Ants are truly incredible creatures. In addition to talents like predicting earthquakes and saving themselves from drowning during floods, the hardworking insects go all out to protect their own comrades, often carrying the wounded back to the nest to heal. Now researchers have discovered ants who explode and sacrifice themselves to save their nests from attackers.
Although scientists have known about the existence of exploding ants since 1916, they were first found in the rainforests of Borneo in Southeast Asia by an international team of researchers led by Alice Laciny, a graduate student at the Natural History Museum, Vienna.
The researchers noticed that during the day, when the ants went outside to look for food, they would be closely monitored by a small army of “guards”, who touched each member as it went in and out of the nest. Upon running into an attacker, the guard ant would angle its back part towards the attacking creature and shrink its stomach. This caused the ant’s body to explode and release a yellow, deadly goo(粘状物), which instantly killed the attacker.
The ability to explode, however, was not universal among the species and appeared to be possessed only by minor worker ants, usually the smallest ants of the nest. Even more interesting was that while the minor members were blowing themselves up, the large worker ants with oversized plug-shaped heads, placed barriers at the nest’s entrance to prevent other potential enemies from entering.
While the defense measure may sound extreme, Tomer Czazkes believes it is necessary. The behavioral ecologist at Germany’s University of Regensburg says since the insects live in large groups, they are a natural and easy source of food for ant eaters. They, therefore, have to find ways to protect themselves. Ants are not the only insects known to conduct this type of voluntary-sacrifice. Older termites(白蚁 ), who have lost their abilities of nesting and finding food, also explode onto their enemies.
Next, the researchers hope to find out the make-up of their yellow goo, how they use their explosion to take down larger attackers and so on.
1.What’s the main function of Paragraph 1?
A.To tell us ants are gifted B.To show concern for ants’ safety.
C.To say ants face more challenge D.To lead to the main topic of the text.
2.What is regarded as more interesting for the author?
A.The guard ants’ touching each other. B.The minor ants’ voluntary self-sacrifice.
C.The guard ants’ shrinking their stomachs. D.The large ants’ blocking the nest entrance.
3.What do scientists plan to do in the future?
A.Do more research on the older termites.
B.Discover if the ants can kill larger attackers.
C.Uncover more secrets about the exploding ants.
D.Tell the difference between the ants and older termites.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Worker Ants Are Easy to Attack
B.Ants Are Expert in Protecting Themselves
C.Worker Ants Explode to Protect Their Nests
D.Graduate Student Discovered New Kind of Ants
We already know that exercise is good for our bodies. Daily exercise fights the loss of muscle tone and flexibility that tends to increase slowly with age. And it turns out that it has the same fountain-of-youth effects on our brains.
Studies show that over time our minds also become less flexible and nimble. We lose the ability to process new information or switch between mental tasks quickly — and now we know why.
A recent study examined nearly 100 individual studies on exercise and brain function and discovered exercising an average of 52 hours over six months is "associated with improved cognitive(认知的)performance in older adults with and without cognitive damage." The type of exercises that are beneficial include aerobic, strength-training and mind-body.
In previous studies, researchers from Japan's University of Tsukuba wanted to explore this idea by looking at the effect of exercise on this weakening of the brain. They tested the oxygen ability of 60 Japanese men between the ages of 64 and 75 who did not show any signs of dementia or other mental symptoms. Next, they looked at the brain activity of each man as he completed a mental task. They found that the fitter a participant was, the less brain activity he used to complete the tasks when compared with his out-of-shape peers(同龄人).
Although much research is focused on how exercise may benefit an aging brain, exercise offers brain health benefits at almost any age, and this includes children. A review of 14 studies showed that more physically active schoolchildren do better academically. Exercise actually causes your brain to grow in size. So get moving and keep moving for best results.
1.Which of the following best explains “nimble” underlined in Paragraph 2?
A.Intelligent. B.Dull. C.Unique. D.Simple.
2.What can we infer about the participants’ less-active peers?
A.They had significant brain advantages. B.Their brains were younger than their age.
C.They didn’t have to attend health classes. D.Their cognitive performance would decline.
3.How does the author support his idea?
A.By making comparisons. B.By analyzing study results.
C.By describing the processes. D.By telling his own experiences.
4.What’s the main idea of the text?
A.Exercise is beneficial for your bodies.
B.Exercise is especially good for the old.
C.Exercise can benefit your brain health.
D.Exercise may lower your risk of mental problems.
James Harrison is called “The Man with the Golden Arm”. The Australian man has saved the lives of more than 2.4 million babies by donating blood nearly every week for 60 years.
At the age of 14, Harrison had an 11-hour operation to remove a lung. “ I received 13 units(liters) of blood and my life had been saved by unknown people,” Harrison said. “When I’m old enough, I’ll become a blood donor.”
That is exactly what Harrison did. Soon afterwards, doctors told him that his blood contains a rare antibody that could help mothers who have rhesus disease, a condition where a pregnant woman’s blood attacks the blood cells of her fetus(胎儿). In worst cases, it can result in brain damager or death for the baby, and until about 1967, thousands of babies were dying each year in Australia.
Before long, researchers had developed an injection(注射剂), called Anti-D, using Harrison’s donated blood. Because about 17 percent of pregnant women in Australia require the Anti-D injections, the blood service estimates Harrison has helped 2.4 million babies in the country. At age of 81, he had already passed the age limit allowed for donors, and the blood service had decided Harrison should stop donating to protect his health.
Harrison was awarded the Australian Medal of Honor in recognition of his extraordinary efforts and generosity, but he doesn’t consider himself a hero. He’s now donated his blood 1,173 times, which gained him a Guinness World Record. But in all those times of giving blood, he’s never once watched. “I look at the ceiling or the nurses, maybe talk to them a bit. I can’t stand the sight of blood, and I can’t stand pain.”
1.What contributed to Harrison’s becoming a blood donor?
A.The rare antibody in his blood B.His gratitude to the blood donors
C.The request from the blood service D.His pain during the removal of his lung
2.What’s Anti-D used to do？
A.Save babies by giving them injection B.Protect babies from common illness
C.Cure pregnant mothers with rhesus disease D.Prevent women’s blood from being attacked
3.What does Harrison hold the Guinness World Record for?
A.The age among blood donors B.The amount of blood he donated
C.The number of donations he made D.The number of babies he saved by donating
4.What does the author think of Harrison?
A.He is kind and curious B.He is generous and modest
C.He is selfless and shy D.He is sympathetic and cautious
World’s Best Summer Festivals
The Governors Music Festival
A relative newcomer to the summer music festival scene, the Governors Ball offers a variety of performers and a taste of New York culture. Visitors can catch sets from rock, electronic, and performers, all while tasting food from popular New York City restaurants. To take a break from the music, festival goers can participate in activities such as Silent Disco or lawn(草坪)games.
WHERE: New York City
WHEN: June 3-5
Roskilde
Created by two Danish college students, Roskilde has developed from a hippie gathering ground to a mainstream music festival. The festival attracts an international following and features performances from more than watch their favorite artists perform inside large tents.
WHERE: Roskilde, Denmark
WHEN: June 25-July 2
Montreux Jazz Festival
Set on Lake Geneva’s beautiful shoreline, the Montreux Jazz Festival attracts a global audience. Founded in 1967 as a jazz-only festival, Montreux has since evolved into a two-week-long showcase that attracts more than 200,000 music enthusiasts. Performances don’t end on the shore; visitors can catch themed shows from boats and train cars.
WHERE: Montreux, Switzerland
WHEN: July 1-16
Rock al Parque
Rock al Parque is proud of an attendance of 88,600 visitors a day. Most music festivals require tickets, but the participation in the three-day festival is free of charge. Festival-goers line up to watch performances from some of Latin America’s most popular artists, but the festival also offers sets from international bands.
WHERE: Bogota, Colombia
WHEN: July 2-4
1.What will you do at the Governors Ball Festival?
A.Dance in local restaurants B.Take part in relaxing activities.
C.Watch performances from boats. D.Enjoy food from the whole country.
2.What do we know about Roskilde?
A.It lasts the longest time
B.Its contemporary Jazz is popular
C.It provides themed shows to visitors
D.Its foundation originates with two college students.
3.Which festival does not charge an admission fee?
A.Roskilde B.Rock al Parque
C.Montreux Jazz Festival D.The Governors Music Festival
虽然人们不停的说给孩子减负 ，但是大部分学生的学习压力仍然很大， 有些青少年尤其是高三的学生出现了心理问题， 焦虑，不愿意与人交往等。就这种现象，你们班要举行一次班会，作为班长，写一篇发言稿。内容包括：
1. 健康的心理很重要。
2.. 给同学提些建议：如了解自己， 树立信心；与人相处；热爱生活
注意：1. 字数不少于 100 字 。
2. 适当增加细节，使行文连贯。
Dear classmates,
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阅读表达
About 43 years ago, I spotted an advertisement in the paper for the YMCA wildness program. I was 15 and wanted to do something different. My first experience was a boat trip. I still have the images of sunrises and sunsets with all beautiful colors on Lake of the Woods.
As a teenager, I didn’t know that I was having the best adventure a teenager could have. Even now I can feel the cold water dripping down my arm as we sat in the boat pulling the paddles awkardly through running water. It was my first experience in a boat and my arms became tired after many hours of paddling.
We stopped for lunch in the boat by assembling all the boats together. Our guide handed out chocolate, cheese and dried meat.
At night, it was time to camp at our site picked out by our guide. There we learned to start campfires and cook some of our meals. This is where I felt in love with noodles. It was wonderful to share simple meals over the fire and talk with new friends. We cleaned up our mess and put up our tents and slept on the ground. We learned to carry the heavy packs to our next destination. I developed a sense of accomplishment and had arm muscles after that trip.
There were no phones , makeup, hair dryers...just us and the bush. We came from different backgrounds with different personalities and we all had to work together as a group.
I liked the boat trip so much that I joined the “Survival” trip the next year. I kept a journal from that second trip and often go back to it.
1.Where did the author experience his first boat trip in the wild?(No more than 5 words)
2.What did the author think of his/her first boat trip?(No more than 10words)
3.What does the underlined word “assembling” in paragraph 3 probably mean?(1 word)
4.What did the author learn to do from the camp of the first boat trip?(no more than 10 words)
5.What do you think of a trip without phones?(no more than 20words)
