A genetic variant(基因变体) that allows people to feel fully rested with fewer than six hours sleep a night has been found. It is the second such finding in recent months.
Ying-Hui Fu at the University of California, San Francisco, and her colleagues have been seeking out genetic variants responsible for short sleep and genetically engineering these variants into mice to confirm their effect. In August. the team found a variant in a gene called ADRB1, which allows 12 members of a family to sleep 4.5 hours per night without feeling tired.
Now the team has found a variant in a gene called NPSR1 in another family, in which one sleeps averaged 5.5 hours a night and the other just 4.3 hours, feeling fully rested. Another variant in NPSR1 has previously been linked to people requiring 20 minutes less sleep than average, based on studies of tens of thousands of people.
Generally, long-term lack of sleep can contribute to many disorders, including obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and depression. As far as Fu’s team has been able to tell, however, people who sleep less with one of these gene variants are healthy and don’t appear to suffer any ill effects. However, to be absolutely sure would require long-term studies involving large numbers of people, which is not feasible(可行的).
It might be possible to develop drugs that mimic the effects of these variants. However, as NPSR1 is also involved in processes such as stress, anxiety and fear, there is a risk of serious side effects.
1.What did Fu’s team do to confirm the variants effect?
A.Observed blood pressure change.
B.Tested genetic variants on mice.
C.Sorted the effects of different genes.
D.Studied those sleeping less than average.
2.What can we learn about Fu’s team?
A.They are researching variants controlling sleep.
B.They study NPRS1 in a family of 12 members.
C.They have developed drugs to test normal people.
D.They will discover more variants in a week.
3.What does the word “mimic”in the last paragraph mean?
A.Reproduce. B.Compare. C.Avoid. D.Reduce.
4.Where does the text probably come from?
A.A news report. B.A health magazine.
C.A research paper. D.A biology textbook.
A months-long drought affecting most of southern Africa has led to serious food shortage for millions of people.
The United Nations estimates(估计 )that more than 11 million people are facing extreme lack of food. The World Food Program says southern Africa has received normal rainfall in just one of the past five growing seasons.
Among the hardest hit areas is South Africa’s Northern Cape province. There, many farmers are struggling to keep their families and animals alive as they lose money and debt grows. Sheep farmer Louis told the AP he had lost more than 400 sheep over the past two years. He said this drought was the worst during his 45 years of farming. He got emotional while explaining that he now accepted donations of animal feed so he could keep the rest of his animals alive.
It’s estimated that this area will need at least $28 million over the next three months to assist 15, 500 affected farms. So far, South Africa’s government has promised $2 million.
Gertruida from Vosburg told the AP things had gotten so bad that she shared her family’s food with their animals. Small children were hungry, too. At Vosburg’s only school, Delta Primary School, large groups of children lined up for what became both breakfast and lunch. The meal usually included corn meal, vegetables and soup. “It’s very hard for the parents to actually feed their children at home, “one teacher said.
In Kimberley, the capital of Northern Cape, government officials give out money from the $2 million disaster aid program. The job can be difficult because some farmers live in places that are not easy to get to.
1.Which of the following is TRUE about the drought?
A.It has lasted a whole month.
B.It is the worst in Africa’ s history.
C.It has killed 400 sheep altogether.
D.It affects Northern Cape worst.
2.Why were Louis’ feelings out of control?
A.Because his debts grew.
B.Because he got donations.
C.Because he lost more sheep.
D.Because his children went hungry.
3.What’s the text mainly about?
A.Government takes measures to fight the rare drought.
B.People carry out self-rescue after the severe drought.
C.Farmers suffer a loss of animals because of the drought.
D.Deadly drought in Southern Africa leaves millions hungry.
Eleven-year-old Ruby Kate Chitsey has long been close to older folks. Her mother, Amanda Chitsey, is a nurse who works at nursing homes in Harrison, and Kate often follows her around in the summer.
Last May, Ruby Kate learned a resident( 居民) named Pearl felt so sad for she had to send her dog away. The reason was that the nursing home didn’t allow residents to have dogs and Pearl couldn’t afford to pay anyone to look after hers. She also learned that many nursing home residents were unable to afford even the smallest luxuries (奢侈品). So Kate decided to do something about it.
She started by asking residents what three things they wanted most in the world. Amanda worried that people would ask for cars and other things an 11-year-old wouldn’t be able to provide. Instead, they asked for chocolate bars, McDonald’s fries, pants that fit properly, and even just a prayer.
“It broke me as a human, “Amanda says. “We left the nursing home that day and went straight to a store and bought as many items as we could.”
Using their own money, the Chitseys satisfied the wishes of about 100 people in three months. Then they started asking for donations. The good people of Harrison responded enthusiastically, so much so that Amanda set up a GoFundMe page, Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents, hoping to collect $5,000. They hit their goal in only a few days. After GoFundMe promoted Kate’s story internationally this January, Three Wishes raised $20,000 in 24 hours and more than $250,000 in five months.
Earlier this year, Three Wishes became a nonprofit and started its first nationwide chapters.
1.Why was Pearl unhappy?
A.Because she became terribly ill.
B.Because she couldn’t afford luxuries.
C.Because keeping dogs was forbidden.
D.Because no one looked after her dog.
2.What do we learn about Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents?
A.It started raising money in nursing homes.
B.It got great support from the people of Harrison.
C.It has developed branches in each state of America.
D.It only received donations of money on the Internet.
3.What’s the author’s purpose of writing the text?
A.To popularize the Chitseys’ Three Wishes.
B.To advertise the nursing homes in Harrison.
C.To introduce how the Chitseys helped the residents.
D.To encourage people to donate for Harrison’s residents.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.Where does the speaker make art works?
A.At the local market. B.In his studio. C.At local exhibitions.
2.How does the speaker get inspiration for art?
A.By sorting collected rubbish into two piles.
B.By observing art works at local exhibitions.
C.By playing around with different combinations.
3.What works by the speaker are displayed at exhibitions?
A.Vases and lamps. B.Animal sculptures. C.Pencil boxes.
4.How do we describe the speaker?
A.Creative. B.Honest. C.Humorous.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Why does the woman want to be a repair woman?
A.She likes working on cars.
B.Her boyfriend is a repairman.
C.She is tired of studying nursing.
2.What is James doing now?
A.Working in a garage. B.Studying in a college. C.Serving in the hospital.
3.Which job does the man think fits women?
A.A piano teacher. B.A truck driver. C.A carpenter.
4.Who will examine the man’s car?
A.The woman. B.James. C.Nobody.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What did the man do last Sunday?
A.Visited his professor. B.Went for a picnic. C.Got together with friends.
2.How is the woman’s university life?
A.Busy. B.Difficult. C.Interesting.
3.What’s the relationship between the two speakers?
A.Friends. B.Teacher and student. C.Colleagues.
