An experiment which saw salad seeds sent into space has given hope for the future of growing food on another planet, according to a recently-published study.
The findings have appeared after two kilograms of seeds spent six months on board the International Space Station(ISS)with British European Space Agency(ESA)astronaut, Tim Peake, as part of his Principia mission.
There, the seeds could have absorbed up to 100 times more radiation(辐射)than on Earth while being influenced by the violent shaking from the stresses of space travel.
When the seeds returned to Earth in 2016,600,000 children from schools across Britain took part in an experiment, supported by the UK Space Agency, to plant them and monitor their growth, comparing it to that of seeds that had remained on Earth.
The results showed that, while the space seeds grew more slowly and were more sensitive to ageing, they were still able to survive.
Peake said, “When humans travel to Mars, they will need to find ways to feed themselves, and this research helps us understand some of the biology of seed storage and germination(发芽) which will be important for future space missions.”
The Royal Horticultural Society(RHS)tasked 8,600 schools and groups across Britain to take part in the controlled study, recording their results as a scientist would.
It was part of a project called Rocket Science, led by the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, in partnership with the UK Space Agency.
RHS manager Alana Cama said, “The Rocket Science experiment opened a window into space biology and allowed young people to be at the forefront of creative research.”
“This research project did more than just inspire; it furthered our understanding of the challenges around growing plants in unusual environments and the possibility of growing food on long-term space missions in the future. Inspiring a new generation of botanists and biologists will remain our goal to enrich everyone’s lives through plants.”
1.The findings of the experiment indicate that
A.salad seeds sent into space turned out a failure
B.astronauts successfully grew salad seeds on Mars
C.the future of growing plants in space looks bright
D.the radiation makes it impossible for plants to survive
2.Unlike those on Earth, the seeds sent into space
A.can grow 100 times larger in size B.provide enough food for astronauts
C.stop growing when returning to Earth D.are more likely to show signs of ageing
3.Which word can be filled in the blank to complete the research steps?
A.update B.observe C.protect D.improve
4.What can we learn from what Alana Cama said?
A.Growing plants in unusual environments is no longer a challenging task.
B.A new generation of botanists and biologists takes the lead in the research.
C.The project inspires the interests of the young generation in creative fields.
D.The exploration of growing food in space is the central mission in the future.
I was diagnosed(诊断)with cancer last June. Finding out that I had breast cancer felt like I’d been locked up in a prison cell, but I later found something unexpected: freedom.
Tests and procedures followed. Once the daily treatments started, I was tired out. The tiredness that came with cancer was not like any kind of tiredness I’d known before.
Then the magic happened.
I started to realize that this life change had brought an unexpected gift. The usual pressures of life gave way to a different kind of stress, but it came with self-discovery. I do what I can and don’t care about the rest. With the disease, decisions come more easily, and things that I’d previously weighted more heavily no longer matter as much. I don’t need a perfect home. What does matter now is having family and friends and a husband who can shoulder this new responsibility with me.
The doctor says my situation is very good and there’s a 91 percent chance that I’ll still be alive in 10 years. I look forward to simple things like my garden this spring, and going back to work when I’m healthy again. I’m also imagining the joy of getting my quiet and modest life back. It’s inspiring and there are lots of people there with me. And the professionals are really good at what they do.
I used to wonder how it would feel to be told I had cancer. Sure, my first reaction was fear, panic, sorrow, and anger. Then I found my strength. The fear is still there, but to my amazement, I am handling it. “You got this,” people say encouragingly.
1.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 1 mean?
A.She felt as if she had lost her freedom. B.She was unable to walk out of the cell.
C.Cancer gave her something unexpected. D.Cancer cost her the ability to move freely.
2.We can know from the article that during her treatment, the author
A.was too tired to bear the treatment any more B.found that she could handle the treatment easily
C.grew more peaceful and valued her family more D.learned to be in a good state and free of pressure
3.What is the author’s attitude towards her future life?
A.Positive. B.Hopeless. C.Doubtful. D.Concerned.
4.What is the main purpose of this article?
A.To help people learn to let go of stress in life. B.To remind people to take care of their bodies.
C.To encourage people to shoulder responsibilities. D.To inspire people to learn from her experiences.
The Best Fitness Apps for 2020
Whether you’re looking to slim down, run farther, bike faster or just get healthier, these apps can help you meet your fitness goals in 2020.
| 8fit ＄59.99 per year;$44.99 per half-year;$19.99 per month for meal plans and more workouts 8fit creates a personalized program for your diet and exercise based on the results you want to see. 8fit covers a lot of details of your fitness plan, such as what time of day you exercise and whether you’re an ambitious cook or just prefer simple meal plans. |
| Blogilates ＄0.99 per month for workout calendar;$0.99 for some videos Blogilates offers plenty of workouts on-demand, as well as recipes, fitness recommendations, and a healthy dose of body .The majority of the content in the app is free, although the workout calendar costs you $0.99 per month and some videos are an additional $0.99. |
| Charity Miles ＄12.99 per month; two-week free trial Charity Miles donates money to the organization of your choice when you use the app to record miles running, walking,or bicycling. An included calculator(计算器)shows you how much money you can raise if you meet different goals, such as getting 50 people to fund you at＄0.30 per mile. |
1.Which of the following best describes 8fit?
A.It presents users with simple meal recipes.
B.It costs users $19.99 every month for meals.
C.It offers users better and detailed fitness plans.
D.It meets users’ personal needs for diet and exercise.
2.What is special about Charity Miles?
A.You’ll get 50 dollars per mile by using it. B.The calculator in it records your workout.
C.Users raise money for charities through it. D.It provides users with services free of charge.
3.The passage is intended to
A.help people meet fitness goals B.introduce top fitness apps
C.give suggestions on keeping fit D.promote a positive lifestyle
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.Where did the fire break out in Australia?
A.In the east. B.In the north. C.In the southwest.
2.When did the fire get out of control?
A.In the morning. B.In the afternoon. C.In the evening.
3.Why did the fire grow larger?
A.The wind blew on it. B.It joined another fire. C.There weren’t enough firefighters.
4.What should the people of Waroona do,according to the speaker?
A.Protect their homes. B.Find a safe place. C.Join the firefighters.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.When is the birthday of the man’s son?
A.In one week. B.In two weeks. C.In three weeks.
2.What does Brian do well in?
A.Playing baseball. B.Drawing animals. C.Climbing trees.
3.Who is Danny?
A.The man. B.The man’s child. C.The woman’s child.
4.How does the man feel about raising children?
A.It isn’t like a race.
B.Babies should go to classes.
C.It’s better for babies to play sports well.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What language is the woman going to learn?
A.Chinese. B.Japanese. C.Russian.
2.What do we know about the man?
A.He has to work hard this year.
B.He’ll join the International Club.
C.He has basketball practice every day.
3.What are the speakers mainly talking about?
A.Travel plans. B.Weekend activities. C.School life.
