A.By plane. | B.By bus. | C.By subway. |
2 . When it comes to thriving under pressure, microbes (微生物) have us solidly beat. New research reveals that Carno-bacterium, a genus often associated with spoiled meat, can successfully divide and reproduce across an enormous range of external pressures — from the equivalent of a very thin atmosphere to crushing ocean depths. This adaptability is unknown for any other life-forms on Earth, researchers report in Astrobiology. Such hardiness suggests a single organism could survive in totally different environments throughout the solar system.
Based on previous findings of various Carno-bacterium strains (菌群) growing well at high and low pressures, University of Florida microbiologist Wayne Nicholson and his colleagues systematically examined 14 strains’ responses to a wide span of pressure conditions. The team focused on strains isolated not only from meat (including seafood, chicken, etc.) but also from Siberian permafrost, an Antarctic lake and deep within the North Pacific’s Aleutian Trench.
In the laboratory, Nicholson and his team exposed each strain to pressures ranging from 0.01 to 100 times Earth’s atmospheric pressure at sea level―corresponding to the pressures on the surface of Mars and inside the liquid water ocean of Jupiter’s moon Europa, respectively. The researchers found that 11 strains grew measurably at every pressure tested. Very few past studies focused on how well microbes tolerate a range of pressures, Nicholson says, but these results are nonetheless surprising given that most other organisms seem to be far more pressure-sensitive. “Humans have trouble breathing on Mount Everest,” he notes, “and that’s about 30 percent of sea-level atmospheric pressure.“
Other bacteria have been shown to do well at comparably high pressures, says Felipe Gómez Gómez, an astrobiologist at the National Institute of Aerospace Technology in Madrid, who was not involved in the study. But these results are novel because they show that the same Carno-bacterium strains can endure so much pressure variation, he says: “What’s really challenging is the whole range.” These microbes’ ability means they could, for instance, theoretically survive at various depths in an alien ocean, Gómez Gómez adds.“ This has far-reaching astro-biological implications.”
1. How did Wayne Nicholson and his colleagues carry out their research?A.Doing a survey. | B.Listing examples. |
C.Making a model. | D.Doing tests. |
A.The results were not surprising at all. |
B.Researchers found that many strains could change during pressures. |
C.Researchers hardly knew the organism’s toleration on pressure in old days. |
D.The research showed why man can’t take a breath smoothly on Mount Everest. |
A.Objective. | B.Positive. | C.Indifferent. | D.Critical. |
A.Bacteria Can Survive at Different Depths. |
B.Microbes Withstand the Solar System’s Pressure. |
C.All Life-forms’ Adaptations in Pressure Are Proved. |
D.Carno-bacterium Strains Have Thrived at Great Pressures. |
3 . Herman Rawi from Malaysia uploads TikTok videos of him tasting all kinds of food. But the video of him eating snow on Jan.28 is the only one that comes with a cautionary warning.
Having to battle hot weathers on the equator for most time of the year, almost all of Malaysians love cold dessert. Perhaps this is why Herman tends to lack self-control when he sees snow. During his recent trip to Yamagata, Japan, he filmed himself eating a ball of snow. “A reason — I had terrible fever, cough, runny nose and body aches for eight days,” he wrote in the video’s description.
Herman claimed, “I used to eat snow during the winter when I studied in the UK years ago. I would often go for the freshest snow at an undisturbed place and never fell sick.”
While you may assume snow that’s freshly fallen and collected in an undisturbed area is free of any harmful substances, don’t be so sure. According to meteorologist Mary Scarzello Fairbanks, snow isn’t all that pure. “It’s formed when water-drops freeze around some dust in the air, forming an ice crystal that continues to collect water vapor and form a snowflake. When the snowflake falls, it will also collect things hanging in the air, including dirt and even bacterial particles. If it’s windy, snow could even mix with dirt kicked up from the soil before settling,” he said.
A 2015 study published in the journal Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts even demonstrated how snow could mix with gasoline exhaust 2. This all means that, theoretically, your snow ice cream could have some pretty disgusting “flavorings”.
Eating snow in an emergency is another matter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns against snow snacking for anyone who is trapped, such as hikers, because it can lower one’s body temperature. In cases where there is a water supply issue, the CDC says it’s safe to take collected snow and boil it to kill some harmful bacteria.
1. Why did Herman Rawi dare to eat snow in Japan?A.Because his fans encouraged him to do so. |
B.Because many Malaysians have done it before. |
C.Because the snow in Japan is cleaner than elsewhere. |
D.Because he had a lot of experiences eating snow before. |
A.Casual. | B.Doubtful. | C.Opposed. | D.Appreciative. |
A.In any case you can’t eat snow snacks. |
B.Boiling can kill all the bacteria in the snow. |
C.It’s acceptable to eat snow directly in an emergency. |
D.In some cases you can drink boiled snow water. |
A.To warn the readers against eating snow at will. |
B.To share an interesting story with readers. |
C.To prove snow is not fit to be consumed by people. |
D.To explain why eating Japanese snow can make people sick. |
4 . How to Make Your Writing Flow?
Writing flow refers to how smoothly text flows from one sentence to the next and one paragraph to another.
1. Vary your sentence structure.
Using only short, choppy sentences creates a disconnected rhythm that disrupts the flow, while a series of long, complex sentences overwhelm readers.
2. Use transition words and phrases.
Transition words and phrases act like bridges between sentences and paragraphs. They create logical connections between ideas. Use transitions like “however,” “therefore,” “similarly,” and “in contrast” to glue sentences and paragraphs together smoothly.
3. Structure paragraphs around a central idea.
4.
Revisiting writing with fresh eyes makes flaws in flow and transitions more noticeable. Let your drafts rest for a day or two to prevent getting stuck reworking the same passage repeatedly. Approaching writing anew allows you to evaluate flow and smooth out imperfections with distance and objectivity.
A.Don’t leave out the revising process. |
B.Let completed drafts rest before editing. |
C.The key is to mix sentence lengths to create fluid variety. |
D.Place them at the beginning of a sentence or between independent clauses. |
E.Flowing writing maintains the continuity of ideas and transitions logically. |
F.Each paragraph should have a controlling idea relating to your overall theme. |
G.As a writer, it is your responsibility to present your readers with a central idea. |
5 . It was in the cold midwinter, and the homeless couple struggled through the night snow, seeking shelter. The father-to-be
That December night, Gus Kiebel, a county wildlife officer, was driving home from work when he
“You cannot put them
The Kiebels prepared a bed for the dogs on their warm home, where the
It’s a simple story, but it speaks to the
A.looked | B.headed | C.searched | D.figured |
A.companion | B.company | C.friend | D.effort |
A.scared | B.attracted | C.appealed | D.spotted |
A.scared | B.approached | C.attracted | D.appealed |
A.put | B.laid | C.made | D.stretched |
A.brought up | B.took out | C.warmed up | D.put down |
A.down | B.up | C.back | D.aside |
A.disappointed | B.lovely | C.unparalleled | D.exhausted |
A.afford | B.offend | C.intend | D.succeed |
A.turning | B.driving | C.signing | D.giving |
A.welcomed | B.received | C.adopted | D.presented |
A.pet | B.pair | C.family | D.reward |
A.bottom | B.basis | C.fundamental | D.best |
A.kindness | B.curiosity | C.generosity | D.patience |
A.achievement | B.miracle | C.career | D.job |
We entered the Year of the Dragon. Or should that be the Year of the Loong? That is a question that has been
They point to dragons in the West being usually thought of as evil creatures. Dragons, they say, are
The differences
1. Where are the speakers going?
A.To their school. | B.To a tourist destination. | C.To their homes. |
A.To celebrate the Flower Festival. |
B.To visit relatives. |
C.To attend all kinds of exhibitions. |
A.Every month. | B.Every half year. | C.Every year. |
A.People take wooden shelves filled with flowers. |
B.People wear bright national costumes. |
C.People perform in the parade. |
8 . Museums have been around for centuries, with the first known museum founded in the 3rd century BC. For a long time, they were used to showcase traditional artworks like paintings, sculptures and drawings.
In recent times, however, digital art has started to gain popularity as an art form. This has raised the question of whether or not museums should accept digital art into their collections.
Digital art can be defined as an artwork created using digital technology and tools like computers, tablets and smartphones. It includes a variety of mediums such as animation, 3D modelling, virtual reality and video game design. Digital art is increasingly being used by artists to create unique pieces that are unlike anything else seen before.
The debate over whether museums should accept digital art into their collections has been ongoing for some time. On one hand, many believe that digital art is not “real” art and does not deserve to be given the same recognition as traditional artworks. On the other hand, supporters of digital art hold the view that museums should embrace this new form of expression and give it the same respect as any other type of artworks.
The truth is that many museums have already begun to accept digital art into their collections. In fact, some museums have even dedicated entire exhibitions to showcasing digital artworks from around the world. This shows that there is a growing appreciation for this type of expression and that it is slowly becoming more accepted by mainstream audiences.
In general, while there may still be some debate over whether or not digital art deserves to be accepted into museum collections, it is clear that many museums are beginning to welcome this new form of expression. As more people realize the digital art and its potential as an artistic medium, it will likely become even more popular in years to come.
1. What do we know about the digital art from the first three paragraphs?A.It dates back to the 3rd century BC. |
B.Its uniqueness leads to its high market value. |
C.Its creation cannot be separated from digital technology. |
D.It should be placed in museums according to most people. |
A.increase. | B.describe. | C.refuse. | D.accept. |
A.It is getting more and more recognition. |
B.It has been accepted by the mainstream audiences. |
C.Most museums have accepted it as their collection. |
D.This kind of exhibition can be seen all over the world. |
A.Doubtful. | B.Optimistic. | C.Worried. | D.Casual. |
A.A receptionist. | B.A waitress. | C.A cleaner. |
1. What did the woman plan to do?
A.Go to a party. | B.Call Ryan. | C.Dine with Ryan. |
A.To a park. | B.To a restaurant. | C.To a hotel. |