Next time you raise an eyebrow at the views of your friend, brother, sister or colleague, remember they could be helping to make you smarter. New research shows that intelligence is not fixed but can be improved throughout adulthood by family members, bright mates and intellectually challenging careers. The study challenges the commonly held belief that intelligence is fixed by the age of about 18.
Scientific consensus (共识) suggests intelligence is controlled by genes, with environmental factors such as schooling and nutrition playing a part up to this age. After this point, IQ scores become steady. But James Flynn, professor at the University of Otago in New Zealand, argues that people can “upgrade” their intelligence throughout their lives. He believes intellectual stimulation (刺激)from other people is important as the “brain seems to be rather like a muscle—the more you use it, the stronger it gets”. However, the opposite is also true—so people who share a home or workplace with the intellectually challenged risk seeing their IQ levels nosedive as a result.
Professor Flynn analyzed US intelligence tests from the last 65 years and created new IQ “age tables”. He found a bright ten-year-old with brothers and sisters of average intelligence will suffer a five to ten point IQ disadvantage compared to a similar child with equally bright brothers and sisters. However, children with a low IQ could gain six to eight points by having brighter brothers and sisters and special educational treatment to help pull them up.
Professor Flynn concluded that although genetics and early life experiences determine about 80% of intelligence, the remaining 20% is linked to lifestyle. This means people can raise their IQ, or allow it to fall, by ten points or more. He suggests the best way to improve IQ levels is to socialize with bright friends, and find an intellectually challenging job.
1.What do people commonly believe?
A.People1 s IQ levels fall as they get older and older.
B.It’s wise for people to share family members’ views.
C.The intelligence changes no more during adulthood.
D.Doing challenging deeds is good for one’s intelligence.
2.The underlined word “nosedive” in Paragraph 2 most probably means ________.
A.vary B.fall C.change D.develop
3.Which of the following can help improve one’s intelligence according to Professor Flynn?
A.Staying with smart people. B.Making many friends.
C.Doing exercise every day. D.Learning from parents.
4.The purpose of the text is to ________.
A.persuade B.advertise C.entertain D.inform
With only about 1,800 pandas left in the world, China is desperately trying to clone the animal and save the endangered species (物种). That’s a move similar to what a Texas A&M University researcher has been undertaking for the past five years in a project called “Noah’s Ark”. Noah’s Ark is aimed at collecting eggs, embryos (胚胎), semen and DNA of endangered animals and storing them in liquid nitrogen. If certain species should become extinct, Dr. Duane Kraemer, a professor in Texas A&M University Medicine, says there would be enough of the basic building blocks to reintroduce the species in the future.
It is estimated that as many as 2,000 species of mammals, birds and reptiles will become extinct in over 100 years. The panda, native only to China, is in danger of becoming extinct in the next 25 years. This week, Chinese scientists said they grew an embryo by introducing cells from a dead female panda into the egg cells of a Japanese white rabbit. They are now trying to implant the embryo into a host animal.
The entire procedure could take three to five years to complete.
“The nuclear transfer of one species to another is not easy, and the lack of available panda eggs could be a major problem,” Kraemer, who is one of the leaders of the Project at Texas A&M, the firstever attempt at cloning a dog, believes. “They will probably have to do several hundred transfers to result in one pregnancy (怀孕). It takes a long time and it’s difficult, but this could be groundbreaking science if it works. They are certainly not putting any live pandas at risk, so it is worth the effort,” adds Kraemer.
“They are trying to do something that’s never been done, and this is very similar to our work in Noah’s Ark. We’re both trying to save animals that face extinction. I certainly appreciate their effort and there’s a lot we can learn from what they are attempting to do. It’s a research that is very much needed.”
1.The aim of “Noah’s Ark” project is to ________.
A.make efforts to clone the endangered pandas
B.transfer the nuclear of one animal to another
C.collect DNA of endangered animals to study
D.save endangered animals from dying out
2.The underlined word “groundbreaking” can be interpreted as ________.
A.especially new B.pioneering
C.damaging D.troublemaking
3.What may be the best title for the passage?
A.China’s Success in Panda Cloning
B.The First Cloned Panda in the World
C.Exploring the Possibility of Cloning Pandas
D.China — the Native Place of Pandas Forever
4.From the passage we know that ________.
A.about two thousand species will probably die out in a century
B.scientists try to implant a panda’s egg into a rabbit
C.Kraemer will work with Chinese scientists in clone researches
D.Kraemer and his team have succeeded in cloning a dog
There is a man watching me. He doesn’t think I know he’s there, but I do. He carries some sort of machine and it is making me nervous. I’ve been using the back entrance (入口) because I don’t think he knows it is there. I worry about going outside but with a young family to feed I have to. I go and come back quickly. So far I have managed to bring in the meals without him realising I’m gone. The family know something is wrong even though I try to keep it from them by acting normally and keeping them away from the front entrance.
My family are getting bored. They need to stretch their legs and run and play in the open. We can’t stay prisoners like this for much longer. I’m going out for supplies and decide that if the watcher is still there when we have eaten I will face the danger.
The time has come, the meal is over and he is still there, still watching. I push the family back and away from the entrance. I walk slowly down the passage and outside. I take a few steps forward and sit down—I stare at him. He seems unsettled (混乱的) by my appearance and moves his machine about. The birds nearby go silent as I break into a run. I must protect my family.
“Good evening and welcome to the BBC news at ten. Here are the latest headlines. Filming of David Attenborough’s latest wildlife documentary came to a dramatic and unexpected stop today after a vicious (凶猛危险的) tiger attack, but Mr. Attenborough said he was just thankful that she only warned him off as she could easily have killed him. The BBC has been told that no further filming will take place in that location.”
All is quiet. He has gone. No one is watching. My family are safe.
1.“I” tried to act normally in order to ________.
A.think out an idea B.give warnings to the man
C.calm down “my” family D.show “my” courage
2.What did “I” do to protect the family?
A.“I” scared away the man at last. B.“I” prevented “my” kids from going out.
C.“I” reported it to the BBC news. D.“I” bravely fought with the man.
3.The machine held by the man might be a ________.
A.telescope B.camera
C.twoway radio D.gun
4.The passage is intended to ________.
A.convince us of an idea B.describe an adventure
C.give us a warning D.tell an interesting story
Opera at Music Hall: 1243 Elm Street. The season runs June through August, with additional performances in March and September. The Opera honors Enjoy the Arts membership discounts. Phone: 2412742. http: // www. cityopera. com.
Chamber Orchestra: The Orchestra plays at Memorial Hall at 1406 Elm Street, which offers several concerts from March through June. Call 7231182 for more information. http: //www. chamberorch. com.
Symphony Orchestra: At Music Hall and Riverbend. For ticket sales, call 3813300. Regular season runs September through May at Music Hall and in summer at Riverbend. http: //www. symphony. org/home. asp.
College Conservatory of Music (CCM): Performances are on the main campus (校园) of the university, usually at Patricia Cobbett Theater. CCM organizes a variety of events, including performances by the wellknown LaSalle Quartet, CCM’s Philharmonic Orchestra, and various groups of musicians presenting Baroque through modern music. Students with I. D. cards can attend the events for free. A free schedule of events for each term is available by calling the box office at 5564183. http: //www. ccm. uc. edu/ events/ calendar.
Riverbend Music Theater: 6295 Kellogg Ave. Large outdoor theater with the closest seats under cover (price difference). Big name shows all summer long! Phone: 2326220. http: //www. riverbendmusic. com.
1.When can you go to a concert by Chamber Orchestra?
A.February. B.November.
C.August. D.May.
2.Where can students go for free performances with their I. D. cards?
A.Patricia Cobbett Theater. B.Memorial Hall.
C.Music Hall. D.Riverbend Music Theater.
3.How is Riverbend Music Theater different from the other places?
A.It gives shows all year round. B.It has seats in the open air.
C.It offers membership discounts. D.It presents famous musical works.
假定你是李华，China Daily正在征集一封英文感谢信，以致敬奋战在抗击新型冠状 病毒肺炎第一线的医护人员，请你代表学校写一封信投稿，要点如下：
1. 表达感激；
2. 个人感受；
3. 表达信心。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3.开头语和结束语己为你写好。
参考词汇：流行病epidemic 新型冠状病毒novel coronavirus
Dear Medical workers,
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely,
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：在错的词下划一横线，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。
Last month, our school organized a knowledge contest what called “Motherland in My Heart”. After our teacher announced the news, everyone was eager to participating. Then we spent the following days make preparations for it. We surfed the Internet about the changes in different aspect, including economy, technology, etc. We also invite an expert to deliver a lecture on the development of our country during the past 70 years. having learnt about these achievements, we felt so proud our country. Finally came a big day. My classmates and I tried my best and answered every question confident. After a few rounds, our team finally won the top prize. What happy we were!
