultural tradition linked to food production," Peirluigi Petrillo, who prepared the documents to be discussed at UNESCO, told The Local.
The European Union included pizza in its official list of “guaranteed traditional specialities” in 2016. The list specifies that any pizza called “Neapolitan” must be no more than 35 cm wide, with crust of up to 2 cm high, topped with canned tomatoes, cheese from Naples, Campania region, oil and basil. The pizza must be cooked in a wooden oven, and be elastic and soft.
Italy also says that it has more UNESCO-recognized cultural treasures than any other country. The final decision on whether pizza-making makes one more will be announced in 2022, after discussion with all 193 UN member-states.
1. Pizza margherita got such a name because________.| A．Queen Margherita gave it the name | B．it was specially created for Queen Margherita |
| C．it was created in Queen Margherita’s time | D．Queen Margherita liked eating it very much |
| A．Neapolitan pizza known in the world | B．Neapolitan pizza sold all over the world |
| C．the pizza-making art become a world heritage | D．Neapolitan pizza be thought highly of |
| A．Neapolitan pizza is only well-known in Italy |
| B．Neapolitan pizza will be recognized in the world. |
| C．The dream of Italy is sure to come true in 2022. |
| D．Neapolitan pizza might be refused by UNESCO. |
| A．has specific requirements | B．will become popular next year |
| C．must be admitted by UNESCO | D．must be created by Naples’ Pizzeria Brandi |
| A．Travel and Sightseeing | B．Food and Culture |
| C．Economy and Finance | D．Recreation and Relaxation |
6 . Renewable energy projects, including onshore and offshore wind and solar farms, have so far been subsidized (资助) by government support schemes. This has led to some to complain that clean energy is pushing up bills.
However, the most recently approved offshore wind projects will most likely operate with ‘negative subsidies’ -- paying money back to the government. The money will go towards reducing household energy bills as the offshore wind farms start producing power in the mid-2020s.
This is the conclusion of an analysis by an international team led by Imperial College London researchers published today in Nature Energy.
Lead researcher Dr Malte Jansen, from the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial, said: “Offshore wind power will soon be so cheap to produce that it will undercut fossil-fueled power stations and may be the cheapest form of energy for the UK. Energy subsidies used to push up energy bills, but within a few years cheap renewable energy will see them brought down for the first time. This is an astonishing development.”
The analysis for five countries in Europe, including the UK, focused on a series of government auctions (拍卖) for offshore wind farms between February 2015 and September 2019. Companies that want to build wind farms bid in the auctions by stating the price at which they will sell the energy they produce to the government.
These are known as ‘contracts for difference’ or CfDs. If a company’s bid is higher than the wholesale electricity price on the UK market once the wind farm is up and running, then the company will receive a subsidy from the government to top up the price.
However, if the stated price (规定价格) is less than the wholesale price, then the company will pay the government back the difference. This payback is then passed through to consumer’s energy bills, reducing the amount that homes and businesses will pay for electricity.
The winning companies said they could build new offshore wind farms for around £40 per megawatt hour (MWh) of power. This was a new record set by these wind farms with bids 30 percent lower than just two years earlier.
1. What does the passage mainly talk about?| A．Offshore wind farms to be built in the UK could reduce household energy bills by producing electricity very cheaply. |
| B．Offshore wind farms will not be subsidized by government in the near future. |
| C．The importance of CfDs. |
| D．The operation of negative subsidies. |
| A．will stop producing power in the mid-2020s |
| B．are paying money back to the government |
| C．will help reduce household energy bills |
| D．will all operate with ‘negative subsidies’ |
| A．make up |
| B．take up |
| C．cover |
| D．fill up |
| A．The renewable energy projects will lead to some to complain that clean energy is pushing up bills. |
| B．The company whose bid is less than the wholesale electricity price will receive a subsidy. |
| C．The stated electricity price is now higher than the wholesale electricity price. |
| D．Fossil-fueled power will be soon produced cheaply. |
| A．Curious. |
| B．Pessimistic. |
| C．Indifferent. |
| D．Optimistic. |
| A．A science fiction. |
| B．A financial magazine. |
| C．An advertisement. |
| D．A science report. |
7 . Should swimming lessons be mandatory in schools?
Guangdong province is set to make swimming lessons compulsory in primary schools starting from 2020, and proposing the courses be given from the fourth grade. Do we need to make swimming compulsory in schools? Forum readers share their opinions.
White Bear (Poland)
In Poland swimming lessons are not compulsory, but most of the schools have them. I think that when it is only possible—there should be the swimming lessons for kids. It is a lifesaving skill.
Mister Panda (France)
I come from France where swimming lessons in school are compulsory. I even got my lifesaving certificate in school.
Jet Feng (China)
As a boy born in a rural area, I learnt swimming in a river near my home when I was 7 or 8 years old. I used to play in the river with boys my same age every summer, which was also the only entertainment we could make at that time, but we enjoyed it so much! I just learnt how to dog paddle because no one taught us. Until I entered university, I got a chance to enhance my swimming skills in PE lessons. Compared with my classmates, I felt lucky because most of them couldn't swim.
I think it's a good idea for schools to teach students to swim. But as a matter of fact, not every school in China has the conditions to do that. In some less-developed areas, there is not even a swimming pool.
Boilermaker21 (Expat in China)
There are swimming lessons in my city, but I was very disappointed in how they were taught. The kids spent 45 minutes of the one-hour lesson practicing strokes ON DRY LAND. They only spent 15 minutes in the water. All of the children panicked and sank immediately to the bottom. Then all of the parents berated the children, telling them that they weren't paying attention to the teacher and that they were failures.
Cecilia Zhang (China)
It is a pity that many Chinese athletes won world championships in swimming while most schools don't have the swimming facilities. Swimming is an essential lifesaving skill that everyone should access to. The earlier, the better. The government needs to put money into the popularity of the sport.
1. What can be concluded from White Bear's opinion?| A．In Poland, swimming lessons must be given at school. |
| B．In Poland, the swimming sport is very popular. |
| C．Most of the schools have swimming pools in Poland. |
| D．In Poland, students are required to swim every day. |
| A．He didn't know how to swim. | B．He was brought up .1n a city. |
| C．He lived a colorful life in his childhood. | D．He didn't receive formal swimming training. |
| A．Disappointed. | B．Satisfied. | C．Excited. | D．Bored. |
| A．Chinese athletes won world championship in swimming events. |
| B．Chinese schools have not paid any attention to the swimming lessons. |
| C．The government hasn’t spent enough money on the popularity of the sport. |
| D．It is a pity that few Chinese athletes won world championships in swimming. |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Advertisement. | C．Education. | D．Technology. |
8 . As a kid, Enrique Olvera spent hours in his grandmother’s bakery in Mexico City. He loved watching everyday ingredients（原料）like flour, sugar and eggs mix into something entirely different. For Olvera, even the simple act of baking a cake felt like magic. He absorbed every detail as his grandmother was cooking. On Sundays, he joined his father in the kitchen, chopping onions and tomatoes for breakfasts of scrambled eggs and dry beef.
These advantages drive Olvera’s new cookbook, Tu Casa Mi Casa：Mexican Recipes for the Home Cook. But Olvera, the chef behind Mexico City’s Pujol, one of the world’s top restaurants, almost turned away from a career in the kitchen.
Despite the draw of the family bakery, Olvera’s father didn’t want his son to spend too much time there. He wanted Enrique to go to college and get a degree. Olvera made a compromise with his dad. He found a cooking program that offered a bachelor’s degree---at the Cooking Institute of America---and left Mexico for New York.
In New York, Olvera buried himself in the curriculum（全部课程）at the top cooking school. Like most training grounds for professional chefs, Olvera’s lessons were stuck in the cooking of Europe. For example, he dutifully learned to spot the edges of his dishes with little dots of sauce--drawing on the traditions of France, not Mexico. “Mexican food doesn’t respond to any of that,” he says. “So if you see how we cook，we don’t saute（快炒），we’re burning things down, we’re using the stems（茎）.The only thing that you can apply to Mexican technique is the passion for the craft. But the techniques are entirely different.”
At 24, Olvera returned to Mexico City---and opened Pujol. Olvera’s flagship has repeatedly made lists of the best restaurants in the world ---its success built on the techniques he learned as a kid in his grandma’s bakery and his parents’ kitchen. With Pujol’s success, Olvera went on to open four more restaurants in Mexico and two in New York. Now, he’s getting ready to roll out two more---this time, in Los Angeles.
1. What do we know from the first paragraph?| A．Enrique Olvera enjoyed cooking in his childhood. |
| B．Enrique Olvera was obsessed with homemade food. |
| C．The great variety of ingredients drove Enrique Olvera crazy. |
| D．The secret family recipe was passed down to Enrique Olvera. |
| A．inform the great achievement of Olvera. |
| B．tell about the world-known restaurant Pujol. |
| C．introduce the barrier for Olvera to overcome. |
| D．show the benefit of Olvera’s home environment. |
| A．He was attracted by French cooking traditions. |
| B．He eagerly absorbed European cooking techniques. |
| C．He combined European and Mexican cooking ways. |
| D．He had a different opinion of spotting dishes with decorations. |
| A．Launch. | B．Provide. | C．Reserve. | D．Improve. |
| A．an advertisement | B．a cookbook | C．a science book | D．a magazine |
9 . Teen Party Venues in Nashville, TN
Nashville, Tennessee, known as “Music City,” is home to around 601,000 residents, where you will find a broad range of places to choose from when it comes to planning a birthday party.
Pools and Resorts
If you plan your teen’s party at Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort, your teen and her guests will have a variety of activities to choose from. In the waterpark, guests can float down the lazy river, zip down the slides and play in the humongous wave pool.
Dinner or Dance
Teens looking for something a little more sophisticated or grown up to do on their birthday can have their party at one of the area’s finest restaurants or party venues. Rocketown offers facility rentals for teen events, to help create a safe environment for teens. You can choose which building you would like to rent to plan your teen’s dinner, dance or whatever else you have in mind and be confident knowing your teen’s party will be spectacular.
Bowling and Skating
Jaymar Family Entertainment Center is another fantastic venue for holding a fun teen party. Party packages can help make the planning a bit easier and may include things like bowling for all your guests, a private party room, food and drinks, etc. Teens that enjoy roller skating can hold their party at one of the Skate Centers in Nashville.
Additional Venues
Parents who are looking for something a little different to plan for their teen’s party could take the group to Nashville Paintball for some paintball action. Whether your party guests are new to paintball or old pros, the entire group is sure to have a great time. Alternatively, you can take your teen and his buddies to Climb Nashville for some climbing fun, which offers birthday and private parties that may include climbing, instruction, snacks and drinks.
1. Which place offers a private party room?| A．Rocketown. |
| B．Jaymar Family Entertainment Center. |
| C．Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort. |
| D．Nashville Paintball. |
| A．Have dinner. |
| B．Learn to climb. |
| C．Float down the river. |
| D．Enjoy roller skating. |
| A．You can rent facilities in Rocketown. |
| B．You cannot hold a party in the waterpark. |
| C．Jaymar Family Entertainment Center offers party packages. |
| D．You may enjoy yourselves at Nashville Paintball. |
| A．In a feature story. |
| B．In a geography textbook. |
| C．In a leisure magazine. |
| D．In a business website. |
10 . Chichen Itza is an ancient site sitting in Yucatan State, Mexico, in Central America. This site has been listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Chichen Itza was an extremely important religious site for 1,000 years for the ancient Maya people. The Maya civilization began before 2000 BC and lasted until 1697 when Spain took away their last remaining city. The Maya people lived in southeastern Mexico, all of Guatemala and Belize, and the western parts of Honduras and EI Salvador.
From around 600 to 1050 AD, in Chichen Itza, people were able to buy things that were difficult to find. This was thanks to its port, Isla Cerritos, which allowed the city to trade through water. In the 10th century, it became the capital of the area from central Yucatan to the north coast.
The ancient city of Chichen Itza was well planned in design. The pyramids and temples were built in groups, with paved walkways in between. People have found over 80 of these walkways all over the site. The main building groups are the Great North Platform, the Old Chichen, plus the Ossario and Central Groups.
At the center of the site is a castle in a pyramid shape. In Spanish, it's called EI Castilo, which means the castle. But its real name is the Temple of Kukulkan and it actually sits on top of a much older temple. On the 20th of March and the 22nd of September, the sun's rays create a strange shadow across the Temple of Kukulkan. It looks just like a snake slithering down the pyramid staircase. And in fact, the temple is named after the Maya feathered snake god, Kukulkan.
1. What can we learn about the Maya civilization from the text?| A．Its development totally depended on Chichen Itza. |
| B．Its ancient site was mainly in eastern Mexico. |
| C．It lasted for 1,000 years. |
| D．It was put to an end by Spain. |
| A．It was a trade center. | B．It was partly destroyed. |
| C．It took control of Yucatan State. | D．It attracted many foreigners. |
| A．is a palace built by the Spanish | B．sits under an older temple |
| C．is a temple to honor God Kukulkan | D．draw people's attention for its walkways |
| A．Economy. | B．Science. | C．Culture. | D．Art. |
| A．To encourage us to visit Chichen Itza. | B．To talk about some pyramids in Mexico. |
| C．To let us lean about the ancient Maya people. | D．To introduce some basic facts about Chichen Itza. |
