1 . We are the products of evolution, and not just evolution that occurred billions of years ago. As scientists look deeper into our genes (基因), they are finding examples of human evolution in just the past few thousand years. People in Ethiopian highlands have adapted to living at high altitudes. Cattle -raising people in East Africa and northern Europe have gained a mutation (突变) that helps them digest milk as adults.
On Thursday in an article published in Cell, a team of researchers reported a new kind of adaptation - not to air or to food, but to the ocean. A group of sea-dwelling people in Southeast Asia have evolved into better divers. The Bajau, as these people are known, number in the hundreds of thousands in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. They have traditionally lived on houseboats; in recent times, they’ve also built houses on stilts (支柱) in coastal waters. “They are simply a stranger to the land,” said Redney C. Jubilado, a University of Hawaii researcher who studies the Bajau.
Dr. Jubilado first met the Bajau while growing up on Samal Island in the Philippines. They made a living as divers, spearfishing or harvesting shellfish. “We were so amazed that they could stay underwater much longer than us local islanders,” Dr. Jubilado said. “I could see them actually walking under the sea.”
In2015, Melissa Ilardo, then a graduate student in genetics at the University of Copenhagen, heard about the Bajau. She wondered if centuries of diving could have led to the evolution of physical characteristics that made the task easier for them. “it seemed like the perfect chance for natural selection to act on a population,” said Dr. Ilardo. She also said there were likely a number of other genes that help the Bajau dive.
1. What does the author want to tell us by the examples in paragraph 1?A.Environmental adaptation of cattle raisers. | B.New knowledge of human evolution. |
C.Recent findings of human origin. | D.Significance of food selection. |
A.In valleys. | B.Near rivers. | C.On the beach. | D.Off the coast. |
A.They could walk on stilts all day. | B.They had a superb way of fishing. |
C.They could stay long underwater. | D.They lived on both land and water. |
A.Bodies Remodeled for a Life at Sea | B.Highlanders’ Survival Skills |
C.Basic Methods of Genetic Research | D.The World’s Best Divers |
Martial arts refer to any of the traditional forms of Asian self-defence or combat that use physical skill and collaboration
3 . The days that make us happy make us wise.
--- John Masefield
When I first read this line by England's Poet Laureate, it
Slowly, I seemed to
Active happiness---not mere satisfaction or
Nor are the
Consequently, the long vision is there for the seeing. The ground at your feet, the world about you---people, thoughts, emotions, pressures---are now
A.terrified | B.satisfied | C.surprised | D.upset |
A.other | B.opposite | C.view | D.contrast |
A.arresting | B.amazing | C.interesting | D.disturbing |
A.handle | B.observe | C.appreciate | D.seize |
A.iced | B.clouded | C.rained | D.snowed |
A.roads | B.paths | C.spots | D.places |
A.fulfillment | B.sorrow | C.disappointment | D.entertainment |
A.embraced | B.interrupted | C.responded | D.accompanied |
A.brightness | B.stupidity | C.shortcomings | D.memories |
A.physical | B.sharp | C.spiritual | D.solid |
A.insights | B.impressions | C.attentions | D.expectations |
A.extended | B.collapsed | C.witnessed | D.withdrew |
A.got out | B.stayed on | C.kept off | D.fitted into |
A.proportion | B.position | C.explanations | D.duty |
A.happiness | B.wisdom | C.ability | D.life |
With about half of the vast country covered in wilderness, China is the world’s third most species-rich country. Therefore, China’s
The vital biodiversity,
The national parks cross China’s vast ecosystems, from the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park in the south
The national parks are open to all. Visitors can make reservations online in advance
5 . Family-Friendly Events in January
ZooLights: Glow Wild Jan. 1-19
The Phoenix Zoo’s yearly holiday light show is on until Jan. 19, allowing families one or more opportunities to enjoy the city’s zoo, with millions of lights giving an added dimension to the festivities.
Glow Wild, 455 N. Galvin Pkwy. , Phoenix, phoenixzoo.org, $11. 95 members, $13. 95 general admission.
Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts Jan. 4-18
The Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts features the work of established and emerging artists, including those who create woodwork, metal crafts, food items, art, photography and gifts.
On Macdonald, off of Main Street in Downtown Mesa, dtmesafest.com, free admission.
Family Fun Winterfest Jan. 4
OdySea Aquarium in the Desert is hosting the third annual Family Fun Winterfest in its Desert Courtyard, featuring real snow for the kids to play in. This free event features everything from bounce houses to rides, games, snowflake crafts and face painting to go with various stands set up by local sellers, with food and other offerings for sale at the event.
9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale, odyseainthedesert.com, free.Youth Fine Arts Course Jan. 18-Mar. 7
Mesa Arts Center is hosting an eight-week youth arts course on Saturdays to teach artistic skills and knowledge through fun and challenging art classes in a wide variety of art materials, including painting, drawing, mixed media and sculpture, ensuring mentally stimulating sessions for all.
Mesa Art Center, 1 E. Main St, Mesa, mesaartscenter.com, $93.1. How can you get a discounted ticket to the ZooLights show?
A.Bring a friend. | B.Get a membership. |
C.Join a tour group. | D.Book a ticket online. |
A.Have free food. | B.Take art classes. |
C.Enjoy real snow. | D.Meet local artists. |
A.ZooLights: Glow Wild. | B.Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts. |
C.Youth Fine Arts Courses. | D.Family Fun Winterfest. |
The 18-hectare construction site of the Huashan section of Wuhan Metro Line 19 is situated near an ecological reserve. Efforts had to be made
When Hua
However, months
Bird-watching is one of the activities offered by the public benefit program “Park Classes”, which
The program aims to help raise the awareness of environmental
Among the courses on offer
Last summer, a team of 15 students conducted a physical examination of the biodiversity of
The activity was meaningful and the students learned a lot and they are expecting to take more chances like this.
A.In a shop. | B.At the bus stop. | C.In a restaurant. |
9 . The first traffic lights in the United States were installed because of an increase in traveller on the road in the 1920s. Worried about accidents, towns and cities installed traffic towers to help the flow of cars. Officers manned the towers, using whistles and red, green and yellow lights to indicate to drivers when they should stop and go.
Due to the absence of effective traffic signal systems on some streets, it caused risks at intersections. Then, William Potts created the first tricolour, four-directional traffic signal. The very first four-directional traffic light was installed at Woodward Avenue and Fort. But throughout the country, there were still a lot of systems for traffic lights and patterns in place. Since this could end up causing more problems for drivers, the Federal Highway Administration set uniform standards in 1935for all road signs, pavement markings and traffic signals, requiring them to all use red, yellow and green light indicators.
Red is the colour with the longest wavelength; that means that as it travels through air molecules, it gets diffused(扩散)less than other colour, so it can be seen from a greater distance. Yellow has a shorter wavelength than red but a longer wavelength than green. This means that red is visible the furthest away, yellow in the middle and green the least distance away—a helpful advanced warning for needing to slow or stop. But this could be a coincidence. Red meaning stop originated with train warning lights, and it’s not clear whether that was chosen based on wavelength, contrast against green nature or natural association of red with things like blood. It could be a combination of all three!
Back in the 1900s, some stop signs were yellow because it was too hard to see a red sign in a poorly lit area. Eventually, highly reflective materials were developed, and red stop signs were born. Since yellow can be seen well at all times of the day, school zones, some traffic signs and school buses continue to be painted the colour.
1. What’s the purpose of installing traffic lights in the 1920s?A.To increase the speed of cars. |
B.To improve road safety and efficiency. |
C.To reduce traffic jams in towns and cities. |
D.To obey the standards of the government. |
A.The first tricolour,four-directional traffic signal. |
B.The installation of the first traffic signal. |
C.The existence of different traffic lights and patterns. |
D.The absence of traffic signal systems. |
A.The differences among the three colour. |
B.The wavelength of the three colour. |
C.The reasons for choosing red as the stop signal. |
D.The relationship between red colour and its wavelength. |
A.It can’t be seen in the distance. |
B.It is a kind of highly reflective colour. |
C.It is not suitable to be used in school zones. |
D.It can not be clearly seen in certain surroundings. |
增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧),并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改:在错的词下划一横线,并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
I always had a dream to be a fluency speaker. However, such shy was I that I didn’t dare to utter a word in public. That was just beyond my wildest imagination was that fortune should bless me with a chance to realize my dream. One day, my English teacher asked me to go to her office and told me I was given an unique opportunity to take part in an English speaking competition. Hearing this, I could hardly hide my excitement, hoped to give it a shot immediately. When making preparation for the competition, I wrote my speech heart and soul. After finishing the composition, I discussed it with my teacher and got much advice on how to improve it. Under the help of my English teacher, I didn’t lose my heart and made great progress. Only then I realize that it was great beneficial to turn to teachers for help when confronted with difficulties.