We each have a unique genetic(基因的, 遗传的)make-up. Every cell of our body has the same set of about 100, 000 separate genes made of DNA. These are the instructions for producing a person. Genes decide everything from the colour of our skin to the way our brain works. We have one of several billion combinations of DNA which come from the random mixing of our parents’ genes. Except for identical twins(同卵双胞胎), no one has the same combination as another person. We are unique! We are unique in another way, too: in the way we are raised and all the experiences we have from before birth to adult life. These experiences influence us, our behaviour and attitudes, and the choices we make.
But are genes or life experiences more important in shaping our appearance and personality? Scientists are studying twins to find out. One set of twins occurs every 70 births—some are identical and others are non-identical twins. Identical twins are special because they share exactly the same genes and often the same environment. Non-identical twins are more like ordinary brothers and sisters.
Some identical twins have been adopted and brought up in different homes. With identical genes but a different home environment, scientists can study twins to see how much a particular feature depends on the genes we inherit(继承). For example, we know that eye problems, like short-sightedness, are mostly genetic. But resistance to pain is largely dependent on experiences. Genes also influence our eating habits. Identical twins brought up apart often like to eat at the same time of day and feel full after eating the same amount. Non-identical twins in similar circumstances have more varied eating habits. Identical twins are also more likely to follow the same patterns for marriage and divorce than non-identical twins.
Scientists are trying to identify the different genes that influence our behavior. Some people are thrill-seekers and get into risk-taking and adventurous activities. They take up extreme sports like bungee jumping and possibly take drugs. Scientists have discovered a gene which affects this.
We could ask, “Are our lives determined by our genes or our upbringing? ”Scientists are learning more all the time, but it is certainly true that both are important in making us who we are.
1.What is the main idea of the first paragraph?
A. Both our genes and our experiences make us who we are.
B. How we turn out depends on our parents’ genes.
C. Everyone has a physical double somewhere in the world.
D. We cannot easily change our physical appearance.
2.Why are scientists studying twins?
A. To find out how many twins are born every year.
B. To discover what shapes us as individuals.
C. To compare differences between twins.
D. To study brother-and-sister relationships.
3. According to the passage, .
A. one in 70 twins are genetically identical
B. non-identical twins are usually not of the same sex
C. twins separated at birth behave exactly the same
D. identical twins are genetically the same
4.What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 4 refer to?
A. Our love of sports. B. Our attitude to risk-taking.
C. Our skill at bungee jumping. D. Our ability to take drugs.
Have you ever wondered why birds sing? Maybe you thought that they were just happy. After all, you probably sing or whistle when you are happy.
Some scientists believe that birds do sing some of the time just because they are happy. However they sing most of the time for a very different reason. Their singing is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory.
Do you know what a ‘territory’ is? A territory is an area that an animal, usually the male, claims as its own. Only he and his family are welcome there. No other families of the same species are welcome. Your yard and house are your territory where only your family and friends are welcome. If a stranger should enter your territory and threaten you, you might shout. Probably this would be enough to frighten him away.
If so, you have actually scared the stranger away without having to fight him. A bird does the same thing. But he expects an outsider almost any time, especially at nesting（筑巢）season. So he is screaming all the time, whether he can see an outsider or not. This screaming is what we call a bird’s song, and it is usually enough to keep an outsider away.
Birds sing loudest in the spring when they are trying to attract a mate and warn others not to enter the territory of theirs.
You can see that birds have a language of their own. Most of it has to do with attracting mates and setting up territories.
1.Some scientists believe that most of the time bird’s singing is actually________.
A. an expression of happinessB. a way of warning
C. an expression of angerD. a way of greeting
2.What does the underlined word “territory’’ mean?
A. A place where families of other species are not accepted
B. A place where a bird may shout at the top of its voice
C. An area for which birds fight against each other
D. An area which a bird considers to be its own
3.Why do birds keep on singing at nesting season?
A. Because they want to invite more friends
B. Because their singing helps frighten outsiders away
C. Because they want to find outsiders around
D. Because their singing helps get rid of their fears
4.How does the writer explain bird’s singing?
A. By comparing birds with human beings
B. By reporting experiment results
C. By describing birds’ daily life
D. By telling a bird’s story
Our Community
One Tuesday evening in the beginning of the fall 1996 semester (学期) at Shippensburg University, sirens sounded. These sirens were not in celebration; they were a cry to the university that something was wrong. A house, only one block away, was on fire. Nine of the university’s students lived there.
From the minute the word got out that help was needed, it seemed like everyone showed up. The victims (受灾者) of the fire were offered endless invitations for housing for the night. The very next day, everyone got into gear to do their part in helping them. Flyers(传单) were posted with items that were immediately needed, just to get these students through this next couple of days. Boxes for donations (捐赠品) and money jars were placed in every residence hall (学生宿舍)．
As a residence director, I went before the students in my hall to ask them to do what they could. I knew that college students don’t have much, but I asked them to do their best: “Every little bit will help.” I really didn’t think they could do much. I was proved wrong.
At the hall council meeting the night after the fire, my residents decided to have a wing competition, where each wing of the building would team up to see who could bring in the most donations. I announced that the wing who won would receive a free pizza party.
Thursday evening we announced over the PA system that we were beginning the wing competition. Within minutes, the place exploded. The single large box that I had placed in the lobby (大厅) was overflowing. We quickly grabbed more boxes, and we watched in amazement as they, too, filled to the brim(边；沿). Members of the resident assistant staff and I began to count the items. I was astonished by what I saw, and I was inspired by these kids.
When we came to the final tally(得分), the winners turned to me and announced that they would like to donate their winnings as well. They wanted the victims of the fire to have their pizza party.
Tears welled up in my eyes. I had watched these students jump to action, work tirelessly and donate all that they could. And then, as if that were not enough, they handed over their reward. I was touched and so very proud of them.
1.The writer mainly wanted to________ by the story.
A．tell us nine of the college students suffered from a fire
B．sing praise of the college students helping the victims selflessly
C．describe how successful the wing competition was
D．express he was deeply moved by the college students’ action
2.At first, the residence director thought ________.
A．it was impossible to expect the college students to donate anything
B．it was easy to collect a lot of donations from the college students
C．the college students would donate something, but not much
D．the college students would donate all they could
3.The wing competition was held ________.
A．several days after the fire B．the night after the fire
C．a week after the fire D．two days after the fire
4.The phrase “in amazement” in Paragraph 5 means ________.
A．satisfactorily B．excitedly
C．surprisedly D．happily
April Fools’ Day, not officially considered a holiday, is most definitely a notable day that is celebrated in many countries on April 1. The thing that is so special about April 1 is that it is the day for playing tricks and practical jokes on others. The aim of these jokes is to bring embarrassment to others.
Superstitions(迷信)have it that the practical jokes are meant to be played before noon, and that those that are performed afterwards will bring bad luck. This limitation is widely losing its value due to the fact that many major hoaxes throughout history appear after noon. Another superstition is that anyone who fails to respond properly to the jokes played on them is also said to be easy to suffer from bad luck.
Some people think that being fooled by a pretty girl will be accompanied by marriage, or at least a friendship with her. That sounds like a good deal if she is truly pretty. Some people believe that being married on April Fools’ Day is not a good idea for a man, and that forever in the future he will be ruled by his wife.
The origin of April Fools’ day is not clearly known, but it is generally accepted to have come about as a result of the changes in the calendar system. The New Year celebrations used to begin on 25 March and last for a week, ending on 1 April. In 1582, Charles IX, King of France brought in the new Gregorian calendar, in which the new year began on 1 January. Unfortunately, some people did not hear about the change, and many others simply refused to break the tradition.
1.April Fools’ Day is different from other festivals probably because .
A. it is not official holiday
B. jokes can be played on this day
C. people are relaxed on this day
D. it is an important day
2.If jokes are played on you by a beautiful girl you’ll probably .
A. dislike her B. make much money
C. make many friends D. get married to her soon
3.A man would rather not get married on April probably because .
A. he loves his wife very much
B. he is eager for a bright future
C. he doesn’t want to obey his wife
D. he doesn’t like playing jokes
4.Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
A. April Fools’ Day B. The New Year
C. The Superstitions D. The New Gregorian Calendar
How to prepare for exams? Well, it is a big question that you always ask yourself.
There is no short cut to success, which is the first thing you should remember. For this reason you have to study hard first of all. Besides, here are some tips for you.
Never fear or hate exams and be confident. Some students study well but still may be afraid of exams and due to this reason they won’t be able to get good marks. So leave all your fears behind and free your mind before starting your studies. You have to be confident and it is the most important thing for attaining victory.
Prepare a good timetable. Prepare a timetable before starting your studies. This should include all subjects, but tough subjects can be given more time while easier ones less. And remember some time shall be spared for entertainment and also there should be enough break time between each subject.
Select a proper atmosphere for studying. No need to explain this point. Can anyone study well while watching TV? So select a place where you feel comfortable and can concentrate. And importantly it is better to study early in the morning when you will have quiet surroundings and you can concentrate more.
Make notes while studying. This is a very important point. Make small notes while studying can help you remember all the points. It will work better if you use these notes for revision in the last one or two hours than you skip through pages of your textbook. It won’t take much time to go through these notes.
Write well. As we all know, the first impression is the best impression. So your handwriting affects your marks. Try to write neatly. If it is not good enough, don’t worry; if you present it in a good manner you can score more marks.
1.Which proverb can show the writer’s attitude towards our studies?
A. No pain, no gain.
B. Knowledge is power.
C. It’s never too old to learn.
D. Nothing is impossible for a willing heart.
2.Why do some students hate exams according to the passage?
A. Because they think exams are meaningless.
B. Because preparing for exams takes up most of their time.
C. Because there are too many exams at school.
D. Because they don’t have enough self-confidence.
3.Why does the writer say “No need to explain this point” in Paragraph 5?
A. Because it’s difficult to explain.
B. Because it’s easy to understand.
C. Because we need to study in silence.
D. Because a proper atmosphere can be formed anywhere.
4.According to the writer, making small notes can help us do all the following EXCEPT .
A. saving time B. practicing writing
C. remembering all the points D.reviewing more effectively
One day I was doing a big clean-up when I a knotted handkerchief with an old dark brown coin inside. I took one look and immediately an unforgettable time.
In 1991, I spent five months in Niger, with sandstorms and great heat. Its and beggars were my biggest and most constant complaint. Street beggars would continually reach out their hands, shouting “Gift! Gift!”
One day, I for neighboring Burking to work in a health clinic.
Arriving by taxi at our destination in Burkina, we began to . In darkness, a motorbike with two men approached slowly. Without any , one of them grabbed my pack as the motorbike swept close by. Within seconds, the two were out of sight, up by the night.
The bag had my passport, money, traveler’s cheques, a camera, an airline ticket and other things to me. I was in deep trouble.
In the weeks that followed, I guarded the rest of my valuables and regarded all with suspicion. All I wanted was to leave this place.
Then, walking through Burkina’s streets, I met with an old woman. “Gift! Gift!” she cried. I’d had enough. I was of the country: its poverty(贫困), its thieves, the heat, and the dust. I told her angrily, “A thief stole all my money and now I can’t out of your country. I cannot give you anything.”
The woman beggar listened attentively and my words. Then she reached the folds of her dress.
“Then I will give you a gift,” she announced. Kindly, she placed an old, dark brown coin in my hand. I looked at it in . It was a very small amount of money, but for this woman, the coin a meal. At that moment, I felt a shame. In spit of her , she was able to give me something priceless.
I saw then the beauty of the people of Burkina, and appreciated deeply the quiet of the poor. With the old woman’s gift, I hope never to part with the coin she gave me. With one small coin, she my concept completely.
1.A. cared aboutB. came acrossC. looked forD. focused upon
2.A. presented B. gaveC. recalledD. reminded
3.A. trafficB. dustC. noiseD. climate
4.A. headedB. struggledC. stoodD. came
5.A. moveB. unloadC. hideD. pass
6.A. warningB. planningC. thinkingD. arranging
7.A. hungB. putC. swallowedD. cleared
8.A. obviousB. expensiveC. familiarD. precious
9.A. elegantlyB. cautiouslyC. dependentlyD. frequently
10.A. localsB. thievesC. beggarsD. men
11.A. proudB. consciousC. sickD. aware
12.A. getB. runC. comeD. rush
13.A. attended toB. looked upC. thought aboutD. wrote down
14.A. forB. intoC. outD. at
15.A. orderB. vainC. serveD. shock
16.A. meantB. madeC. deservedD. suggested
17.A. dirtinessB. povertyC. kindnessD. safety
18.A. updatedB. unfoldedC. brokenD. unexpected
19.A. momentB. actionC. dignity（尊严）D. life
20.A. changedB. damagedC. foundD. accepted
