DNA analysis has revealed family relationships between more than 10 generations of Stone Age people at megalithic (巨石的) tombs in Ireland and Sweden.
The evidence suggests that megaliths, prehistoric large stone structures, sometimes acted as graves for family groups in northwestern Europe thousands of years ago. The latest findings throw new light on the origins and social structure of the groups that built megaliths in this region—a history that has long been hidden in mystery.
For their study, the international team of researchers analyzed the genomes—the complete set of genetic material in a cell—of 24 Stone Age individuals from five megalithic burial sites in Ireland, Scotland and Gotland, a large Swedish island in the Baltic Sea.
This analysis showed that many of the individuals buried at each megalith, who all lived between 3,800 B.C. and 2,600 B.C., according to radiocarbon-dating of their remains, were closely related via family ties.
The results also showed that the individuals buried at the megaliths were related to Neolithic farmers in northern and western Europe but genetically distinct from other hunter-gatherers. This was particularly noticeable at the Ansarve site on the island of Gotland.
“The people buried in the Ansarve tomb are remarkably different on a genetic level compared to the individuals dug out from hunter-gather contexts, showing that the burial tradition in this megalithic tomb, which lasted for over 700 years, was performed by distinct groups with roots in the European Neolithic expansion,” Magdalena Fraser, co-first author from Uppsala University, said in the statement.
1.What’s the significance of the new findings?
A. It reveals the family ties between people in Ireland and Sweden.
B. It implies that many people buried in the tombs were closely related.
C. It indicates the long-hidden mystery concerning DNA analysis.
D. It suggests that the megaliths became tombs thousands of years ago.
2.How did the researchers reach their findings?
A. By interviewing individuals. B. By travelling to different regions.
C. By analyzing genes. D. By studying the burial sites.
3.Which is true according to the latest findings?
A. Some people buried in the tombs were related to farmers.
B. Few people buried in the tombs were genetically different.
C. All the people buried at megaliths had family relationships.
D. People buried in the Ansarve tomb were dug out 700 years later.
4.What’s the main idea of this passage?
A. Megaliths served as tombs thousands of years ago.
B. People buried at the megaliths were recently analyzed.
C. Latest findings shed light on a mystery about burials.
D. Stone-Age people in Ireland and Sweden had close ties.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Researchers in Australia have discovered an effective new method to capture the atmospheric carbon dioxide that is damaging our planet and transform it into something solid, making it much easier to store.
Carbon capture isn’t new, but previous methods call for the gas to be compressed into liquid and then injected underground. Widespread usage of that technology has been locked by economic and environmental concerns due to possible leaks. Instead, in a study published in Nature Communications, the group details their sustainable and cost-effective plan for transforming CO2 into coal.
This new process involves a liquid metal catalyst( 催化剂 )that is efficient in conducting electricity. CO2 gas is dissolved in a container with some liquid. Once electricity charge is introduced, the CO2 begins to turn into solid pieces of carbon, which can be collected and stored.
What makes this particularly unique is that the entire process can occur at room temperature. Previous experiments have only shown a gas to solid conversion at extremely high temperature, which made it impossible on a large scale. Now, the researchers are hoping that their work will be used to create even further when it comes to carbon storage.
In an interesting side benefit, the solid carbon also works as an electrode( 焊 条 ), which opens up a world of possibilities. “A side benefit of the process is that the carbon can hold electrical charge, becoming a super battery, so it could potentially be used as a part in future vehicles,” explains Dr. Dorna Estrafilzadeh, a researcher. “The process also produces fuel as a by-product, which could also have industrial applications.”
1.What can we know about the previous carbon capture methods?
A.People have to inject liquid to the gas.
B.The previous methods can be done easily.
C.The previous methods are not very popular.
D.People have widely accepted previous methods.
2.What is the special part of the new method?
A.It needs electricity to make the process efficient.
B.It can be done in any kind of container.
C.It doesn’t need extreme temperature.
D.It can produce much solid carbon.
3.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.The method will make fossil oil disappear.
B.The method will influence the future industry.
C.The method will make developed countries more powerful.
D.The method will be used to make new vehicles.
4.What is the best title for the passage?
A.How to change carbon into CO2.
B.A new carbon capture technology.
C.A new technology to get useful carbon.
D.Australia makes the world cleaner than before.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
My family and I never talked about school as the ticket to a future. I was in the classrooms, but I wasn’t there to learn to write, read or even speak. When it was my turn to read, I wanted to hide. I was 13 years old, but I already hated being who I was.
I had an English teacher, Mr. Creech, who knew I couldn’t read. In one of my first lessons the teacher said that anyone who had a reading age below six had to stand up. I felt so embarrassed. But at the same time, it made me realize that I needed to change the situation. I was determined it wouldn’t happen again. Later that day, Mr. Creech encouraged me and promised he would try his best to help me learn to read. From then on, I never gave up practicing reading.
Now I was 41 years old. One day, I planned to fly back to Texas to visit my friends and family. On my way from the airport, I saw Mr. Creech buying himself a drink. I rushed over and reached into my pocket to pay for him. “Do I know you?” he asked. “Yes, sir, you do know me,” I answered excitedly. “My name is Anthony Hamilton. You taught me English.” The look on his face told me that he remembered the boy he’d once encouraged.
“I’m so glad I had a chance to see you,” I said. “And Mr. Creech, I have great news to share.” I told him I had learned to read. But that wasn’t all. I had become a published author and an active speaker. “The next time you get another Anthony Hamilton in your classroom, please encourage him to read as well,” I added.
The experts say what once worried me has a name: dyslexia (诵读困难症). But I can tell you it was a lack of desire for education.
1.Why did the author want to hide?
A.Because he felt sorry for himself. B.Because he hated being laughed at.
C.Because he couldn’t read at all. D.Because he didn’t have a ticket.
2.Which of the following could best describe Mr. Creech?
A.Considerate and dutiful. B.Demanding and enthusiastic.
C.Emotional and dedicated. D.Friendly and ambitious.
3.Why couldn’t the author read before meeting Mr.Creech?
A.Because his reading age was not long enough.
B.Because his parents didn’t teach him how to read.
C.Because he was afraid of reading before the class.
D.Because he didn’t have inner driving force to learn to read.
4.What can we infer from the passage?
A.Mr. Creech taught two students called Anthony Hamilton.
B.The author had become a published author and an active speaker.
C.Dyslexia was the underlying reason that made the author unable to read.
D.The author was grateful to Mr. Creech.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Dreaming of summer picnics filled with family and fun? We’ve come up with 4 of the top picnic areas across the US.
Cumberland Islands, Georgia
Just a few hours south of Savannah, this national seashore is a wonderful picnic place. It’s an unspoiled place in the Deep South with over 50 miles of hiking trails (小径). Covered in Spanish moss, the trails are lined with trees and since it’s still a rural area, the stars line up for a grand show at night and create the perfect evening starlit picnic opportunity.
Grant Park, Chicago
If you are looking for delicious food in Chicago, go for a taste of a 20-day, lake-front, foodie festival that happens in October each year. Grab a spot near the fountain to enjoy your picnic, appreciate the city scenery and lake views and relax with family and friends. If you are there on July 4th, be sure to plan the day to include the fireworks display at the Navy Pier.
Cranberry Islands, Maine
Here, you’ll enjoy natural picnics with island views. The islands are a delightful group of islands about 20 minutes offshore from Acadia National Park. You can visit the islands by private boat or ferry service. Bring a picnic basket along for the ride as it’s a romantic picnic area to take your special someone or go for a family outing to visit the islands.
Big Sur, California
The Point Lobos State Reserve is a small gem. Besides the coastal wildlife there are rare plant communities, and unique geological formations. It’s good to have a picnic there. We recommend bringing a telescope, because much of the wildlife can be seen only at a distance.
1.Why does the writer advise us to go to Cumberland Islands?
A.Because they are just next to Savannah.
B.Because they have a grand show every night.
C.Because they are almost covered in Spanish moss.
D.Because they keep their original ecology (生态).
2.Where can you enjoy observing wildlife with a telescope?
A.At the Navy Pier. B.At the Point Lobos State Reserve
C.At Acadia National Park. D.In the Deep South.
3.Where can we most probably read this passage?
A.In a personal dairy. B.In a science report.
C.In a geography textbook. D.In a travel magazine.
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。错误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(∧)，并在其下面写上该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉。
修改:在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写上修改后的词。
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
I like travelling and my dream of visiting Beijing, the capital city of our country, come true during the National Day holidays this year. My mother booked an one-day tour for me. On the morning of October 1st I went to Tian’anmen Square with one of my classmates , there we watched the flag-raising ceremony. As I watched the flag rising slowly, I sang the national anthem, feeling extreme proud. Several hours later, a grand military parade was held mark the People's Republic of China's 70th founding anniversary. In the afternoon we decided to go to other famous tourist attraction, like the Great Wall. When we reached the destination, it was crowded with tourists. I was glad for which those volunteers had done for little kids and elderly people . Standing on the Great wall, we couldn’t help admire the splendid scenery. This travelling, with doubt, meant a lot of to me.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假设你是学生会主席李华，你校拟组织美国交换生到孔子庙参观，委托你通知相关事宜, 请你写一则书面通知，要点包括:
1 .集合时间和地点;
2.活动内容:参观孔子庙、古建筑、观看木偶戏；
3.预先准备:简要了解孔子文化。
注意:
1.可适当发挥，使短文连贯、通顺；
2.文中不能出现考生的具体信息；
3. 词数:100左右。
参考词汇:1.孔子庙the Confucius Temple 2.木偶戏puppet show
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难度: 困难查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的内容或括号内单词的正确形式。
With fewer than 2, 000 giant pandas left in the wild, the sighting of one of the lovely animals is a cause for 1. (celebrate). However, the one recently spotted walking through a bamboo forest in China’s Sichuan Province is even more so, 2. (consider) that it is the worlds first known all-white panda!
It 3. (spot) by an infrared (红外线的) camera set up to monitor the wildlife in the Wolong National Nature Reserve on May 25, 2019, 4. is also home to China’s first giant panda breeding and research center. Wolong officials estimate the panda, whose sex is hard 5. (determine) from the photo, is between one and two years old.
6. is generally believed that the giant pandas unique black and white coloring allows it to blend in with the snow during winter or to hide in the shade during summer. Some 7. (scientist) also believe the dark circles around the eyes help the panda bears recognize each other. 8. (lucky), the lack of markings does not seem to have affected the all-white panda so far.
The researchers say albino (白化病) animals are rare in general. That’s because it can only happen if both parents carry the gene. With so few specimens of panda bears left in the world, the possibility of that happening is almost next 9. impossible. Researchers believe if its offspring can be photographed, it will be 10. (value) for further research.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Clara Daly was seated on an Alaska Airlines flight when a flight attendant asked a(n) _______ question over the loudspeaker, “Does anyone on board know American Sign Language?”
Clara, 15 at the time, _______ the call button. The flight attendant came by and _______ the situation. “We have a passenger on the plane who’s _______ and deaf.” she said. The passenger seemed to want something, but he couldn’t _______ his message.
Clara _______ to have been studying ASL for the past year and knew she’d be able to finger spell into the man’s palm. So she _______ her seat belt and walked toward the seat of Tim Cook, then 64. _______taking his hand, she _______, “Are you OK?” Cook asked for some water.
When it arrived, Clara returned to her seat. She came by again a bit later because he wanted to know the time. On her third ________, she stopped and stayed a while.
“He didn’t need anything. He was lonely and wanted to ________.” Clara says.
So for the next hour, that’s what they did. She talked about her plans for the future. Cook told Clara ________ he had gradually become blind over time and ________ stories of his days as a traveling salesman. Even though he couldn’t see her, she “looked ________ at his face with such kindness,” a passenger reported, “We can see she smiled with happiness, ________ she made a difference in someone’s life.”
“Clara was amazing.” a flight attendant told Alaska Airlines in a blog interview. “You could tell Tim was very ________to have someone he could speak to, and she was such a(n) ________.”
Cook’s ________, “Best trip I’ve ever had.”
Life is a continuous learning experience. As for Clara, she said, “I’ve also learned a lot. The best thing for ________ is to learn something. Learning is the only thing that never ________.
1.A.urgent B.awkward C.challenging D.difficult
2.A.adopted B.lifted C.pressed D.tied
3.A.analyzed B.faced C.observed D.explained
4.A.blind B.ill C.homesick D.thirsty
5.A.get into B.get through C.get across D.get off
6.A.intended B.pretended C.happened D.attempted
7.A.uncovered B.unlocked C.unfolded D.unfastened
8.A.Cautiously B.Gently C.Secretly D.Seriously
9.A.whispered B.asked C.signed D.repeated
10.A.turn B.intention C.journey D.visit
11.A.talk B.relax C.sleep D.cheer
12.A.how B.why C.what D.when
13.A.invented B.conveyed C.transformed D.shared
14.A.attentively B.surprisingly C.crazily D.anxiously
15.A.if B.so C.because D.but
16.A.absorbed B.excited C.ashamed D.touched
17.A.angel B.donator C.sponsor D.translator
18.A.concept B.relief C.credit D.reaction
19.A.appreciation B.consideration C.amazement D.freedom
20.A.discourages B.fails C.inspires D.benefits
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
How to Enjoy Life As a Teen
Maybe teens are not the best years of your life, but you should still learn to make the most of your high school days.1..
1. Learn to appreciate small things. Whether it's having a computer, having friends, having a family that loves you, or simply being born in this world, remember that the point of life is for you to enjoy it. 2. Remember these are the last few years you are able to enjoy yourself without having to worry about the responsibility of an adult, but make sure you prepare yourself for when you actually become an adult,
2. Choose your friends wisely. 3.Try to have friends that like you who you are, not just the things you have. These are people who shop at the same store as you; not someone who will sympathize with you when your dog dies.
3. Be sociable. Participating in clubs, activities, and sports increases your chances of meeting new friends.4. Participating gives you something to do instead of sitting bored at home and wallowing in self-pity.
4.5.. Video games, for example, are good if you're the type who can get into that kind of thing. You should also find a hobby that is meaningful or practical. Use your "hobby time" to start developing and uncovering passions.
5. Work at a job you can enjoy. Working is a great way to gain experience and to meet other people. Prior work experience will help you find a job more easily. If you can't find work, just volunteer or make your own job.
A.Small things may make a great difference to your life.
B.In fact, many of the "friends" you have when you are popular are not true friends.
C.Following are some tips for you.
D.You can pursue interests you enjoy.
E.Try to take part in various social activities.
F.While you only need 4 or 5 close friends, that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to meet new people.
G.Be happy and life will reward you.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析