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. |
Longmen Grottoes
Set on the banks of the Yi River, 12km south of the current Luoyang City, the Longmen Grottoes are ranked first of the Four Great Grotioes in China, together with Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Yungang Grottoes in Datong and Mount Maiji Grottoes in Tianshui. They were also listed in the World Cultural Heritages and Relics by UNESCO in 2000.
Longmen Gate also houses
Wandering in the Longmen Grottoes, one is amazed by the delicate carving skills, deep Buddhist culture and great art achievements of Chinese people.
3 . 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 |
4 . The fruit-tree pinhole borer (针孔蛀虫), as its name implies, makes holes in fruit trees. It lays its eggs and raises its young in the galleries thus created . Yet the beetles (甲虫) do not feed directly on the wood they bore into. Instead, they devour fungi (真菌) that grow on the wood thus exposed.
Researchers have long suspected that this is a form of farming, because they have evidence that the beetles carry spores (孢子) of their preferred crop, R. sulphurea, into their smallholdings—in effect, sowing it there.
Observations of natural fruit-tree pinhole-bore r dwellings suggest that R. sulphurea grows in them more abundantly (大量地) than might be expected, given all the fungal competition around—but not why. To check whether the beetles are, indeed, weeding their crop, Janina Diehl and Peter Biedermann of the University of Freiburg did an experiment.
In the laboratory, they had mother beetles of the little wood bore restablish nests, in which the typical fungal gardens formed. But before the beetles had started laying their eggs, they collected all of the beetles and then returned half to their dwellings while leaving the other nests empty. Genetic analysis of the fungal gardens after 40 days showed that the presence of the beetles had greatly changed the fungal community. Twenty days after that, they sampled the gallery walls for fungi.
As they had hoped and expected, R. sulphurea was much more abundant in beetle-tended galleries than in those without residents. In the former, it made up half of the fungal mass extracted. In the latter, less than a third. These beetles are indeed weeding their crop.
“Further research into how exactly the beetles suppress the growth of weed fungi could alsoprovide worthwhile insights for human agriculture, which is struggling with weed resistance, for example,” says Biedermann. “It’s highly exciting for us to see how nature has been doing this for 60 million years. We humans can still learn something from these mechanisms.”
1. What does the underlined word “devour” in paragraph 1 mean?A.Sow. | B.Tend. | C.Eat. | D.Move. |
A.The number of the mother beetles. | B.The presence of the beetles. |
C.The quality of food fungi. | D.The types of weed fungi. |
A.They weed crops. | B.They feed on fruit. |
C.They live in groups. | D.They lay eggs in trees. |
A.The research findings are of little value. |
B.Measures should be taken to protect the beetles. |
C.Fungi cause much damage to human agriculture. |
D.Further research to the beetles might benefit farmers. |
Nature’s Lungs
We know that trees are nature’s purifier (净化器): They absorb carbon emissions (碳排放)and release oxygen. But their
According to the study, there are
This may sound like a lot,
Yet, planting trees is still considered the most effective way
6 . On Sunday night, the police found a baby koala in a bag in the town of Wishart in Queensland, Australia, during a traffic stop. Queensland police spokesperson Michael Beatty said that the officers asked a 50-year-old driver if she had anything to report. She then told the officers that she had a baby koala in her bag.
“Not quite believing their ears, the officers cautiously opened the bag and found this lovely boy and we’ve called him Alfred,” the spokesperson said. “The young koala is about 6 months old and weighs 1.5 kg. It appears to be healthy, though it was very thirsty.”
The police are warning people who find koalas to turn them over to authorities, rather than try to take care of them themselves. Koalas are protected in parts of Australia, including in Queensland, where they have been listed as “threatened” under the Nature Conservation Act.
Of course, koalas are also violent animals. One particularly wild koala even attacked a farmer in South Australia when she was riding along a muddy road.
“As it started running towards me, I thought I’d better speed up,” the terrified farmer told reporters. “But the road was too muddy, So I abandoned my bike and ran away. Fortunately, it ran up and attached itself to the dirty wheel — perhaps mistaking it for a eucalyptus tree.”
Deakin University biologist Desley. Whisson has some tips in case you experience this predicament. “Koalas more generally run from than to people. The farmer did the right thing by moving away from her bike,” she said. “The best advice I can give to people is to not fight with a koala displaying unusual behaviour. Make sure that there is another object between you and the koala so that it can’t climb you. Or you can just simply run. Their fingers are very sharp.”
She also believed the koala might have been confusing the sound of the bike with that of a koala mate.
1. What do the police in Wishart most likely want to tell the public?A.Koalas are protected by law all over Australia. |
B.It is illegal for the public to keep koalas in Queensland. |
C.The public should stay away from violent animals. |
D.Baby koalas are too violent to be kept in bags. |
A.They enjoy climbing bikes. | B.They have good eyesight. |
C.They can be dangerous. | D.They weigh about 1.5kg. |
A.Boring animal. | B.Interesting event. |
C.Pleasant meeting. | D.Difficult situation. |
A.A research paper. | B.The Nature Conservation Act. |
C.A news report. | D.An announcement from the police. |
Over the summer break, a wave of fashionably
“Citywalk” means the act
“Kaifeng is one of China’s first national historical and cultural cities, boasting a deep-seated cultural heritage. It’s an ideal destination for unhurried exploration, encouraging visitors
8 . 阅读下面短文,在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式,并将答案填写在答题卡上。
The Silk Road,
While the name “Silk Road” originates from the
In 2013, China began to
9 . Pet parents — cats and dogs under 20 pounds — can travel on Capitol Corridor for $30 one-way! If your furry family member fits the bill, take them on your next adventure. Check out the information below and how to book your next trip. Our check-in process is simple, making traveling with your four-legged friend easy and enjoyable.
What to Know
As you plan your next train trip with your pet, note that we welcome a maximum (最大) of 6pets per train. Booking needs to happen in advance and only one pet reservation is allowed per customer. Pets cannot be booked with multi-ride tickets, bus connections or unaccompanied minors (未成年人).
When at the station, your pet must always travel in a carrier, which counts as one piece of carry-on baggage, and the combined weight of your pet and carrier is 20 pounds. While aboard trains, it must be able to sit, lie down and remain entirely inside without touching the sides of the carrier. It is not permitted in the Café, or Quiet Cars.
How to Book
Select your trip on the booking machine.
Add your travel details and proceed until you see the option to customize (定制) your trip.
Add a pet to your booking for $30.
Contact 800-USA-RAIL if you need to change your reservation.
The Rules
Your pet must be at least eight weeks old and be unsmelly, harmless, not disruptive, and require no attention during travel.
You confirm that your pet is up to date on all vaccinations and accept responsibility for your pet by signing the pet release document at check-in.
1. How much does a pet owner have to pay for the pet for a round-trip?A.$15. | B.$30. | C.$45. | D.$60. |
A.Book ahead of schedule. | B.Take a carrier weighing 20 pounds. |
C.Buy a multi-ride ticket. | D.Contact 800-USA-RAIL first. |
A.Eat in the Café. | B.Sleep in Quiet Cars. |
C.Travel in a carrier. | D.Lie behind the door. |
From “pocket parks” between communities to forest parks in the outer cities, local governments are
From 2021 to 2022, Shanghai transformed 62 woodlands into leisure spaces. These leisure spaces open up forests,
Apart from meeting people’s needs, parks can also do good to the environment. Take Beijing’s Central Green Forest Park