1 . Identifying the chemical makeup of pigment (色素) used in ancient documents, paintings, and watercolors is critical to restoring and conserving the precious artworks. However, despite numerous efforts, scientists had been unable to determine the source of folium, a popular blue dye used to color manuscripts (手稿) in Europe during the middle ages — from the 5th to the 15th century. Now, a team of researchers from Portugal has finally uncovered the mysterious ingredient responsible for the gorgeous blueish-purple color that helped bring ancient illustrations and texts to life.
The research team began by poring over instructions penned by European dye makers from the 12th, 14th, and 15th centuries. They found what they were seeking in a 15th-century text entitled The Book on How to Make All the Color Paints for Illuminating Books. However, translating the instructions was no easy task. It was written in the now extinct Judaeo-Portuguese language, and though the source of the dye was traced back to a plant, no name was mentioned.
However, by piecing together suggestions from the text, the scientists were able to determine that the dye was made from the bluish-green berries of the chrozophora tinctoria plant. After an extensive search, the team found a few varieties of the plant growing along the roadside near the town of Monsaraz in south Portugal.
The detailed instructions gave the researchers critical clues — including the best time to pick the berries. “You need to squeeze the fruits, being careful not to break the seeds, and then to put them on linen (亚麻).” The scientist says the detail was important since broken seeds polluted the pigment, producing an inferior quality ink. The dyed linen, which was left to dry, was an efficient way to store and transport the pigment during ancient times. When needed, the artist would simply cut off a piece of the cloth and dip it with water to squeeze out the blue color.
Once the key ingredient had been identified, the researchers began to determine the dye’s molecular structure. To their surprise, they found that folium was not like any other known permanent blue dyes — it was an entirely new class of color, one they named chrozophoridin. “Chrozophoridin was used in ancient times to make a beautiful blue dye for painting.” the team wrote in the study. “Thus, we believe that this will not be our final word on this amazing plant and its story and that further discoveries will follow soon.”
1. The primary purpose of the study is to ________.A.restore and conserve ancient precious artworks |
B.determine the substance making up the folium |
C.prove the ancient dye-making technique was organic |
D.identify which class of color folium belongs to |
A.discussing publicly | B.testing repeatedly |
C.passing directly | D.reading carefully |
A.It was essentially an inferior type of ink. |
B.It was the only kind made from wild berries. |
C.It could be carried and used easily. |
D.It was carefully squeezed from broken seeds. |
A.how the mystery of a thousand-year-old blue dye was solved |
B.why the researchers took the trouble to recreate the dye |
C.what needs to be done to make an organic dye from a plant |
D.when and where the discovery of the dye was made |
Life On Venus?
Cats Make for Ideal Human Companions
Cats have a reputation for being colder and less cuddly (令人想拥抱的) than their counterparts—dogs. In reality, they form close bonds with their owners and provide a sense of companionship, particularly for women. In fact, the findings of one Austrian study show that owning a cat is the emotional equivalent of being in a romantic relationship.
Some people feel silly talking to their pets, since, of course, they can’t respond. But interacting with your feline (猫科的) companions has proven health benefits. Not only does talking to your cat improve your bond, but it’s also said to be beneficial to your mental health by helping to improve your mood, lower your stress levels, and reduce our feelings of loneliness.
Cats are experts at sleeping, so it’s perhaps no surprise that they can help improve your sleep, too. A Mayo Clinic study found that people who slept with their pets in the same room were almost twice as likely to get a good night’s rest, with only 20 percent saying that they found their pets’ presence destructive.
Cats may not be able to help with the housekeeping, but they can assist in keeping your house free of mice. It turns out there’s some truth behind the cartoon cat-and-mouse chase. When mice smell certain proteins in cat saliva (唾液), they become tearful and therefore avoid the area.
It’s important for children to learn to care for and look after a living thing, just as their parents take care of them. Cats can help children develop social skills as they learn to approach the feline carefully and gently. Looking after a cat also encourages a sense of responsibility.
In addition to filling your heart with love, cats can contribute to keeping your heart healthy. Numerous studies have shown that owning a cat can help reduce your blood pressure and heart rate, as well as lowering your triglyceride (甘油三酸酯) and cholesterol levels, thereby reducing your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3 . Become an Atlantis Jr. Aquarist and spend 3 days working with marine life! Food prepping to feeding the animals to snorkeling (浮潜) and learning about coral reefs, it’s a week of marine adventure!
Marine Adventure Camp | |
June 24--28; Monday--Friday | |
July 8--12; Monday--Friday | |
July 29--August 2; Monday--Friday | |
August 12--16; Monday--Friday | |
5 days/4 nights Ages: 10 to 14 Price: $595 (not inclusive of room cost) | Camp Hours |
Monday: 5:45 p. m. to 7:30 p. m. Tuesday: 8:00 a. m. to 3:00 p. m. Wednesday: 9:00 a. m. to 5:30 p. m. Thursday: 9:00 a. m. to 4:00 p. m. Friday: Check out (or you may extend your stay on your own). *Please note: Programming subject to change based on weather conditions. | |
Package Components | Dress Code |
1. Amenity(便利设施)Package —Camp Name Badge —Mask and Snorkel —Messenger Bag —Cap —Towel —Marine Life Guide —Water Bottle 2. Welcome Dinner 3. Lunch for 3 days (venue to be determined) 4. Behind the Scenes with our Sea Keeper Team 5. Behind the Scenes with our Marine Mammal Team 6. Fish food preparation and hand feeding 7. Ruins Snorkel 8. Stingray Snorkel 9. Blue Adventure Snorkel Trip 10. Shark Walk with Stuart Cove | T-Shirts Shorts Swimsuits Water Shoes (Since most water shoes are uncomfortable for the amount of walking they do, especially when wet, you are not allowed to change into water shoes when you prepare to swim.) Sun Block |
Important Notes | |
All attendees must be able to swim without assistance. All attendees must speak fluent English. Camp name badge must be worn daily. Attendees must be at least 10 years of age. |
A.camp hours | B.camp price | C.things to bring | D.daily schedules |
A.Tom, who has just graduated from high school |
B.Jerry, who has saved up 600 dollars for summer holiday |
C.Mary, a local 6 grader who likes swimming |
D.Edward, who has been offered a position in an aquarium |
A.Attendees don’t wear water shoes when they go swimming. |
B.All attendees must check out on the last day of the camp. |
C.The programs are fixed and no minor changes will be made. |
D.Attendees will have a 5-day experience working with marine life in the camp. |
4 . What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is the largest of the five offshore plastic accumulation zones in the world’s oceans. It is located halfway between Hawaii and California.
PLASTIC
It is estimated that 1.15 to 2.41 million tonnes of plastic are entering the ocean each year from rivers. More than half of this plastic is less
The strong and floating plastics show resiliency(韧性) in the marine environment, allowing them to be transported over
Once these plastics enter the gyre(环流), they are unlikely to leave the area until they
LOCATION
Due to seasonal and interannual variabilities of winds and currents, the GPGP’s location and shape are constantly changing. Only floating objects that are
By simulating concentration levels in the North Pacific, the researchers were able to follow the location of the patch and found on average it orbits around 32°N and 145°W. However, the team observed seasonal
IMPACT ON WILDLIFE
Plastic has increasingly become a very common substance in the ocean. Due to its size and color, animals
Studies have shown that about 700 species have encountered marine debris, and 92% of these
IMPACT ON HUMANS AND SOCIETY
Once plastic enters the marine food web, there is a possibility that it will contaminate the human food chain as well. Through a process called bioaccumulation, chemicals in plastics will enter the body of the animal
A.ACCUMULATION | B.DRIFT | C.FLOATING | D.PROMOTION |
A.light | B.thick | C.tiny | D.dense |
A.adjusted | B.overdone | C.deposited | D.extended |
A.upgrade | B.degrade | C.assemble | D.disassemble |
A.transportation | B.estimation | C.concentration | D.location |
A.predominantly | B.rarely | C.previously | D.slightly |
A.similarity | B.shift | C.boost | D.figure |
A.exchange | B.substitute | C.leave | D.confuse |
A.implications | B.interactions | C.interferences | D.influences |
A.resting | B.feeding | C.risking | D.waiting |
A.mariner | B.prey | C.tracker | D.predator |
A.present | B.absent | C.current | D.reliable |
A.Likewise | B.However | C.Moreover | D.Therefore |
A.result in | B.remove from | C.stem from | D.bring about |
A.insufficient | B.adequate | C.insignificant | D.substantial |
5 . The beauty, majesty, and timelessness of a primary rainforest are indescribable. It is impossible to
Rainforests have
The scale of human
In 1950, about 15 percent of the Earth’s land surface was covered by rainforest. Today, more than half has already gone up in
A.establish | B.claim | C.capture | D.prove |
A.extended | B.evolved | C.expanded | D.resolved |
A.energizing | B.healing | C.isolating | D.breathing |
A.destroyed | B.contributed | C.reduced | D.affected |
A.However | B.Furthermore | C.Therefore | D.Otherwise |
A.active | B.positive | C.interdependent | D.dominant |
A.restore | B.support | C.relieve | D.last |
A.pressure | B.resources | C.concern | D.strengths |
A.existence | B.ecosystem | C.species | D.survival |
A.unfortunately | B.consequently | C.naturally | D.similarly |
A.store | B.food | C.smoke | D.wealth |
A.subject | B.down | C.apart | D.victim |
A.running out | B.going up | C.holding back | D.falling down |
A.released | B.revealed | C.threatened | D.boosted |
A.trend | B.practice | C.intention | D.attitude |
6 . Animal-rights activists often complain that cute beasts get more sympathy than equally deserving ugly ones. If so, one would think a lovely creature like the mink (貂)would be easy to protect. Yet in the Netherlands, mink is the only animal that can still legally be farmed for their fur. That is about to change. On August 28th the government brought forward to this year a ban on mink-farming that had been scheduled to take effect in 2024. The timetable was sped up not because mink had become more adorable, but because they can contract covid-19 and spread it to humans.
Dutch farmers normally raised about 2.5 million minks a year, making the Netherlands the world's fourth-largest producer after Denmark, China and Poland. In April, a couple of minks and the farm hands who tended them were diagnosed with covid- 19. Genetic tracing showed that at least two workers had probably been infected by mink, rather than the other way around. The affected animals were destroyed and stricter hygiene rules imposed, but by summer the virus had spread to a third of the country's farms. In June, parliament voted to shut down the industry as soon as possible, and the cabinet agreed.
That was a win for the Netherlands Party for the Animals, which has four seats in the 150-memeber parliament. In 2013, it helped pass the law that gave mink farmers until 2024 to get out of the business.
Now the party and its supporters object to the generous compensation (补偿)the government has offered for bringing forward the deadline: $150 million, or $1 million per farmer. Some members of parliament claim that the compensation paid for destroying the infected minks was higher than the market price for their fur.
Fur farmers any modern standards allow minks to be raised humanely, and that they are not a big reason for the spread of the virus. But minks tend to live by themselves instead of living in groups: animal-rights advocates say they cannot be raised humanely in small cages. As for covid-I9, the worry is that mink could serve as a medium for it to attack human immunization (免疫)programs. The industry's value is modest (framers put it at $150 million 0 $200 million, activists at under $100 million), and polls show the public overwhelmingly opposes it. "In a democratic country, that widespread belief has to translate into a political decision to ban fur farming," says Esther Ouwehand, leader of the Party for the Animals. The farmers accept they are shutting down. The remaining argument is over money.
1. According to the passage, why did animal - activists have an unexpected win for protecting minks?A.Because mink's cute appearance won people's heart. |
B.Because the minks could act as a host for an infectious disease. |
C.Because the government carried out an act earlier than planned. |
D.Because the farmers stopped raising minks, considering the great reward. |
A.The farm-raised minks were born with the virus. |
B.The fanners were infected with covid-I9 by minks. |
C.The minks contracted covid- 19 from their caregiver. |
D.The affected minks had contact with the virus in nature. |
A.Minks can be easily bred by humans without bringing any harm to them. |
B.It is acceptable to shut down mink fur industry because it isn't profitable. |
C.Objection to fur industry is a main reason behind this governmental decision. |
D.The amount of money to make up for the loss of the mink farmers was too high. |
A.Cuteness Wins |
B.An Unexpected Win |
C.Winter for Minks |
D.Farmers v.s. Activists |
We Must Act Now to Protect Our Threatened Oceans
Last week, climate strikers young and old came out in force to call upon the government to act with greater urgency in tackling the global climate emergency.
They
Urgent action is needed
Change is also needed in international cooperation around
It is hoped that early next year UN member states
The government has been a vocal champion for ocean conservation. Now is the time for Britain
8 . Finding Bigfoot
Cryptozoologists (神秘生物学家) have been trying to discover whether Bigfoot, a gigantic, apelike creature, really exists in North America. Many websites are dedicated to recording and investigating Bigfoot sightings. After following up on countless eyewitness reports, however, they have not yet been able to find solid proof.
For those enthusiasts who believe in the existence of Bigfoot, they’ve come up with various explanations as to why no Bigfoot bodies have been found. One theory is that in the vast uninhabited forests, nature quickly disposes of dead bodies. Some others believe Bigfoot lives between dimensions, spending only short periods of time in this dimension.
In 1977, a Bigfoot sighting in northern Washington turned out to be a hoax (骗局) planned by three young men using gorilla suits and walkie — talkies.
Some sociologists believe that society’s fascination stems from human interest in mystery, the supernatural, and loneliness.
A.Bigfoot, in a sense, is a modern display of a human — wide cultural concept rather than a zoological (与动物有关的) reality. |
B.This incident, coupled with previous hoaxes, caused the whole nation to completely lose interest in Bigfoot. |
C.Given Bigfoot’s popularity, many are confident that it will shed light on scientific research on other similar mysterious creatures. |
D.However, many scientists believe if it does exist, someone should at least be able to find a skeleton or fossil remains. |
E.This makes some people think that other reports on Bigfoot sightings must have been faked as well. |
F.Be it real or not, Bigfoot has already made a notable impact on American popular culture. |
9 . The Ebro Delta, in Spain, famous as a battleground during the Spanish Civil War, is now the setting for a different contest, one that is making rice farmers fight against two enemies: the rice-eating giant apple snail, and rising sea levels. What happens here will have a bearing on the future of European rice production and the overall health of southern European wetlands.
Located on the Mediterranean, just two hours south of Barcelona, the Ebro Delta produces 120 million kilograms of rice a year, making it one of the continent’s most important rice-growing areas. As the sea creeps into these fresh-water marshes, however, rising salinity (盐度) is hurting rice production. At the same time, this sea-water also kills off the greedy giant apple snail, an introduced pest that feeds on young rice plants. The most promising strategy has become to play one enemy off against the other.
The battle is currently being waged on land, in greenhouses at the University of Barcelona. Scientists working under the banner “Project Neurice” are seeking varieties of rice that can withstand the increasing salinity without losing the absorbency that makes European rice ideal for traditional Spanish and Italian dishes.
“The project has two sides,” says Xavier Serrat, Neurice project manager and researcher at the University of Barcelona, “the short-term fight against the snail, and a mid- to long-term fight against climate change. But the snail has given the project greater urgency.”
Originally from South America, the snails were accidentally introduced into the Ebro Delta by Global Aquatic Technologies, a company that raised the snails for fresh-water aquariums (水族馆) but failed to prevent their escape. For now, the giant apple snail’s presence in Europe is limited to the Ebro Delta. But the snail continues its march to new territory, says Serrat. “The question is not whether it will reach other rice-growing areas of Europe, but when.”
Over the next year and a half investigators will test the various strains of salt tolerant rice they’ve bred. In 2018, farmers will plant the varieties with the most promise in the Ebro Delta and Europe’s other two main rice-growing regions along the Po in Italy, and France’s Rhone. A season in the field will help determine which, if any, of the varieties are ready for commercialization.
As an EU-funded effort, the search for salt-tolerant varieties of rice is taking place in all three countries. Each team is crossbreeding a local European short-grain rice with a long-grain Asian variety that carries the salt resistant gene. The scientists are breeding successive generations to arrive at varieties that incorporate salt tolerance but retain about 97 percent of the European rice genome (基因组).
1. Why does the author mention the Spanish Civil War at the beginning of the passage?A.It has great impact on the lives of Spanish rice farmers. |
B.It is of great significance in the records of Spanish history. |
C.Rice farmers there are engaged in another kind of battle of similar importance. |
D.Rice farmers there are experiencing the hardships of wartime. |
A.Striking the weaker enemy first. | B.Killing two birds with one stone. |
C.Eliminating the enemy one by one. | D.Using one evil to fight against the other. |
A.It can survive only on southern European wetlands. |
B.It will invade other rice-growing regions of Europe. |
C.It multiplies at a speed beyond human imagination. |
D.It was introduced into the rice fields on purpose. |
A.Cultivating ideal salt-resistant rice varieties. |
B.Increasing the absorbency of the Spanish rice. |
C.Introducing Spanish rice to the rest of Europe. |
D.Popularizing the rice crossbreeding technology. |
10 . Climate change disproportionately affects the world’s most vulnerable people, particularly poor rural communities that depend on the land for their livelihoods and coastal populations throughout the tropics. We have already seen a chain of tough suffering that results from extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, wildfires, and more.
For remedies, advocates and politicians have tended to look toward cuts in fossil-fuel use or technologies to capture carbon before it enters the atmosphere – both of which are crucial. But this focus has overshadowed the most powerful and cost-efficient carbon capture technology in the world. Recent research confirms that forests are absolutely essential in reducing climate change, thanks to their ability to absorb and isolate carbon. In fact, natural climate solutions such as conservation and restoration of forests, along with improvements in land management, can help us achieve 37 percent of our climate target of limiting warming to a maximum of two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, even though they currently receive only 2.5 percent of public climate financing.
Forests’ power to store carbon dioxide is staggering: one tree can store an average of about 48 pounds in one year. Intact (完整的) forests could take in the CO2 emissions of some entire countries.
For this reason, policymakers and business leaders must create and enforce policies to prevent deforestation, foster reforestation of degraded land, and promote the sustainable management of standing forests in the fight against climate change. Protecting the world’s forests ensures they can keep performing essential functions such as producing oxygen, filtering water and supporting biodiversity. Not only does the world’s entire population depend on forests to provide clean air, clean water, oxygen and medicines, but l.6 billion people also rely on them directly for their livelihoods.
Unfortunately, a huge amount of forest continues to be converted into agricultural land to produce a handful of resource-intensive commodities — despite zero-deforestation commitments from companies and governments. So now is the time to increase forest protection and restoration. This action will also address a number of other pressing global issues. For example, in less developed and rural areas — especially in the tropics — community-based forest-management programs can forge pathways out of poverty. In the Petén region of Guatemala, for instance, community-managed forests boasted a near-zero deforestation rate from 2000 through 2013, as compared with 12 percent in nearby protected areas and buffer (缓冲) zones. These communities have built low-impact, sustainable forest-based businesses that have stimulated the economy of the region enough to fund the creation of local schools and health services. Their success is especially noticeable in a location where, outside these community-managed zones, deforestation rates have increased 20-fold.
1. Which of the following statements about natural climate solutions is TRUE according to the passage?A.They are the only effective strategies available to address the climate change. |
B.They are not effective compared with the reduction in fossil-fuel use or technologies. |
C.They can and should play a more important role in cutting carbon emissions. |
D.They manage to limit warming to two degrees Celsius above preindustrial level. |
A.immediate | B.incredible | C.unsteady | D.modest |
A.The policies to prevent deforestation have taken effect. |
B.Developed countries are hit the hardest by climate change. |
C.Economic growth contributes a lot to reducing deforestation. |
D.Some governments fail to keep their promises to preserve forests. |
A.Keeping forests undamaged can go a long way toward saving the planet. |
B.A high-tech climate fix is required to dramatically lessen global warming. |
C.Governments should work together with businesses to stop deforestation. |
D.Sustainable management of forests is crucial in powering economic development. |