When I was younger, I’d often go for ____ drive with some friends, purely for ____ enjoyment of it.
A．a; an B．a; the C．the; / D．/; the
Researchers at Sweden’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology say they have found further proof that the wolf ancestors of today’s dogs can be from southern East Asia -- findings that are contrary to theories placing the birth place in the Middle East. Dr Peter Savolainen, KTH researcher in evolutionary genetics, says a new study released Nov. 23 confirms that an Asian region south of the Yangtze River was the principal and probably the only region where wolves were domesticated（驯化）by humans.
Research data show clearly that dogs are descended from wolves, but there’s never been scientific agreement on where in the world the domestication process began. “Our analysis of Y-chromosomal（染色体）DNA now confirms that wolves were first domesticated in Asia south of Yangtze River -- we call it the ASY region -- in southern China or Southeast Asia,” Savolainen says.
The Y data supports previous evidence from mitochondrial（线粒体）DNA. “Taken together, the two studies provide very strong evidence that dogs appeared first in the ASY region,” Savolainen says.
Archaeological data and a genetic study recently published in Nature suggest that dogs originate from the Middle East. But Savolainen rejects that view. “Because none of these studies included samples from the ASY region, evidence from ASY has been overlooked,” he says.
Peter Savolainen and PhD student Mattias Oskarsson worked with Chinese colleagues to analyse DNA from male dogs around the world. Their study was published in the scientific journal Heredity.
Approximately half of the gene pool was universally shared everywhere in the world, while only the ASY region had the entire range of genetic diversity. “This shows that gene pools in all other regions of the world most probably originate from the ASY region,” Savolainen says.
“Our results confirm that Asia south of the Yangtze River was the most important -- and probably the only -- region for wolf domestication, and that a large number of wolves were domesticated,” says Savolainen.
In separate research published recently in Ecology and Evolution, Savolainen, PhD student Arman Ardalan and Iranian and Turkish scientists conducted a comprehensive study of mitochondrial DNA, with a particular focus on the Middle East. Because mitochondrial DNA is inherited only from the mother in most species, it is especially useful in studying evolutionary relationships.
“Since other studies have indicated that wolves were domesticated in the Middle East, we wanted to be sure nothing had been missed. We find no signs whatsoever that dogs originated there,” says Savolainen.
In their studies, the researchers also found minor genetic contributions from crossbreeding between dogs and wolves in other geographic regions, including the Middle East.
“This subsequent dog/wolf hybridisation（混合淡化技术）contributed only modestly to the dog gene pool,” Savolainen explains.
1.What does Dr. Peter Savolainen believe?
A. Dogs’ ancestors came from the Middle East.
B. Wolves were probably first trained to work for humans in the ASY region.
C. Analysis of Y-chromosomal DNA should be combined with mitochondrial DNA.
D. Samples of the previous studies are enough to support the conclusion.
2.We can learn from the passage that _______.
A．there is a universal agreement on the place of first domestication
B．data from ASY may highlight where dogs came from
C．Dr. Savolainen’s research mainly focuses on the Middle East
D．the dog/wolf hybridization makes up most of the dog gene pool
3.What is special about mitochondrial DNA?
A．It is only used in studying evolutionary relationships.
B．It alone can provide hard evidence for Savolainen’s research.
C．It is the most useful in finding out the birth place of dogs.
D．It comes from the mother of most animals and plants.
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Office of Admissions
Financial Aid
Our goal in admissions and financial aid is clear: We want to bring the best people to Harvard, regardless of their ability to pay — and we do. About 70 percent of our students receive some form of aid, with over 60 percent receiving need–based scholarships.
Two principles guide us:
· Admission to Harvard is need-blind, by which we mean that financial need is not a barrier to admission. International students have the same access to financial aid as United States citizens.
· Financial aid at Harvard is entirely need–based and we are committed to meeting the demonstrated need of all students. Students apply for aid annually and every year we review our financial aid program, considering such things as any changed student or family circumstances, university resources, and demand.
Removing Economic Barriers
In the past decade we have increased financial aid for low and middle income families by over 180%. No contribution is expected from parents with incomes under $65,000. Beginning with the class of 2016, those parents with annual incomes between $65,000 and $150,000 are asked to contribute from zero to ten percent of their income. Some families with incomes above $150,000 still qualify for aid. Families at all incomes who have significant assets（资产）will continue to pay more than those in less fortunate circumstances. Students are also asked to contribute to the cost of their education through term-time and summer work.
Families with higher incomes facing unusual financial challenges may also qualify for need–based scholarship assistance, yet those with significant assets at all income levels are asked to contribute proportionately（成比例的）more.
Our financial aid program includes an array of financing options beyond our need–based scholarship program, such as a parent monthly payment plan, various loan programs and the opportunity to pre–pay tuition for four years at a student’s freshman year rate.
There are also other forms of financial assistance such as the Faculty Aide Program, the Harvard College Research Program and the Dean’s Summer Research Program that enable students to create paid partnerships with teachers on academic projects of mutual interest. Over two-thirds of Harvard students choose to work during their time in Cambridge and gain valuable job experience working in a wide array of University settings, including our libraries, dining halls, museums and academic departments.
We hope you will visit our websites for a fuller description of our comprehensive program of financial assistance.
1.Admission to Harvard is need-blind in that _______.
A．Harvard does take into account students’ economic situations
B．Students’ ability to pay does not affect their admissions to Harvard
C．Students need to pay big money to Harvard after they are admitted
D．The majority of students in Harvard do not need financial aids
2.Based on the requirements above, we can learn that _______.
A．parents with annual incomes of over $ 150,000 needn’t contribute
B．financial aids are not intended for families with higher incomes
C．wealthier families are expected to contribute more to Harvard
D．students are not encouraged to pay the cost of their education
3.In what way can students get financial assistance from Harvard?
A．Students can be offered paid-work opportunities outside Harvard.
B．Students can have opportunities to get loans for their education.
C．Students can pay for their education in Harvard within one month.
D．Students earn money by assisting teachers in Cambridge University.
New genetic analysis has revealed that many Amazon tree species are likely to survive human-made climate warming in the coming century, contrary to previous findings that temperature increases would cause them to die out. A study, 1 in the latest edition of Ecology and Evolution, reveals the 2 age of some Amazonian tree species -- more than 8 million years -- and 3 shows that they have survived previous periods as warm as many of the global warming imagined periods 4 for the year 2100.
The authors write that, having survived warm periods in the past, the trees will 5 survive future warming, provided there are no other major environmental changes. 6 extreme droughts and forest fires will impact Amazonia as temperatures 7 , the trees will stand the direct impact of higher temperatures. The authors 8 that as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions to minimize the risk of drought and fire, conservation policy should remain 9 on preventing deforestation（采伐森林）for agriculture and mining.
The study disagrees with other recent researches which predicted tree species’ extinctions 10 relatively small increases in global average air temperatures.
Study co-author Dr Simon Lewis (UCL Geography) said the 11 were good news for Amazon tree species, but warned that drought and over-exploitation of the forest remained major 12 to the Amazon’s future.
Dr Lewis said: “The past cannot be compared directly with the future. while tree species seem likely to 13 higher air temperatures than today, the Amazon forest is being transformed for agriculture and 14 , and what remains is being degraded by logging, and increasingly split up by fields and roads.
“Species will not move as freely in today’s Amazon as they did in previous warm periods, when there was no human 15 . Similarly, today’s climate change is extremely fast, making comparisons with slower changes in the past 16 .”
“With a clearer 17 of the relative risks to the Amazon forest, we 18 that direct human impacts -- such as forest clearances for agriculture or mining -- should remain a key point of conservation policy. We also need more aggressive 19 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to make minimum the risk of drought and fire impacts and 20 the future of most Amazon tree species.”
1. A．advertised B．described C．published D．presented
2. A．frightening B．surprising C．exciting D．interesting
3. A．still B．nevertheless C．however D．therefore
4. A．assess B．confirm C．forecast D．promise
5. A．particularly B．probably C．merely D．possibly
6. A．Since B．Although C．When D．If
7. A．rise B．change C．drop D．end
8. A．consider B．decide C．guarantee D．recommend
9. A．based B．built C．focused D．made
10. A．in relation to B．in response to C．in reply to D．in reference to
11. A．findings B．thoughts C．inventions D．writings
12. A．threats B．disadvantages C．embarrassments D．instructions
13. A．accept B．tolerate C．permit D．Require
14. A．farming B．planting C．catering D．mining
15. A．power B．influence C．desire D．violence
16. A．difficult B．clear C．easy D．important
17. A．belief B．direction C．understanding D．suggestion
18. A．doubt B．conclude C．calculate D．prefer
19. A．thought B．guidance C．protection D．action
20. A．secure B．advance C．sacrifice D．evaluate
--- The film we saw last week is very romantic.
--- _______. I didn’t think it romantic at all.
A．With all due respect B．I beg to differ
C．As predicted D．I can’t agree with you more
The lecture mainly deals with the trouble young children have _______ right from wrong.
A．distinguished B．distinguishing
C．to distinguish D．to be distinguished
