Back in 1988, Red Delicious made up 70 to 80 percent of the domestic apple market. Over the years, farmers sold a lot of them because they looked great. But they had a floury texture (质地), and people want an apple that’s firm, crisp(脆的)and juicy. I started searching for one. By 1994, threatened by varieties from Japan and New Zealand, the U.S. apple industry and Washington State University agreed that we had to grow our own.
First, we cross-pollinated(授粉) existing apples: Collect pollen from one flower, put it on the tip of a pencil eraser, and rub it into another. We crossed dozens of crisp, tasty varieties such as Gala, Fuji, and Pink Lady. But the best breed came out of Honey Crisp and Enterprise parents. We grew the cross-bred seeds into 5-foot trees, grafted those to rootstocks(根茎) to make them start producing quickly, and planted them in evaluation gardens. A few years later, they fruited—and we began tasting.
So I would walk down long rows of hundreds and thousands of trees, and when I found an attractive fruit, I’d bite, chew, spit it out. Most were terrible, but when I found one with good texture and taste, I’d pick 10 or 20 of them. Then I put them in cold storage to see how they would hold up after a few months. After that, three or four researchers sat down and tasted every apple. We checked acidity and sugar levels, which can break down over time, and tested firmness and crispness using instruments that measure pressure and cell breakdown.
When we found exactly what we wanted, we planted and tested them all over again. Eventually, we ended up with the Cosmic Crisp. It can spend nine to 12 months in storage, and stay crisp, firm, juicy and sweet.
1.What does the author mainly tell us?
A. Why Red Delicious sells best.
B. How good-texture apples are grown.
C. Why cross-pollinated apples taste nice.
D. How a new variety of apple comes into being.
2.How has the Cosmic Crisp been developed?
A. By testing acidity and sugar. B. By cross-breeding with good varieties.
C. By selecting fine fruits. D. By evaluating the quality.
3.Which is the closest in meaning to the underlined word “grafted” in Para 2?
A. Applied. B. Rubbed. C. Attached. D. Changed.
4.What can we learn from the text?
A. The cross-pollinated apple seeds take a few years to grow.
B. Cosmic Crisp has a longer storage life and better quality.
C. Cosmic Crisp is mainly bred from Gala and Fuji.
D. The quality of apple lies in its acidity and sugar.
A walk through the galleries of Quebec's Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) places individuals face-to-face with some 43,000 artworks ranging from Chinese ceramics(陶瓷制品) to Inuit sculpture.
While the visiting is an incredible cultural experience, a group of local physicians will soon be able to prescribe(开处方) museum visits as treatment for some illnesses.
"We know that art contributes to neural(神经的) activity," said MMFA director Nathalie Bondil. "What we see is that being in contact with art can really help your well-being."
Hélène Boyer, vice president of a Montreal-based medical association, explains that museum visits have been shown to increase levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter(神经传导物质) known as the "happy chemical" which helps to lift mood.
According to Boyer, the small increase in hormones(荷尔蒙)associated with enjoying an afternoon of art is similar to that offered by exercise, making museum prescriptions ideal for the elderly experiencing pain that prevents them from regularly joining in physical activity.
The museum visits are designed to improve traditional methods. As Bondil notes, spending time in a peaceful environment can provide a welcome distraction. "What is most important is this experience can help them escape from their own pain," she says. "When you enter the museum, you escape from the speed of our daily life."
"I am convinced that in the 21st century, culture will be what physical activity was for health in the 20th century," said Bondil. " Some people would do well to recall that just in the 19th century, sports were believed to do harm to the body. Just as doctors now prescribe exercise, they will be able to prescribe a visit to the MMFA."
1.What does Hélène Boyer think of museum visits?
A. They can cheer people up.
B. They can reduce physical activity.
C. They can slow down our life pace.
D. They can increase levels of art appreciation.
2.How do museum visits affect people?
A. Stop them concentrating on pain.
B. Stop them focusing on traditional methods.
C. Encourage them not to be absent-minded.
D. Encourage them to slow their steps while walking.
3.What does the last paragraph suggest?
A. Physical activities were popular in the 19th century.
B. Sports are considered to be harmful to the body.
C. Ideas of treating illnesses are changing over time.
D. Doctors prescribe museum visits regularly now.
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A. Museum visits are ideal for the elderly.
B. Happy chemical helps to lift mood.
C. Peaceful environment helps escape pain.
D. Cultural activities will promote health.
On a recent afternoon, some 60 years after they graduated from grammar school, Kathleen Rys, 72, and her sister Lorraine O'Kelly, 70, sat down and had a meal with a classmate, Bruce Smit, 71, for the first time.
In the 1950s, Lorraine and Kathleen Rys' family moved from Chicago to Monee. As new kids at Monee Elementary School, they soon found themselves on the outs with other students.
"I would be with the other guys and see Kathleen walking down the hallway, her head down, holding her books, walking slowly. And all of us guys would be flat against the wall until she passed. Then we'd burst into laughter. How rude is that? It's just crazy." said Smit, a doctor whose wife, Tammy, organized the meeting.
The women said none of the teachers cared about it. "We just kept it to ourselves. " Lorraine said.
Over the years, Tammy Smit said, "Bruce would just start to cry at times. He'd wonder what happened to the sisters, if they landed OK." One day a few weeks ago, Tammy took to the internet and found Mary O'Kelly, Lorraine's daughter, and offered to set up a meeting. The idea of revisiting the pain was not well- received by Kathleen, who had never married, let alone gone on a date. It took some convincing, but Lorraine finally got Kathleen to agree to meet with Bruce.
Bruce broke into tears. "I'm so ashamed, so embarrassed," he said. "But I'm so happy you're still here and that I can finally apologize. " He said he hopes his apology will encourage others to seek forgiveness for the pain they make on others. Lorraine said, "This is a beautiful thing. It's just wonderful that a person from 60 years ago can ask for forgiveness. It's like a miracle to us. It's a healing to us."
1.What can we learn from the first three paragraphs?
A. Kathleen made her classmates afraid of her at school.
B. Kathleen was once hurt by her classmates at school.
C. Bruce Smit asked his wife to organize the meeting.
D. Bruce Smit spoke ill of Kathleen.
2.What does "it" in paragraph 4 probably refer to?
A. The guys’ meeting.
B. Kathleen’s slow pace.
C. The guys’ apology.
D. Kathleen’s suffering.
3.How did Kathleen first feel about the meeting?
A. Angry.
B. Excited.
C. Anxious.
D. Unwilling.
4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A. Bruce was embarrassed for his apology.
B. The other guys apologized to the two sisters.
C. Bruce and the two sisters felt a sense of relief.
D. Lorraine thought the apology came a little late.
The U.S. has countless secret swimming holes throughout most states, many of which you've likely never heard of unless you're from the area.
Havasu Falls (Arizona) | This attractive waterfall in the Grand Canyon is undoubtedly a destination spot requiring a 10-mile walk to the falls. You can take a guided tour to the falls, or make it on your own. The Havasu Falls are on the Havasupai Indian Reservation, which means you'll need to get a permit to visit — this has become increasingly difficult as more people discover this hidden place. |
Hamilton Pool (Austin) | Hamilton Pool was created when an underground river's roof fell down suddenly; exposing what is now the swimming hole and creating a 50-foot waterfall that flows over the above limestone(石灰岩). You'll have to reserve beforehand to gain entry to the Hamilton Pool Preserve. |
Chutes and Ladders (Maui) | To get to this secret swimming hole, you'll have to take a rope 40 feet down the face of a cliff, and then climb down about 8 feet of lava rock to the pool. Once there, however, you'll be glad you made the journey. The swimming hole is on the edge of the ocean — a natural pool, you could say — with a depth that invites you to jump in without crowds of people around to watch. |
Homestead Crater (Utah) | The Homestead Crater is hidden under a rock dome(圆顶) with an opening at the top that allows for sunlight and air. It was once only accessible by that top opening, but there is now easy access through a side path for visitors. Go for a swim in this beautiful mineral water spring. |
1.People need an official written statement to visit _________.
A. Havasu Falls B. Hamilton Pool C. Chutes and Ladders D. Homestead Crater
2.What do you need to get to Chutes and Ladders?
A. A tour guide. B. An invitation.
C. More outdoor skills. D. Reservation in advance.
3.Which of the following can best describe the four places?
A. They are hidden in remote areas. B. They are shaped by limestone.
C. They are created by local people. D. They are accessible through a hole.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.Which team has played in every World Cup?
A. Brazil. B. Portugal. C. South Africa.
2.What is the trophy(奖杯) named after?
A. A famous place.
B. A special stadium.
C. The organizer.
3.How many cities was the 2018 World Cup held in?
A. 32. B. 15. C. 11.
4.Why does the speaker say Japan made history?
A. They won the champion once.
B. They beat a South American team.
C. They made their fourth appearance.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What’s Brett just doing?
A. Downloading e-books.
B. Reading an e-book.
C. Buying an e-book reader.
2.What advantage of the e-book reader does Brett mention?
A. The large storage capacity.
B. The low cost in the long term.
C. The decrease in the use of paper.
3.Why does Fiona refuse to buy an e-book reader?
A. She doesn’t read much.
B. She likes printed books better.
C. She has enough books to read.
4.Where does the conversation take place?
A. In a store. B. In a classroom. C. In a library.
