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Scientists from the University of East Anglia have identified four new man-made gases that are contributing to the damage to the ozone(臭氧) layer. Two of the gases are accumulating at a rate that is causing concern among researchers.
Worries over the growing ozone hole have seen the production of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases restricted since the mid 1980s. But the precise origin of these new, similar substances remains a mystery.
Lying in the atmosphere, the ozone layer plays a critical role in blocking harmful UV rays, which cause cancers in humans and reproductive problems in animals.
Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey were the first to discover a huge “hole” in the ozone over Antarctica in 1985. The evidence quickly pointed to CFC gases, which were invented in the 1920s, and were widely used in refrigeration. Extraordinarily, global action was rapidly agreed to deal with CFCs and the Montreal Protocol to limit these substances came into being in 1987. A total global ban on production came into force in 2010.
Now, the newly discovered four new gases can destroy ozone and are getting into the atmosphere from as yet unidentified sources. Three of the gases are CFCs and one is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), which can also damage ozone.
The research has shown that four gases were not around in the atmosphere at all until the 1960s, which suggests they are man-made. The scientists discovered the gases by analyzing polar snow pack. Air from this snow is a natural archive of what was in the atmosphere up to 100 years ago. There searchers also looked at modern air samples, collected at remote Cape Grim in Tasmania.
They estimate that about 74,000 tonnes of these gases have been released into the atmosphere. Two of the gases are accumulating at significant rates. However, they don’t know where the new gases are being released from and this should be investigated. Possible sources include chemicals for insecticide (杀虫剂)production and solvents (溶液) for cleaning electronic components. The three CFCs are being destroyed very slowly in :the atmosphere—so even if emissions (散发)were to stop immediately, they will still be around for many decades to come.
Of the four species identified, CFC-113a seems the most worrying as there is a very small but growing emission source somewhere, maybe from agricultural insecticides. We should find it and take it out of production.
1.What do we know about the newly discovered gases?
A. Some are surely produced by the development of agriculture.
B. The CFCs will have a long impact once they are released.
C. They gather together in the atmosphere at a medium speed.
D. Their amounts are not large enough to cause damage to us.
2.The underlined word “archive” in Paragraph 6 is closest to the meaning of “ ”.
A. state
B. resource
C. phenomenon
D. storeroom
3.What will the scientists probably attempt to do about the gases next?
A. Find out what can replace things like insecticides and put them into use.
B. Find out how they destroy ozone and get rid of those in the atmosphere.
C. Find out where they are exactly from and stop them from being released.
D. Find out if HCFC is more harmful than CFCs and take proper measures.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Scientists have identified the order of the gene of the giraffe for the first time to help explain how the tallest animals on earth developed their remarkably long necks.
Being a giraffe is not easy. To pump blood two meters up from the chest to the brain calls for a powerful heart and twice the blood pressure of other mammals. Giraffes also need special safety system to let them bend down for a drink and raise their heads again without feeling Dizzy.
The animals* unique body structure has long been a puzzle for biologists, including Charles Darwin. Now, by comparing the gene of the giraffe with its closest relative, the short-necked okapi, scientists have solved part of the puzzle by studying changes in a small number of genes responsible both for regulating body shape and circulation. This suggests that the development of a long neck and a powerful heart went hand in hand, driven by a relatively small number of genetic changes.
The interpretation of the genetic factors behind the giraffe's remarkable heart system could also be instructive for human health, since the animals appear to avoid the kind of organ damage often found in people with high blood pressure.
The more fundamental question of why giraffes developed their long necks remains open, however. The apparently self-evident idea that it was to reach ever-higher food supplies has been challenged in the past 20 years by a competing belief that it is actually due to competition among fighting males for females.
Unlike long-necked birds, which have additional vertebrae (椎骨)，giraffes have the same seven vertebrae found in all mammals, although theirs are greatly extended.
1.A strong heart is very important for a giraffe because it .
A. keeps the giraffe safe in different environments.
B. pumps blood to the brain high above its body.
C. helps the giraffe find a drink at lower places.
D. keeps the blood pressure at a normal level.
2.Scientists compare the gene of the giraffe and the short-necked okapi because the latter .
A. has a quite special body structure. B. has gone through few genetic changes.
C. is a puzzle worth further study. D. is in the same family as the giraffe.
3.Which possibly caused the giraffe to develop a long neck?
A. Its attempts to attract females. B. Its favorite food at high places.
C. Its need to avoid organ damage. D. Its greatly-extended vertebrae.
4.What’s the author’s purpose of writing this passage?
A. To describe giraffes body structure. B. To explain genetic changes in animals.
C. To introduce a new finding of science. D. To challenge a belief of twenty years.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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In cooperation with German experts, Several scientists from the University of Bradford believe that they finally solved a mystery that has been confusing millions of people: why our hair turns gray with age.
The researchers came up with their results by examining native hair and cells from human hair follicles（毛囊）. They say the secret turns out to be hidden in catalase（过氧化氢酶）, which is causing hair to turn gray.
Catalase production goes down with age and stress, allowing hydrogen peroxide（过氧化氢） in the hair to do its favorite job—making hair gray, and then white, by blocking the normal production of melanin（黑色素）. Melanin is our hair's natural pigment that is responsible for the color of hair. It also determines the color of our eyes and skin.
Dr. Gerald Weizmann, an editor of a journal, says," All of our hair cells make a tiny bit of hydrogen peroxide, but as we get older, this little bit becomes quite a lot, and our hair turns gray and then white."
The new study brings hope for millions of people who have to color their hair: to finally obtain some shampoo that will decrease levels of hydrogen peroxide and therefore restore gray or white hair to its natural color or even prevent it from turning gray.
The researchers are already conducting an experiment with such a drug on a few volunteers with gray hair and expect to get the results in the next two to three months. If everything works out, millions of people will choose between this drug and other previously used expensive dyes. However, even if the drug works, it will take at least several years before it can be brought to the market.
1.What is the passage mainly about?
A. The effect that gray hair has on people.
B. The chemical elements of people's hair.
C. The reason why people's hair turns gray.
D. New drugs to prevent people's hair from turning gray.
2.According to the passage, people's hair turns gray because of______.
A. a decrease in catalase B. the death of hair cells
C. the production of melanin D. a decrease in hydrogen peroxide
3.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The new study shows it's harmful to color our hair with dyes.
B. Dr. Gerald Weizmann is in charge of the new drug experiment.
C. Our hair cells make lots of hydrogen peroxide when we are young.
D. We may restore our gray or white hair to its natural color with shampoo.
4.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. Only a small number of people can use the new drug.
B. Most of the volunteers in the experiment are old people.
C. The drug cannot be brought to the market soon even if it works.
D. The researchers have already known the results of the experiment.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
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阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Scientists from the University of Illinois, US, divided several students 1.four groups. The students2.(ask) to do certain tasks involving3.(create) thinking, to different volumes of back-ground noise.
They found that the students did best when 4.(work) under moderate noise-70 decibels(分贝), 5.is about the same level as6.(find) in a cafe. Students did worse in low noise-50 decibels, the volume of a quiet room-and did the7.(poor) when in a high-noise environment-85 decibels, the noise level of a factory.
8.a high level of noise distracts people, moderate noise can9.(actual) increase creativity. “It helps you think outside the box, ”Raci Mehta, a lead researcher in the study, told The New York Times.
However, working in a very quiet place can10.(strong) our focus, and it is good for doing detailed things like proofreading(校对) a paper.
高三英语语法填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Scientists at the University of Oxford have developed new artificial intelligence(AI) software to recognize and follow up the faces of chimpanzees(黑猩猩)in the wild. The new software will allow researchers and wildlife conservationists to significantly cut back on time spent analyzing videos, according to the new paper published in Science Advances.
For species(物种)like chimpanzees, which have complex social lives and live for many years，getting photos of their behavior taken from short-term field research can only tell us so much，” says Dan Schofield， researcher and DPhil student at Oxford University’s Private Models Lab, School of Anthropology. “By taking advantage of the power of machine learning to unlock large video files , it makes it possible to measure behavior over the long term. ’’
The computer model was trained using over 10 million images(影像):from Kyoto University s Primate Research Institute(PRI) video files of wild chimpanzees in Guinea,West Africa. The new software is the first to continuously track and recognize individual a wide range of poses, performing with high accuracy in difficult conditions such as low lighting and poor image quality.
“Access to this large video file has allowed us to use deep neural networks to train models to a degree that was previously not possible,” says Arsha Nagrad, co-auther of the study and DPhil student at the Department of Engineer Science ,University of Oxford .” Additionally, our new software differs from previous primate face recognition software in that it can be applied to videos with limited manual intervention(人工干预)，saving hours of time. ”
The technology can be potentially used to monitor species for conservation Although the present application focuses on chimpanzees, the AI software provided will be applied to other species, and help drive the adoption of AI systems to solve(解决)a range of problems in the wildlife sciences.
1.What is the purpose of developing the new soft?
A.To save wildlife researchers’ time spent in the labs.
B.To keep track of wildlife conservationists' behaviors.
C.To protect chimpanzees and help them to live longer .
D.To recognize and track the faces of wild chimpanzees.
2.What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A.Getting photos. B.Analyzing videos.
C.A powerful machine D.The new AI software.
3.What does paragraph 4 mainly talk about?
A.The working principle of the new software. B.Some limitations of using the new software.
C.The unique advantages of the new software. D.Controversial attitudes to the new software.
4.What can be known from the last paragraph?
A.Technology advance is the final goal of science
B.The new software won’t just be applied to chimpanzees.
C.AI systems are widely used in the wildlife sciences.
D.The application of the new technology isn’t easy.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Scientists at the University of Oxford have developed new artificial intelligence (AI) software to recognize and follow up the faces of individual chimpanzees (黑猩猩) in the wild. The new software will allow researcher and wildlife conservationists to greatly cut back on time spent analyzing videos, according to the new paper published today in Science Advances.
“For species like chimpanzees, which have complex social lives and live for many years, getting photos of their behavior from short-term field research can only tell us so much.” says Dan Sehofield, researcher and DPhil student at Oxford University’s Primate Models Lab, School of Anthropology. “By taking advantage of the power of machine learning to unlock large video files, it makes it possible to measure behavior over the long term.”
The computers model was trained using over 10 million images (影像) from Kyoto University’s Primate Research Institute (PRI) video files of wild chimpanzees in Guinea, West Africa. The new software is the first to continuously track and recognize individuals in a wide range of posed, performing with high accuracy in difficult conditions such as low lighting and poor image quality.
“Access to this large video file has allowed us to use the newest deep neural networks to train models at a scale that was previously not possible,” says Arsha Nagrani, co-author of the study and DPhil student at the Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford. “Additionally, our new software differs from previous primate face recognition software in that it can be applied to raw videos with limited manual intervention (人工干预) or pre-processing, saving hours of time.”
The technology has potential for many uses, such as monitoring species for conservation. Although the present application focused on chimpanzees, the software provided could be applied to other species, and help drive the adoption of AI systems to solve a range of problems in the wildlife sciences.
1.What’s the purpose of developing the new software?
A.To save wildlife researchers’ time spent in the wild.
B.To keep track of wildlife conservationists’ behavior.
C.To protect chimpanzees and help them to live longer.
D.To recognize and track the faces of wild chimpanzees.
2.What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A.Getting photos. B.Analyzing videos.
C.The new AI software. D.A powerful machine.
3.What does paragraph 4 mainly talk about?
A.The unique advantages of the new software.
B.Some limitations of using the new software.
C.The working principles of the new software.
D.Controversial attitudes to the new software.
4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.The new software has a quite bright future.
B.The application of the technology can be tough.
C.Technology is the final goal of scientific research.
D.AI systems are widely used in the wildlife sciences.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Your student ID card identifies you as a student at the University of Bolton. It will provide you with access to University facilities such as University Libraries, Sports Centre, and Computing Services. Please carry your card with you at all times. Do not lose your card or lend it to others. Your card is valid during the whole time of your studies. It remains the property (Mir)of the University of Bolton at all times.
New students-photographs
You will be requested to upload a passport sized photograph as part of the online registration process. This should be a jpg file with a size of no more than 1 MB. Your photograph should be a portrait image in proportion(比例)to a "6×4" portrait photograph. It should be taken in colour and must not have been beautified with image filters(滤光镜).
Your student ID card will be provided to you by your department during Welcome Week. Please be aware that you will not receive this smart card during Welcome Week if you do not upload your image online by 4 September 2020.
Replacement cards
If your student ID card no longer works or has been damaged, or if you have changed your personal or programme details, you should call into the Student Administration Centre(SAC)to request a new one. Please ensure that you bring your existing card with you. Your replacement card will be produced free of charge.
If your card has been reported to the Police as stolen. please also call into the SAC to request a replacement, bringing with you a copy of your Police Crime Report paperwork. Your card will be produced free of charge.
If your card has been lost, a fee of £5 is charged for the production of a replacement card. You are requested to use our online payment service.
Note: Replacement cards will be available for you to collect seven working days after making the request. As a security measure, you are requested to collect your card in person at the SAC.
1.Which of the following is a function of the student ID card?
A.To remind students to protect public property.
B.To enable students to use resources in the library.
C.To help students demonstrate their computer skills.
D.To provide information about campus facilities.
2.To meet the requirements of the photograph on the student ID card, a new student should upload________.
A.an image saved as a PDF file.
B.a colour picture of their passport.
C.a photo beautified by a photographer.
D.a portrait photograph of proper proportion.
3.In which case does a student have to pay for the replacement of the student ID card?
A.The theft of the card has been officially proved.
B.The card holder has changed his or her major.
C.The card dropped off into a lake by accident.
D.The card fails to work properly.
4.To collect your replacement card, you should_________.
A.fetch it at the SAC personally.
B.go through a security check first.
C.call the police station in advance.
D.wait for seven days before getting it.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Scientists in Canada say big fish have almost disappeared from the world since the start of industrial（产业的） fishing in the 1950s. The scientists found the numbers of some kinds of large fish have dropped by ninety percent in the past fifty years.
The study took ten years. The researchers gathered records from fishing businesses and governments around the world. The magazine Nature published the findings.
The scientists say the common method called long line fishing ravages the populations of large fish. This method involves many fishing lines connected to one boat. These wires can be nearly one hundred kilometers long. They hold thousands of sharp metal hooks to catch fish.
Long line fishing is especially common in the Japanese fishing industry. Records showed that Japanese boats used to catch about ten fish for every one hundred hooks. But long line fishing boats now might only catch one fish per hundred hooks.
The scientists say industrial fishing can destroy groups of fish much faster than in the past. The study suggests that whole populations can disappear almost completely from new fishing areas within ten to fifteen years.
Ransom Myers and Boris Worm of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia led the study with the University of Kiel in Germany. Worm says the destruction could lead to a complete reorganization of ocean life systems. Meyers says the decreased numbers of large fish are not the only worry. He says even populations that are able to reproduce do not get the chance to live long enough to grow as big as their ancestors. He says not only are there fewer big fish, but also they are smaller than those of the past.
It’s the end of this program ,Thank you for your listening.
1.What’s the best title for the passage?
A. Big fish are disappearing B. Long—line fishing in Japan
C. The harm of industrial fishing D. Stop killing big fish
2.Which of the following DOESN’T show that the populations of big fish are smaller than before?
A. Fish can disappear almost completely from new fishing areas.
B. Now long—line fishing boats might catch one fish per hundred hooks.
C. Fish now don’t have the chance to grow big enough.
D. Scientists spent ten years studying the populations of large fish.
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A. The number of big fish started to drop greatly about fifty years ago.
B. The study was started by Boris Worm of Dalhousie alone.
C. There will be no big fish left in fifty years .
D. Japaneses people have stopped catching big fish.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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An international team of researchers from the University of Oxford have found that the way people use the Internet is closely tied to the seasonal movements in the natural world. Their online species searches follow the patterns of seasonal animal migrations (迁徙).
Migratory birds (候鸟) flood back to where they reproduce every spring. That migratory behavior is accompanied by some human behavior. “In English-language Wikipedia (维基百科), the online searches for migratory species tend to increase in spring when those birds arrive in the United States,” said the lead author John Mittermeier.
And not just birds. Mittermeier and his team surveyed nearly 2.5 billion Wikipedia search records, for 32,000 species, across 245 languages. They also saw variable search rates for insects, horsetails and flowering plants. Seasonal trends seemed to be widespread in Wikipedia behavior for many species of plants and animals.
This finding suggests new ways to monitor changes in the world’s biological diversity. It also shows new ways to see how much people care about nature, and which species and areas might be the most effective targets for conservation.
Mittermeier is encouraged by the search results. He commented, “I think there’s a concern among conservationists (生态环境保护者) that people are losing touch with the natural world and that they’re not interacting with native species anymore. And so in that sense, it was really exciting and quite unexpected for me to see people’s Wikipedia interest closely related to changes in nature.”
Richard Grenyer, Associate Professor from the University of Oxford, says search data is useful to conservation biologists, “By using these big data approaches, we can direct our attention towards the difficult questions in modern conservation: which species and areas are changing, and where are the people who care the most and can do the most to help.”
1.What have researchers found about species searches?
A. They strengthen ties among people.
B. They affect the animal movements.
C. They differ in language backgrounds.
D. They reflect animal migration seasons.
2.What is the purpose of writing Paragraph 3?
A. To summarize the research process.
B. To further support the research findings.
C. To show the variety of species searches.
D. To present researchers’ heavy work load.
3.How does Mittermeier feel about the search results?
A. Satisfied with Wikipedia’s service.
B. Worried about Wikipedia behavior.
C. Amazed at people’s care about nature.
D. Sad about people’s not getting close to nature.
4.Why does Richard think such search data is useful?
A. It helps to aim at conservation targets.
B. It increases interest in big data approaches.
C. It keeps track of trends in biologists’work.
D. It pushes people to solve difficult problems.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Scientists at Royal Holloway, University of London and Queen Mary, University of London have discovered that bees learn to fly the shortest possible route between flowers even if they discover the flowers in a different order. Bees are effectively solving the “traveling salesman problem”, and they are the first creatures found to do this.
The traveling salesman must find the shortest route that allows him to visit all locations on his route. Computers solve it by comparing the length of all possible routes and choosing the shortest, and it can keep computers busy for days. However, bees solve it without computer assistance using a brain the size of grass seed. Dr. Nigel Raine, from the School of Biological Sciences at Royal Holloway explains, “Bees solve traveling salesman problems every day. They visit flowers at multiple locations and because bees use lots of energy to fly, they find a route which keeps flying to a minimum. ”
The team used the computer to control artificial flowers to test whether bees would follow a route defined by the order in which they discovered the flowers or if they would find the shortest route. After exploring the location of the flowers, bees quickly learned to fly the shortest route.
As well as improving our understanding of how bees move around the landscape pollinating(授粉)crops and wild flowers, this research, which is due to be published in The American Naturalist, has other applications. Our lifestyle relies on networks such as traffic on the roads, information flow on the Web and business supply chains. By understanding how bees can solve their problems with such a tiny brain, we can improve our management of these everyday networks without needing lots of computer time. Dr. Raine adds, “Despite their tiny brains, bees are capable of extraordinary feats of behavior. We need to understand how they can solve the traveling salesman problem without a computer. ”
1. What would be the best title of the passage?
A. Bees help salesmen travel
B. Tiny-brained bees solve a complex mathematical problem
C. How bees discover the flowers
D. How to solve the “traveling salesman problem”
2.We may infer from the second paragraph that the “traveling salesman problem” .
A. can be solved by a computer easily
B. can’t even be solved by a computer
C. can puzzle both people and computers
D. remains to be solved by scientists
3. The main purpose of the last paragraph is to .
A. provide further proof for the research
B. tell us how bees can fly the shortest route between flowers
C. tell us how the research about bees’ flying route was conducted
D. explain the importance of the research
4. It can be concluded from the passage that .
A. all creatures are smarter than computers
B. the research about bees’ flying route can be applied to many fields
C. our networks are more complex than bees’ ones
D. with the help of the computer we can find out how bees can solve the “traveling salesman problem”
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析