Question

Chemists have sped up evolution, harnessing a process that can take millions of years in the natural world and using it—in months or weeks—to make unusual molecules that today are used for everything from “green” biofuels(生物燃料) to cancer drugs. Today that speed and efficiency was rewarded with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Frances H. Arnold won half of the 2018 prize for directing evolution in a test tube, speeding up the natural selection of the most productive enzymes(酶) to drive chemical reactions. The other half of the prize went to George P. Smith and Sir Gregory P. Winter.

All three scientists took Charles Darwin's idea of natural selection, in which molecules(分子) or organisms accumulate mutations(突变) in a slow, random process, and figured out ways to identify and select specific mutations that improve the ability of molecules such as proteins and enzymes. By picking and choosing enzymes with improved abilities and repeatedly refining them, Arnold ended up with one that performed 256 times better than the original.

“This was a revolution based on evolution，” says Claes Gustafsson, a member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry. “Now you can use these enzymes to speed up reaction and to replace poisonous chemicals.”

Arnold began her line of research in the early 1990s. In a speech several years ago she said the notion of improving on the natural course of evolution was an idea that needed to come from an outsider. “Twenty­five years ago it was considered the lunatic fringe(狂热者，极端分子)，” Arnold said in 2014. “Scientists didn't do that. Gentlemen didn't do that. But since I’m an engineer and_not_a_gentleman._I_had_no_problem_with_that.”

Smith's research, begun in the 1980s，used a bacteriophage(噬菌体). Genes code for proteins, and Smith got his phages to display those proteins on their outer coats. He then used antibodies to fish out the proteins he was interested in. This process is called phage display. The ability to select specific proteins, cycle their genes back through the phage, and again fish out the best ones sped up natural selection.

Winter put the genes for antibodies inside phages，got the phages to produce antibodies on their coats, and used a small molecule to fish out only antibodies that had a particular kind of binding site(结合部位), so Winter had developed a way of producing highly efficient antibodies in a short period of time. Because of this, Claes says, “Now we can use antibody drugs with greater efficiency and fewer side effects.” Of the 15 most­sold drugs on the planet, she says, 11 are now made by processes based on this method.

1.Why does the Nobel Prize in Chemistry go to Frances H. Arnold?

A. She followed Charles Darwin's idea of natural selection.

B. She found ways to use viruses to produce powerful proteins.

C. She developed a way of producing highly efficient antibodies.

D. She directed evolution and accelerated the natural selection of enzymes.

2.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 5 imply?

A. She was regarded as a lunatic fringe.

B. She dared to break through conventional idea.

C. She took advantage of her gender(性别).

D. She was supported by other scientists.

3.What attitude does Claes Gustafsson hold towards the use of antibody drugs?

A. Critical.    B. Ambiguous.    C. Casual.    D. Favorable.

4.What's the best title for the passage?

A. Revolution in Evolution Wins 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

B. Three Scientists Speeding up the Natural Selection of the World

C. Charles Darwin's idea of natural selection becoming outdated

D. Scientists Finding a New Method for Wresting with Cancer

Answer

1. D

2. B

3. D

4. A

【解析】

本文是一篇科普说明文，主要介绍了Arnold获得了关于酶的研究性突破获得了诺贝尔奖，同时介绍了Arnold所进行的生物酶研究方面的信息。

1.推理判断题。通过文章第二段第一一句“Frances H. Arnold won half of the 2018 prize for directing evolution in a test tube, speeding up the natural selection of the most productive enzymes(酶) to drive chemical reactions.”可知Arnold因为在酶的自然选择上的研究突破而获得诺贝尔奖，故选择D项。

2.句意理解题。根据前半句“Scientists didn't do that. Gentlemen didn't do that…”可知她说科学家们不做突破，绅士们不做突破，然而我是一个工程师而不是一个绅士，所以我不用担心这个，又由前面的fringe可以看出她敢于突破传统观念，故选择B项。

3.态度观点题。根据文章最后两句Because of this, Claes says, “Now we can use antibody drugs with greater efficiency and fewer side effects.” Of the 15 most­sold drugs on the planet, she says, 11 are now made by processes based on this method她认为现在的抗体药物很高效、副作用也不大，在世界上卖的最好的药物中有11种是用这种方法生产的。说明Claes Gustafsso持支持态度。故选择D项。

4.主旨大意题。本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了Arnold获得了关于酶的研究性突破获得了诺贝尔奖，同时介绍了Arnold所进行的生物酶研究方面的信息。故选择A项。