Bowhead whales (弓头鲸) can live 200 years or longer. How they do it is no longer among the secrets of the deep. Scientists have mapped the genetic code of this long-lived whale species. The international effort found unusual features in the Arctic whale’s genes. Those features likely protect the species against cancer and other problems related to old age.
“We hope to learn what is the secret for living longer, healthier lives,” says João Pedro de Magalhães. He is a gerontologist (a scientist who studies old age) at the University of Liverpool in England. He also is co-author of the study that appeared January 6 in Cell Reports. His team hopes, he says, that its new findings might one day be used “to improve human health and preserve human life.”
No other mammal is known to live as long as the bowhead. Scientists have shown that some of these whales have lived well beyond 100—including one that survived to 211. For perspective, if he were still alive, Abraham Lincoln would be turning just 206 this year. De Magalhães’ team wanted to understand how the bowhead can live so long. To study this, the experts analyzed the animal’s complete set of genetic instructions, called its genome (基因组). Those instructions are coded in the animal’s DNA. The team also compared the whale’s genome to those of people, mice and cows.
The scientists discovered differences, including mutations (突变), in the whale’s genes. Those changes are linked to cancer, aging and cell growth. The results suggest that the whales are better than humans at repairing their DNA. That’s important because damaged or flawed DNA can lead to diseases, including some cancers.
Bowheads also are better at keeping abnormally dividing cells in check. Together, the changes appear to allow bowhead whales to live longer without developing age-related diseases such as cancer, says de Magalhães.
1.What do we learn about bowhead whales?
A.Their average life is 100. B.They are the longest-lived animals.
C.They don’t have aging problems. D.They live in the Arctic Ocean.
2.Why did scientists map the genetic code of bowhead whales?
A.To discover the secret of long life.
B.To find out a cure for cancer.
C.To prevent age-related diseases.
D.To lengthen human life.
3.Why does the author mention Abraham Lincoln?
A.To remind us of the time he lived.
B.To show the long life of the bowhead.
C.To compare him with the bowhead.
D.To express people’s respect for him.
4.What allows the bowhead to live a longer and healthier life?
A.Good DNA repair system. B.Gene mutation.
C.Cell division. D.Perfect living environment.
Commuters of the future could get some relief from congested roads especially the peak-hour traffic if Uber’s plans for flying taxis work out.
The battery-powered aircraft looks like a cross between a small plane and a helicopter, with fixed wings and rotors (旋转器). It was presented at an international technology conference in Lisbon, Portugal.
Catering for the need of shorter city travel time, the vehicle is intended to soar over traffic congestion. Uber hopes it will eventually become a form of convenient mass transport and cost commuters aboard less than using their own car, though initially it will be more expensive than that, Uber’s Chief Product Officer Jeff Holden said.
The scheme still faces plenty of challenges, including certification of the new vehicle by authorities, pilot training and constructing urban air traffic management systems that prevent collisions.
Holden declared that Uber is joining NASA’s project to expand air traffic systems, which scores of other companies already belong to.
He told The Associated Press in an interview that he has no dollar figure for the total investment. He said Uber is putting some of its own money into the project, developing software, while other investors are also involved, such as aircraft manufacturers that are developing the vehicle and real estate companies that are providing so-called “skyports” where people will catch their airborne taxi.
Uber is making a bid to reform and polish up its image which has been damaged by certain negative news. Holden said those episodes did not slow development of the flying taxi project of the great company that is in transition.
1.What result is Uber’s flying taxis aimed to achieve?
A.Shorter city travel time. B.Smooth flow of traffic.
C.Higher economic efficiency. D.Convenience of people’s life.
2.Which of the statement is correct according to Holden?
A.Flying taxis are more cost-effective than driving private cars.
B.Uber has to cooperate with NASA to reach it’s goal.
C.The success of this project, if possible, will polish up Uber’s image.
D.The final achievement of Uber’s goal relies not only on the company itself.
3.What does the underlined word “episodes” in the paragraph probably mean?
A.trouble B.exchange
C.incident D.process
4.What is implied in the last paragraph?
A.Uber is committed to developing the flying taxi project.
B.Uber is to accomplish it’s transition period in the near future.
C.Uber’s reputation used to be ruined by rumors.
D.Uber has recovered from it’s damaged image.
I realized something this morning. I have been writing now for 34 years. It all started when I was just 18 years old. As a boy I had read literally (毫不夸张地) hundreds of books. I had a thirst for knowledge that seemingly could never fade. Then suddenly I found I had something I wanted to share. I tried to ignore it, but as any writer will tell you once the ideas awaken inside of you they won’t leave you alone until you write them down. I didn’t have a computer, word processor, or even a typewriter. Still, I grabbed a pen and lined notebook paper and wrote everything that was burning inside of me.
When I was done I didn’t know how to share it. There was no internet back then, no smart phones, and no social media. I sought out the editor of my local county newspaper and asked him to print what I had written. He was a good man full of both wisdom and kindness. He not only printed my first story but agreed to publish anything else I was willing to write. I continued to write new articles each week and shared them first with other local papers and later online as well. Years later at the urging of my readers I even self-published two collections of my stories in book form.
Through my writing I slowly became more than I was. In my writings I encountered my highest self. In my writings I discovered the goodness and light that lies in us all. In my writings I found great love and joy and encouraged others to choose love and joy as well. I also found that we all are writers whether we put pen to paper or not. With every choice we make, with every thought we hold, and with everything we do we are writing our own life story.
Lance Wubbels once wrote: "I hope you realize your life is truly your life. It belongs to you. It is your story to write with love. Day by day, line by line, write it well."
1.What can we infer according to the first paragraph?
A.The author regrets ignoring some details in life.
B.When the author was young he wrote many books.
C.Other famous writers have given him inspiration.
D.The author is likely to be in his early fifties now.
2.How did the author begin his writing career?
A.He self-published two books.
B.He put his stories online by himself.
C.He was hired as a newspaper editor.
D.He received help from a local newspaper editor.
3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the author?
A.Writing can benefit oneself as well as others.
B.Everyone can become a successful writer.
C.Writing helps him tell right from wrong.
D.The Internet was a must in his becoming a writer.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A.A Way to be a Writer B.Living is Writing
C.A Way to Share Ideas D.Writing is the Source of Love
72 hours in Beijing
Traveling to China is no longer a luxury for many foreign passport holders. The Chinese government has permitted a 72-hour visa-free policy that offers access to visitors from 53 countries including the US, France and Austria. Let’s start with the capital of China, Beijing. Here’s a pick of the best in Beijing!
Mutianyu Great Wall
Your trip to Beijing isn’t really complete without seeing one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World", the Great Wall of China, The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is by far the most well-preserved of all. Taking a one-hour bus ride, Mutianyu would be your ideal location for a half-day of hiking away from the large crowds in the city.
Also, the authorities have allowed tourists to paint graffiti on a specific section of the Great Wall since 2014. The Great Wall was designated (把…定名为) a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.
Summer Palace
Located in northwestern Beijing, the Summer Palace is by far the city’s most well-preserved royal park. With its huge lake and hilltop views, the palace offers you a pastoral escape into the landscape of traditional Chinese paintings. The Summer Palace was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.
798Art Zone
This would be on the top of my list! Named after the 798 factory that was built in the 1950s, the art zone is home to various galleries, design studios, art exhibition spaces, fashionable shops and bars. You could easily spend half your day wandering around the complex, feeling the contrast of the present and the past.
Sichuan Provincial Restaurant
While in Beijing, apart from trying the city’s best-known Peking duck, the Sichuan provincial restaurant is one of places where you can enjoy regional delicious food. It offers one of China’s eight great cuisines, Sichuan, which ranges from Mapo tofu to spicy chicken.
1.How does the author describe Mutianyu Great Wall?
A.Tourists need a half-day to arrive there.
B.Tourists are allowed to paint graffiti anywhere.
C.It is the most well-preserved part of the Great Wall.
D.It was named a UNESCO World Heritage site 20 years ago.
2.Where would you go first if you were the author?
A.Mutianyu Great Wall. B.Summer Palace.
C.798Art Zone. D.Sichuan Provincial Restaurant.
3.Who does the author intend the passage for?
A.The tourists who prefer to travel for free.
B.The foreigners to stay in Beijing for 3 days.
C.The visitors coming from every corner of China.
D.The foreigners coming to Beijing for the first time.
假设你是李华，你的朋友Peter知道你们学校最近举行了“给自己写一封信”活动，来信询问有关情况，请你根据以下内容写一封回信。
1. 活动的目的；
2. 带来的好处；
3. 给他的建议。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，使行文连贯。
Dear Tom,
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours ,
Li Hua
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、删除或修改。
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. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
The other day, I together with several friends went back to a nearby hospital to do some voluntary works. We helped some patients cleaned their rooms and did everything we could serve them. I noticed a little girl between the patients. Though she was weak, yet she was lovely and active. He asked to sing a song for us in return for our kindness. Stood in front of us, she began to sing. Great to our surprise, her voice was so beautifully that it fascinated us all. After that, we had the talk with her. She told us that her wish was to become a singer. We encouraged her to follow her dream.
