Chinese scientists recently have produced two monkeys with the same gene, Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua, using the same technique that gave us Dolly the sheep. These monkeys are not actually the first primates（灵长类）to be cloned. Another one named Tetra was produced in the late 1990s by embryo（胚胎）splitting, the division of an early-stage embryo into two or four separate cells to make clones. By contrast, they were each made by replacing an egg cell nucleus（原子核）with DNA from a differentiated body cell. This Dolly method, known as somatic cell nuclear transfer（SCNT）, can create more clones and allows researchers greater control over the edits they make to the DNA.
Success came from adopting several new techniques. These included a new type of microscopy to better view the cells during handling or using several materials that encourage cell reprogramming, which hadn’t been tried before on primates. Still, the research process proved difficult, and many attempts by the team failed. Just two healthy baby monkeys born from more than 60 tested mothers. This leads to many researchers’ pouring water on the idea that the team’s results bring scientists closer to cloning humans. They thought this work is not a stepping stone to establishing methods for obtaining live born human clones. Instead, this clearly remains a very foolish thing to attempt, it would be far too inefficient, far too unsafe, and it is also pointless.
But the scientists involved emphasize that this is not their goal. There is now no barrier for cloning primate species, thus cloning humans is closer to reality. However, their research purpose is entirely for producing non-human primate models for human diseases; they absolutely have no intention, and society will not permit this work to be extended to humans. Despite limitations, they treat this breakthrough a novel model system for scientists studying human biology and disease.
1.What do we know about the technology called SCNT?
A. It created the first two primates.
B. It may contribute to editing the DNA.
C. It can divide an early-stage embryo into several cells.
D. It produced two cloned monkeys with different genes.
2.What does the author mean by “pouring water on the idea” in paragraph 2?
A. Keeping a hot topic of it.
B. Attaching no importance to it.
C. Having a low opinion of it.
D. Adding supportive evidence to it.
3.What is the scientists’ purpose to clone these monkeys?
A. To prepare for their research on human cloning.
B. To serve as a stepping stone to their reputation.
C. To help with the study of human diseases.
D. To raise money for holding an exhibition of novels.
4.What can we infer from the passage?
A. Cloning humans is already on its way.
B. New techniques seem to be pointless.
C. Society won’t agree to clone another monkey.
D. The success rate of cloning a monkey was not high.
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 12 (Xinhua)—Legendary comic book writer Stan Lee has died at the age of 95, according to media reports on Monday.
Lee, born in Stanley Lieber on Dec. 28th, 1922, began his career in 1939 and joined the Marvel Comics in 1961.
He is considered as one of the most legendary names in the history of comic books and the leading creative force behind the rise of Marvel Comics. He co-created iconic fictional characters such as Spider-Man, X-Men, the Avengers, and many more.
Lee’s characters often have super powers, but they also have weaknesses. They were humans, not gods. They not only struggled to save the world, but also to pay their bills, make friends, and hold jobs. This made Marvel comic book heroes stand apart from its competitor DC, which produced the seemingly perfect heroes like Superman and Wonder Woman. Those superheroes have been adapted into blockbuster films, most of which were made after Disney acquired Marvel in a 4-billion-dollar deal in 2009.
In a statement, Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company said Stan Lee was as extraordinary as the characters he created.
Marvel also praised Lee on its website by putting on one of Lee’s famous quotes, which goes, “I used to be embarrassed because I was just a comic-book writer while other people were building bridges or going on to medical careers. And then I began to realize: entertainment is one of the most important things in people’s lives. Without it, they might go off the deep end. I feel that if you’re able to entertain, you’re doing a good thing. ”
Praise from his Hollywood peers and colleagues was generous. President of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige appreciated Lee’s unparalleled impact on the industry. “No one has had more of an impact on my career than Stan Lee,” Feige said. “Our thoughts are with his family and the millions of fans who have been forever touched by Stan’s genius, charisma and heart.”
1.How do Lee’s characters differ from those of DC?
A. They are perfect heroes.
B. They often have super powers.
C. They are not humans, but gods.
D. They have human shortcomings.
2.We can learn from Lee’s statement in Paragraph 6 that ________.
A. it is embarrassing to be a comic-book writer
B. a taste of entertainment is necessary in people’s lives
C. entertainment is the most important thing in the world
D. you can do everything well if you are able to entertain
3.According to the passage, we could know that ________.
A. Lee influenced Kevin Feige’s career a lot
B. Lee joined the Marvel Comics in his forties
C. Lee created the fictional characters all by himself
D. The superheroes were adapted into films before Disney acquired Marvel
4.What can be the best title for the passage?
A. Comics Legend—the Marvels and DC
B. The Superheroes in Stan Lee’s Comics
C. Marvel’s Comics Legend Stan Lee Dies at 95
D. The Life Story of Marvel Comics Legend Stan Lee
I sat with my friend in a well-known coffee shop in a neighboring town of Venice. As we enjoyed our coffee, a man called the waiter and placed his order, “Two cups of coffee, one on the wall.” We got interested and observed that he was served with one cup of coffee but he paid for two. As soon as he left, the waiter attached a piece of paper to the wall saying “A Cup of Coffee.” Similar occasions took place twice while we were there. It seemed that this gesture was quite normal at this place. However, it was something unique and confusing for us.
After a few days, when we again enjoyed coffee there, a man entered. The way this man was dressed did not match the standard or the atmosphere of this coffee shop. Poverty was evident from his looks. As he seated himself, he looked at the wall and said, “One cup of coffee from the wall.” The waiter served coffee to this man with respect and dignity. The man had his coffee and left without paying. We were amazed to watch all this when the waiter took off a piece of paper from the wall and threw it in the dustbin.
Now it was no surprise for us; the matter was very clear. The great respect for the needy shown by people in this town moved us to tears.
Coffee is not a necessity. However, the point is that when we take pleasure in any blessing, maybe we also need to think about those people who also appreciate that specific blessing but cannot afford.
Note the waiter, who gets the communication going between the affording and the needy with a smile on his face. Think about the man in need: he enters the coffee shop without having to lower his self-dignity; he has a free cup of coffee without asking or knowing about who has given this cup of coffee to him; he only looked at the wall, placed an order for himself, enjoyed his coffee and left. Besides, we need to remember the role played by the wall that reflects the generosity and care of people in this town.
1.What made the author interested as well as confused?
A. The waiter’s making normal gestures.
B. Customers’ buying coffee for the needy.
C. The waiter’s attaching coffee orders on the wall.
D. Customers’ paying for coffee and having it put on the wall.
2.The author thought the man in need was ______.
A. not properly dressed
B. obviously poor
C. not right to leave without paying
D. strange to order coffee from the wall
3.In the author’s opinion, coffee is _____.
A. necessary in our life
B. respect shown for the needy
C. a blessing to someone who can’t afford
D. a blessing everyone should have
4.The passage is mainly concerned about ______.
A. learning from the waiter
B. buying coffee for others
C. caring more about the people in need
D. analyzing the characters in the coffee shop
Your 2018 Reading List, Provided by Bill Gates
Most of us can’t live like billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, but we can read like him. Gates recommended four books in 2018—though some were published earlier.
Leonardo da Vinci, by Walter Isaacson (2017)
The bestselling biographer of Steve Jobs and Albert Einstein researched deeply into da Vinci’s contributions beyond art, highlighting the breadth of his scientific, technological, and creative output. “Leonardo nearly understood almost all of what was known on the planet at the time. That’s mostly because of his curiosity about every area of natural science and the human experience,” said Gates.
The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir, by Thi Bui (2017)
Gates calls this graphic novel “really impressive”. Bui is the daughter of Vietnamese refugees who came to America after the fall of Saigon, and becoming a parent inspired her to look into her own parents’ miserable history. “I was struck by how the experiences Bui illustrates manage to be both universal and specific to their circumstances,” said Gates.
Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders (2018)
Saunders, a long-time short story writer, won high praise for this novel. The book imagines the ghosts that haunt (萦绕) the basement of Willie Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s son, who died at 11 in real life. “Willie’s death after the Civil War made the president have a new understanding of the grief he’s creating in other families by sending their sons off to die in battle,” said Gates.
Origin Story: A Big History of Everything, by David Christian (2018)
This new book is by the creator of Big History, a free, online social studies course. It traces history in wide, sweeping movements, starting with the Big Bang, and it provides, in effect, a short course in modern science. This is a brief history of the universe. “David gets a little stuck on the current economic and political problems in the West, and I wish he talked more about the role innovation will play in preventing the worst effects of climate change,” said Gates.
1.Which books refer to the field of science?
A. Origin Story and Leonardo da Vinci.
B. Lincoln in the Bardo and Origin Story.
C. Leonardo da Vinci and The Best We Could Do.
D. The Best We Could Do and Lincoln in the Bardo.
2.If you are interested in thrillers, whose book will you most probably choose?
A. Walter Isaacson. B. Thi Bui.
C. George Saunders. D. David Christian.
3.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. The Best We Could Do is an autobiography.
B. Lincoln in the Bardo has been warmly received.
C. David Christian talks much about the part that innovation will play.
D. Readers can only read about Leonardo da Vinci’s contributions towards art.
假定你是中学生李华，你的美国笔友Harry来信说想学习中国的古诗(ancient poems)，
请你推荐一本有助于学习古诗的书籍。请给他回复邮件，内容包括：
1．书名及作者：
2．推荐理由；
3．表达祝愿。
注意：1．词数100词左右：
2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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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短文。短文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误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：在错的词下画一横线，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。
I hate to say sorry，and there is a change in my school arrangements．So I’m afraid I won’t able to keep my appointment to discuss Chinese paintings with you．I sincere apologize to you for any inconvenience causing by the unexpected change．Therefore I suggested we put it off from 3 pm this weekend until the same time in next Thursday．Will that be fine for you? Good news is that a exhibition of Chinese paintings are to be held this weekend．Works by many nationwide famous painter will be included，among who Qi Baishi is most famous in China．A visit there will surely help you better understand Chinese paintings．
Looking forward to your earliest reply．
