AI can identify rare genetic disordersPeople ...

AI can identify rare genetic disorders

People with genetic syndromes (基因遗传综合症) sometimes have revealing facial features, but using them to make a quick and cheap diagnosis can be tricky when there are hundreds of possible conditions they may have. A new neural(神经的) network that analyses photographs of faces can help doctors narrow down the possibilities.

Gurovich at biotechnology firm FDNA in Boston and his team built a neural network to look at the gestalt (形态)– or overall impression of faces and return a list of the 10 genetic syndromes a person is most likely to have.

They trained the neural network, called DeepGestalt, on 17,000 images correctly labeled to correspond to more than 200 genetic syndromes. The team then asked the AI to identify potential genetic disorders from a further 502 photographs of people with such conditions. It included the correct answer among its list of 10 responses 91 per cent of the time.

Gurovich and his team also tested the AI’s ability to distinguish between different genetic mutations (突变) that can lead to the same syndrome. They used images of people with Noonan syndrome, which can result from mutations in one of five genes. DeepGestalt accurately identified the genetic source of the physical appearance 64 per cent of the time.

“It’s clearly not perfect,” says Gurovich. “But it’s still much better than humans are at trying to do this.”

As the system makes its assessments, the facial regions that were most helpful in the determination are highlighted and made available for doctors to view. This helps them to understand the relationships between genetic make-up and physical appearance.

The fact that the diagnosis is based on a simple photograph raises questions of privacy. If faces can reveal details about genetics, then employers and insurance providers could, in principle, secretly use such techniques to discriminate against people with a high probability of having certain disorders.

However, Gurovich says the tool will only be available to doctors. Christoffer Nellaker at the University of Oxford says this technique could bring significant benefits for those with genetic syndromes.

“This is not fundamentally different information than we’re sharing walking down the street, or we’re happy to share with Facebook or Google,” he says. “But questioning the data in this way means you can obtain information about health or disease status.

“The real value here is that for some of these extreme rare diseases, the process of diagnosis can be many, many years. This kind of technology can help narrow down the search space and then be confirmed through checking genetic markers,” he says.

For some diseases, this kind of technology will cut down the time to diagnose thoroughly. For others, it could perhaps add a means of finding other people with the disease and, in turn, help find new treatments or cures.

1.What is the purpose of Gurovich’s neural network?

A.To test the AI’s ability.

B.To analyze photographs of faces.

C.To help doctors reduce the range of the diagnosis.

D.To research the overall impression of patients’ faces.

2.What disadvantage does Deep Gestalt bring?

A.It will probably involve in the people’s privacy.

B.It cannot provide information about health or disease.

C.The diagnosis based on a simple photograph is not accurate.

D.It could perhaps add a means of finding other people with the disease.

3.What can we learn from the passage?

A.The result of the assessments for this system is perfect.

B.Deep Gestalt can correctly label 200 genetic syndromes.

C.It seems doubtful to use AI to distinguish genetic mutations.

D.This kind of technology can speed up the diagnostic process.

4.What is the author’s attitude to this technique?

A.Supportive. B.Puzzled.

C.Doubtful. D.Negative.

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

Face shape lets AI spot rare disorders

People with genetic syndromes（综合征）sometimes have revealing facial features, but using them to make a quick and cheap diagnosis can be_____ given there are hundreds of possible conditions they may have. A new neural network that analyses photographs of faces can help doctors _____ the possibilities.

Yaron Gurovich at biotechnology firm FDNA in Boston and his team built a neural network to look at the overall impression of faces and _____ a list of the 10 genetic syndromes a person is most likely to have.

They _____ the neural network, called DeepGestalt, on 17,000 images correctly labelled to match more than 200 genetic syndromes. The team then asked the AI to _____ potential genetic disorders from a further 502 photos of people with such conditions. It included the correct answer among its list of 10 responses 91 per cent of the time.

Gurovich and his team also_____ the neural network’s ability to distinguish between the different genetic mutations (变异) that can lead to the same syndrome. They used photographs of people with Noonan syndrome, which can result from mutations in any one of five genes. DeepGestalt correctly identified the genetic source of the physical appearance 64 per cent of the time. It’s clearly not _____, but it’s still much better than humans are at trying to do this.

As the system makes its assessments, the facial regions that were most helpful in the determination are _____ and made available for doctors to view. This helps them to understand the relationships between genetic make-up and physical appearance.

The fact that the diagnosis is based on a simple photograph raises questions about_____. If faces can reveal details about genetics, then employers and insurance providers could, in principle, _____ use such techniques to _____ against people who have a high probability of having certain disorders. _____, Gurovich says the tool will only be _____ for use by clinicians.

This technique could bring significant_____ for those who have genetic syndromes. The real value here is that for some of these ultra-rare diseases, the process of diagnosis can be many, many years. This kind of technology can help narrow down the search space and then be confirmed through checking genetic markers. For some diseases, it will cut down the time to diagnosis dramatically. For others, it could perhaps add means of finding other people with the disease and, _____, help find new treatments or cures.

1.A.convincing B.tricky C.reliable D.feasible

2.A.bring about B.result from C.narrow down D.rule out

3.A.return B.input C.top D.feed

4.A.based B.imposed C.focused D.trained

5.A.identify B.distinguish C.shift D.cure

6.A.tested B.demonstrated C.recognized D.acquired

7.A.acceptable B.perfect C.reliable D.workable

8.A.covered B.excluded C.highlighted D.supervised

9.A.objectivity B.accuracy C.credibility D.privacy

10.A.legally B.habitually C.efficiently D.secretly

11.A.discriminate B.fight C.argue D.vote

12.A.Furthermore B.Therefore C.Otherwise D.However

13.A.impossible B.available C.ready D.rare

14.A.challenges B.benefits C.damages D.concerns

15.A.by contrast B.in turn C.in addition D.on the contrary

高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Dealing with conflict in the workplace is rarely easy. Hurt feelings and anger can lead to lower employee morale (士气) as well as a loss of productivity and a poor work environment. As a manager. you should find some ways yourself to solve the conflict. The goal is to build a team-centered workforce.

　　　 You can use role-reversal (角色转换) methods to help each employee understand how the other feels. This model works best when there are only two parties involved. You can hold a meeting with annoyed workers in your office. You might say. "Jane, explain to me how you would feel if Nancy went to lunch with your clients (客户 ) without telling you?" Or. "Nancy, how would you respond if Jane came to me with complaints about you, but hadn't tried to talk to you about them first? "

Workers often respond better to praise than criticism. By publicly drawing attention to employees who have healthy work relationships. you can increase the awareness for those who encourage any conflict. Avoid mentioning teams or departments that are being troubled by conflict. Instead. focus on the teams that work well together You might say. "I want to express thanks to the design team for working together to meet the deadline this week," or -Special thanks to the finance department for their teamwork in making sure that the quarterly reports were accurate"

And help your employees see that differences can be good and don't necessarily lead to anger or disagreement This is one of the best ways to settle workplace conflicts. You can meet with employees and try to stress the value of different techniques. This lets all parties know that their own styles can be effective. You might say. " I know you disagree on how to market our services. but when you combine Jim's email marketing with Joe's personal one-on-one phone calls, you can increase sales. The two of you go well together. " Or. "I know you have different styles for interacting with clients. but Sally's take-them-out-for-coffee approach works well together with Ann's formal business meeting style Both are necessary for building relationships and getting work done. "

1.To build a team-centered workforce, employers_________.

A. should learn to be considerate　　　　　　

B. should be divided into two parties

C. shouldn't go out with clients alone　　　　

D. should learn to accept public criticism

2.By saying the underlined sentence "I want to express thanks ...this week". the author tries to

A. differences are not all bad　　　　　　　　

B. role reversals are necessary

C. the importance of working together　　

D. the importance of focusing on the positive

3.The author's purpose of writing the text is most likely to ________.

A. inform　　　　 B. persuade　　　　　 C. instruct　　　　　　　 D. eutertain

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

---- Occasions are rare _____ I can spend a day with my daughter.

---- You should spare some time to accompany her.

A．when            B．where            C．which            D．that

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Maya Angelou is one of those rare writers who can ______ your heart and soul with her vivid words.

A. combine B. touch C. share D. absorb

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

Rainbow-coloured rubbish is the colourful waste created by a Swedish city with a unique recycling system. Like many cities in Sweden, Eskilstuna has an impressive recycling record. It met the EU's 2020 target of recycling 50% of waste many years ago.

Almost everyone who lives here follows a strict recycling policy at home. People are expected to sort their household waste into seven separate categories, including food, textiles, cartons and metal. But what really makes the system stand out is the bright colour code.

The reason for this becomes clear at the city's recycling plant. The bags arrive all jumbled up（被混在一 起）because they're collected altogether, once a fortnight from outside people's houses.

But thanks to those bright colours, scanners can select the bags and separate them efficiently. The food waste in green bags is processed on site into slurry to make biogas, which powers the city's buses. One of the benefits of this method of recycling is that there is less cross-contamination, so more of the recycled waste can actually be used to make new things.

Like the rest of Sweden, Eskilstuna is committed to sending zero waste from its citizens to landfill. Waste that cannot be recycled is incinerated（焚化）at a local plant to generate electricity. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels, but does create greenhouse gases.

As countries around the world try to improve their recycling rates, some may think of Eskilstuna as an example to follow, as long as they think they can persuade their citizens to get busy sorting at home.

1.What can we say about the recycling system used in Eskilstuna?

A.It is a colorful policy. B.It is a temporary success.

C.It is an ordinary recycling system. D.It is a practical method of recycling.

2.What really makes the system of rainbow-colored recycling outstanding?

A.The strict recycling policy. B.The self-discipline of citizens.

C.The bright colour. D.The eco-friendly code.

3.Why is the non-recyclable waste burnt to ashes at a local plant in Eskilstuna?

A.To send zero waste to landfill. B.To make electricity.

C.To reduce dependence on fossil fuels. D.To decrease greenhouse gases

4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A.Some countries set a good example to Eskilstuna.

B.Eskilstuna follows in the footsteps of other countries.

C.Some countries may adopt the system of rainbow-colored recycling.

D.Eskilstuna may force its citizens to get busy sorting at home.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Dogs are known for a strong sense of smell. Their noses can be trained to identify different smells. Dogs are often used in search and rescue operations and to sniff for things like drugs and explosives. Some dogs have even been trained to sniff for cancer in people.

Researchers have been trying to reproduce the extraordinary sense of smell that real dogs are born with. Now, officials at the Glasgow airport in Scotland are testing a new security device called an “electronic sniffer dog”. The electronic sniffer dog represents one of the latest developments in the area of smell technology.

A Scottish company, Cascade Technologies, joined with the French security company Morpho to develop it. The device uses lasers to identify explosive materials in gases in the air. The purpose is to identify explosives that may be hidden on a person’s body.

The machine looks similar to the metal detectors now used at airports. Passengers walk through the machine as the lasers test the surrounding air. People are not required to take off their coats, belts or shoes as part of the security process. And, unlike full-body scanners, the new device does not show images of the passengers.

Officials at Cascade Technologies say the machine can process one person per second and produce almost immediate results. They say future development could cut security processing times at airports by screening all passengers at walking speed.

Professor Yushan Yan, the head of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Riverside, points out that unlike real dogs, electronic devices do not get tired or need to be walked or require food and water. Professor Yan says real dogs also have other needs. “They also need very extensive training that could be expensive. And when they work they have to have a very skilled handler around them.”

But Professor Yan says there is an important area where man’s best friend still wins compared to technology. “In terms of sensitivity and selectivity, the current technology out there is still inferior. The real dog has amazing capability of identifying some really minor amount of explosives.”

1. The electronic sniffer dogs will be used to____

A. replace real dogs to be as pets for people

B. search for and rescue people who are in trouble

C. help people look after patients in the hospital

D. identify drugs and explosives in places like the airport

2.Which of the following is true of the electronic sniffer dog?

A. The device uses lasers to examine for explosive materials.

B. People have to take off their clothes when walking through the device.

C. The device will show images of the passengers.

D. The device can process all passengers at walking speed.

3. The advantages of the electronic sniffer dog over the real dog include the following EXCEPT______

A. its convenience　　 B. its high efficiency

C. its sensitivity　　　 D. its low consumption

4.The underlined word “inferior” in the last paragraph most probably has the meaning of_____.

A. concentrating all one’s effort on a specific area

B. not as good as sb. / sth. else

C. that cannot be clearly understood

D. necessary for completeness

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

According to a recent study, a new genetically modified rice can prevent infections of HIV, the virus responsible for the disease AIDS.

The study reports the newly-developed rice produces proteins that attach directly to the HIV virus. This process prevents the virus from mixing with human cells. The scientists say it can remove the effect of the virus and block its spreading.

The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS reports that worldwide, nearly 37 million people were living with HIV in 2017. The organization says the largest number of those are in developing countries. Nearly two-thirds of HIV cases are in Africa. Now there is no cure for HIV/AIDS though there have been developments in oral drug treatments to slow the progression of the disease.

The new study predicts the rice-based method will lead to long-term use of the anti-HIV treatment across the developing world. Researchers said the “groundbreaking” discovery is “realistically the only way” that anti-HIV combination treatments can be produced at a cost low enough for the developing world.

They say the easiest and most cost-effective way to use the rice will be to make it into a cream to be put on the skin. The HIV-fighting proteins can then enter the body through the skin. People all over the world could grow the rice and make the cream themselves. This would prevent the cost and travel required for many patients to receive treatments and medicine.

The process of changing the genetic structure of food crops has been debated for some time. Critics of genetically engineered crops believe they can harm people. The scientific team says further testing is needed to ensure that the genetic engineering process does not produce any additional chemicals that could be dangerous to people.

1.What does the author intend to do in paragraph 3?

A. Stress the urgency of HIV treatments.

B. Provide some data about HIV.

C. Remind readers of HIV prevention.

D. Introduce HIV to the public.

2.In which way will the rice be used at the lowest cost?

A. By transforming it into proteins. B. By adding it to an oral drug.

C. By attaching it to the HIV virus. D. By processing it into a cream.

3.What can we infer about the genetic engineering process?

A. It can prevent infections of HIV. B. It can produce dangerous chemicals.

C. It still requires perfecting. D. It applies to the developed world.

4.From which is the text probably taken?

A. A biology textbook. B. A health magazine.

C. A social webpage. D. A first aid brochure.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

We often talk about ourselves as if we have permanent genetic defects （缺陷） that can never be changed．“I’m impatient．” “I’m always behind．” “I always put things 21!” You’ve surely heard them．Maybe you’ve used them to describe 22．

These comments may come from stories about us that have been 23 for years—often from 24 childhood．These stories may have no 25  in fact．But they can set low expectations for us．As a child, my mother said to me, “Marshall, you have no mechanical （操作机械的） skills, and you will never have any mechanical skills for the rest of your life．” How did these expectations 26 my development? I was never 27 to work on cars or be around 28．When I was 18, I took the US Army’s Mechanical Aptitude Test．My scores were in the bottom for the entire nation!

Six years later, 29 , I was at California University, working on my doctor’s degree．One of my professors, Dr．Bob Tannbaum, asked me to write down things I did well and things I couldn’t do．On the positive side, I 30 down, “research, writing, analysis, and speaking．” On the 31 side, I wrote, “I have no mechanical skills．”

Bob asked me how I knew I had no mechanical skills．I explained my life 32 and told him about my 33 performance on the Army test．Bob then asked, “34 is it that you can solve 35 mathematical problems, but you can’t solve simple mechanical problems?”

Suddenly I realized that I didn’t 36 from some sort of genetic defect．I was just living out expectations that I had chosen to 37．At that point, it wasn’t just my family and friends who had been 38 my belief that I was mechanically hopeless．And it wasn’t just the Army test, either．I was the one who kept telling myself, “You can’t do this!” I realized that as long as I kept saying that, it was going to remain true．39 , if we don’t treat ourselves as if we have incurable genetic defects, we can do well in almost 40 we choose．

高三英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Looking back on many years of education,I can identify one true teacher.She cared about me, and my intellectual life.She was an English teacher and also my mother.

When______an essay,the good students usually dream of their teacher returning it to themin exactly the same____,except for a single comment "perfect ".This dream came true for me one afternoon in the ninth grade. Slightly as I was______that I had achieved perfection so early,I hurried off home to share the good news with my mother.

She is just shy of five feet tall,______soft-spoken,but on the rare occasion when she got angry,she was______I’m not sue whether she was more upset by my prid____by the fact that my English teacher had let my pride get so ______.In any event,my mother and her pen showed me so many mistakes a perfect essay could have. At that time,I thought she was teaching me about structure,style and voice.However what I actually learned was a deeper lesson about the______of real criticism.

Real criticism is not______to find obvious mistakes,so if she found______-the type I______have found on my own-I had to______from scratch.Once the essay was " perfect ",she would______an evening walking me______my

errors.That was when true criticism,which changed me into a real writer,began.

She criticized me when I included little-known references and professional jargon(行话）She had no______for

brilliant but relevant figures of speech." Writers can bluff ( 虚张声势) their way through ignorance".she______my flowery language,drew lies through my exclamation marks(感叹号)and______the value of self-control in______"John",she almost whispered.I leaned in to hear her."I can't hear you when you______at me".So I stopped,and slowly my writing improved.

Right now I've been teaching writing at Harvard for years but still______remember what my mother taught me.

1.A. turning in　　 B. giving in　　 C. bringing in　　 D. setting in

2.A. position　　 B. impression　　 C. situation　　 D. condition

3.A. surprised　　 B. shocking　　 C. amazing　　 D. confused

4.A. generally　　 B. casually　　 C. abnormally　　 D. actually

5.A. terrible　　 B. terrifying　　 C. terrorist　　 D. terminal

6.A. than　　 B. as　　 C. or　　 D. and

7.A. out of hand　　 B. out of order　　 C. out of place　　 D. out of reach

8.A. character　　 B. nature　　 C. basics　　 D. principles

9.A. supposed　　 B. assumed　　 C. proposed　　 D. condemned

10.A. any　　 B. some　　 C. few　　 D. many

11.A. needed　　 B. could　　 C. ought　　 D. must

12.A. stop　　 B. finish　　 C. start　　 D. repeat

13.A. spare　　 B. cost　　 C. take　　 D. spend

14.A. through　　 B. across　　 C. over　　 D. off

15.A. reference　　 B. existence　　 C. conscience　　 D. patience

16.A. cut in　　 B. cut out　　 C. cut off　　 D. cut up

17.A. attained　　 B. analyzed　　 C. advocated　　 D. advertised

18.A. expression　　 B. emotion　　 C. composition　　 D. consideration

19.A. call　　 B. read　　 C. say　　 D. shout

20.A. much　　 B. well　　 C. very　　 D. rather

高三英语完形填空困难题查看答案及解析