1 . Cloning is defined as using the cells of one living subject, plant or animal, to create another duplicate subject. A cloned subject will be the same as its parent. This technology could be useful for laboratory studies and for creating satisfying animals.
One of the biggest disadvantages of cloning is that the technology is still so uncertain. Dolly the sheep, the first mammalian clone, was born in 1996. While she was initially successful, she died young of a disease not normally seen in sheep of her age.
Losing gene diversity is another disadvantage of cloning. Gene diversity is what keeps an entire species from being wiped out by a singular virus.
Another of the disadvantages of cloning is that there are a lot of moral considerations that would cause most people to protest.
The disadvantages of cloning are seen by many to far outweigh any benefits that might be seen. Because of the risk involved in cloning, it is a technology that many experts say may be better left alone, at least until it is better understood.
A.This is due to the lack of gene diversity. |
B.One of these ethical concerns is that cloning is unnatural. |
C.There is always a risk of cloning technology being abused. |
D.There are many advantages of cloning, for example, curing certain diseases. |
E.However, there are several disadvantages of cloning that should be considered. |
F.It helps to explain why some people naturally are taller, shorter, or more athletic than others. |
G.It is still unsure whether genetic mutations might occur when an animal is cloned. |
2 . How to Keep a Relationship Healthy and Strong
Are you new to experiencing relationships? Well, let me give you advice on having a healthy and possibly longterm relationship.
Make sure you give them respect. Now respect isn’t just simply treating her or him nicely. There’s a lot more to it. You have to learn to adjust to their liking.
Make sure you have a good sense of humor with them. Laughter is the key to happiness. Laugh a lot with them, joke with them. Laughter may seem silly, but it’s the secret to a lot in life. It will keep the sparks alive.
Make sure the communication is good. This goes along with trust, but always communicate how you feel, even if it’s something that upsets you. Instead of screaming, talk to them.
A.Show them your personality. |
B.Be an honest person with them. |
C.Make sure you are encouraging to your partners. |
D.Laughter keeps the relationship strong and lasting. |
E.Don’t start to neglect them and make them feel unwanted. |
F.Basically, learn to study your partners’ moods, wants and needs. |
G.If they did something that made you unhappy, tell them about it in a respectful manner. |
3 . Why play sports? You might say “to get exercise” and you would be right. To have fun? That's true, too. But there's more.
Girls who play sports do better in school. You might think that athletics will take up all your study time.
Girls who play sports learn teamwork and goal-setting skills.
Sports are good for a girl's health. In addition to being fit and keeping a healthy weight, girls who play sports are also less likely to smoke. And later in life, girls who exercise are less likely to get breast cancer or osteoporosis(骨质疏松症).
Playing sports improves self-confidence.
A.Exercise cuts the pressure. |
B.Sports teach valuable life skills. |
C.Regular exercise increases quality of life. |
D.In fact, there are at least five more reasons. |
E.Girls who play sports feel better about themselves. |
F.Playing sports offers children more than just physical benefits. |
G.But research shows that girls who play sports do better in school than those who don't. |
4 . The Benefits of Digital Art
Digital art is the process of creating artwork using computers and software.
Digital art is often quicker to finish.
Take oil paintings for example. If you create one in the traditional way, you will need all kinds of tools like paper, water, paints, etc.
A computer with the right apps and software might cost you $1, 000, but physical art is pretty expensive. Pencils, paper, paints, paintbrushes and all of the other things you need soon get expensive. And they all need replacing — things can easily reach that $1, 000 and beyond.
Digital art avoids using much space of your room.
Drawings and paintings can take up lots of physical space. I have many physical drawings which are stored in boxes in my room. Some of the drawings took me weeks to complete.
Digital art makes it easy to deal with mistakes.
Digital art gives you the wonderful ability to correct your mistakes. Any time you make a mistake, you can step back from it right away with a push of a button. As for traditional art, it’s not easy to correct a mistake. For example, when your pen accidentally falls on your painting, you may not be able to deal with it.
A.Digital art helps save money. |
B.These tools can be very important. |
C.It takes time to prepare all of these. |
D.And your painting will be destroyed. |
E.Digital art will never be a paper killer. |
F.But they never see the light of day now. |
G.Compared with traditional art, digital art has some advantages. |
5 . My husband and I just spent a week in Paris.
The place wasn’t entirely authentic, though. Unlike a normal Parisian apartment, the plumbing (水管) worked.
Parisians are different from you and me. They never look lazy or untidy. As someone noted in this paper a couple of weeks ago, they eat great food and never gain weight.
In France, quality of life is much more important than efficiency.
You can tell this by cafés life. French cafés are always crowded.
A.Not all the customers are tourists. |
B.The quality of life in France is equally excellent. |
C.There was a nice kitchen and a comfortable bed. |
D.The amazing food is mainly consumed by local farmers. |
E.That’s not the only reason the French eat less than we do. |
F.Our aim was to see if we could live, in some way, like real Parisians. |
G.The food is so delicious that you don’t need much of it to make you happy. |
6 . Resolving (解决) Conflict in Friendships
Conflict is surely a common problem in life and friendships.
Resolve it the day it happens. One rule my parents follow in their marriage is that they don't go to bed angry with each other. They always attempt to resolve things the day it happens so that in the morning, it's a fresh start with no past grudge (怨恨). I've found I need a short cool down period so that I don't act in anger.
Initiate resolution.
Most importantly, be loving in what you do. Try to focus on peacefully resolving the disagreement. It is not a most pleasant task to resolve conflict in any friendship.
A.Don't expect too much. |
B.Try to see the other person's perspective. |
C.Be the first person in a fight to say sorry for your part. |
D.Many shallow friendships end up being ruined after an argument. |
E.To say sorry bravely when a conflict breaks out is a better resolution. |
F.However, it is worth the efforts because it results in a deeper friendship. |
G.For some, counting to one hundred before saying anything may be an option. |
7 . It is a question people have been asking for ages.
Researchers in New York did not find a fountain of youth in fact, but they may have found a way to turn back the aging process. It appears that the answer may be hidden right between your eyes, in an area called the hypothalamus(丘脑下部). It is part of your brain.
A professor at New York's Albert Einstein College of Medicine, found that hypothalamus influences how fast aging takes place in the body.
Using this information, the researchers began trying to activate ( 激 活 ) the hypothalamus in mice.
They did this by putting hypothalamus stem cells from younger mice into middle-aged animals. Later, the researchers examined mice and tested for changes in behavior.
It is said when hypothalamus stem cells, which came from young mice was put into middle-aged mice, the mice aged slowly and they also increased the length of their lives.
A.It controls important activities within the body. |
B.Is there a possible way to turn back the aging process? |
C.But these findings were just from studying mice in a lab. |
D.He also reported that when it starts aging, so does the body. |
E.Aging speed can be controlled by a particular place in the body. |
F.They also looked for changes in the strength of the animals’ muscles. |
G.They are simple cells that can develop into specialized cells, like blood or skin cells. |
8 . Is it time to ditch sugar?
It’s no secret that sugar can cause issues if you’re indulging (放任) in a little too much of the sweet stuff. Still, most Americans are eating too much sugar. The harmful effects it can have on your physical health are well studied.
Sugar can affect your mood
You probably turn to a doughnut (甜甜圈) or soda for an extra boost during a long day. Yet sugar may not be such a positive pick-me-up after all. Recent research indicates that sugary treats have no positive effect on mood.
One study published in 2017 found that consuming a diet high in sugar can increase the chances of mood disorders. A more recent 2019 study found that regular consumption of saturated fats (饱和脂肪) and added sugars were related to higher feelings of anxiety in adults over age 60.
It’s hard to avoid reaching for comfort foods, especially after a difficult day. But the cycle of consuming sugar to manage your emotions may only make your feelings of sadness, tiredness, or hopelessness worse. Multiple studies have found a link between diets high in sugar and depression.
Sugar destroys your brain power
Emerging research has found that diets high in sugar can damage cognitive functioning, even in the absence of extreme weight gain or too much energy intake. A 2015 study found that consuming high levels of sugar-sweetened drinks made neurocognitive functions like decision making and memory worse.
Although more studies are needed to solidify the effects on mental health of sugar consumption, it’s important to consider how diet can affect your well-being.
A.Sugar can weaken your ability to deal with stress |
B.Granted, the research was done on rats |
C.Overconsumption of sugar triggers imbalances in certain brain chemicals |
D.Sugar can increase your risk for developing depression |
E.In fact, sugar may have the opposite effect over time |
F.However, the effect on mental health is worth taking a second look |
G.If you’re dying for sweets, here’s what to eat instead |
9 . Travel Safe
You’ve always wanted to go to Alishan. The Alishan Scenic Area has so many marvelous places to explore. Now you’re finally going to take that trip!
If you choose to work with a travel agency, choose a qualified one. Note what is included in the trip and what is not. If you are not sure, ask questions. Make sure everything is clear before you agree to the trip and pay your money. When you purchase your trip, also buy travel insurance.
If you are arranging your own accommodation, book a safe and legal hotel. For your own safety, choose one that meets the standards of department for tourism administration. After you arrive in the Alishan area and check into your hotel, look around. Locate the emergency exits.
There are many delicious restaurants around Alishan. Enjoy your food, but protect yourself from food poisoning.
A.As you visit the famous sites of Alishan, keep an eye on your belongings. |
B.Always keep a balanced diet and keep away from junk food. |
C.But don’t get so excited about your trip that you forget to plan carefully. |
D.You may never need them, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. |
E.Always wash your hands with soap before eating. |
F.The trip is bound to be an unforgettable experience. |
G.You want to be protected if something unexpected happens and you can’t travel. |
10 . One of the greatest biologists the work has ever seen was Charles Darwin. Darwin was born to a middle-class family in Shrewsbury, England, in February, 1809. His father was the leading doctor of the town.
In 1825, at the age of sixteen, Darwin was sent to Scotland to study medicine.
Darwin's father then sent him to Cambridge to become a clergyman(牧师). During his Cambridge years, Darwin loved to collet beetles(甲虫), but to him it was only a hobby. He didn't take it seriously.
Somehow, Darwin managed to graduate from Cambridge in 1831. Upon graduation, Professor Henslow arranged for him to go with Captain Fitzroy on a survey trip around the world. During the voyage, Darwin collected rocks, bones, and insects. He took many notes on all that he observed.
The widely believed theory in those days was that God created each creature separately and individually.
A.One person at Cambridge, however, did. |
B.As a boy, Darwin showed a great interest in living things. |
C.He studied there for two years and continued to do poorly. |
D.Shrewsbury was a busy market town surrounded by rich farmlands. |
E.In 1859, Darwin published his famous book On the Origin of Species. |
F.The thoughts that led to his theory of evolution were beginning to form. |
G.By the time Darwin died in 1882, he was recognized as one of England's greatest scientists. |