1 . In a Parisian old shoe factory on the city ‘s outskirts, a new kind of life is taking root. Neoplants, a startup from Paris, has developed a special houseplant that could potentially help improve indoor air quality by removing harmful pollutants.
The plant is a modified variety of one of the most popular and low-maintenance houseplants. Its DNA has been altered to enhance its capacity to absorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air we breathe inside our homes. These VOCs include substances like formaldehyde, benzene. toluene. ethylbenzene, and xylene, which are commonly found indoors and can be harmful in large quantities.
The genetic tweaking also allows the plant to convert the absorbed VOCs into substances it can use. such as sugars and carbon dioxide, which then fuel its growth. While Neoplants’concept is quite promising, proving its effectiveness is a challenge.
Plant shops often claim their greenery can purify the air, but much of this belief stems from research conducted by NASA back in 1989. They found that houseplants could indeed absorb certain toxins. However, achieving the same level of toxin removal as simply opening a window would require an impractical number of plants—anywhere from 10 to 1.000 per square meter.
So, does Neoplants’genetically modified houseplant offer a better solution? Field tests haven’t yielded definitive results yet, but there is hope for more conclusive testing in the future with the help of a new lab equipped with unique non-absorbent rooms that mimic real-life conditions . Additionally, the company is exploring potential applications for its gene-editing technology in areas such as carbon capture and phytoremediation, where plants are used to clean up contaminated environments
Neoplants is relying on patience and a bit of faith. It takes time for innovations to mature. “This will be the first time such a product exists.” says the company’s CEO. drawing a parallel to the early days of computers, which were not very powerful initially but still represented a significant breakthrough.
With Neoplants’ vision, the old shoe factory on the edge of Paris isn’t just a place where shoes were made; it’s where a novel approach to cleaning our indoor air is being cultivated—one that could someday make our homes healthier and more environmentally friendly.
1. What does Neoplants’genetically modified houseplant aim to do?A.maintain its capacity easily. | B.absorb VOC’s massively |
C.alter its DNA completely. | D.fuel its growth quickly |
A.The absorbed VOCs can enhance the growth of the plant. |
B.Opening a window can remove the same level of toxins as the Neoplants. |
C.Neoplants will need powerful computers to make a significant breakthrough. |
D.Conclusive testing needs conducting to achieve definite results. |
A.The process of using plants to absorb nutrients. | B.The process of using plants to purify the air. |
C.The process of using plants to explore applications. | D.The process of using plants to edit certain genes. |
A.Science fiction. | B.A scientific textbook. | C.A news article. | D.An art magazine. |
2 . Chinatown, lying in Downtown L. A.near the city’s cultural center, is one of L. A.’s most popular tourist destinations. What are you waiting for? Go to explore this amazing place right now!
A MECCA FOR FOODIn Chinatown, a mix of new and old restaurants meets everyone’s needs. Early birds should stop by Philippe The Original, a local restaurant that’s beloved for French Dip sandwiches, but also serves a good classic American breakfast. Night owls will want to head to Full House Seafood on Hill Street, which is open late into the night.
CHINESE AMERICAN MUSEUMFood is far from the only reason to visit Chinatown. People interested in history will want to start their trip at the Chinese American Museum (CAM), lying just outside of Chinatown at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. The museum is housed in the Garnier Building, the oldest surviving Chinese building in a major area of California.
CENTRAL PLAZAA big statue of Bruce Lee has become a must-photograph site in Chinatown’s Central Plaza. The late martial arts star once had a studio in Chinatown at 628 W. College St.
Nearby is Dragon Chasing Pearl, which was originally painted on the wall in 1941 by Tyrus Wong. The artist, who passed away in December 2016 at age 106, was famous for his work in films, particularly as the lead artist on Disney’s Bambi.
FESTIVALSChinatown hosts many party-style events throughout the year, like the music and food truck Chinatown Summer Nights, the yearly Moon Festival and the biggest one, Chinese New Year! It’s really a good place to experience L. A.’s cultural diversity.
1. Of the following places, which one may be popular for its breakfast?A.Garnier Building. | B.Philippe The Original. |
C.Full House Seafood. | D.Chinese American Museum. |
A.A chef. | B.A journalist. | C.A poet. | D.A historian. |
A.Visit Bruce Lee in person. | B.Taste different food for free. |
C.Celebrate the Spring Festival. | D.Protect the oldest Chinese building. |
3 . No matter how many times Sandy has rescued an animal, she never gets over the casual cruelty some people display toward unwanted pets. When she lost her own “angel” dog, she started Logan’s Legacy to help other pets in need.
Sandy recently received a phone call about a small dog, possibly a puppy, that had been abandoned on a street. Since she was too far to help on, she called a friend who lives nearby to get there as soon as possible. When her friend Tom arrived, he found a tiny dog curled(蜷缩)in a tight ball with the chain firmly tied to a tree. Someone had left food and water for her, but the puppy was too frightened to eat or drink. Once gathered up in a blanket and placed into the back seat of the car, she began to get weak quickly from dehydration(脱水)and exhaustion.
The moment she got some water and food, the puppy made a rapid recovery, and her lovely and sweet personality could finally shine! “We have named her CiCi,” Sandy added, “She is feeling so much better. She has been observed at my place and she is doing great. This sweet baby girl will never feel fearful again, and won’t ever be abandoned again.” After winning hearts at Sandy’s office, CiCi has been approved for adopting and will soon leave for her new life. Sandy and her fellow rescuers are trying their best to find her the perfect family to love her and treat her with the respect all living creatures deserve!
1. What did Sandy feel it hard to overcome?A.The casual humanity. | B.The cruelty of humanity. |
C.The kind human nature. | D.The weakness of kindness. |
A.She suffered a serious illness. |
B.She had nothing to eat or drink. |
C.She got lost far away from home. |
D.She was scared and in poor health. |
A.She will stop taking medicine. |
B.She will continue further treatment. |
C.She will have a perfect match for home. |
D.She will get on well with Sandy forever. |
A.A Warm Home for CiCi |
B.Dog Saved Heart Fulfilled |
C.A Terrible Experience of CiCi |
D.Saving Dogs Saving Themselves |
4 . My family always had some sort of animal around, but none of them were truly mine. My parents didn’t permit me to
Every Friday I would clean out his bowl. I found myself
One day, I came home from school and headed to my room to
My mom walked into my room. I turned around as tears started to well in my eyes. “Mommy, George d…d…died.” With that
Suddenly, I realized that George hadn’t just
A.draw | B.imagine | C.have | D.share |
A.doubtful | B.excited | C.surprised | D.afraid |
A.toy | B.mind | C.time | D.pet |
A.take care of | B.make use of | C.get hold of | D.look forward to |
A.reading out | B.putting away | C.turning down | D.showing off |
A.replaced | B.recognized | C.affected | D.needed |
A.feed | B.save | C.impress | D.find |
A.basic | B.terrible | C.funny | D.familiar |
A.dropped | B.emptied | C.hid | D.checked |
A.common | B.last | C.extra | D.new |
A.left | B.reminded | C.defeated | D.chosen |
A.preference | B.independence | C.difficulty | D.responsibility |
A.safe | B.good | C.sorry | D.tired |
A.agreement | B.treatment | C.disappointment | D.achievement |
A.Otherwise | B.Besides | C.However | D.Therefore |
A.To eat the seeds. | B.To enjoy the flowers. | C.To sell the seeds. |
A.Ways to save water. | B.Schools’ facilities. | C.Cities’ water supply. |
1. What is the relationship between the speakers?
A.A couple. | B.Classmates. | C.Colleagues. |
A.Stop using paper cups. |
B.Prepare boxes for different waste. |
C.Reduce the use of paper, plastic and cans. |
1. 保护野生动物的重要性;
2. 提出合理建议(至少两点);
3. 发出呼吁。
注意:1. 词数80左右;
2. 可适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
Protecting the Wild Animals
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________9 . When you hear the word “shapeshifting (变身)”, you may think of magic in some movies and not the climate. But that’s what animals are doing to go on living in the world.
A new study shows that some animals are slowly growing larger beaks, legs and ears. In this way they can cool themselves down more easily as the Earth gets warmer. When we talk about the climate change, we often ask “What can humans do with this?” “How can we live in the future?” “But we should know that animals also have to face these changes,” said Sara Ryding, from Deakin University, Australia. If animals do nothing to keep their normal body temperature, they will die.
In one example, the beaks of some kinds of Australian parrots have grown 4 to 10 percent larger. The study says it has a lot to do with the hotter summer over the years. There are other similar examples. Wood mice have longer tails and bats in warm climates have bigger wings.
Although the changes are still small, they could be common as the weather becomes hotter. “Body parts like ears may become bigger, so we might be able to see a real Dumbo (big-eared elephant from a Disney cartoon) in the near future,” Ryding told the reporters.
1. Why do animals grow bigger body parts?A.To become stronger. | B.To enjoy a better life. |
C.To find food easily. | D.To keep normal body temperature. |
A.2. | B.3. | C.4. | D.5. |
A.Changes. | B.Tails. | C.Wings. | D.Examples. |
A.Why climate changes so much. | B.When the climate starts to change. |
C.How animals deal with hotter weather. | D.What the weather will be like in the future. |
10 . When temperatures rise, humans sweat, dogs pant (喘息), and cats… don’t move enough to overheat? Well, partially. Cats, which need to maintain an internal body temperature of 101°F to 102°F, have several methods for keeping cool in sweltering weather.
It’s a misconception that cats sweat through their paws to cool themselves off. As summer wears on you might see moist paw prints, but as veterinarian Kimberly May told The Washington Post, “Any secretions (分泌物) there or from their nose, mouth, or tongue are not for sweating; they’re for protection and moisture and are insufficient to cool the blood.”
Instead, cats recreate the sweating process—which is similar to human’s via evaporation (蒸发)—by grooming themselves regularly. The saliva (唾液) from their tongues acts like sweat that cools their body when it evaporates—which is why you can also help cool your cat down by using a damp washcloth to lightly wet their fur. In extreme weather, cats will also pant, but unlike dogs who pant regularly to keep themselves cool, a panting cat is a sign of more dangerous over-heating or other serious diseases.
And if you’re tempted to shave your fur friend to help keep him cool—don’t!
“Fur acts as a thermal regulator to slow down the process of heat absorption,” James H. Jones, an expert in comparative animal exercise physiology and thermoregulation at the University of California at Davis, told The Washington Post.
Fur coats are highly evolved—in the winter they keep animals warm, but in the summer, they work both to protect delicate skin from the sun and slow dehydration, Jones notes that, according to research, shaved camels performed worse in the deserts than those with their fur undamaged.
But even with these methods for keeping cool, cats also need to stay indoors to keep comfortable. So even though they evolved from wild ancestors and are able to tough it out, leave the air conditioner or a fan on for your cats when you go out, and make sure to leave them plenty of water.
1. What is the common misunderstanding of how cats cool themselves off?A.Cats pant regularly to keep themselves cool. |
B.Cats rarely know how to cool themselves down. |
C.Cats sweat through their paws to cool themselves off. |
D.Cats produce secretions from their tongue for protection. |
A.By making comparison. | B.By analyzing data. |
C.By explaining cause and effect. | D.By listing numbers. |
A.To show the camels are resistant to heat. |
B.To emphasize the importance of the fur coats. |
C.To illustrate the fur coats are highly evolved. |
D.To prove the fur coats unnecessary in summer. |
A.Changing people’s wrong views on cats’ cooling. |
B.Telling us to help cats cool themselves in summer. |
C.Uncovering the secrets of cats cooling themselves off. |
D.Comparing cats with other animals on keeping cool. |