It happens every spring. Flowers come out everywhere on the same day. But how do plants “know” when to flower?
For years, it has been a difficult question for scientists. But a US research group may have finally answered it—the secret lies in a protein(蛋白质)called FKF1. This helps plants to know when the days become long and when they get short. Then they can tell the seasons are changing.
Researchers found the FKF1 protein when they were studying a plant called Arabidopsis(拟南芥). It is sensitive(敏感的)to sunlight, and can be made active by sunlight.
Plants produce this protein every day in the late afternoon all year. If there is no light at this time, for example in winter when the sun goes down early, the protein won’t be active. But when spring comes and the days get longer, the FKF1 protein can be made active by day light and the plants “know” it is time to flower. “If there is light in the late afternoon, plants will know that the days are getting longer and that it is the best time for flowers to come out,” explained Takato Imaizumi, leader of study. But when conditions are poor for growing, such as during autumn or winter when the weather is cold and days are short, plants won’t flower.
Although researchers have only studied how the FKF1 protein works in the Arabidopsis, they believe that it is the same with many other plants, including crops such as rice and wheat. This could be useful to the agricultural industry.
“If we can control when flowers come out, we might be able to increase crop production,” Imaizumi said.The passage is mainly about ____.
| A．how plants “know” when to flower |
| B．what people can do with plants |
| C．how seasons are changing |
| D．what kind of plant Arabidopsis is |
Scientists found the FKF1 protein when they were____.
| A．answering a question |
| B．controlling the clours of flowers |
| C．planting flowers in the garden |
| D．studying a plant called Arabidopsis |
The best time for flowers to come out is when____.
| A．it rains in spring |
| B．there is light in the late afternoon |
| C．it is getting dark |
| D．the sun goes down early |
Scientists believe that____.
| A．other plants also know when to flowers |
| B．flowers are more valuable than fruits and vegetables |
| C．people have known how to control when flowers come out |
| D．if the weather is cold and days are short, plants will flower |
WARNING: Holding a cell phone against your ear or putting it in your pocket may be bad for your health.
This sentence is a warning that you’d better not put it close to you when a new phone is bought. Apple company, for example, doesn't want iPhones to come closer to you than 1.5 centimeters; Research In Motion, BlackBerry's producer, recommends 2.5 centimeters.
If cell phone use can cause health problems, the result will be very serious. Americans spend 2.26 trillion minutes chatting on cell phones every year, which brings $109 billion for the wireless businessmen.
Devra Davis, an epidemiologist(皮肤病专家) who has worked for the University of Pittsburgh, has published a book about mobile phone radiation（辐射）"Disconnect." Davis studies how often brain cancer happens during different age groups. She finds a big increase (增长) in brain cancer in the 20-to-29 age group and a drop for the older people.
Children are more easily hurt by radiation than grown-ups, Ms. Davis and other scientists point out. But no studies have yet been finished on cell phone radiation and children, she says.
Henry Lai, a research professor, began lab radiation studies in 1980 and found that mice exposed to(暴露在) radiofrequency（电波频率）radiation had destroyed DNA in their brains.
Ms. Davis recommends using wired earphones（有线耳机）or the phone's speaker. Children should send text messages rather than call, she said, and pregnant women should keep phones away from their bodies.
| It’s |
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| ● Apple company, the |
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| ● Motion, BlackBerry's producer ___ |
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| The |
● Devra Davis pointed out in the book "Disconnect" that people in the 20-to-29 age are more likely to have brain cancer than older people ● Ms. Davis and other scientists studied that Children are |
| ● Henry Lai found that___ |
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| Ms Davis’s |
● It’s |
A habit is any action that we have performed so often that it becomes something that we do almost without thinking. Some of them are thought to be bad habits. People spend countless hours and dollars each year trying to get rid of these bad habits but often fail. Why? Change is hard work and there is no shortcut to achieve it. However, there is still some advice for you to follow.
First, look at why you do it. In other words, what’s the result of doing this thing? If your bad habit is shouting at people when you are unhappy or under pressure, what do you get from it? It may make you feel a little better for the moment. Or maybe you have a bad habit of leaving your homework undone. The result could be that you get more time to spend on the Internet!
Next, take a look on the other hand. What are you losing because of your habit? Shouting at other people is a bad habit because it makes people around you feel bad and unhappy. Leaving your homework undone is a bad habit because you may be punished by your teacher. Having more Internet time means that you are losing the chance to learn the things that you need to learn. When you think that way, you’ll find that it’s not wise to keep your bad habit! Now it is time to make a decision. What will you choose? I’m sure you will choose to do what you think is more important.From the first paragraph we know that __________.
| A．a habit is a terrible thing that we can never change |
| B．people take countless hours and dollars to get rid of habits |
| C．none of the people who try to break bad habits are successful |
| D．though it is difficult, we can still do something about our bad habits |
The underlined sentence “there is no shortcut to achieve it” means that ________.
| A．it is not easy to get rid of bad habits |
| B．there is a long way and a short way |
| C．something dangerous may happen |
| D．we must cut it in a short time. |
According to the reading, if you want to get rid of your habits, you have to _____.
| A．talk to others when you are in low spirits |
| B．know why you do what you do |
| C．finish your homework first |
| D．spend less time on the Internet |
Which of the following does NOT happen because of a bad habit according to the reading?
| A．You are punished later. |
| B．Making people around you feel unhappy. |
| C．You feel a little better after shouting at others. |
| D．You leave your homework at home by accident. |
The main purpose of this passage is to __________.
| A．introduce and describe |
| B．complain（埋怨）and disagree |
| C．explain(解释) and advise |
| D．discuss and argue（争论） |
Colours often have different meanings in different cultures. In the U.S., people have found the following to be true.
Black
Black is the colour of power. It is also popular in fashion because it makes people appear thinner.
White
White is the symbol of purity. White is thought to be a summer colour. However, white shows dirt and is more difficult to keep clean than other colours.
Red
This is the most exciting colour. Red furniture (家具) should look very good since it will attract a lot of attention. Red cars are the thieves’ favourite. Red is often used in restaurants because it is an appetite (食欲) stimulant. This means it can make people eat more.
Blue
Blue is the colour of the sky and the ocean. Peaceful blue is often used in bedrooms. Studies show that weightlifters are able to lift heavier weights in blue gyms.
Green
Green represents nature. It is the easiest colour on the eye. Hospitals often use green because it relaxes patients.
Yellow
Sunny yellow is a cheerful colour, yet people lose their tempers (发脾气) more often in yellow rooms, and babies cry more.Which colour is a summer colour?
| A．Blue. | B．White. | C．Green. | D．Red. |
The underlined word “stimulant” means “______”.
| A．刺激物 | B．防腐剂 | C．辐射物 | D．装饰品 |
Where is colour red often used?
| A．In bedrooms. | B．In gyms. |
| C．In hospitals. | D．In restaurants. |
What does the underlined sentence mean?
| A．It is the easiest colour for people to find. |
| B．It is the most comfortable colour for eyes. |
| C．People can remember it more easily. |
| D．It can improve our eyesight. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the passage?
| A．White can make people eat more. |
| B．Blue can make patients feel more relaxed. |
| C．People can get angry easily in yellow rooms. |
| D．Black cars are popular among thieves. |
Many villagers have left to make a living in big cities. As a result, their children have become“leftover children”and they need more care. The survey below is from villagers in Jingyang, Shanxi Province. 200 children there were chosen to answer the questions.
| What they want |
Love |
Money |
Freedom |
Control |
Something |
| 30% |
28% |
28% |
10% |
4% |
|
| Whom to Communicate with |
Oneself |
Family members |
No one |
||
| 27% |
55% |
18% |
|||
| Whether they can Communicate With their Parents freely |
Yes |
A little difficult |
No |
||
| 46% |
44% |
10% |
|||
| The way They prefer To live |
Living with parents |
Living with grandparents |
No idea |
||
| 58% |
14% |
28% |
|||
| What they Think of Parents’ Working in The city |
Bad |
Good |
No idea |
||
| 26% |
32.5% |
41.5% |
|||
| Happiest place |
School |
Home |
Friends’ homes |
||
| 40% |
35% |
25% |
Of the five needs, leftover children need most.
| A．Freedom | B．Money | C．Control | D．Love |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．All of the children are happiest to stay at home without parents. |
| B．About one out of every two children has no one to talk with. |
| C．41.5% of the children aren’t sure whether their parents’ working in the city is good or not. |
| D．12.5% of the children think it is good to live with their parents. |
How many children think parents’ working in the city is bad?
| A．52% | B．32.5% | C．65% | D．26% |
From the survey, we can learn that .
| A．the leftover children can get more money |
| B．most children prefer to live with their parents |
| C．the leftover children want to live in big cities |
| D．only a few children are welcome to their family |
Which is the happiest place for leftover children to stay according to the survey？ .
| A．Their own home | B．Friends’ home |
| C．Big cities | D．School |
Schoolgirls have been wearing such short skirts that a Staffordshire school has ordered them to wear trousers instead. All skirts will be banned（禁止）from September at Paget High School in Branston. Tight-fitting(紧身的) trousers will also be banned and Muslim head-dressed will have to be “School blue” colour.
Head teacher Don Smith said, “one of the big problems for us at the school has been the number of girls who have been wearing improperly(不适当地) short skirts. This has been an area of special concern at a time when there have been a lot of wrong ideas of being beautiful.” Mr Smith said it would be impossible to determine(决定) how long girls’ skirts should be and that a blanket ban would be easier for teachers to carry out.
The head teacher said pupils’ and other teachers’ opinions were asked for before the new rule was set. The new clothing policy(政策) has been explained in a letter sent to parents of the school’s 1,000 pupils and will come into force after the summer holiday.
The school also wants pupils to wear clip-on ties(夹式领带) instead of traditional neckwear. This rule will be gradually out over the next year and support will be given to parents unable to afford the new tie.
One parent, whose teenage daughter studies at school, said, “I completely agree some girls were wearing skirts that were too short. However, I think girls should be allowed to wear skirts. Other school manage to let girls wear skirts while making sure they are not improperly dressed. I don’t see why Paget can’t do the same”What can we know about schoolgirls at Paget High School from the first
Paragraph?
| A．Trousers will have to give way to their skirts. |
| B．They will have to say goodbye to skirts on school days. |
| C．They will be allowed to wear head-dresses in different colours. |
| D．They will be allowed to wear tight-fitting trousers instead of short skirts. |
The underline phrase “ a blanket ban” probably means “ __________”.
| A．a ban on blankets | B．a ban on short and tight clothes |
| C．a complete ban | D．a sudden ban |
What can we know from the passage?
| A．Teachers called the pupils’ parents to explain the new rule. |
| B．Pupils will have to wear clip-on ties after the summer holiday. |
| C．Paget High School will provide clip-on ties for pupils for free. |
| D．Opinions were collected before the new clothing policy was made. |
What does the parent mentioned in the last paragraph think of the new rule?
| A．He isn’t satisfied（满意）with it. |
| B．He shows no interest in it. |
| C．He is pleased with it. |
| D．He doubts whether it can be carried out. |
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