The Intelligent Plant. That is the title of a recent article in The New Yorker, and new research is showing that plants have surprising abilities to sense and react to the world.
But can a plant be intelligent? Some plant scientists insist they are since they can sense, learn, remember and even react in ways that would be familiar to humans.
Michael Pollan, author of “The Botany of Desire,” says for the longest time, people who have long talked to their plants or played music for them were being considered “mad.”
The new research, he says, is in a field called plant neurobiology(神经生物学), which is not a proper name, because even scientists in the field don’t argue that plants have neurons(神经) or brains.
“They have analogous structures as humans,” Pollan explains. “Plants have all the same senses as humans. They have ways of taking all the sensory data they gather in their everyday lives, integrate it and then behave in an appropriate way in response.” In addition to hearing, taste, for example, they can sense gravity, the presence of water, or even feel that an obstacle(障碍物) is in the way of its roots, before coming into contact with it. Plant roots will change direction, he says, to avoid obstacles.
So what about pain? Do plants feel? Pollan says they do respond to anesthetics (麻醉剂). “You can put a plant out with a human anesthetic. And not only that, plants produce their own compounds that are anesthetic to us.” But scientists are unwilling to go as far as to say they are responding to pain.
How plants sense and react is still somewhat unknown. They don’t have nerve cells like humans, but they do have a system for sending electrical signals and even produce neurotransmitters (神经递质) and other chemicals the human brain uses to send signals.
1.Why does the author mention the article The Intelligent Plant in the first paragraph?
A.To support his opinion. B.To introduce the topic.
C.To give an example. D.To make comparison.
2.People who usually talked to their plants would be thought .
A.Intelligent. B.Crazy. C.Patient. D.Comforting.
3.What does the underlined word “analogous” in paragraph 5 mean?
A.Simple. B.False. C.Flexible. D.Similar.
4.What can we learn about plants according to the last two paragraphs?
A.Plants can feel and react to pain. B.Plants send two kinds of signals.
C.Plants are able to sense and react. D.Plants have their own brains.
高二英语阅读选择中等难度题
The Intelligent Plant. That is the title of a recent article in The New Yorker, and new research is showing that plants have surprising abilities to sense and react to the world.
But can a plant be intelligent? Some plant scientists insist they are since they can sense, learn, remember and even react in ways that would be familiar to humans.
Michael Pollan, author of “The Botany of Desire,” says for the longest time, people who have long talked to their plants or played music for them were being considered “mad.”
The new research, he says, is in a field called plant neurobiology(神经生物学), which is not a proper name, because even scientists in the field don’t argue that plants have neurons(神经) or brains.
“They have analogous structures as humans,” Pollan explains. “Plants have all the same senses as humans. They have ways of taking all the sensory data they gather in their everyday lives, integrate it and then behave in an appropriate way in response.” In addition to hearing, taste, for example, they can sense gravity, the presence of water, or even feel that an obstacle(障碍物) is in the way of its roots, before coming into contact with it. Plant roots will change direction, he says, to avoid obstacles.
So what about pain? Do plants feel? Pollan says they do respond to anesthetics (麻醉剂). “You can put a plant out with a human anesthetic. And not only that, plants produce their own compounds that are anesthetic to us.” But scientists are unwilling to go as far as to say they are responding to pain.
How plants sense and react is still somewhat unknown. They don’t have nerve cells like humans, but they do have a system for sending electrical signals and even produce neurotransmitters (神经递质) and other chemicals the human brain uses to send signals.
1.Why does the author mention the article The Intelligent Plant in the first paragraph?
A.To support his opinion. B.To introduce the topic.
C.To give an example. D.To make comparison.
2.People who usually talked to their plants would be thought .
A.Intelligent. B.Crazy. C.Patient. D.Comforting.
3.What does the underlined word “analogous” in paragraph 5 mean?
A.Simple. B.False. C.Flexible. D.Similar.
4.What can we learn about plants according to the last two paragraphs?
A.Plants can feel and react to pain. B.Plants send two kinds of signals.
C.Plants are able to sense and react. D.Plants have their own brains.
高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
The New York Times published an article recently that shows great regret for the “death of conversation”. It suggests that while technology such as cell phones, emails, and Internet posting makes us feel more ____ than ever, they're also driving us ____ from people around us.
Users get final connectivity ____ the price of ____ facetoface conversation. Sherry Turkle, author of the article in The New York Times says people are ____ to a different way of being “alone together”．
Actually, ____ text messages or wring microblogs allows us to ____ thoughts. _______ bits and pieces of online cannot _______ a “real conversation.” Lan Guo, 19, a freshman English major from Changsha University, said that she would like to hear people's tone of voice and see their faces in a(n) _______. “The give and take of ideas in a conversation sharpens our minds.” she said. She also mentions that _______ ourselves in mobile technology reduces our chance of starting conversations with strangers and ______ people.
Turkle mentioned the popular ________ of “I share, therefore I am” among this generation. Liu Xuan, a young writer from Taiwan and psychology graduate from Harvard University, thinks it's a mindset adopted by most young people. They are so busy creating or polishing their online persona (网络人格) that they forget how to live a(n) ______ life. For example, they may ________ more about blogging about attending a party rather than enjoying being _______.
________， experts remind us that it's unfair to blame mobile technology. Chen Chen, a sociology expert at China Youth & Children Research Center, points out that it is still owners of gadgets, such as cell phones and tablets, who're avoiding personal _______. We take advantage of these devices to hide ourselves _______ others. Texting messages or calling may be a(n) ________ to avoid contact with others, such as having eye contact. “Only by strengthening conversation can we understand each other. Simply throwing away the mobile gadgets is not a solution.” she said.
1.A. received B．shared C．connected D．respected
2.A. off B．back C．away D．down
3.A. beyond B．at C．for D．above
4.A. having B．risking C．sacrificing D．sharing
5.A. related B．committed C．devoted D．accustomed
6.A. sending B．getting C．reading D．taking
7.A. change B．exchange C．deliver D．raise
8.A. So B．And C．Or D．But
9.A. indicate B．replace C．cover D．involve
10.A. conversation B．computer C．party D．Internet
11.A. abandoning B．joining C．burying D．attaching
12.A. interviewing B．introducing C．knowing D．meeting
13.A. feeling B．concept C．fact D．truth
14.A. colorful B．interesting C．real D．meaningful
15.A. worry B．care C．ask D．debate
16.A. there B．out C．down D．in
17.A. Therefore B．Altogether C．Instead D．However
18.A.information B．space C．contact D．management
19.A. from B．of C．behind D．under
20.A. approach B．source C．result D．excuse
高二英语完形填空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
Smart cities promise to bring better lives, faster transport, cleaner air and lower crime, all through the intelligent use of connected technology, said experts, and after huge investment in the field, China is leading the way.
“China’s smart cities market increases about 30 percent year-on-year in 2018, and all the provinces have begun development and construction for smart cities, with more to follow,” said an expert.
“Although most cities have started a smart city project, there is no globally unified thinking on the concept and operation of smart cities,” said Franco.
Alibaba is now involved in dozens of pilot projects across China, with its open AI (人工智能) platform Tianqing for the ET City Brain system officially launched in September. Set up by its cloud computing subsidiary (子公司), the Brain looks to make the city “think” through AI and cloud computing technologies, and help make the best of public services in real time.
Since introducing the technology, Hangzhou’s traffic jam has fallen from the fifth-worst in China in 2016, all the way to 57th place this year. “Now our experiments are mostly for government use, but we truly expect our open AI platform to enter more areas and help citizens live, work and entertain better,” said Hua.
In McKinsey Global Institute recent report Smart cities: Digital solutions for a more livable future, they find cities can use smart technologies to improve some key quality life by 10 to 30 percent — numbers that translate into lives saved, fewer crime incidents, a reduced health burden, and carbon emissions.
1.What can we say about the smart city?
A.Its concept has not been accepted by people.
B.It can be achieved only by lots of investment.
C.The worldwide standard for it has been established.
D.Its progress in China is among the best in the world.
2.What does the underlined part in Paragraph 5 refer to?
A.Traffic jam. B.Traffic flow.
C.AI platform. D.Public services.
3.Hangzhou is mentioned as an example to show that _______.
A.its traffic problem has been settled
B.the city has become more intelligent
C.its public services have greatly improved
D.it has made achievements in smart city construction
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Smart Cities are on the Way
B.Outline of the Future Smart Cities
C.Hangzhou’s Construction of Smart Cities
D.Alibaba Contributes More to Smart Cities
高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
Researchers have discovered a new bacterium that feeds on polyurethane, a kind of plastic that is difficult to recycle or destroy. Scientists say the discovery could help reduce a flood of hard — to — recycle plastics that are ending up in the world's landfills（垃圾填埋地） and polluting oceans.
A team from the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research in Leipzig, Germany, found the new type of soil bacteria. It was spotted in an area that contained a large amount of plastic waste. The team discovered the bacteria were feeding on polyurethane diol, which was widely used in many different products.
One problem is that recycling polyurethane requires a lot of energy. The plastic material does not melt when heated. Most polyurethane-based products end up in landfills, where they can release dangerous chemicals. The team round that the bacterium can produce enzymes（酶）that eat away polyurethane. This would make it possible to break down the material in the environment. The results were recently reported in a study in the publication Frontiers in Microbiology. Hermann Heipieper helped write the report. He said in a statement the finding “represents an important step in being able to reuse polyurethane products.”
German study noted that plastic-eating bacteria could be easily controlled and produced for industrial use. The researchers said the next step is to find more information about the bacterial enzymes that can break down polyurethane.
Scientist Douglas Rader wrote about the issue in a 2018 article for the Environmental Defense Fund. He said much more study should be carried out to learn about the complex relationships between bacteria and marine ecosystems. “Such research is needed before we can take action such as putting plastic-eating bacteria into the ocean,” Rader wrote.
1.What is the problem about polyurethane?
A.It seems difficult to transport when it goes to landfills.
B.It affects the quality of plastic products if widely used.
C.It melts easily when exposed to the sun for a long time.
D.It pollutes the environment unless recycled or destroyed.
2.What do we know about the new type of bacteria from the text?
A.It can produce harmful chemicals. B.It can gradually destroy polyurethane.
C.It is very hard to discover and control. D.It is very likely to increase plastic waste.
3.What is Douglas Rader's attitude towards the future use of the new bacterium?
A.Doubtful. B.Disapproval.
C.Cautious. D.Enthusiastic.
4.Which of the following is the best title for the text?
A.Plastic-eating Bacteria B.Plastic Waste — A Big Problem
C.Plastic and Ocean D.Polyurethane — A Bacteria killer
高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
—Are all the titles of the articles ________in the contents?
—Yes, all________.
| A．listed; included | B．listing; includes |
| C．listed; including | D．being listed; being included |
高二英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析
Trees are commonly cut down for wood and paper. 1.. The unique chemical process that trees and plants use to turn light energy from the sun into oxygen is known as photosynthesis (光合作用).
2.
The production of oxygen is a result of photosynthesis, but it is not the main purpose of this process. 3.. Plants create their own food through photosynthesis. During this process, a plant’s roots absorb water from the ground, and its leaves take in light energy and carbon dioxide. The plant uses these elements to make fats and proteins that are then used to maintain the plant’s life.
The process of photosynthesis
The first step in photosynthesis is using the sun’s energy. During this process, chlorophyll (叶绿素) absorbs the light energy of the sun. The energy from the sun then acts upon the water absorbed by the roots of the plant. Carbon dioxide sent into the atmosphere by animals and humans is then absorbed by the plant’s leaves and paired with the hydrogen to produce sugar. The sugar is turned into plant food. 4..
Threats to tree photosynthesis
5.. Today, only about 30 percent of Earth’s land is covered in trees. This is contributing to global warming since trees are necessary to consume the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Experts believe planting trees is vital in order to ensure the preservation of the delicate balance that enables photosynthesis.
A.The purposes of photosynthesis
B.The advantages of photosynthesis
C.In fact, oxygen is simply a by product
D.It is also responsible for giving plants their green color
E.During this process, extra oxygen is produced and released
F.The trees that change carbon dioxide into oxygen are disappearing rapidly
G.But the greatest value of trees comes from their ability to turn the sun’s energy into chemical energy
高二英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析
There is no doubt that he ________ the title “outstanding player of his generation”.
A. preserves B. conserves
C. deserves D. reserves
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
It is known to all that Jackson __________ the title “outstanding singer of his generation.
| A．observes | B．deserves | C．conserves | D．serves |
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
You do not get the full pages to read.Instead,you get________titles of articles or pages and sometimes a short summary of the information they contain.
高二英语完成句子困难题查看答案及解析