It has long been thought that elephants rely ...

It has long been thought that elephants rely on their large ears and bathing in rivers to stay cool in hot climates. New research，however，has showed that the world's largest land animals have a secret trick of controlling their body temperatures.

Scientists have long been puzzled by temperature regulation(调节)in elephants. Generally，animals with large bodies tend to hold more heat because，compared to their size，they have a small surface area for heat to escape from. Elephants，with their heavy­weight frames，would appear to be at a disadvantage in the heat of their African and Asian habitats，especially because they have thick fur to protect them from bushes and trees.

Scientists thought that these creatures，which weigh up to 13 tons when fully­grown，grow large ears to help them stay cool. The skin on the ears is thinner，so blood which flows into them cools down more easily. But findings by researchers at two universities in Vienna have showed that elephants are also able to cool down by increasing the blood flow to skin patches(斑) in other parts of their bodies.

The researchers studied six African elephants at Vienna Zoo as they moved between outdoor and indoor environments to see how the temperature on their skin surface would change. They found up to 15 “hot spots” all over an elephant's body surface，in addition to large patches on the ears. The study shows how these patches expand as the air temperature increases and more blood flows nearer to the skin surface. Other experiments show that elephants in the wild use the same “windows” to control their body temperature.

Elephants have two additional ways to stay cool: flapping(拍打)the ears and bathing. Together with these tricks，the skin hot spots allow the animals to keep their body temperature always at about 36 degrees—one degree less than humans'.

1.What can we know about the elephants?

A. They have thick fur to protect them.

B. They live in cool areas in Africa and Asia.

C. They can weigh up to 3 tons when fully­grown.

D. They are afraid of water and rivers.

2.The function of the thinner skin on elephants' ears is to________.

A. control their body temperature　　 B. help hold more heat

C. drive away insects　　 D. keep sensitive hearing

3.The new research________.

A. studied six Asian elephants

B. studied elephants in a zoo and in the wild

C. aimed to discover the elephants' disadvantages

D. proved that scientists' earlier beliefs were totally true

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

It has long been thought that first-born children are more successful than their younger brothers and sisters and often have qualities of being more organised and responsible as well as being eager to be in charge.

But a new study has shown that the elder child's achievements can help improve their younger siblings(兄弟姐妹) exam results by helping them to raise their game. For the first time ever, researchers from the University of Essex examined how the success of first born children in school affected their younger brothers and sisters by studying primary school test results.

And the data showed that having an older brother or sister improved a child’s learning with the equal effect of spending an extra £670 on the younger sibling's schooling. One of the study’s authors Birgitta Rabe explained, the older sibling’s achievement may have a direct effect on the younger sibling’s school grades if the older sibling teaches the younger sibling or helps with homework; the younger sibling imitates(模仿) the older sibling, for example in their work style, or tries to be different, for example to avoid competition; the older sibling passes on important information about educational choices or school and teachers to the younger sibling.

The effect is even more noticeable in less well-off families showing poorer children benefit more from a successful older sibling. “We find that the effect is larger for siblings in families relying on free school meals, living in poverty and speaking a language other than English at home. This means that children who live in poverty benefit more from a successful older sibling than children who live in well-off families.”

1.The study is mainly based on the children’s ________.

A. exam results　　　 　　 B. work style

C. family background　　 D. educational choices

2.According to the study, ________ tend to benefit more from a successful older sibling.

A. the children who live in rich families

B. the children who live in poor families

C. the children whose parents are successful

D. the children whose mother language is English

3.What can we conclude from the study?

A. Younger siblings are more successful than first borns.

B. First-born children are as successful as their younger siblings.

C. First-born children are more successful than their younger siblings.

D. The success of first borns has positive effects on their younger siblings.

4.The passage is likely to appear in ________.

A. a newspaper advertisement

B. a high school textbook

C. a science magazine

D. a news report

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

It is the first report that home-grown food has been contaminated by radioactivity, largely Iodine(碘)-131, since the ministry ordered radiation( powerful and harmful rays that are sent out from radioactive substances) tests on food and water at the end of March in 14 mainland regions including Beijing, Tianjin, and some coastal provinces.

Sample inspections conducted on Tuesday found low levels of radioactive iodine in spinach( a kind of green vegetables) planted in Beijing, Tianjin and Henan province --- about 1-3 becquerels per kilogram (Bq/kg), the statement said.

"The contamination level detected is too low to be harmful to public health," it said.

According to health experts, radioactive iodine can accumulate in humans once ingested in high concentrations and increases the risk of thyroid cancer. But it decays naturally within weeks.

Leafy vegetables grown in the open like spinach, lettuce and leek are among the first foods to be tainted by radioactive deposits.

Raw milk is also susceptible to radioactive contamination as livestock feed on grass.

Tests carried out in March showed spinach and milk taken from farms near Japan's nuclear-stricken area had exceeded(go beyond) government-set safety limits for radiation.

No cases of tainted water or milk have been reported in China but the ministry vowed to further strengthen monitoring.

Wang Zhongwen, a researcher at the China Institute of Atomic Energy's radiation safety department, told China Daily on Wednesday that currently China only had the means to conduct food radiation tests in a few regions.

The statement also said that recent rain in Beijing and Tianjin meant radioactive substances could have fallen on vegetables.

Chen Jicang, a vegetable dealer in Beijing, said on Wednesday that concerns are growing among consumers, businesses and governments across the world.

"We have yet to see any impact on our business from the radiation, but we will keep a close eye on how the issue develops," he said.

He added that most vegetables consumed in Beijing are produced locally, and he might switch to other varieties if spinach sales suffer.

Yang Guoshan, a researcher of radiation medical science at the Academy of Military Medical Sciences, said people could safely eat products that contain low levels of Iodine-131.

"The radiation level is so low that residents don't need to spend any extra effort on cleaning them," he said.

Gao Jie, a 52-year-old resident in Tianjin said she is deeply worried because spinach is a staple part of her family's diet.

"If spinach is radioactive, is there any possibility that other types of vegetables are safe?"

Trace levels of radioactive isotope cesium-137 and -134 were detected in the air in 21 provinces and regions on Wednesday, up from 17 on Tuesday, according to China's National Nuclear Emergency Coordination Committee.

1. What does the underlined word mean in para 1?

2.Why are the spinach and milk taken from nuclear-stricken area not safe?

3. Where do you think this passage comes from?

4. What is not mentioned in the passage?

5. What do you think is mainly talked about in the passage?

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

____ parents say and do has a life-long effect on their children.

A.That　　　 B.Which　　 C.What　　　　　　　　 D.As

高一英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

________ parents say and do has a life long effect on their children.

A. That              B. Which            C. What             D. As

高一英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

It has been announced that students _______ remain in their seats until all the papers have been collected.

高一英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析

_______ parents say and do has a life-long effect on their children.

A. That    B. Which    C. What   D. As

高一英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

_________ parents say and do has a life-long effect on their children.

A. That            B. Which          C. What           D. As

高一英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

It has been a long established ________ that the Spring Festival is a time for family reunion in China.

A. tradition            B. history          C. intelligence         D. system

高一英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

It is reported that large amounts of money _____ spent on the cross-sea bridge so far.

A．was              B．has been          C．were             D．have been

高一英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析