New research has found that even if you give up smoking, the damage it has done to your genes (基因) will stay there for a much longer time.
In the research, a team of US scientists studied the blood of 16, 000 people. Among them, some were smokers, some used to smoke, and the rest were nonsmokers. Scientists compared their genes and found that more than 7, 000 genes of smokers had changed—a number that is onethird of known human genes.
According to NBC News, both heart disease and cancer are caused by genetic changes. Some people may have had the changes when they were born, but most people get them in their daytoday lives while doing things like smoking.
When you stop smoking, a lot of these genes will return to normal within five years. This means your body is trying to heal (治愈) itself of the harmful effects of smoking. But the changes in some of the genes stay for longer. They can stay for as long as 30 years. It’s almost like leaving a footprint on wet cement (水泥) — it will always be there, even when you’ve walked away and when the cement becomes dry.
Although the study results may make people unhappy, there is a bright side:the findings could help scientists invent medicine to treat genetic damage caused by smoking or find ways to tell which people have heart disease or cancer risks.
1.The function of Paragraph 1 is to ______.
A. give an example
B. arouse readers’ interest
C. make an argument
D. give the main idea of the passage
2.Most genetic changes happen because of _______.
A. people’s condition at birth B. environmental pollution
C. people’s bad living habits D. heart disease and cancer
3.The underlined word “it” in Paragraph 4 refers to _______.
A. the cement B. the footprint
C. the harmful effects D. the genetic change
4.Which of the following statements is true？
A. The findings are the fruit of more than three years’ research.
B. The findings have prevented more people from starting smoking.
C. The findings offer evidence that a damaged gene can heal itself.
D. The findings help to find cures for genetic damage caused by smoking.
A supermarket checkout assistant was praised as striking a blow for (拥护)modern manners and a return to the age of politeness after refusing to serve a shopper who was talking on her mobile phone.
Sainbury’s was forced to apologize to the customer who complained when she was told her goods would not be scanned unless she hung up. Jo Clark, 26, said, “I don’t know what she was playing at. I couldn’t believe how rude she was. When did she have the right to give me a lecture on checkout etiquette (礼节)? I won’t be shopping there again.
But users of social media sites and Internet forums were very angry that the store gave in and the public appeared to be rallying (支持) behind the angry checkout worker. “Perhaps this is a turning point for mobile phone users everywhere. When chatting, keep your eyes on the folk around you. That includes people trying to serve you, other road and pavement users and especially people behind you on the stairs,” was a typical post.
“It’s about time checkout staff fought back at these people incessantly chattering on their phones. They can drive anyone crazy. It’s rude and annoying. I often want to grab someone’s phone and throw it as far as I can, and I am not even a checkout girl, just a passer-by,” said another.
WillNorman of The Young Foundation said that the majority of people still valued good manners very highly, despite growing pressures from work, mobility and technology. “Being civil to each other is part of the oil which makes communities work. In our research taxi drivers and shop workers described being invisible which is fine as a one-off but day after day it makes people feel undervalued and undermined. It is quite simply rude,” he said. “New rules and codes of conduct take a while to develop and we are still in a development phase for mobile phones,” he added.
Siobhan Freegard, founder of parenting site Netmums.com said, “While clearly this checkout operator doesn’t have the authority to order customers to switch off the phone, you can see why she felt so frustrated. No matter how busy you are, life is nicer when you and those around you have good manners.”
1.According to Jo Clark, the checkout assistant ________.
A. lacked the knowledge of checkout manners
B. played with a mobile phone while at work
C. deserved praise for her modern manners
D. had no right to forbid her to use her mobile phone
2.Paragraphs 3 and 4 imply that the public ________.
A. are used to chatting on their mobile phones
B. are driven crazy by constant mobile calls
C. seemed to support the checkout assistant
D. ignored the existence of mobile phone users
3.WillNorman seems to support the idea that ________.
A. people are confused about what good manners are
B. technology makes people feel undervalued
C. the use of mobile phones should be reduced
D. good mobile phone manners are still developing
4.The passage is mainly about ________.
A. how we talk on mobile phones while shopping
B. what good manners mobile phone users should have
C. when we can develop new rules for mobile phone users
D. whether it is rude to talk on your mobile phone while shopping
Music festivals in Europe
Visiting a festival abroad can be a great reason to travel and a way to experience different cultures. These days there is such a number of choices that it’s possible to spend the whole summer watching live music in exciting places. Of course, it’s also a chance to meet people from across the world.
Melt! Festival, Germany
This festival takes place on the site of an open air museum for industrial machinery. There’s also a lake which can be used for swimming when it’s hot. This year’s line-up has over 120 different bands (乐队). Around 90% of the people attending the festival are German providing a perfect chance to practise speaking the language.
Exit Festival, Serbia
Set on the banks of the Danube in an old fortress (城堡), the festival began as a way to show people’s dissatisfaction with the government. These days it’s less political (政治的) but still worries about people who are poor, ill, old, etc and tries to help them. This year’s festival will host many famous bands. From electronic music and dance music to hard rock, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Open’er Festival, Poland
Held in an airfield near the northern city of Gdansk, each year Open’er has a seriously good selection of bands. This year is no exception, with many famous bands set to play. Not only are there amazing artists, but both Poland and the festival itself also provide very excellent value for money.
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, Scotland
Set on a Scottish estate (庄园) near Inverness, this year Belladrum will welcome artists from around the world. The most enjoyable part of the weekend is the ceilidh (traditional Scottish dance and party) which is always a lively event. It doesn’t even matter if you’re a beginner because the band teaches you each dance.
1.What is special about Melt! Festival?
A. It provides German lessons. B. It is held by a local museum.
C. The bands are from 120 countries. D. Most of the festival goers are German.
2.Why did Exit Festival begin?
A. For political reasons. B. For personal reasons.
C. To help stop a fight. D. To offer help to the poor.
3.What makes Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival different from the others?
A. It falls in summer.
B. It is a live music festival.
C. It teaches people Scottish dances.
D. It invites the most famous bands.
I was invited to attend a presentation at the Kentucky School. That evening I found gratitude had amazing______to change our attitude and our life.
The young musician Mr. Patrick was ______ onto the stage in his wheelchair and began to play the piano. His fingers danced _____the keys as he made beautiful music. He then began to sing as he played, and it was wonderful. But what shocked me most was his _____ smile.
Mr. Patrick was born with no eyes and an illness in the legs, which _____ him lame for life. However, as a child, he was _____ artificial eyes and placed in a wheelchair. Before his first birthday, he discovered the piano. ____ his mom hit any note on the piano, and within one or two ____, he’d get it. By his second birthday, he was playing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” His father was _______. “We might not play baseball, but we can play music together.”
When Patrick was at the University of Louisville, his father ______ classes with him. He was also a part of the 214-member marching band! He was a blind, wheelchair-bound trumpet player; and he and his father did it together. His father ______the night shift (夜班) in order to accompany his daytime band practice. Patrick says,“My dad’s my _____.”
But even more than his _____ musical talent, it was Patrick’s“attitude of gratitude” that ____ my soul. On stage, between songs, he talked to the audience about his life and about how ______ he was with a great father. When his performance was over, Patrick and his father were on the stage together. The crowd rose to their feet and _____ for over five minutes.
We all face misfortune in our lives. ____, it’s not the hardship but how we _____ to it that will determine the joy and happiness in our lives. During ______ times, do we spend too much time feeling ______ for ourselves, or can we, with gratitude, learn how to dance in the rain?
1.A. knowledge B. quality C. wisdom D. power
2.A. rolled B. held C. allowed D. dragged
3.A. through B. to C. across D. at
4.A. strange B. magic C. bitter D. friendly
5.A. took B. led C. forced D. left
6.A. fitted with B. filled with C. cured of D. reminded of
7.A. before B. when C. since D. until
8.A. memories B. words C. tries D. notes
9.A. confused B. amused C. interested D. overjoyed
10.A. listed B. found C. attended D. organized
11.A. worked B. found C. refused D. canceled
12.A. dream B. hero C. music D. song
13.A. unbearable B. unreasonable C. unconditional D. unbelievable
14.A. touched B. calmed C. freed D. felt
15.A. satisfied B. concerned C. blessed D. laughed
16.A. cheered B. whispered C. shouted D. laughed
17.A. Therefore B. Otherwise C. However D. Besides
18.A. see B. react C. agree D. put
19.A. happy B. modern C. usual D. tough
20.A. great B. sorry C. hopeful D. proud
The result was far beyond _______we had expected, _______ brought great joy to every one of us.
A. that; which B. which; this C. what; what D. what; which
______ in London, the penniless American wandered on the pavement, ______ to find a job to make a living.
A. Lost; hoped B. Losing; hoped
C. Lost; hoping D. Losing; hoping
