Flying insects are polluting new environments by eating microplastics in polluted waters and carrying them through the air, a new study has found.
UK researchers found that microplastics -- pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters in size -- remain in the bodies of mosquitoes and other waterborne insects even after they become flying adults.
The findings mean that pollution from plastics being dumped into our oceans is being carried into the air, and raises concerns that birds and other creatures that eat the insects are also being polluted.
The team from the University of Reading in England and Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, inserted two minuscule pieces of polystyrene, each weighing just over one gram per cubic centimeter, into young mosquitoes and observed the insects throughout their life cycles. They found that the particles did not disappear from the mosquitoes’ systems after the insects moved between life stages and started to fly, and were present inside the fully formed insects. “When the microplastics become the adults, it represents a potential aerial pathway to pollution of new environments,” the authors wrote in the study.
“Thus, any organism that feeds on terrestrial life phases of freshwater insects could be affected by MPs found in aquatic ecosystems ( 水生态系统),” they added, using an abbreviation for microplastics. Freshwater insects such as mosquitoes are eaten by birds, amphibians, insects and fish, according to the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States. More than 150 million tons of plastic are floating in the world's oceans, with an additional eight million tons entering every year, according to the World Economic Forum. Plastic can be eaten by fish, birds and marine mammals, and can damage marine ecosystems such as coral reefs.
“This disturbing study raises real concerns about the spread of plastic pollution: it really is present everywhere, not just the marine environment,” said plastic pollution campaigner Emma Priestland from the charity Friends of the Earth.
“Knowing that plastic can be moved from the larval stage to the adult mosquito, which then serves as food to a multitude of larger animals, highlights the urgency with which we need to.”
A study from 2015 estimated that the total amount of floating plastic in the oceans could triple by 2025.
1.According to a new study, what has been found?
A. Pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters only remain in the bodies of mosquitoes.
B. Pieces of plastic will disappear after waterborne insects become flying adults.
C. Pieces of plastic will remain in the bodies of waterborne insects.
D. Pieces of plastic more than 5 millimeters remain in the bodies of waterborne insects.
2.How did the team from the University of Reading and Queen's University do their research?
A. They inserted two minuscule pieces of polystyrene into old mosquitoes.
B. They weighed the young mosquitoes.
C. They observed the insects throughout their life cycles.
D. They observed the insects after they started to fly.
3.What’s the main idea of this passage?
A. Plastic is harmful to the environment.
B. We should reduce our plastic consumption.
C. We should protect insects.
D. We should protect animals.
高一英语阅读理解困难题
Flying insects are polluting new environments by eating microplastics in polluted waters and carrying them through the air, a new study has found.
UK researchers found that microplastics -- pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters in size -- remain in the bodies of mosquitoes and other waterborne insects even after they become flying adults.
The findings mean that pollution from plastics being dumped into our oceans is being carried into the air, and raises concerns that birds and other creatures that eat the insects are also being polluted.
The team from the University of Reading in England and Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, inserted two minuscule pieces of polystyrene, each weighing just over one gram per cubic centimeter, into young mosquitoes and observed the insects throughout their life cycles. They found that the particles did not disappear from the mosquitoes’ systems after the insects moved between life stages and started to fly, and were present inside the fully formed insects. “When the microplastics become the adults, it represents a potential aerial pathway to pollution of new environments,” the authors wrote in the study.
“Thus, any organism that feeds on terrestrial life phases of freshwater insects could be affected by MPs found in aquatic ecosystems ( 水生态系统),” they added, using an abbreviation for microplastics. Freshwater insects such as mosquitoes are eaten by birds, amphibians, insects and fish, according to the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States. More than 150 million tons of plastic are floating in the world's oceans, with an additional eight million tons entering every year, according to the World Economic Forum. Plastic can be eaten by fish, birds and marine mammals, and can damage marine ecosystems such as coral reefs.
“This disturbing study raises real concerns about the spread of plastic pollution: it really is present everywhere, not just the marine environment,” said plastic pollution campaigner Emma Priestland from the charity Friends of the Earth.
“Knowing that plastic can be moved from the larval stage to the adult mosquito, which then serves as food to a multitude of larger animals, highlights the urgency with which we need to.”
A study from 2015 estimated that the total amount of floating plastic in the oceans could triple by 2025.
1.According to a new study, what has been found?
A. Pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters only remain in the bodies of mosquitoes.
B. Pieces of plastic will disappear after waterborne insects become flying adults.
C. Pieces of plastic will remain in the bodies of waterborne insects.
D. Pieces of plastic more than 5 millimeters remain in the bodies of waterborne insects.
2.How did the team from the University of Reading and Queen's University do their research?
A. They inserted two minuscule pieces of polystyrene into old mosquitoes.
B. They weighed the young mosquitoes.
C. They observed the insects throughout their life cycles.
D. They observed the insects after they started to fly.
3.What’s the main idea of this passage?
A. Plastic is harmful to the environment.
B. We should reduce our plastic consumption.
C. We should protect insects.
D. We should protect animals.
高一英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
The environment will be further polluted unless some measures _____.
A.are taken B.will be taken
C.are being taken D.should be taken
高一英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
By this time of next Friday, I _____ to New York by the Korean Airline.
A.will fly | B.will be flying | C.am flying | D.will have flied |
高一英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
At this time of next Friday, I _____ to New York by the Korean Airline.
A.will fly | B.will be flying | C.am flying | D.will have flied |
高一英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Some scientists say that animals in the ocean are increasingly threatened by noise pollution caused by human beings. The noise that affect 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 proposed setting a noise limit of one hundred and twenty decibels in oceans. They have observed that noises at that level can frighten and confuse whales.
A team of American and Canadian scientists discovered that loud 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.
Many researchers whose work depends on ocean sounds object to 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 suspect 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 man-made noises.
B. The noises made by themselves.
C. The sound of earthquakes.
D. The sound of the ice-breaking.
2.As to the influence of noises on whales, which of the following statements is true?
A. They are deaf to noises.
B. Noises at a certain level may hurt them.
C. They are easily confused by noises.
D. Noises will limit their ability to reproduce.
3. We can know from the passage that many scientists think that the noise limit of one hundred twenty decibels would______.
A. prevent them from doing their research work
B. benefit them a lot in their research work
C. do good to their health
D. increase the industrial output
4.According to the passage, what will scientists most probably do in the future?
A. They will try their best to decrease noise.
B. They will work hard to cut down noise pollution.
C. They will study the effect of different noises.
D. They will protect animals from harmful noises.
高一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 ocean 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 120 decibels on land causes pain to human ears. In water, a decible level of 195 would have the same effect.
Some scientists have suggested setting a noise limit of 120 decibles in oceans. They have observed that noises above that level can frighten and confuse whales.
A team of American and Canadian scientists discovered that loud noises could seriously injure some animals. The research team found that powerful underwater explosions were causing whales in the area to lose their hearing, which 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(感染的).
Many researches whose work depends on ocean sounds disagree with a limit of 120 decibels. They say such a limit would mean an end to important industrial and scientific research.
Scientists do not know how many and what kinds of noises are harmful to ocean animals. However, many scientists suspect that noise is a greater danger than they previously believed. They want to prevent noises from harming creatures in the ocean.
1.The second paragraph mainly tells us that the noises on land and in water ________ .
A.are both from human activities.
B.both do harm to sea animals
C.are measured differently
D.have the same effect on humans
2.As to(依据) the effects of noises on whales, which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A.They are deaf to noises.
B.Noises at a certain level may hurt them.
C.They are easily confused by noises.
D.Noises will limit their ability to reproduce.
3.Many researchers think that the noise limit of 120 decibels would ________ .
A.protect whales from noises
B.benefit them a lot in their research work
C.do good to their health
D.increase industrial output
4.What will scientists most probably do in the future?
A.Count the number of sea animals.
B.Stop their research on the ocean.
C.Study the effect of different noises.
D.Protect sea creatures from harmful noises.
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Are some people born clever, and others born stupid? Or is intelligence developed by our environment and our experience? Strangely enough, the answer to these questions is yes. To some extent our intelligence is given to us at birth, and no amount of education can make a genius out of a child born with low intelligence. On the other hand, a child who lives in a boring environment will develop his intelligence less than one who lives in rich and varied surroundings. Thus the limits of person's intelligence are fixed at birth, whether or not he reaches those limits will depend on his environment. This view, now held by most experts, can be supported in a number of ways.
It is easy to show that intelligence is to some extent something we are born with. The closer the blood relationship between two people, the closer they are likely to be in intelligence. Thus if we take two unrelated people at random from population, it is likely that their degree of intelligence will be completely different. If, on the other hand, we take two identical twins, they will very likely be as intelligent as each other. Relations like brothers and sisters, parents and children, usually have similar intelligence, and this clearly suggests that intelligence depends on birth.
Imagine now that we take two identical twins and put them in different environments. We might send one, for example, to a university and the other to a factory where the work is boring. We would soon find differences in intelligence developing, and this indicates that environment as well as birth plays a part. This conclusion is also suggested by the fact that people who live in close contact with each other, but who are not related at all are likely to have similar degree of intelligence.
1.Which of these sentences best describes the writer’s point in Paragraph 1?
A.To some extent, intelligence is given at birth.
B.Intelligence is developed by the environment.
C.Some people are born clever and others born stupid.
D.Intelligence is fixed at birth, but is developed by the environment.
2.It is suggested in this passage that_______.
A.close relation usually have similar intelligence
B.unrelated people are not likely to have different intelligence
C.the closer the blood relationship between people, the more different they are likely to be in intelligence
D.people who live in close contact with each other are not likely to have similar degrees of intelligence
3.The phrase “at random”(Line3, para.2) means _______ .
A.purposely B.frequently
C.aimlessly D.independently
4.The best title for this article would be_______.
A.What Dose Intelligence Mean ?
B.On Intelligence
C.We Are Born with Intelligence
D.Environment Plays a Part in Developing Intelligence
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Are some people born clever, and others born stupid? Or is intelligence developed by our environment and our experience? Strangely enough, the answer to these questions is yes. To some extent our intelligence is given to us at birth, and no amount of education can make a genius out of a child born with low intelligence. On the other hand, a child who lives in a boring environment will develop his intelligence less than one who lives in rich and varied surroundings. While the limits of a person’s intelligence are fixed at birth, whether or not he reaches those limits will depend on his environment. This view, now held by most experts, can be supported in a number of ways.
It is easy to show that intelligence is to some extent something we are born with. The closer the blood relationship between two people, the closer they are likely to be in intelligence. Thus if we take two unrelated people at random(随机地) from population, it is likely that their degrees of intelligence will be completely different. If, on the other hand, we take two identical twins, they will very likely be as intelligent as each other. Relations like brothers and sisters, parents and children, usually have similar intelligence, and this clearly suggests that intelligence depends on birth.
Imagine now that we take two identical twins and put them in different environments. We might send one, for example, to a university and the other to a factory where the work is boring. We would soon find differences in intelligence developing, and this indicates that environment as well as birth plays a part. This conclusion is also suggested by the fact that people who live in close contact with each other, but who are not related at all are likely to have similar degrees of intelligence.
1.Which best describes the writer’s point in Para.1?
A. Intelligence is given at birth.
B. Intelligence is developed by the environment.
C. Intelligence is fixed at birth, but is developed by the environment.
D. Some people are born clever and others born stupid.
2.It is suggested in this passage that __________.
A. close relations usually have similar intelligence
B. unrelated people are not likely to have similar intelligence
C. the closer the blood relationship between people, the more different they are likely to be in intelligence
D. people who live in close contact with each other are not likely to have similar degrees of intelligence
3.The example of the twins going to a university and to a factory separately shows_________.
A. the importance of their intelligence
B. the effect of environment on intelligence
C. the importance of their positions
D. the part that birth plays
4.The best title for this article would be “_____________”.
A. On Intelligence
B. What Intelligence Means
C. Born with Intelligence
D. Environment Decides Intelligence
高一英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Are some people born clever, and others born stupid? Or is intelligence developed by our environment and our experience? Strangely enough, the answer to these questions is yes. To some extent our intelligence is given to us at birth, and no amount of education can make a genius out of a child born with low intelligence. On the other hand, a child who lives in a boring environment will develop his intelligence less than one who lives in rich and varied surroundings. Thus the limits of person's intelligence are fixed at birth, whether or not he reaches those limits will depend on his environment. This view, now held by most experts, can be supported in a number of ways.
It is easy to show that intelligence is to some extent something we are born with. The closer the blood relationship between two people, the closer they are likely to be in intelligence. Thus if we take two unrelated people at random from population, it is likely that their degree of intelligence will be completely different. If, on the other hand, we take two identical twins, they will very likely be as intelligent as each other. Relations like brothers and sisters, parents and children, usually have similar intelligence, and this clearly suggests that intelligence depends on birth.
Imagine now that we take two identical twins and put them in different environments. We might send one, for example, to a university and the other to a factory where the work is boring. We would soon find differences in intelligence developing, and this indicates that environment as well as birth plays a part. This conclusion is also suggested by the fact that people who live in close contact with each other, but who are not related at all are likely to have similar degree of intelligence.
1.Which of these sentences best describes the writer’s point in Paragraph 1?
A. To some extent, intelligence is given at birth.
B. Intelligence is developed by the environment.
C. Some people are born clever and others born stupid.
D. Intelligence is fixed at birth, but is developed by the environment.
2.It is suggested in this passage that_______.
A. close relation usually have similar intelligence
B. unrelated people are not likely to have different intelligence
C. the closer the blood relationship between people, the more different they are likely to be in intelligence
D. people who live in close contact with each other are not likely to have similar degrees of intelligence
3.The phrase “at random”(Line3, para.2) means _______ .
A. purposely B. frequently
C. aimlessly D. independently
4.The best title for this article would be_______.
A. What Dose Intelligence Mean ?
B. On Intelligence
C. We Are Born with Intelligence
D. Environment Plays a Part in Developing Intelligence
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Are some people born clever, and others born stupid? Or is intelligence developed by our environment and our experiences? Strangely enough,the answer to both these questions is yes. To some extent(程度)our intelligence is given to us at birth,and special education can never make a genius(天才) out of a child born with low intelligence. On the other hand, a child who lives in a boring environment will develop his intelligence less than one who lives in rich and varied surroundings. Thus the limits of a person’s intelligence are fixed at birth, but whether or not he reaches those limits will depend on his environment. This view, now held by most experts can be supported in a number of ways.
It is easy to say that intelligence is to some extent something we are born with. The closer the blood relationship between two people, the closer they are likely to be in intelligence. Thus if we take two unrelated people at random from the population, it is likely that their degrees of intelligence will be completely different. If on the other hand we take two identical twins, they will very likely be as intelligent as each other. Relations like brothers and sisters,parents and children,usually have similar intelligence, and this clearly suggests that intelligence depends on birth.
Imagine that now we take two identical twins and put them in different environments. We might send one, for example, to a university and the other to a factory where the work is boring. We would soon find differences in intelligence developing, and this indicates that environment as well as birth plays a part. This conclusion is also suggested by the fact that people who live in close contact with each other, but who are not related at all, are likely to have similar degrees of intelligence.
1.By using the example that two people closer in blood relationship are closer in intelligence that writer wants to prove _.
A.intelligence can be developed by environment |
B.intelligence is given at birth |
C.intelligence can be developed by experience |
D.education plays an important part in the development of education |
2.A child who lives in rich and varied surroundings turns out higher in intelligence because ________.
A.his family is rich and therefore can afford to develop his intelligence |
B.he can break the limits of intelligence fixed at birth |
C.his family is rich and provides him with various healthy food |
D.these surroundings are likely to help him reach the limits of their intelligence |
3.In the second paragraph “if we take two unrelated people at random from the population...” means “if we ____.”
A.choose two persons who are relative |
B.take out two different persons |
C.choose two persons with different intelligence |
D.pick any two persons |
4.The best title for this passage might be __________.
A.Birth and Environment | B.Intelligence |
C.The Answer to a Question | D.Intelligence and Education |
高一英语阅读理解极难题查看答案及解析