Question

    Did you know that people who live in different parts of China have different habits and preferences？

For example， people from southern China prefer to eat vegetables， while people from north China like to eat meat． But what causes these differences？

According to a new study published in the journal Cell in October， gene variations （基因变异） might be responsible for these differences， Xinhua reported．

In the study， researchers from Chinese genome-sequencing （基因组测序） firm BGI collected genetic information from 141，431 Chinese women． The women came from 31 provinces and consisted of 36 ethnic minority groups．

The researchers found that there are six gene frequencies that are different among people from both northern and southern China． They found that natural selection has played an important role in the ways that people living in different regions of China have evolved， affecting their food preferences， immunities （免疫性） to illness and physical traits （特点）， the New York Times reported．

The researchers reported that a variation of the gene FADS2 is more commonly found in northern people than it is in southern people． It helps people metabolize （新陈代谢） fatty acids （脂肪酸）， which suggests a diet that is rich in meat． According to Xinhua， this is due to climate differences． Northern China is at a higher latitude， which means it's cold and dry throughout the whole year． This weather is difficult to grow vegetables in． Therefore， northerners tend to eat more meat．

The study also found differences in the immune systems of both groups． Most people in southern China carry the gene CR1， which protects against malaria （疟疾）． This is because malaria was once quite common in southern China． In order to survive， the genes of people in the south evolved to fight against this disease． However， people in the south are also more vulnerable to certain blood-borne illnesses， as they lack the genes to stop them．

Genes can also cause physical differences between northerners and southerners． Most northerners have the ABCC11 gene， which causes dry earwax （耳屎）， less body odor and fewer sweat secretions （分泌）， The New York Times reported． These physical differences are also more beneficial to living in cold environments． Southerners are less likely to have this gene， as it did not evolve in their population．

1.What's the new study mainly about？ ______

A. The genes of Chinese minority groups．

B. Habits of people from different regions of China．

C. Differences in the genes of people from different parts of China．

D. Physical differences between northerners and southerners．

2.A variation of the gene FADS2can help our body ______ ．

A. store fat B. digest meat

C. fight disease D. control body temperature

3.The underlined word "vulnerable" in Paragraph 7 is closest in meaning to ______ ．

A. unprotected B. uninterested

C. generous D. responsible

4.Compared with people in south China， most northerners ______ ．

a．are immune to malaria

b．catch blood-borne illnesses easily

c．have less body odor

d．sweat less frequently

A. ab B. bc

C. bd D. cd

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.A

4.D

【解析】

本文是一篇科普类短文阅读。文章主要讲述了基因变异可能是导致中国北方和南方人在饮食、免疫系统和身体上的差异。

1.细节理解题。根据第三段According to a new study published in the journal Cell in October， gene variations （基因变异） might be responsible for these differences，Xinhua reported.可知据新华社报道，10月份发表在《细胞》杂志上的一项新研究表明，基因变异可能是导致这些差异的原因。由此可见，中国不同地区人的基因差异。故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据倒数第三段The researchers reported that a variation of the gene FADS2 is more commonly found in northern people than it is in southern people． It helps people metabolize （新陈代谢） fatty acids （脂肪酸），which suggests a diet that is rich in meat．可知研究人员报告说，FADS2基因的变异在北方人中比在南方人中更常见．它帮助人们代谢肉类中富含的脂肪酸。由此可见，基因FADS2的变异可以帮助我们的身体消化肉类。故选B。

3.词义猜测题。根据倒数第二段 However， people in the south are also more vulnerable to certain blood-borne illnesses， as they lack the genes to stop them．可知，然而，南方人也更容易受到某些血液传播疾病的影响，因为他们缺乏阻止他们的基因。由此可猜测出，vulnerable易受攻击的，易受伤的。故选A。

4.细节理解题。根据最后一段 Most northerners have the ABCC11 gene， which causes dry earwax （耳屎）， less body odor and fewer sweat secretions （分泌）， The New York Times reported．可知据《纽约时报》报道，大多数北方人都有ABCC11基因，该基因可导致耳垢干燥、体味降低和汗液分泌减少。由此可见，故选D。