Elephants have impressed us for centuries. They are big, clever, and sociable. But what if someone told you that they may also hold the key to fighting cancer (癌症)?
People have been wondering why elephants do not develop cancer, even though they have lifespans (寿命) that are similar to humans, living for around 50 to 70 years.
Now scientists believe they know why. A team at the University of Chicago, US has found that elephants carry a large number of genes that stop tumors (肿瘤) from developing. To be precise, they found 20 copies of an antitumor gene called TP53 in elephants. Most other species, including humans, only carry one copy.
According to the research, which was recently published on the online science network BioRxiv, the extra copies of the gene improved the animal's sensitivity to DNA damage. This lets the cells quickly kill themselves when damaged before they can go on to form deadly tumors.
“An increased risk of developing cancer has stood in the way of the evolution of large body sizes in many animals，” study author Dr. Vincent Lynch told The Guardian. If every living cell (细胞) has the same chance of becoming cancerous, large creatures with long lifespans like whales and elephants should have a greater risk of developing cancer than humans and mice do. But across species, the risk of cancer does not show a connection with body mass.
This_phenomenon was found by Oxford University scientist Richard Peto in the 1970s and later named “Peto's paradox”. Evolutionary (进化的) biologists believe it results from larger animals using protection that many smaller animals do not. In the elephant's case, the making of TP53 is nature's way of keeping this species alive.
The study also found that when the same genes were brought to life in mice, they had the same cancer resistance (抵抗) as elephants. This means researchers could use the discovery to develop new treatments that can help stop cancers from spreading or even developing in the first place.
“Nature has already figured out how to prevent cancer, ” said Joshua Schiffman, an oncologist at the School of Medicine, University of Utah, US.
“It's up to us to learn how different animals tackle (处理) the problem so we can use those strategies to prevent cancer in people.”
1.Why are elephants unlikely to develop cancer?
A. They have a large body size.
B. Their genes suffer no DNA damage.
C. Certain genes in their body kill existing tumors.
D. They carry many genes that keep tumors from developing.
2.According to Dr. Vincent Lynch, what has been a risk in the evolution of large animals?
A. A risk of deadly tumors. B. Human behavior.
C. Extreme weather. D. Cells killing themselves.
3.What does the underlined expression “This phenomenon” in the sixth paragraph refer to?
A. Larger animals have protection from TP53.
B. The risk of cancer is not related to body size.
C. The larger animals are, the bigger risk of cancer they have.
D. Larger animals suffer the same risk of cancer as smaller ones do.
4.We can conclude from the last three paragraphs that ________.
A. humans are expected to stop cancer in the near future
B. depending on nature is not enough to fight against cancer
C. this new treatment is more effective than the present ones
D. the TP53 genes have proven useful in stopping cancer in mice
A company in San Francisco, California, has found a way to turn used plastic bottles into women’s shoes.
Every day, millions of Americans drink water and other liquids from plastic bottles. More than 60 million of them are thrown away each day. Many of the plastic bottles end up in landfills or are burned with other waste products.
A San Francisco start-up company called Rothy’s, however, turns this plastic waste into environmentally friendly shoes. Rothy Martin is the company’s co-founder. He explains how they turn plastic into soft material for your feet. They take the plastic, clean it, and break it down into small pieces. Then they press it through a device that makes soft fibers. Those fibers are then combined, or knit together. This is done by a three-dimensional knitting machine. It is designed to reduce waste while making the shoes.
The knitted fabric and the inner part of the shoes are then attached to the shoes’ outer part, called the sole. This outer sole is also made from environmentally friendly material: responsibly sourced no-carbon rubber.
Rothy’s shoes are sold online. They are flat shoes, with either a rounded or pointed toe. They come in different colors and designs. They cost either $125 or $145 per pair, depending on the design.
After American actress Gwyneth Paltrow discovered them last year, the demand for the shoes grew.
Martin says there is no shortage of material to fill that demand. “We’re not going to run out of water bottles any time soon. So we have an infinite supply of material, and I think that bodes well for our future. ”
When the environmentally friendly shoes wear out, customers can return them at no cost to a company that uses the recycled materials to make other products.
For now, the shoes are only available to be shipped in the United States. However, the company says it will add international shipping in the near future.
1.Which one is the right procedure of making shoes?
①pressing small pieces
②breaking down clean plastic bottles
③knitting together
④cleaning plastic bottles
⑤attaching the knitted fabric, the inner part and the outer part
A. ①②③④⑤ B. ④②③①⑤
C. ④②①③⑤ D. ②①③④⑤
2.Why did Rothy’s use a three-dimensional knitting machine to make shoes?
A. Because it is easy to operate.
B. Because it is cheaper than other machines.
C. Because it is productive.
D. Because it can reduce waste when making the shoes.
3.What can be learned from the passage?
A. This kind of shoes are sold in the shop.
B. The shoes are environmentally friendly.
C. Customers can return them with little money to a company.
D. The shoes are available in the world.
4.What’s the best title of the passage?
A. How to recycle plastic bottles
B. Recycled bottles find newlife on women’s feet
C. How a new kind of shoes became a hit
D. How to make environmentally friendly shoes
The world is a truly strange place waiting to be explored. In addition to offering a lot of extraordinary locations and people, it also offers interesting festivals celebrated by people in various parts of the world. Here is a list of the oddest festivals that can be found around the world.
Cheese Rolling Festival: A festival that is surely going to leave you with a sore neck if not a broken one! Celebrated in England, the Cheese Rolling Festival is something that you would rather watch than take part in.
Okay! Here’s how it goes. Officials set a big cheese wheel to roll down a steep hill and participants run after it. The first one to catch it wins the competition and the cheese. Simple? Well, try it out and you will know!
The Monkey Buffet: Now here’s a country that actually feeds monkeys to their hearts’ content instead of chasing them away. Celebrated in Thailand, the Monkey Buffet is an annual event that brings together a lot of locals who offer fruit and vegetables to over 600 monkeys. It’s a great feast as the monkeys dig into almost 3, 000 kilograms of fruit and vegetables. The people of Thailand believe this is a way to honor the Monkey King called Hanuman.
La Tomatina: Here’s your golden chance to get even with your friends who sprayed(喷洒)paint on you on your birthday. Celebrated in Spain, the month of August has nearly 250 pounds of tomatoes go down the drain(被浪费掉)in what is perhaps the largest tomato fight in the world. The event is conducted in the town of Bunyol and attracts nearly 30, 000 tourists around the world in addition to locals. Truckloads of tomatoes arrive and you are ready to go. The entire area is covered with slush and tomatoes within minutes. It’s a good time to have fun with friends and family.
1.What’s the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
A. To discuss some foreign culture.
B. To introduce some unusual festivals.
C. To attract more people to travel to Europe.
D. To talk about the author’s interesting experiences.
2.What can we learn from the passage?
A. Thai people celebrate the Monkey Buffet mainly to show their concern for animals.
B. The Monkey Buffet is celebrated because monkeys are endangered there.
C. The Monkey Buffet is a religious festival celebrated in Spain every year.
D. Thai people celebrate the Monkey Buffet to honor Hanuman.
3.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. August may be a golden season to visit Bunyol.
B. People will fight with their enemy at La Tomatina.
C. Nearly 30, 000 people join in La Tomatina every year.
D. People hold a tomato-eating competition at La Tomatina.
4.The underlined part“get even with”in the last paragraph can be replaced by “_________”.
A. have a great time with B. pay back
C. get along well with D. make peace with
Florida is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is one of the most visited states in the country and the sunshine state attracts millions of visitors each year. Are you planning a vacation to it? Here our travel guide may help you.
La Nouba at Walt Disney World Resort
Duration: 90 minutes
Location: Orlando, Florida
While you're in Orlando, spend a day at the theme parks with a Cirque du Soleil show at Downtown Disney, La Nouba is the meeting of two different worlds—the fantastic world of the circus (马戏团) people who wear bright colors and the boring world of the people living in big cities who wear dark, lifeless clothes.
Kennedy Space Center
Duration: Flexible
Location: Orlando, Florida
Spend a day exploring the attractive Kennedy Space Center, just 45 minutes from Orlando. Learn about the history of the US space program and watch beautiful IMAX films. Don't miss the chance to walk under a Saturn V rocket, and experience a real moonwalk!
Sea World Orlando
Duration: Varies
Location: Orlando, Florida
Spend a day at Sea World Orlando and come face to face with the ocean's most attractive sea animals. With several upclose meetings with killer whales, sharks and turtles, you'll feel the energy and excitement of all kinds of sea life.
South Beach Cultural Food and Walking Tour
Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Location: Miami, Florida
On the South Beach Cultural Food and Walking Tour, you'll explore the Art Deco district of South Beach on foot and along the way, you'll taste a variety of foods that make South Beach such an internationally wellknown food region.
★Price information：
Click the link below to check price information on your preferred travel date. Our price is constantly updated.
1.If you are interested in exciting performances, which of the following is the best choice?
A. La Nouba at Walt Disney World Resort
B. Kennedy Space Center
C. Sea World Orlando
D. South Beach Cultural Food and Walking Tour
2.What can we learn from the text?
A. Visitors can enjoy real space travel at Kennedy Space Center.
B. Visitors can enjoy foods from different countries at South Beach.
C. Some dangerous animals can be found at Sea World Orlando.
D. La Nouba is a funny person who performs in the Cirque du Soleil show.
3.Where does the text most probably come from?
A. A travel magazine. B. A travel website.
C. A news report. D. A geography textbook.
假定你是刘莹，计划和同学去敬老院（nursing home）陪老人们过重阳节（the Double Ninth Festival）。请给外教Trump写封邮件，邀他一同前往，内容包括：
1.出发及返回时间；
2.活动：包饺子、表演节目等。
注意：1.词数100词左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3.结语已为你写好。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Looking forward to your reply.
Yours,
Liu Ying
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除和修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
One of my happier days was hearing that I was admitted into a medical school. It has been a dream of me for as long as I can remember. My father played big role in my desire to become a physician. See him live a life of services to others inspired me from a young age. Watching him to put on his white coat with the stethoscope（听诊器）around his neck was liked looking at a superhero. Hearing him share stories of how medical care saved patients’ lives was enjoyable. As for me, medicine were the perfect mixture of wonder and science, that deeply attracted me.
