Air pollution may be causing baldness, scientists have shown for the first time. A new study found that fine particulate matter emitted by cars would damage the skin that holds hair follicles (毛囊) in place. A series of laboratory tests on human cells showed that levels of the crucial proteins needed for hair to grow and be retained decreased when they were exposed to pollution particles. While there is a growing body of evidence showing how these tiny particles can damage internal health, including by entering the bloodstream through the lungs, this is the first to demonstrate such a risk to the surface of the body.
The study was conducted by exposing cells from the human follicle dermal papilla cells(HFDPCs), to various concentrations of PM10-like dust and diesel particles (柴油颗粒). After 24 hours the researchers performed a process, known as western blotting, to detect the levels of specific proteins in the cells.
The results showed that the presence of PM10 and diesel particles decreased levels of B-catenin, the protein responsible for hair growth. The study also revealed that the levels of three other proteins — cyclin D1, cyclin E and CDK2, which are responsible for hair growth and hair retention, were decreased by PM10-like dust and diesel particles in a “dose-dependent” manner.
Dr Hyuk Chul Kwon, who led the study at the Future Science Research Centre, said, “While the link between air pollution and serious diseases such as cancer and lung diseases is well established, there is little-to-no research on the effect of particulate matter exposure on the human skin and hair in particular. Our research explains the mode of action of air pollutants on HFDPCs, showing how the most common air pollutants lead to hair loss.”
Sources of PM include the burning of fossil fuels — petrol and diesel, as well as other solid fuels,and other industrial activities such as building, mining and the manufacturing of building materials like bricks.
“While it is difficult to escape from the surrounding pollution, limiting the time for walking in busy streets, especially during rush hour, should help reduce exposure,” said Dr Kwon. “If you are exercising outdoors, try to do so in areas that are less polluted and do not spend too much time waiting at traffic hot spots such as traffic lights.”
1.What did the new study find?
A.Air pollution can do great harm to our lungs.
B.The color of our skin can be influenced by air pollution.
C.Serious air pollution can probably prevent hair from growing.
D.Air pollution can affect hair growth by entering the bloodstream.
2.What is western blotting used to do?
A.To discover the protein helpful for hair growth.
B.To show the protein contents in the cells.
C.To compare different proteins in the cells.
D.To analyze the composition of hair cells.
3.What can we learn from Dr Hyuk Chul Kwon’s words?
A.His new research is superior to previous research.
B.The research he conducted is really of great importance.
C.The results of his new research need to be further improved.
D.A link between air pollution and diseases needs to be established.
4.What does Dr Kwon advise us to do?
A.To do as much exercise as possible.
B.To take action to reduce air pollution.
C.To avoid being exposed to air pollution.
D.To take public transport to avoid traffic jams.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
Air pollution may be causing baldness, scientists have shown for the first time. A new study found that fine particulate matter emitted by cars would damage the skin that holds hair follicles (毛囊) in place. A series of laboratory tests on human cells showed that levels of the crucial proteins needed for hair to grow and be retained decreased when they were exposed to pollution particles. While there is a growing body of evidence showing how these tiny particles can damage internal health, including by entering the bloodstream through the lungs, this is the first to demonstrate such a risk to the surface of the body.
The study was conducted by exposing cells from the human follicle dermal papilla cells(HFDPCs), to various concentrations of PM10-like dust and diesel particles (柴油颗粒). After 24 hours the researchers performed a process, known as western blotting, to detect the levels of specific proteins in the cells.
The results showed that the presence of PM10 and diesel particles decreased levels of B-catenin, the protein responsible for hair growth. The study also revealed that the levels of three other proteins — cyclin D1, cyclin E and CDK2, which are responsible for hair growth and hair retention, were decreased by PM10-like dust and diesel particles in a “dose-dependent” manner.
Dr Hyuk Chul Kwon, who led the study at the Future Science Research Centre, said, “While the link between air pollution and serious diseases such as cancer and lung diseases is well established, there is little-to-no research on the effect of particulate matter exposure on the human skin and hair in particular. Our research explains the mode of action of air pollutants on HFDPCs, showing how the most common air pollutants lead to hair loss.”
Sources of PM include the burning of fossil fuels — petrol and diesel, as well as other solid fuels,and other industrial activities such as building, mining and the manufacturing of building materials like bricks.
“While it is difficult to escape from the surrounding pollution, limiting the time for walking in busy streets, especially during rush hour, should help reduce exposure,” said Dr Kwon. “If you are exercising outdoors, try to do so in areas that are less polluted and do not spend too much time waiting at traffic hot spots such as traffic lights.”
1.What did the new study find?
A.Air pollution can do great harm to our lungs.
B.The color of our skin can be influenced by air pollution.
C.Serious air pollution can probably prevent hair from growing.
D.Air pollution can affect hair growth by entering the bloodstream.
2.What is western blotting used to do?
A.To discover the protein helpful for hair growth.
B.To show the protein contents in the cells.
C.To compare different proteins in the cells.
D.To analyze the composition of hair cells.
3.What can we learn from Dr Hyuk Chul Kwon’s words?
A.His new research is superior to previous research.
B.The research he conducted is really of great importance.
C.The results of his new research need to be further improved.
D.A link between air pollution and diseases needs to be established.
4.What does Dr Kwon advise us to do?
A.To do as much exercise as possible.
B.To take action to reduce air pollution.
C.To avoid being exposed to air pollution.
D.To take public transport to avoid traffic jams.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
_____ that air conditioners cause so much pollution, I would never have bought one.
| A．Had I known | B．I had known | C．Were I to know | D．Did I know |
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
For years scientists have been worried about the effects of air pollution on the earth’s natural conditions. Some believe the air inside many houses may be more dangerous than the air outside. It may be one hundred times worse.
Indoor air pollution can cause a person to feel tired, to suffer eye pain, headache and other problems. Some pollutants（污染物）can cause breathing disorders, diseases of blood and even cancer. Most scientists agree that every modern house has some kind of indoor pollution.
People have paid more attention to the problem now. It is true that when builders began making houses and offices they did not waste energy. To do this they build buildings that limited the flow of air between inside and outside. They also began using man-made building materials. These materials are now known to let out harmful gases.
As the problem became more serious, scientists began searching for a way to deal with it. They discovered a natural pollution control system for building—green plants. Scientists do not really know how plants control air pollution. They believe that a plant’s leaves absorb（吸收）or take in the pollutants. In exchange the plant lets out oxygen through its leaves and tiny organizations on its roots. Scientists suggest that all buildings should have one large plant or several small plants inside for every nine square meters of space. Studies of different plants show that each absorbs different chemicals. So the most effective way to clean the air is to use different kinds of plants. Having green plants inside your house can make it a prettier and healthier place.
1.Generally speaking, indoor air pollution may be more harmful than the air outside because .
A．indoor air pollution can often make people seriously ill
B．man-made building materials give off dangerous gases
C．there may be more harmful gases outside the buildings
D．the air indoors is polluted, which is very harmful
2.Some kind of indoor pollution can be found in .
A．every modern house B．every old house
C．all kinds of houses D．all kinds of offices
3.The indoor air pollution is caused by .
A．the limit of the flow of air between inside and outside
B．the building way that the builders want to save energy
C．the building things that are made of man-made materials
D．the man-made building materials and the limit of air-flow
4.The reason why we should use different kinds of plants to clean the air is that
A．plants can let out all kinds of pollutants indoors
B．plants may take in more oxygen （氧气）which people need
C．plants can absorb all kinds of harmful indoor chemicals
D．plants can make our houses prettier and more healthy
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
For years scientists have been worrying about the effects of air pollution on the earth’s natural conditions. Some believe the air inside many houses may be more dangerous than the air outside. It may be one hundred times worse.
Indoor air pollution can cause a person to feel tired, to suffer eye pain, headache and other problems. Some pollutants can cause breathing disorders, diseases of blood and even cancer, Most scientists agree that every modern house has some kind of indoor pollution.
People have paid more attention to the problem now. It is true that when builders began making houses and offices they did not waste energy. To do this they built buildings that limited the flow of air between inside and outside. They also began using man-made building materials. These materials are now known to let out harmful gases.
As the problem became more serious, scientists began searching for a way to deal with it. They discovered a natural pollution control system for building—green plants. Scientists do not really know how plants control air pollution. They believe that a plant’s leaves absorb or take in the pollutants. In exchange the plant lets out oxygen through its leaves and through its tiny organizations on its roots. Scientists suggest that all buildings should have one large plant or several small plants inside for every nine square metres of space. Studies of different plants show that each absorbs different chemicals.
So the most effective way to clean the air is to use different kinds of plants. Having green plants inside your house can make it a prettier and more healthy place.
1.Generally speaking, indoor air pollution may be more harmful than the air outside because ________.
A．indoor air pollution can make a person seriously ill
B．man - made building materials give off dangerous gases
C．there may be more harmful gases outside the buildings
D．the air indoors is polluted, which is very harmful
2.Some kind of indoor pollution can be found in ________
A. every modern house
B. every old house
C. all kinds of houses
D all kinds of offices
3. The indoor air pollution is caused by ______
A. the limit of the flow of air between inside and outside
B. the building way that the builders want to save energy
C. the building things that are made of man-made materials
D. the man-made building materials and the limit of airflow
4.The reason why we should use different kinds of plants to clean the air is that _______
A. plants can let out all kinds of pollutants indoors
B. plants may take in more oxygen which people need
C. plants can absorb all kinds of harmful indoor chemicals
D. plants can make our houses prettier and more healthy
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
For years scientists have been worried about the effects of air pollution on the earth’s natural conditions. Some believe the air inside many houses may be more dangerous than the air outside. It may be one hundred times worse.
Indoor air pollution can cause a person to feel tired, to suffer eye pain, headache and other problems. Some pollutants can cause breathing disorders, diseases of blood and even cancer. Most scientists agree that every modern house has some kind of indoor pollution.
People have paid more attention to the problem now. It is true that when builders began making houses and offices they did not waste energy. To do this they build buildings that limited the flow of air between inside and outside. They also began using man-made building materials. These materials are now known to let out harmful gases.
As the problem became more serious, scientists began searching for a way to deal with it. They discovered a natural pollution control system for building—green plants. Scientists do not really know how plants control air pollution. They believe that a plant’s leaves absorb or take in the pollutants. In exchange the plant lets out oxygen through its leaves and tiny organizations on its roots. Scientists suggest that all buildings should have one large plant or several small plants inside for every nine square meters of space. Studies of different plants show that each absorbs different chemicals. So the most effective way to clean the air is to use different kinds of plants. Having green plants inside your house can make it a prettier and more healthy place.
1.Generally speaking, indoor air pollution may be more harmful than the air outside because ______.
A．indoor air pollution can often make people seriously ill
B．man-made building materials give off dangerous gases
C．there may be more harmful gases outside the buildings
D．the air indoors is polluted, which is very harmful
2.Some kind of indoor pollution can be found in______．
Ａ．every modern house B．every old house
C．all kinds of houses D．all kinds of offices
3.The indoor air pollution is caused by ______.
A．the limit of the flow of air between inside and outside
B．the building way that the builders want to save energy
C．the building things that are made of man-made materials
D．the man-made building materials and the limit of air-flow
4.The reason why we should use different kinds of plants to clean the air is that ______.
A．plants can let out all kinds of pollutants indoors
B．plants may take in more oxygen which people need
C．plants can absorb all kinds of harmful indoor chemicals
D．plants can make our houses prettier and more healthy
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
For years scientists have been worried about the effects of air pollution on the earth's natural conditions. Some believe the air inside many houses may be more dangerous than the air outside.
Most scientists agree that every modern house has some kind of indoor pollution. People began to notice the problem in the early 1970s. When builders began making houses and offices, they did not want to waste energy. To do this they built buildings that limited the flow of air between inside and outside. They also used man－made building materials which are now known to let out harmful gases.
As the problem became more serious, scientists began searching for a way to deal with it. They discovered a natural pollution control system for building green plants.
Scientists believe that a plant's leaves absorb the pollutants (污染物). In exchange the plant lets out oxygen through its leaves. Studies of different plants show that each absorbs different chemicals. So the most effective way to clean the air is to use different kinds of plants.
1.Indoor air pollution may be more dangerous than the air outside mainly because .
A. the building are too high
B. the flow of air indoor is limited
C. the building materials are harmful
D. people don't want to waste energy
2.Some kind of indoor pollution can be found in .
A. all kinds of offices B. all kinds of houses
C. every modern house D. every old house
3.In the last paragraph the word“ absorb” may mean .
A. take in B. bring up C. give out D. turn into
4.Scientists believe that plants can .
A. change oxygen into pollutants
B. absorb all the pollutants
C. make your houses more prettier
D. absorb pollutions and let out oxygen
5.According to the last paragraph, we should to clean the air.
A. plant all kinds of plant
B. plant more trees.
C. have the same kind of plant
D. have different kinds of plants
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
_____ ashes from the volcano in Iceland have caused problems for air traffic and business, scientists don't think it will have long-term effects on human health.
| A．Since | B．As | C．While | D．Because |
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
Though plastic shopping bags are cheap and useful, they cause widespread pollution. Now, we may have an unlikely helper to help clean up our garbage — a small wax worm.
The worm’s hidden skills were discovered by accident. About two years ago, Federica Bertocchini, a developmental biologist at the Spanish National Research Council and an amateur beekeeper, was cleaning out bees’ nest that had been filled with worms. She removed the worms and put them in a plastic bag while doing the cleaning. After finishing, she went back to the room where she had left the worms, and found they had escaped from the bag. When she checked, she saw that the bag was full of holes.
Realizing she may have made an important discovery, Bertocchini teamed up with other researchers to conduct further research. They began by placing 100 worms on some plastic bags and discovered that over a 24-hour period, the worms managed to chew through 92 milligrams of plastic. The researchers make an appropriate judgment that at this rate, the group of worms could degrade (降解) an average-sized 5.5-gram plastic bag within a month. To rule out the possibility that chewing was causing the degradation, the researchers spread the soft wet substance inside the body of some recently dead worms on a sheet of plastic. Sure enough, even the liquid was able to eat through the material, confirming that the worms have plastic-digesting enzymes (酶).
While the news is certainly encouraging, not everyone is convinced. The Michigan State University’s Ramani Narayan believes the tiny pieces of microplastics released by the plastic-eating worms would pick up harmful substances and transport them up the food chain, causing, even more, harm to the environment and human health. Susan Selke, director of Michigan State University School of Packaging, is concerned that the worms will not be able to survive in an oxygen-free landfills where large amounts of waste material are buried under the earth.
However, Bertocchini is not planning to transport worm armies to landfills. Instead, the researcher wants to identify the enzyme that helps degrade the plastic. The researcher says, maybe we can find the molecule (分子) and produce it on an industrial level, rather than using a million worms in a plastic bag.
1.What did the experiment of using dead worms find out?
A.Worms’ chewing may cause the degradation.
B.A plastic-eating chemical exists in wax worms.
C.Dead worms are effective in dealing with plastic.
D.It takes a long time for worms to degrade plastic.
2.What is Ramani Naravan's attitude to Bertocchini's finding?
A.Objective B.Convinced C.Questioning. D.Optimistic.
3.What might Bertocchini focus her later research on?
A.The structure of plastic-degrading enzymes.
B.The use of other worms in disposing plastic.
C.Wax worms’ adaptability to the landfill environment.
D.The chance of producing wax worms on a large scale.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Can wax worms save the environment?
B.Wax worms have an appetite for plastic.
C.Why do wax worms have plastic-eating skills?
D.Hungry worms join the fight against plastic pollution
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Air pollution is a leading cause of cancer and classified among top human carcinogens (致癌物质), said the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is the World Health Organization's (WHO) cancer agency, on Oct 17,2013.“Our task was to evaluate the air everyone breathes rather than focus on specific air pollutants,” the IARC's Dana Loomis said in a statement. “The results from the reviewed studies point in the same direction the risk of developing lung cancer is significantly increased in people exposed to air pollution.”
In 2010, lung cancer resulting from air pollution killed 223,000 people worldwide, and there was also convincing evidence that it increases the risk of bladder (膀胱) cancer. Loomis said people in Asia, Eastern North America, some places in Central America and Mexico, as well as North Africa have relatively high exposure(暴露). Developing countries with large populations and booming manufacturing sectors, such as China, are particularly at risk. This week, Harbin, the capital city of Heilongjiang province, became the first Chinese city to officially suspend classes due to serious smog, really good for teachers and students.
Many developed countries face similar problems, although to a lesser（较少的、次要的） degree than most developing nations. Between 91 and 96 percent of Europeans living in cities are exposed to levels of PM2.5—tiny particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers—that are higher than the WHO safety limits.
Although both the composition and levels of air pollution can vary dramatically from one location to the other, the IARC said its conclusions apply to all areas of the world. “Given the scale of the exposure affecting people worldwide, this report should send a strong signal to the international community to take action without further delay,” said Christopher Wild, director of the IARC.
1.What’s the main task of IARC?
A. To focus on cancer-causing substances.
B. To evaluate the air quality.
C. To study the developing risk of cancer.
D. To send signals to the international community.
2.The underlined word “suspend” in Paragraph 2 probably means ______.
A. accelerate B. acknowledge
C. delay D. decline
3.Why should the international community take action without further delay?
A. A large number of people worldwide are exposed to air pollution.
B. More and more people in developing countries are exposed to air pollution.
C. Developed countries face air pollution, the level of which is higher than the safety limits.
D. The composition and levels of air pollution vary from place to place.
4.What might be the best title of the passage?
A. PM2.5，bad effect.
B. Safety limits of air pollution.
C. Signals of air pollution.
D. Air pollution, cancer risk.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Some scientists say that animals in the oceans are increasingly threatened by noise pollution caused by human beings.
The noise that affects sea creatures comes from a number of human activities. It is caused mainly by industrial underwater explosions, ocean drilling, and ship engines. Such noises are added to natural sounds. These sounds include the breaking of ice fields, underwater earthquakes, and sounds made by animals themselves.
Decibels (分贝) measured in water are different from those measured on land. A noise of one hundred and twenty decibels on land causes pain to human ears. In water, a decibel level of one hundred and ninety-five would have the same effect.
Some scientists have suggested setting a noise limit of one hundred and twenty decibels in the oceans. They have observed that noises at that level can frighten and confuse whales (鲸).
A team of American and Canadian scientists discovered that louder noises can seriously injure some animals.
The research team found that powerful underwater explosions were causing whales in the area to lose their hearing. This seriously affected the whales’ ability to exchange information and find their way. Some of the whales even died. The explosions had caused their ears to bleed and become infected (被感染的).
Many researchers whose work depends on ocean sounds are against a limit of one hundred and twenty decibels. They say such a limit would mean an end to important industrial and scientific research.
Scientists do not know how much and what kinds of noises are harmful to ocean animals. However, many scientists don’t think that noise is a greater danger than they believed. They want to prevent noises from harming creatures in the ocean.
1.According to the passage, Which of the following is increasingly dangerous to sea creatures?
A. The sound of cars. B. The sound of voices.
C. Man-made noise pollution. D. The sound of steps.
2.According to the passage, natural sounds include all of the following except ________.
A. sounds made by animals themselves
B. ocean drilling
C. underwater earthquakes
D. the breaking of ice fields
3.Which of the following is discussed in the third paragraph?
A. The same noise level produces a different effect on land and in the ocean.
B. Different places may have different types of noises.
C. The decibel is not a right unit (单位) for measuring underwater noise.
D. Different ocean animals may have different reactions to noises.
4.What can we learn about the whales from the passage?
A. They won’t be confused by noises.
B. They are deaf to noises.
C. Their ability to reproduce will be lowered by high-level noises.
D. Their hearing will be damaged by high-level noises.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析