Scientists have created the world's first liv...

Scientists in Argentina have created the world’s first cow with two human genes that will enable it to produce human-like milk.

Genetic engineering was used to introduce the "mothers’ milk" genes into the animal before birth, according to the National Institute of Agribusiness Technology in Buenos Aires.

As an adult, the cloned cow "will produce milk that is similar to that of humans", which will prove "a development of great importance for the nutrition of infants(婴儿)", said the institute. "The cloned cow, named Rosita ISA, is the first in the world with two human genes that contain the proteins present in human milk," said the statement.

In April, scientists in China published details of research showing that they had created dairy cows which produced milk containing proteins found in human breast milk. But the Argentine team said the Chinese only introduced one human gene, while their research involved two, meaning the milk will more closely resemble that of humans.

“Our goal was to raise the nutrition value of cows’ milk by adding two human genes, which do good to the immune system of infants,” said Adrian Mutto, from the National University of San Martin which worked with the institute.

Cristina Kirchner, President of Argentina, said that the scientific institute made all Argentines proud. She also said that she had refused the "honor" of having the cow named after her. "They came to tell me that the name is Cristina, but what woman would like to have a cow named after her? It appeared to me to be more proper to call it Rosita.”

1.What is the passage mainly about?

A. The importance of genetic engineering.

B. Ways to improve mothers’ milk.

C. Advanced agricultural technology in Argentina.

D. A cloned cow to produce human-like milk.

2.Which of the following can best replace “more closely resemble” in Para 4?

A. have more varieties than

B. have more nutrition than

C. be more similar to

D. be more different from

3.What can be inferred from Cristina Kirchner’s statements?

A. She was quite satisfied with the research done by the institute.

B. She considered it an honor to name the special cow.

C. She felt it improper to be named after the cow.

D. She refused to give a name to the cow out of self-respect.

4.What’s Adrian Mutto’s attitude to the genetic engineering?

A. negative　　 B. supportive

C. indifferent　　 D. mixed

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

With increasing competition in education, some of the best universities worldwide are having a global view to best prepare their students for the future.

China

China has been determined to play is key role on the global educational stage. Take Project 21l, a program created in 1995 to bring 100 Chinese universities up to a world-class standard. Similarly, in1999 Project 985 got started to produce more top universities. To further improve the global position of Chinese education, in 2009 the C9 League was also created, hoping to be an eastern equal to the US Ivy League (常春藤联盟).

Germany

Germany offers a menu of educational choice from smaller but high-quality institutions to some most famous universities in Western Europe. Similarly, the country serves up plenty of cultural experiences from the lively capital streets to the characteristic towns and villages. Germany also creates many scholar-ships to help international students afford their tuition fees (学费).

Italy

Italy has some of the world’s most respected learning institutes including the University of Bologna, believed to be the world’s oldest university. There are more UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) Sites in Italy than in any other nation in the world. These attractions, alongside Italy’s world-famous food and endless culture make it among the world’s most visited countries each year.

Poland

Over years, Poland’s universities have produced some of the world’s most famous thinkers and scientists, such as Marie Curie and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. Poland also provides many private and public education to both Polish students and international students.

1.For what purpose has China created some projects?

A.To offer free education to the public. B.To create more educational companies.

C.To attract more world-famous scientists. D.To promote its global status in education.

2.How can Germany help international students?

A.By making tuition fees affordable. B.By offering many educational menus.

C.By planning some cultural experiences. D.By providing free capital-based travels.

3.Which country has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites?

A.China. B.Germany. C.Italy. D.Poland.

高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

Scientists have created the world's first living, self-healing robots using stem cells (干细胞) from frogs. Named xenobots after the African clawed frog from which they take their stem cells, the ''machines'' are less than a millimeter wide — small enough to travel inside human bodies. They can walk and swim, survive for weeks without food, and work together in groups. ''These are entirely new life forms, '' said the University of Vermont, which conducted the research with Tufts University's Allen Discovery Center.

The researchers removed living stem cells from frog embryos (胚胎), and left them to hatch. Then, the cells were cut and reshaped into specific ''body forms'' designed by a supercomputer — forms ''never seen in nature''，according to a news release from the University of Vermont.

Xenobots even have regenerative abilities. When the scientists sliced into one robot, it healed by itself and kept moving. They don’t look like traditional robots - they have no shiny clothing or robotic arms. Instead, they look more like a tiny drop of moving pink flesh. The researchers say this is deliberate — this ''biological machine'' can achieve things typical robots of steel and plastic cannot. ''Traditional robots degrade over time and can produce harmful ecological and health side effects, '' researchers said in the study. ''As biological machines, xenobots are more environmentally friendly and safer for human health.''

According to the researchers, these robots could be used to clean up radioactive waste, collect microplastics in the oceans, or even carry medicine inside human bodies. Aside from these immediate practical tasks, they could also help researchers to learn more about cell biology - opening the doors to future advancement in human health and longevity. This sounds like something from a sci-fi movie. Some people even voiced their concern that humans might be taken control of by those xenobots. However, the researchers in the study say there is no need for alarm. They can't reproduce or evolve (进化).

1.What is this passage mainly about?

A.The advantages of a medical robot.

B.The application of robots in biology.

C.The general introduction of a living robot.

D.The medical value of African clawed frogs.

2.The underlined word ''regenerative'' in Paragraph 3 probably means ''________''.

A.living longer B.growing again

C.replacing old cells D.defending against attacks

3.What can we know about xenobots?

A.They can do everything that traditional robots can.

B.They can break up steel and plastic while degrading.

C.They are able to cure people of all kinds of diseases.

D.They are harmless to the environment and human health.

4.What is the researchers' attitude to the development of xenobots?

A.Doubtful. B.Positive.

C.Cautious. D.Casual.

高二英语阅读选择困难题查看答案及解析

Jack Horner is co-author of the book How to Build a Dinosaur. However, he is most famous for his role as consultant(顾问) on all four Jurassic Park films, including the new film Jurassic World.

The original film Jurassic Park tells the story of a theme park where dinosaurs live. In that movie, scientists used DNA collected by ancient mosquitoes that had been trapped in amber shortly after they drank dinosaur blood. The scientists used this dinosaur DNA to create baby dinosaurs. The scientists in Jurassic Park created various types of dinosaurs, but in the real world there is one big problem with the story. It turns out that DNA could not possibly survive the 65 million years since the death of the dinosaurs.

The new movie creates the Indominus Rex. This idea of creating a hybrid species is something Horner has explored before. In 2011, he gave a speech in which he discussed producing a dinosaur by working with the genes of a bird. Modern birds are the closest living relative of dinosaurs.

The concept of using the genes of different animals to create new animals is called transgenic science. And this type of science has already produced some interesting results — goats that produce spider silk in their milk, cows that produce proteins for medicines that can treat diseases, and a pig that produces less-polluting waste thanks to a bit of mouse DNA. However, none of these examples are close to the dinosaurs in Jurassic World. And for a good reason — genetics is a very complex science. Producing a new species is not as simple as just exchanging a few genes around.

In the end, Jurassic World is all about fun.

1.What do we know from Paragraph 2?

A.A theme park is built to protect dinosaurs.

B.Mosquito DNA is used to create dinosaurs.

C.DNA can be well kept for millions of years.

D.Creation of dinosaurs in the film isn’t scientific.

2.What might “the Indominus Rex” be?

A.A modern bird. B.A goat producing silk.

C.A hybrid dinosaur. D.A cow producing protein.

3.What can we conclude from the last two paragraphs?

A.Jurassic World proves a big success. B.Many extinct species will be brought back.

C.Hybridizing dinosaurs is no easy job. D.Transgenic science proves a complete failure.

4.What do we know about Jack Horner?

A.He has starred in Jurassic World.

B.He has explored a lot about dinosaurs.

C.He has directed four Jurassic Park films.

D.He has written How to Build a Dinosaur alone.

高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

A world-famous Canadian author, Margaret Atwood, has created the world’s first long-distance signing device, the LongPen.

After many tiring book signings from city to city, Atwood thought there must be a better way to do them. She hired some technical experts and started her own company in 2004. Together they designed the LongPen. Here’s how it works: The author writes a personal message and signature on a computer tablet(手写板) using a special pen. On the receiving end, in another city, a robotic arm fitted with a regular pen signs the book. The author and fan can talk with each other via webcams(网络摄像机) and computer screens.

Work on the LongPen began in Atwood’s basement(地下室). At first, they had no idea it would be as hard as it turned out to be. The device went through several versions, including one that actually had smoke coming out of it. The investing finally completed, test runs were made in Ottawa, and the LongPen was officially launched at the 2006 London Book Fair. From here, Atwood conducted two transatlantic book signings of her latest book for fans in Toronto and New York City.

The LongPen produces a unique signature each time because it copies the movement of the author in real time. It has several other potential applications. It could increase credit card security and allow people to sign contracts from another province. The video exchange between signer and receiver can be recorded on DVD for proof when legal documents are used.

“It’s really fun,” said the owner of a bookstore, who was present for one of the test runs. “Obviously you can’t shake hands with the author, but there are chances for a connection that you don’t get from a regular book signing.”

The response to the invention has not been all favorable. Atwood has received criticism from authors who think she is trying to end book tours. But she said, “It will be possible to go to places that you never got sent to before because the publishers couldn’t afford it.”

1.How does the LongPen work?

A. It copies the author’s signature and prints it on a book.

B. It signs a book while receiving the author’s signature.

C. The fan uses it to copy the author’s signature himself.

D. The webcam sends the author’s signature to another city.

2.What do we know about the invention of the LongPen?

A. The designers were well-prepared for the difficulty.

B. The basement caught fire by accident.

C. Some versions failed before its test run.

D. It has been completed but not put into use.

3.How could the LongPen be used in the future?

A. To allow author and fan to exchange videos

B. To improve credit card security.

C. To keep a record of the author’s ideas.

D. To draft legal documents.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Scientists have created a “ human-like robot” that can dance and do the housework.

“ Mahru” has been developed to imitate humans and can move its lips, eyebrows and pupils(瞳孔). The machine can also move its upper and lower body freely and automatically stop itself when walking.

In addition, it has been programmed to give out two kinds of pleasant smells to match its emotions.

The 1.5 tall robot was produced by researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and is the first South Korean- developed machine of its kind.

“‘Mahru’ will open the way for the commercial use of humanoid robots doing housework,” You Bum-Jae, leader of the development research team ,said. “‘Mahru’ can dance while walking on its legs and is able to work in place of a human.”

Through an advanced motion capture (捕获) system, “Mahru” can follow a variety of human movements and move its hands freely enough to deal with any obstacles that may get in its way when walking.

State-funded KIST showed the robot during a presentation at its head office in Seoul.

People here were treated to an entertaining demonstration which saw the robot show off the full range of its skills, most notably s series of dance moves.

The research team added that they had designed another “ Mahru”, this time with sensors(传感器) allowing it to distinguish(分辨) between faces and objects.

The showing of “ Mahru” came a week after researcher in Japan said they had created the “most human-like” robot in the world. A team at robotics department of Osaka University in Japan claimed that “ robogirl”, Repliee R-1, “ looks, moves and interacts (相互作用) like a human, and has silicone(硅胶) skin that feels almost human to the touch.”

1. “Mahru” made by KIST can do the following things EXCEPT____________

2. According to what You Bum- Jae said in Paragraph 5, his research team wants to ________.

3. When Mahru” meets something in its way, it will be likely to________.

4.According to the last paragraph, Repliee R-1 __________.

5.The passage is probably a  __________.

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

When scientists accidentally killed what turned out to be the world’s oldest living creature, it was bad enough. Now, their mistake has been worsened after further research found it was even older – at 507 years.

The ocean quahog, a type of deep-sea clam, was dredged (捕捞) alive from the bottom of the North Atlantic near Iceland in 2006 by researchers. They then put it in a fridge-freezer, as is normal practice, unaware of its age. It was only when it was taken to a laboratory that scientists from Bangor University studied it and concluded it was 400 years old.

The discovery made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. However, by this time, it was too late for Ming the Mollusc(软体动物), named after the Chinese dynasty when its life began. Unfortunately researchers who calculated Ming’s age killed it instantly by opening its shell.

The researchers opened the ancient clam up to judge its age by counting growth rings inside. But the rings were so close together that scientists ended up having to count the rings on the outside to be accurate, leading CBS journalists to point out that if scientists had just started there, Ming could have lived on. Now, after examining the quahog more closely, using more advanced methods, the researchers have found the animal was actually 100 years older than they first thought.

Dr Paul Butler, from the University’s School of Ocean Sciences, said: “We got it wrong the first time and maybe we were a bit hasty publishing our findings back then. But we are absolutely certain that we’ve got the right age now.” The mollusc was born in 1499 – just seven years after Columbus discovered America and before Henry VIII had even married his first wife, Catherine of Aragon in 1509.

A quahog’s shell grows by a layer every year, in the summer when the water is warmer and food is plentiful. It means that when its shell is cut in half, scientists can count the lines in a similar way that trees can be dated by rings in their trunks.

Jan Heinemeier, associate professor at the University of Denmark, who helped date Ming, told Science Nordic: “The fact that we got our hands on a 507-year-old animal is incredibly fascinating, but the really exciting thing is of course everything we can learn from studying the mollusk.”

1.At first, the scientists found that _____________.

A. The ocean quahog got a deadly disease

B. The growth rings inside were so close together

C. it was accurate to count the growth rings outside

D. The ocean quahog was 400 years old

2.Why did the scientists open the ancient clam up?

A. To count the growth rings outside of the clam.

B. To study how old the clam was.

C. To see the structure of it.

D. To give an immediate operation on it.

3.The sixth paragraph is mainly about_____________.　

A. How to calculate the age of a tree

B. Why a quahog’s shell grows by a layer each year

C. How to calculate the age of a quahog

D. Why a quahog likes it when the water is warmer

4.Which of the following is NOT true?

A. The researchers have got the right age of the ocean quahog.

B. The mollusc was born after Columbus discovered America.

C. The ocean quahog was named after the Chinese dynasty.

D. A quahog’s shell grows by a layer every season.

5.Where does the text probably come from?

A. A magazine of marine life.　　　　　 B. A travel brochure.

C. A biography.　　　　　　     　     　　 D. A science fiction.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Scientists believe they could bring the likes of dodos(渡渡鸟)back from the dead through cloning experiments in the near future which could see the flightless birds revived from their extinction.

The big bird, which was about a metre tall and weighed up to 18 kilograms, was native to Mauritius but became extinct in the 1600s, shortly after humans discovered the island. However, 400 years later, scientists now believe that they could bring the dodo back to life through cloning of some of its closest living relatives.

Scientists recently published a paper which identified the overall genomic structure of dinosaurs. The team achieved this by tracing the ancestors (祖先)of birds — the dinosaurs closest living relatives — to create the genomic structure. Researchers involved in the study say it is an emphatic ‘no’ when it comes to the possibility of ever being able to clone dinosaurs, but they do say that more recently extinct birds like the carrier pigeon and the dodo could be brought back due to the fact that they have such close living relatives.

University of Kent scientists Darren Griffin and Rebecca O’Connor wrote in an article for The Conversation: “We discovered that birds and most flightless dinosaurs had a lot of chromosomes (packages of DNA). Having so many allows animals to generate variation, the driver of natural selection.”

“However, though it is a long shot, it may be possible in future to use Jurassic Park technology to help avoid some of the harm that humans have caused. Mankind has seen the extinction of well-known avian dinosaurs such as the dodo and the passenger pigeon.”

“Recovery(恢复)of DNA that is a only few hundred years old from these birds is a far more realistic way. It may also be that eggs from closely related living species might just be good enough. In the right conditions we may be able to use them to resurrect some of these species from extinction.”

1.What can we learn about dodos?

A.They flew to Mauritius in the 1600s. B.They could be used to clone pigeons.

C.They would die out in the near future. D.They might be brought back to life soon.

2.How do scientists revive dodos?

A.They clone dodos’ closest living relatives. B.They trace those endangered birds closely.

C.They look for dinosaurs’ living conditions. D.They identify genomic structure of pigeons.

3.What does the underlined word “resurrect” in the last paragraph mean?

A.Learn. B.Protect.

C.Revive. D.Prevent.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.Scientists Expect to Clone the Dodos. B.Scientists Find Close Living Relatives.

C.Dinosaurs Have Already Been Extinct. D.Some Species Have Been Discovered.

高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

Are people happier in nature with blue skies overhead and fresh green grass underfoot? Could noisy streets, crowded with cars and people, make us unhappy?

The possible mental health problems of city living affect a lot of people. The World Health Organization estimates(估计)that 56 percent of the world's population lived in urban areas in 2019. The WHO adds that that amount will increase to 66 percent by 2050. People often move to cities for better jobs and more cultural activities. But are they putting themselves at risk? Maybe. Experts at the American Psychiatry Association say that “natural environments or green spaces” do much good to our mental health.

Many studies have shown that nature can calm us and make us feel happy. Nature, experts say, can also help us learn better. And experiencing nature helps people recover from the mental tiredness that comes from day-to-day work. On the other hand, mental health experts say some research suggests that city living might hurt our mental health. But they cannot say exactly why.

What are the specific aspects of the urban environment which causes some people to develop mental illness? Andrea Mechelli, a doctor at Kings College, London, states, “There have been studies where people were literally taken out of an urban environment into a rural (乡村的) environment and their symptoms would improve. And we also see that the greater the city is, the greater the risk is.” Mechelli say that someone who lives in a city is three times more likely to develop psychological problem than someone living in the country.

Kings College researchers, along with city planners, land and building designers and others wanted to learn more about city living and mental illness. So, they created a smartphone app called Urban Mind. They say they wanted to understand how different parts of the urban environment affect mental wellbeing(健康).

The researchers found that being outdoors, seeing trees, hearing birdsong, seeing the sky, and feeling in contact with nature were associated with higher levels of mental well-being. They also found that these seeming effects of nature were especially strong in those individuals at greater risk of mental health problems. The Urban Mind Project team says it hopes “the results will inform future urban planning and social policy aimed at improving design and health.”

1.Why is the question raised in the first paragraph?

A.To introduce the topic of the text.

B.To show the background of the text.

C.To ask the readers to learn the study.

D.To raise the readers' interest in happiness.

2.What does Mechelli find during his study?

A.People are attracted by the blue skies and green grass.

B.People are more content with their city life.

C.More and more people are interested in taking risks in cities,

D.City people are more likely to develop mental problems than country people.

3.What is expected of the Urban Mind research result?

A.More people will choose to live in the countryside.

B.It will bring more concern about people s mental health.

C.It will contribute to future urban planning and social policies.

D.People will be helped to improve their mental illness.

4.What is the main idea of the text?

A.Urban Mind measures the level of mental wellbeing.

B.City living may be harmful to people’s mental health.

C.Living in the countryside is better than in the city.

D.Different scientists hold different opinions on the effects of city living.

高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

Philo Farnsworth was a man who made it possible for one of the most important communication devices (设备）－ television to be created. Philo was born on August 19th, 1906, near Indian Creek in the western state of Utah. He attended a very small school near his family's farm. He did very well in school. He asked his teacher for special help in science. The teacher began helping Philo learn a great deal more than most young students could understand.

One night, Philo read a magazine story about the idea of sending pictures and sound through the air. Anyone with a device that could receive this electronic information could watch the pictures and hear the sound. The magazine story said some of the world's best scientists were using special machines to try to make a kind of device to send pictures.　

14-year-old Philo decided these famous scientists were wrong and that mechanical devices would never work. He decided that such a device would have to be electronic. Philo knew electrons（电子）could be made to move extremely fast. All he would have to do was to find a way to make electrons do the work.　

Very quickly Philo had an idea for such a receiver. It would trap light in a container and send the light on a line of electrons. Philo called it "light in a bottle".

Several days later, Philo told his teacher about a device that could capture (捕捉）pictures. He drew a plan for it, which he gave his teacher. Philo's drawing seemed very simple, but it clearly showed the information needed to build a television. In fact, all television equipment today still uses Philo's early idea.

Philo Farnsworth was only 14 years old then. He knew no one would listen to a child. In fact,　 experts say that probably only ten scientists in the world at that time could have understood his idea.

On September 7th, 1927, Philo turned on a device that was the first working television receiver. The image produced on the receiver was not very clear, but the device worked. In 1930, the United States government gave Philo patent documents. These would protect his invention from being copied by others.

1.How did Philo get the idea of inventing a television?

A.By learning from his science teacher.

B.By reading a story in a magazine.

C.By thinking hard on his own.

D.By using his knowledge about electrons.

2.The underlined word "it" in the fourth paragraph refers to 　　 .

A.a container sending pictures and sound through the air

B.a receiver that holds light and sends it on a line of electrons

C.a light box with a line of electrons in a bottle

D.a way to make electrons send pictures quickly

3.What can we learn about Philo?

A.His interest in science was raised by his teacher.

B.He made the first television receiver himself.

C.He received patent documents at the age of 24.

D.He found the famous scientists wrong after showing his teacher a plan.

4.We can infer from the text that Philo's idea 　　 .

A.was not recognized at first

B.was only understood by his teacher

C.was turned into a television receiver immediately

D.was widely used in all television equipment in 1927

高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析