British scientists have discovered the willow trees planted at an angle could increase sugars for biofuel production.
Willow is a fast-growing species. It is already used to produce fuels for the renewable heating and power market. In future it could also help to produce biofuel to power vehicles. It has been known that when willows growing in the wild are blown sideways, they tend to produce more sugars. But for a while it has not been known why this happens.
Researchers at Imperial College London, led by Dr Nicholas Brereton and Dr Michael Ray of the Department of Life Sciences, have now solved the mystery. When the tree is blown sideways, its genes (基因) produce large numbers of sugar molecules (分子) to straighten the tree upwards.
“This is an important breakthrough. Our study now shows that natural genetic changes are related to these differences. And this could well be the key to unlocking the future for green energy from willow,” said Dr Brereton.
The research was carried out under lab conditions. The willows were grown at an angle of 45 degrees. They were compared to willows which grow naturally straight upwards. The team then looked for the same effect among the willows growing on the Isle of Orkney where strong winds cause the trees to bend at extreme angles. They discovered that the Orkney trees produce five times the amount of sugars found in willows grown in sheltered conditions.
Willow is widely planted across the UK. The results show that biofuel crops such as willows could be grown in climatically changeable conditions where chances of growing food crops are limited.
The study is published in Biotechnology for Biofuels.
1.What may happen when willows are planted in strong winds?
A. They stop growing. B. Few sugars are produced.
C. They try to grow sideways. D. Changes in genes take place.
2.The Orkney willows ________.
A. are unusually rich in sugars B. grow naturally straight upward
C. look taller than ordinary willows D. are stronger than those growing in labs
3.Farmers living in changeable climate _______.
A. use biofuel for heating and power B. are encouraged to grow biofuel crops
C. can plant different kinds of food crops D. should make their willows grow straight
4.Where does this passage most probably come from?
A. A personal diary. B. A travel magazine.
C. A scientific journal. D. A newspaper advertisement.
I first began experiencing anxiety and depression at the age of 14, after being bullied (欺凌) at school for years. While at first anxiety and depression would come and go, it eventually became a constant part of my life.
I was so eager to find the solution to overcoming my anxiety and depression that I tried everything from when I was in college to graduate school: mood-changing medication, special teas, yoga, anything I read about in books, and advice given by doctors. Despite this, I still felt I hadn’t even come close to managing the problem.
But one afternoon, my eyes fell upon an article in a magazine I was reading that talked about how dogs were able to help people with anxiety and depression. The very next day, I decided to get a dog—a corgi. When I brought my little corgi, Buddy, home. I didn’t realize how much he would change my life. It didn’t happen right away, however.
Once the “puppy excitement” went away, my anxiety and depression came back as usual. One morning, I woke up with those familiar feeling again. I didn’t want to get out of bed. I turned to pull the covers back over my head and give up. That’s when I saw Buddy.
Buddy started jumping all over me, licking my face, letting me know that it was time to go outside. It was as if he were saying, “There’s no time to be sad; the world is amazing!” And for the first time in my life, my life was changing. I really was a new person. This was my new beginning.
It’s been more than a year since that day, and I’ve never spent another morning unable to get out of bed. I’ve not cried myself to sleep or spent my days stuck with fear and regret. Sure, I still have days when I feel sad or anxious. But with Buddy, my best friend, by my side, I’ve finally learned how to manage these feelings and emotions.
1.According to the first two paragraphs, the author ________.
A. has been a school bully for years
B. suffered from depression since college
C. tried many ways to fight depression but nothing worked
D. felt less depressed after taking medication and doing yoga
2.How did the author know having a dog might help with her depression?
A. a doctor put it forward to her.
B. She read it in an article by chance.
C. She heard it from some other depression sufferers.
D. She found out herself after spending some time with a corgi.
3.How does the author feel in the last paragraph?
A. hopeful B. Anxious
C. Confused D. Doubtful
假定你是李华。你的美国网友Eric打算寒假期间到中国来旅游。最近，他来信向你询问来中国旅游时的注意事项。请你用英语给他回封邮件。内容包括：
1. 交通工具的选择；
2. 购物付款方式；
3. 天气、饮食和住宿。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
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。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
In order enrich students’ school life, many schools offer all kind of after-school activities. I think that participated in after-school activities is beneficial to students. Therefore, every the student should take part in at most one after-school activity. That you choose is up to you. Any after-school activity that actual attracts you is OK, for example, a drama. After-school activities not only helps you relieve stress, and broaden your minds. Above all, they are good with character building through time management, teamwork and strong competition.
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。
I believe doing good deeds can bring me happiness. I’ve been making breastpins (胸针) and gifting them to everyone possible and if you ask me why I do it, it’s because 1. the joy which just bursts forth from my inner heart. The smile that lights up at the sight of the breastpin is worth anything you’d wish for and it goes much 2. (far). From that moment on, there’s a 3. (connect) between gifting breastpins and happiness.
We exchange warm hugs, smiles and a million “thank you”. This hobby that has so at- traded me has opened my heart and brought me out of my cocoon (茧). Now, I don’t mind 4. (start) a conversation with a stranger, wishing him or her well and gifting a breastpin because I know that this little piece of art will do 5. (it) magic of breaking all barriers. We unite and share many 6. (story). And next time our paths cross, we greet 7. smile, which is enough 8. (brighten) the day.
This morning, I received 9. heart-warming post on Instagram (照片墙) from a friend who I 10. (give) a blue and white spotted breastpin before. She shared it along with the shells collected from the beach. She loved sea shells and the colors blue and white. So, here’s why I make breastpins.
People shall always unite as one big family in face of disasters. When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, Reader’s Digest wrote about impressive rescues. The spirit of serving can be incredibly ____. Here is a story from Annalysa Longworth, a survivor of Hurricane Maria, in her own ____.
“The total 36 hours of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico was ____ the scariest event we’ve ever gone through. Our house sits on the north-west coast of Rincon. In the ____, over 100 mph winds changed direction causing a great amount of water flooding our ____. The only place lett dry and safe was our kitchen floor, where we were ____ to ride out the rest of the storm. It has been 50 days since the ____, and we are still without power and water. During our regular afternoon showers, we are glad to ____ rainwater but are quickly reminded of the people living without roofs, and how ____ it must be for them. Our emotions are consistently in a state of ____.
Recently, our good friends told us about a video interview they were doing with Watts of Love, a solar light company. The company generously gave us a headlamp for our personal ____ and a box with 50 headlamps to distribute throughout our town. Rincon was completely blacked out so making a simple walk through a parking lot to our car is ____. We used to rush to get things done before ____, but now I continue daily chores in the dark. What ____ our lives most was being able to share this gift with others. We ____ the lamps house by house to the people in the mountains who needed them most, as even batteries and candles are ____ there. Even though ____ have come slowly, people have been out of work and can’t afford to ____ their electric bill. I, ll always be ____ to Watts of Love for allowing us to pay it forward and be witnesses to the smiles that ____ can bring.”
1.A. moving B. terrifying C. universal D. necessary
2.A. methods B. words C. opinions D. editions
3.A. undoubtedly B. uncertainly C. unsteadily D. unluckily
4.A. system B. history C. recovery D. darkness
5.A. school B. garden C. house D. studio
6.A. requested B. taught C. forced D. expected
7.A. performance B. progress C. rescue D. storm
8.A. research B. observe C. apply D. collect
9.A. awful B. punctual C. amazing D. puzzling
10.A. relief B. sympathy C. pleasure D. calmness
11.A. interest B. purpose C. attempt D. problem
12.A. convenient B. ridiculous C. dangerous D. awkward
13.A. sunset B. schedule C. deadline D. daybreak
14.A. ruined B. changed C. proved D. witnessed
15.A. took off B. brought out C. got through D. gave away
16.A. rare B. expensive C. adequate D. equal
17.A. reports B. survivors C. supplies D. complaints
18.A. imagine B. receive C. choose D. undertake
19.A. devoted B. familiar C. grateful D. accustomed
20.A. nature B. light C. future D. harvest
