Press your fingers into the back of your head, just above your neck. If you feel a small bony bump (突起), you may find evidence of human evolution (进化): it could be your body responding to common smartphone use in the 21st century.
According to a recent study, published in Scientific Reports, more young people have bony bumps at the base of their skulls, right above the neck. Medical professionals call them enlarged external occipital protuberances (EEOPs, 枕外隆突).
Australian health scientist David Shahar, the author of the study, told the BBC that he’s seen more and more patients with EEOPs over the past ten years. Together with other researchers from the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia, they examined 1,200 skull x-rays from people aged 18–30. They also measured the bumps and noted each person’s posture. They found that one in four people had developed these growths. This led to their theory that smartphones are the cause.
According to their research, looking down at our phones adds stress onto the top of our spines (脊柱). To prevent damage to our spines, Shahar believes our bodies add fresh bony bump to help reduce the extra stress.
Most of the EEOPs measured just a few millimeters. However, several subjects were found with EEOPs as large as 30 mm.
In his report, Shahar said the results “highlighted the need” for prevention. In other words, we need to change our posture while using our phones.
Many people assume our bones are solid and unmoving once we reach adulthood. In reality, they are alive and covered with blood vessels(血管), which allows them to develop in unique ways for each person.
Aside from EEOPs, other noticeable recent changes in human bodies include shrinking jaws, narrower elbows and generally smaller skeletons. The human body is adapting to modern life, so who knows what people in the future might look like?
1.What did the recent study find about EEOPs?
A.They grow on one’s neck.
B.They can lead to many health problems.
C.They may stop growing when you reach 30.
D.They occur among more and more young people.
2.What is the main cause of EEOPs according to the researchers?
A.Extra stress. B.Aging bones.
C.Smartphone use. D.Gene problems.
3.Which of the following would Shahar probably agree with?
A.EEOPs increase the stress on our spines.
B.EEOPs are actually beneficial to our spines.
C.Young people’s bones adapt in similar ways.
D.Young people should exercise to improve their posture.
4.What’s the writing purpose of the text?
A.To persuade readers to protect their spines.
B.To explain why human bodies develop EEOPs.
C.To show some recent changes in human bodies.
D.To recommend some healthy habits of using phones.
When you talk to doctors in the hospitals, it often happens that most of them are very serious and speak in a range of terms that may be difficult to understand. But Zhang Wenhong, the leader of the Shanghai team of experts in the treatment of novel coronavirus pneumonia, is one of the exceptions. He caught the public’s attention for his recent frank and funny speech.
Zhang’s words first went viral(走红)on the Internet after he said in late January that he had sent doctors and nurses who are members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to frontline hospitals to treat coronavirus cases. “When becoming CPC members, we vowed (发誓)that we would always put people’s interests first in the face of difficulties,” Zhang said. “This is the moment we live up to the vow. All CPC members must rush to the frontline. No bargaining.”
Such a hardcore declaration of his attitude won widespread applause among Internet users. “A person’s morals are witnessed most in a critical situation. Nothing could win more recognition from the people than the down-to-earth behavior of the CPC members,” said Yang Haiyan, a 32-year-old Shanghai resident.
One month later, when Zhang advised local residents to reduce the risk of spreading the virus by staying at home, he said in Shanghai dialect: “If you don’t stop seeing friends, you will see them again in the ICU.”
Though chased by the media, Zhang described himself as a medical worker who must speak out now, but will return to keeping a low profile after the outbreak ends. “I spoke because of the fear among the public, owing to limited knowledge of the contagion (传染病),” said Zhang on Feb 26. “However, once the curtain of this coronavirus incident falls, it may be hard to find me. I’ll just hide myself in a corner, studying complicated patient cases and doing some reading, silently.”
1.What has made Zhang Wenhong so popular online?
A.His attitude towards his patients. B.His honest and humorous speech.
C.His vow to fight against the virus. D.His broad knowledge of the virus.
2.Zhang Wenhong sent CPC members to frontline hospitals because he believed that .
A.they would not bargain B.they should do as they had vowed
C.they would be calmer in a critical situation D.they could win recognition from the people
3.What can we infer from Zhang Wenhong’s words in the last paragraph?
A.He doesn’t like to speak in public.
B.He is looking forward to taking a break.
C.He is not a person who is after fame and attention.
D.He mainly treats people with complicated diseases.
I’ve been taking time this week to stop and smell the roses. Literally, I bend over in my neighbors’ front yard, check that nobody is watching, and then bury my head in the flowers.
I’ve also been walking into bakeries, walking around without buying anything.
After having surgery on my broken nose 18 months ago, I haven’t been able to smell or taste things.
This week, however, my nose is back in business.
I’ve been overwhelmed by smells, and it’s given me a new way of thinking. A pleasant smell is just one of the little bits and pieces that make life enjoyable, but which we often ignore. I remember once, when my son was five months old, I was carrying him down the street. Wind swept through and almost tipped us over. He threw his little head back and giggled. He’d never felt the wind on his face. When is the last time I laughed at the weather?
The first time I ate bacon, I rushed home to my parents, determined that we ate this deliciousness at every meal. My father smiled and agreed.
We don’t write postcards about the small things. We don’t frame them in photographs. They aren’t that great or grand, but without them, life is altogether too loud. These quiet experiences give us a chance to enjoy the simple fact of being alive.
As my sense of smell returns to me, it’s like I’m smelling things for the first time. They’re full of memories and magic. Food tastes better, and the air is indeed sweet. I know what the poets mean now. It almost makes my broken nose worthwhile. Now, I am waiting for this bandage to come off. There’s an itch I can’t reach!
1.With the first two paragraphs, the writer mainly tries to .
A.give examples of how she kills time B.show that she loves doing secret things
C.get readers to wonder about her behavior D.discuss new ways on how to enjoy spare time
2.What does the underline phrase “a new way of thinking” in paragraph 5 refer to?
A.A habit of overcoming ignorance.
B.A habit of giving personal consideration.
C.An ability to fully use our limited attention.
D.An ability to discover the pleasure of small things.
3.The tone of the story is .
A.lively B.sad C.calm D.serious
假定你是李华，你班外教Ms. Cindy任教期满即将回国。作为班长，你将代表班级 在告别会上发言致谢,并赠送带有中国文化特色的礼物。内容包括：
1. 感激之情；
2. 礼物寓意；
3. 美好祝愿。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可适当增加细节,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作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加: 在此处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出修改的词。
删除: 把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改: 在错的词下划一横线，并在其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11处起）不计分。
Today my parents and I decided to go to the field to pick some wild vegetable. We started out early in the morning. Followed my parents, I walked behind happily. Soon we arrived at a small river. Though it was not wide, we had no way of to cross it. Dad watched for a while or then he had an idea. Soon they three set up a simple bridge with some stones together. And then we crossed a river easily. Finally, we reached the top of the hill, when there were many wild plants fit eat. At dusk, we were so exhausted to walk further. Luckily, our neighbor drive by and picked us up.
Chase and Nicole McKeown are both police officers in Elizabeth town in Kentucky. One night, the two off-duty officers _______a robbery at a restaurant chain.
When they were eating dinner in the restaurant, a man came in _______a mask and went up to the counter.
“I think we both saw him at the same time,” Nicole said during a news conference. _______, she thought the man may be sick, given _______season, but soon she knew the mask was for a less innocent _______, according to CNN. Nicole added they saw the employees behind the counter _______their hands and that’s when we both _______what was happening.
The monitor video _______what happened next. The officers drew their weapons and _______the suspect. On the video, the suspect can be seen ________his weapon and running out of the door, CNN reported. The couple ________to pursue (追赶) him a few blocks away from the restaurant and ________him at gunpoint (枪口) until the Louisville Metro Police arrived and ________him.
“It is my belief that if not for the ________actions of these two officers, the robber’s actions inside the ________would have escalated (升级). They acted ________,” said Deputy Dan Mason of the LMPD’s robbery unit.
The couple said the officer instinct (本能) just kicked in as the situation ________. “We both looked at each other and said ‘Let’s go,” Chase said. “When it ________people’s life in danger, any other officer would have done the ________thing,” Nicole said.
The suspect is now in ________in Louisville, according to the police.
1.A.acted B.made C.found D.prevented
2.A.waving B.wearing C.holding D.carrying
3.A.Later on B.Right away C.At first D.Once more
4.A.flu B.peak C.harvest D.holiday
5.A.aim B.result C.victim D.reason
6.A.put up B.drew back C.took off D.turned over
7.A.decided B.feared C.realized D.wondered
8.A.spread B.showed C.copied D.changed
9.A.left B.asked C.seized D.chased
10.A.hiding B.ruining C.dropping D.returning
11.A.agreed B.started C.continued D.offered
12.A.held B.killed C.punished D.searched
13.A.hurt B.arrested C.examined D.threatened
14.A.heroic B.extra C.sudden D.final
15.A.game B.fight C.business D.situation
16.A.crazily B.luckily C.surprisingly D.honorably
17.A.developed B.improved C.changed D.worsened
18.A.goes for B.comes to C.deals with D.fights against
19.A.same B.opposite C.common D.different
20.A.mercy B.prison C.silence D.hospital
