Best Science Books of 2017
At its heart, Science is about curiosity. So it stands to reason these books about science should make you examine your world more closely, and in doing so, give you a sense of wonder.
Big Chicken, by Maryn McKenna.
Investigative journalist Maryn McKenna uses the modern industrial chicken as a window into how antibiotics（抗生素）transformed, modern agriculture—for good and ill. She traces how animal antibiotics endanger human health, musing serious problems from antibiotic-resistant stomach infections to UTIs. Recognizing that Americans are going to continue to eat chicken no matter what, McKenna suggests a way in which factory farming rids itself of its dependence on antibiotics.
Why Time Flies, by Alan Burdick
New Yorker staff writer Alan Burdick examines the greatest gift humanity has ever known: time. Time, he writes, appears to exist in two distinct forms. One ls the standardized, objective kind found in clocks and watches; the other is our internal, biological sense of time, the one we measure in our cells, bodies and minds. But the closer he looks, the less clearer this distinction appears.
Paleoart, by Zoë Lescaze
Dinosaurs have long captured the imaginations of scientists and artists alike, and Paleoart brings those visions together in a blend of human knowledge and creativity.
These images not only show our changing understanding of dinosaurs, but also reflect the distinct artistic sensibilities of their time. Both artistic and educational, these pictures are certainly influential.
What It’s Like to Be a Dog, by Gregory Berns
Berns, a neuroscientist, trained dogs to sit in a machine: in order to look into the brains of conscious dogs for the first time. That pioneering work inspired him to dig deeper into the minds of other animals, from sea lions to the extinct thylacine（袋狼）, Berns says, “With their ability to think, choose and feel, dogs and other animals do not deserve the cruel treatment humans so often do to them.”
1.Which book has something to do with public health?
A. Why Time Flies. B. Paleoart.
C. What It’s Like to Bea Dog. D. Big Chicken.
2.Who writes about time?
A. Alan Burdick. B. Zoë Lescaze.
C. Gregory Berns. D. Maryn Mckenna.
3.What was Berns’ pioneering work?
A. Studying extinct animals. B. Observing dog brains.
C. Fighting for animal rights. D. Training dogs.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
After shopping for deals in stores on “Black Friday”, or online on “Cyber Monday”, Americans and people worldwide are preparing for newly popular “Giving Tuesday”. Starting in 2012, now the global event that is celebrated annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving is the brainchild of 92nd Street Y, a cultural center in New York City and the United Nations Foundation.
As the name indicates, Giving Tuesday is meant to restart the charitable season and therefore observed by raising funds for local nonprofits and schools, organizing food and clothing drives, and conducting random acts of kindness. In 2015, 700,000 people from 71 countries came together to donate $116.7 million in cash. An additional $1.08 million was spent on gifts.
While the easiest way to participate is by donating to your favorite charity, this day can be celebrated in many other ways too. You can give back by volunteering at your local shelter or food bank, or even by donating blood. If all else fails, a purchase from the growing number of organizations that give a portion of their sales to charity will do the trick.
But perhaps the best way to celebrate the day is by helping those nearest and dearest to you. Assist a family member with a simple chore like folding laundry, cooking dinner, or even reading to a younger sibling. No matter what you do, be sure to share your good deed on social media and inspire others to celebrate Giving Tuesday as well!
1.Which of the following has the shortest history?
A. Giving Tuesday. B. Black Friday.
C. Thanksgiving Day. D. Cyber Monday.
2.What’s the main purpose of “Giving Tuesday”?
A. To make Thanksgiving Day enjoyable.
B. To encourage more people to do charities.
C. To get voluntary work better known.
D. To persuade more people to shop online.
3.Why does the author advise sharing good deeds on social media?
A. To keep a record of one’s experience.
B. To help people make new friends.
C. To make Giving Tuesday more popular.
D. To donate money to local schools.
4.Which section of a website does the text probably come from?
A. Lifestyle. B. Education.
C. Culture. D. Business.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Chinese researchers say they have come up with a simple way to find out a person’s biological age —how much the body has aged physically – through a urine (尿) test.
Their findings will help researchers conduct numbers of ageing studies and even predict a person’s risk of age-related diseases, according to a paper published in the journal Frontiers in Ageing Neuroscience.
Another paper by researchers at the Beijing Hospital and the West China Hospital in Chengdu, Sichuan province, said on Tuesday that people aged at different rates due to changes in their genetic make-up and their environment.
Chronological age – which is based on one’s birth date —was an inaccurate measure of biological age so a more accurate method was needed, the team said.
Ageing is driven by the lifelong gradual accumulation of a broad variety of molecular (分子) faults in the body’s cells. The team said they had identified a matter —8-oxoGsn — that indicated increases in oxidative (氧化性) damage in urine as people’s bodies aged.
Cai Jianping, a co-author at the Beijing Hospital, said: “As we age, we suffer increasing oxidative damage and so the levels of oxidative matters increase in our body.” The team tested the levels of 8-oxoGsn in urine samples from 1,228 Chinese people aged two to 90 and concluded the marker helped accurately determine the stage of biological ageing in adults.
They had previously found that 8-oxoGsn levels also increased with age in the urine of animals such as mice.
The team has also developed a rapid analysis technique called ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography, which can process up to 10 urine samples an hour, according to the study.
1.Scientifically speaking, by what does a doctor judge the stage of a person getting old?
A. His condition. B. His biological age.
C. His psychology. D. His chronological age.
2.What are the outer factors the speed of one’s ageing physically depend on?
A. One’s birth date.
B. The increases in oxidative damage in urine.
C. The changes in their genetic make-up and their environment.
D. The accumulation of various molecular faults in the body’s cells.
3.Which can take the place of the underlined word “marker” in the sixth paragraph?
A. 8-oxoGsn.
B. Molecular faults.
C. Oxidative damage.
D. Stage of biological ageing in adults.
4.What is the passage about?
A. Why people are ageing.
B. How to delay people’s ageing physically.
C. What determines the stage of people’s ageing physically.
D. A rapid method with which to judge how much people are aging physically.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
A daily multivitamin may give your well-being an extra benefit, but if you’ve ever swallowed one and felt sick right after, you know it’s hardly a pleasant experience. 1.
◆ You’re taking vitamins on an empty stomach.
Vitamins that are more acid in nature, like vitamin C, may cause nausea（恶心）if they’re consumed on an empty stomach. Vitamins A, D, E and K, unlike some others, may be better absorbed when not taken with food.
◆ 2.
Vitamins are like medicines in that they can act on each other and other medicines you’re taking. 3. Some research suggests that multivitamins could cause side effects when taken at the same time estrogen（雌激素）levels are raised.
◆ There’s a lot of iron in your pill.
Multivitamins that contain a lot of iron or iron supplements themselves can cause nausea. This is especially true if you’re taking them outside of a meal. Iron is interesting in that it’s best absorbed on an empty stomach, but it’s hardest to take on an empty stomach because of the nausea. 4. It might decrease the absorption a little bit but it’s better than nothing.
◆ Allergic Reaction Side Effects
Since multivitamins contain so many vitamins and minerals, allergic reactions are certainly possible. Mild allergic reactions can include itchiness（痒）and a few hives（荨麻疹）. 5. Should you experience more advanced signs of an allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing, chest pain, widespread hives or a swollen facial region, visit the closest emergency room immediately.
The label on your vitamins should provide directions for taking them check the information before taking it to see what else you should know.
A. You’re taking vitamins with other medicines.
B. Below are a few reasons why they may be making you ill.
C. It’s important to discuss with an expert the timing of these vitamins.
D. These stomach issues can be extremely disturbing.
E. It’s better to take it with food than trying to take it on an empty stomach.
F. If you experience these side effects, stop use and contact your doctor.
G. Please review the combinations to make sure there are no harmful interactions.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
As everyone grows，they realize there will always be someone who is better．I learned this __ in the second year in high schoo1．The shock this experience brought was so great that I felt my ____ was left on the side of the road for dead．That was all it took；one year and one person __ everything．
Her name is Jenny．She was the girl who ____ raised her hand and had useful comments about everything．When teachers needed challenging problems answered，they ____ her．And if students needed ____ ，they went looking for her．I didn’t ____ her，but I admit her presence annoyed me．In the first year，as a model student，I was the person everyone ____and all the teachers trusted．Then she came out of ____ ! We also had two classes __ ．There I got to see what everybody thought of her．When an exam finished，it became a __ that she got the top grade and it didn’t ____ to my classmates whether I was right there， __ I also got excellent grades．They would cross a desert and ____ her! I was left being denied my presence．_____，I felt like not trying anymore．
I stopped trying to put on a show because no one was ____ anymore．Later，I volunteered at the graduation ceremony．She was called to make a(n) ____ and discussed their difficulties．I realized all her hard work got her there，not her desire to ____ ．It finally hit me that Jenny ____ the attention she got．She showed me how big the world is and how ____ a world I used to 1ive in．I’11 do my best because I know it will pay off．
1.A. 1esson B. course C. plan D. excuse
2.A. sympathy B. trust C. respect D. pride
3.A. proved B. remembered C. changed D. checked
4.A. only B. still C. never D. always
5.A. called on B. interrupted C. supported D. cared about
6.A. friends B. answers C. news D. money
7.A. hate B. hurt C. stop D. follow
8.A. protected B. noticed C. missed D. served
9.A. somewhere B. everywhere C. nowhere D. anywhere
10.A. first B. again C. alone D. together
11.A. standard B. challenge C. fact D. chance
12.A. return B. matter C. happen D. Occur
13.A. even if B. as if C. once D. since
14.A. ask B. help C. remind D. control
15.A. Frightened B. Confused C. Bored D. Heartbroken
16.A. 1aughing B. chatting C. watching D. hosting
17.A. decision B. attempt C. speech D. appointment
18.A. break up B. give up C. take off D. show off
19.A. 1oved B. deserved C. needed D. escaped
20.A. 1onely B. small C. peaceful D. dark
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入 1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
In our lives, many of us will find 1.（we） caring for an elderly parent. This is never easy; it can take great efforts 2. (emotional) and physically, and the financial challenges can sometimes seem 3. our ability.
Often one of the 4. (hard) things is striking a balance between your parent’s desire to feel independent and your control of their life, with the need to ensure they are safe and that their health needs 5. (attend) to.
Sometimes this can create tensions (紧张) and arguments, only 6. (add) to the stress of an already difficult situation. It is important here to make them feel they are being listened to, and 7. they know you only have their best interests at heart.
It’s the same with financial issues. To cover the costs of their parent’s care, many people will consider the choices such as selling the family home. The most important thing here is 8. (communicate) —it counts much to make sure that everyone 9. (involve) is aware of 10. is being proposed and singing from the same hymn (圣歌) sheet.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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：把错的词下划一横线，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。
Everyone tends have many problems while gaining knowledge．Therefore，your willingness to deal with these problems will eventually enable you to work it out．What I’d like to share is my approaches to solve the problems．
First，you must focus on which you are faced with．There seems to be a lot of attractive things，like computers or game．To stay focused，you can list these things and tell yourself you should touch them after finishing your work．Second，believe to yourself．Though there is no doubt that each of us might make mistakes or come across some tough problems in learning，but it can never be a reason for the loss of confidence．
Last，keep modest．Never fee1 embarrassing to turn to your teachers or classmates．Everyone in your surroundings can be your teacher．
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
假定你是王海。你代表大赛组委会(the competition committee) 写一封邮件告知Tom教授已成功被聘请为北京赛区(area)英语演讲竞赛评委(judge)并及时前来等事宜。内容包括：
1．航班起降地点、时间。
2．抵达后接洽人、地点。
注意：1．词数100左右；
2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Tom,
______________________________________________________________________________________
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Yours,
Wang Hai
难度: 中等查看答案及解析