Few people can refuse a delicious ice cream, especially on a hot day. The only thing that stops the fun is that the treat is hard to enjoy slowly, ending up with a sticky, melted mess. Now, researchers from Colombia’s Pontifical Bolivarian University may have found an unlikely thing to help solve this age-old problem — a kind of fibre from banana plant waste.
Bananas, as you probably know, grow in groups on a tree-like plant. Each group is connected to a central rachis (叶轴), which is thrown once the fruit has been gathered. The team, which was led by Dr. Robin Zuluaga Gallego, began by abstracting /drawing out cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) from the powdered rachis. The tasteless fiber, thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair, was then added to 100 grams of ice cream mix.
With the right amount of CNFs mixed in, the dessert lasted longer in its frozen state than the traditional ice cream, extending the amount of time that the treat can be enjoyed. What was even more exciting was that the fibre increased the stickiness of the low-fat ice cream to levels higher than the full-fat one. Since this is what determines the frozen treat’s creaminess and taste, CNFs could help create the healthier ice cream without influencing the taste of it.
The researchers, who presented their findings at the American Chemical Society( ACS) meeting in New Orleans in March, 2018, next plan to study how different types of fat, such as coconut oil, influence the behaviour of CNFs in other frozen treats.
The Colombian researchers are not the only ones working on creating a slower-melting ice cream. In 2015, scientists at the University of Dundee in Scotland found that a natural protein called BsIA was very effective in keeping the treat frozen for longer periods of time. With both teams fighting to be the first to get to the market, the future of everyone’s favorite dessert certainly looks bright.
1.What prevents people enjoying an ice cream slowly?
A.A kind of fibre from bananas.
B.The ice cream’s quick melting.
C.The ice cream’s stickiness.
D.The fat in the ice cream.
2.Why were CNFs added to ice cream mix?
A.To improve its taste.
B.To increase its stickiness.
C.To reduce its fat content.
D.To make it melt more slowly.
3.What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refer to?
A.The ice cream. B.The fiber.
C.The fat. D.The stickiness.
4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.BsIA is popular in the market.
B.CNFs are more useful and expensive than BsIA.
C.Ice creams with CNFs have been on sale at the market.
D.Slowly enjoying an ice cream will soon become a reality.
5G has the potential to disrupt a huge number of industries, including one of the world’s oldest: Farming. Next-generation 5G networks can be 100 times faster than 4G, making communication between devices and servers much quicker. 5G can also carry much more data than other networks. That makes the technology ideal for transmitting information from remote sensors and drones, key tools that are being tested by farmers. 5G is also helping to automate farming processes.
UK initiative 5G RuralFirst launched a smartphone app in March called Me+Moo, which lets farmers track a “connected” cow and receive daily updates on the animal’s health and behavior. The system, which is being tested on cows at the Agri-Epi Center in Somerset, England, is funded in part by UK government and supported by the tech company Cisco (CSCO). The cows wear 5G-connected collars that send data to the app on everything from what they’re eating to how they’re sleeping. Farmers can see the information instantly. “This provides peace of mind that the cows are happy, healthy and behaving normally, as well as early warning if they are getting sick, are pregnant or need to be checked,” said project manager Duncan Forbes.
Yet to make a difference, 5G will first need to be installed in rural areas. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predicts that in order to provide for the world’s rapidly rising population, the planet will need to grow 70% more food in 2050 than it did in 2009. “To respond to those demands, farmers will need new technologies to produce more from less land, with fewer hands,” reads one report from the organization.
In 2017, another 5G RuralFirst project became the first in the world to successfully plant, tend and harvest a crop without a single human stepping foot in the field. Autonomous Automatic tractors sowed the seeds, drones with sensors monitored the crops, and smaller machines took samples from fields to assess what fertilizers and pesticides to apply.
1.Why can 5G help the farming?
A.Because it can carry more information.
B.Because it can be equipped with sensors.
C.Because it can disrupt a lot of industries.
D.Because it can be installed in rural areas.
2.What did farmers do firstly if they wanted to use Me+Moo?
A.They founded a tech company.
B.They let the cows wear 5G-connected collars.
C.They kept cows behaving normally.
D.They made sure the cows were checked often.
3.According to FAO, how will the world solve the food problem?
A.People should control the rising population.
B.People should find more and more land.
C.People should turn to the new technology.
D.People should learn to get more money.
4.How did RuralFirst decide what kind of fertilizer to apply?
A.It analyzed the soil.
B.It dug earth with tractors.
C.It employed experts.
D.It hired drones with sensors.
Clara Barton, born on Christmas in 1821, is widely known as one of the most honored women in American history. She began teaching school when most teachers were men at that time. Later, she became one of the first women ever to be employed by the government.
Her career in helping the sick began when her brother David became her first patient. He fell down from the roof of a house when Clara was just 11 years old. She stayed by his side and looked after him for three years, learning how to give him all his medicines.
When the Civil War began in 1861, she immediately recognized that the poorly equipped soldiers needed help. Instead of waiting for others to step in, Clara collected necessary things on her own, asked the public for donations and learned how to store and distribute them to soldiers. She also read to the soldiers and wrote letters for them.
After the Battle of Cedar Mountain in northern Virginia in 1862, Clara arrived at a field hospital at midnight with a vehicle full of supplies. A doctor named Paul Smith at that hospital would later write, “I thought heaven had sent out an angel that night — her assistance arrived at exactly the right time.”
In 1869, Clara went to Europe and learned about the International Committee of the Red Cross. Upon her return to the United States, she successfully founded the American Red Cross. She led the organization for the next 23 years. Her last field mission (使命) as president of the American Red Cross was to help the victims of the 1900 Galveston hurricane. She did not retire (退休) from the American Red Cross until she was 83. True to her nature, Clara always went to where the need was the greatest.
Today, the American Red Cross continues the mission Clara started more than 100 years ago. With the help of thousands of volunteers, the American Red Cross provides relief to victims of disasters, as well as helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to all sorts of emergencies.
1.We can learn from Paragraph 2 that Clara Barton was .
A.honest B.caring
C.talented D.modest
2.After the Civil War broke out, Clara Barton .
A.joined the army and fought bravely B.went to Europe for further study
C.continued to work as a teacher D.did a lot to help soldiers
3.Seeing Clara Barton’s arrival, Dr. Smith must have felt .
A.excited and grateful B.proud and joyful
C.shy and nervous D.sad and sorry
4.What is mainly described in Paragraph 5?
A.The aim of the American Red Cross.
B.The importance of voluntary donations.
C.Clara Barton and the American Red Cross.
D.Clara Barton’s contribution to the Civil War.
The following picture books are a wonderful way to improve the summer experience with kids.
♦ Vampirina at the Beach by Anne Marie Pace
Vampirina and her best monster friend head to the beach during the full moon on a perfect summer night to enjoy all the fun and festivities the beach has to offer. Along the way, Vampirina’s beach adventures highlight the importance of beach safety to ensure a heroic adventure for all.
Available from Amazon, $11.50
♦ Summer by Alice Low
Summer brings so many things to a spirited boy, an eager girl, and an excited little dog. The season is filled with adventure. With clever rhyming words, clever phrasing, and playful images, children will love following along as this energetic trio (三重唱) takes in all the sunshine, big beach waves, fireworks, and sweet treats of this truly memorable time of year.
Available from Amazon, $6.23
♦ Waiting for Pumpsie by Barry Wittenstein
Summer is the season of baseball, and there’s no better way to celebrate summer than with the true story of Pumpsie Green’s rise from the minors to the Boston Red Sox in 1959. As the final major league team to include black athletes, young Bernard and his family travel to Fenway Park to witness Pumpsie Green take the field in this inspirational tale of equality and progress.
Available from Amazon, $9.61
♦ The Night Before Summer Camp by Natasha Wing
Sure, camp sounds fun, but when you don’t quite know what to expect, it’s only natural to feel a little nervous away from Mom and Dad. With rhyming prose (散文) and cheerful illustrations (插图), this cheering story of an unwilling boy who comes to enjoy all the fun summer camp will have children ready to take on their own camp adventure!
Available from Amazon, $3.52
1.What benefit can children get from Vampirina at the Beach?
A.Enjoying the excitement of sports.
B.Making friends with pets more easily.
C.Strengthening the sense of shore safety.
D.Gaining the courage to enjoy summer camp.
2.Which of the following book is related to human rights?
A.Summer. B.Waiting for Pumpsie.
C.Vampirina at the Beach. D.The Night Before Summer Camp.
3.What do the four books have in common?
A.They tell what happens in the hot season.
B.They introduce camp adventures.
C.They describe sweet music.
D.They have the same price.
假定你是李华，你的新西兰朋友Terry将去中国朋友家做客，发邮件向你询问有关习俗。请你回复邮件。内容包括：
（1）到达时间；
（2）合适的礼物；
（3）餐桌礼仪。
注意：
1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
假如英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌的以下作文。文中共有10处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加:在缺词处加一个漏词符号∧，并在此符号下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线＼划掉。
修改:在错词下面划一横线，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处不计。
Last month our school hold a Reading Week, which aim was to encourage the students to read widely. During the week, book lovers recommended a plenty of good books suitable for high school students. In addition, two famous writers are invited to give lectures on how to understand and appreciate literary work. The poetry reading contest was another amazed activity for the students to bring his talent into full play. All the contestants took turns read their favorite poems to the audience. We all find the Reading Week very beneficial. It has not only enrich our school life, and helped us form the habit of reading.
