Scientists have discovered a special biological behavior in dolphins（海豚） that could lead to a treatment for late-onset diabetes（晚发的糖尿病） in humans. Studies on dolphins found that healthy dolphins switch into a diabetic-like state overnight when they are not feeding, but return to normal when they eat the following morning.
The extraordinary finding has led scientists to suggest that dolphins have “genetic switch” that allows them to imitate diabetes while they are not feeding for a night, without suffering any ill effect.
If researchers can identify a similar genetic pathway in human, they may be able to develop drugs to effectively switch off diabetes. Some 2.2 million people in Britain have type 2 (or late-onset) diabetes, a figure that is expected to reach 4 million by 2025 as a consequence of rising levels of obesity（肥胖）.
The tissues of people with type 2 diabetes have become resistant to insulin（胰岛素）so they lose the ability to control sugar levels in their blood. The condition can damage the heart, eyes, kidneys（肾脏） and nerves and contribute to 5% of all deaths, according to the World Healthy Organisation.
Dolphins appear to imitate diabetes to keep high levels of blood sugar when food is rare. Like humans, dolphins need some sugar in their blood for their brains to function normally. Venn-Watson’s team analysed 1,000 blood samples（样本） from 52 dolphins while they didn’t eat anything overnight and fed in the morning. At night time, the dolphins’ metabolism（新陈代谢）changed greatly and showed similar characteristics to that seen in people with type 2 diabetes.
“It is our hope that this discovery can lead to new ways to prevent, treat and maybe even cure diabetes in humans,” said Stephanie Venn-Watson, director of clinical research at the National Marine Foundation in San Diego.
1.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. Humans get some idea of treating diabetes from dolphins.
B. Dolphins can switch into a diabetic-like state overnight.
C. Humans can suffer the same disease as dolphins.
D. Dolphins should be fed regularly to avoid diabetes.
2.The key to applying the finding to curing human diabetes lies in ____________.
A. producing insulin in a larger amount
B. developing drugs from healthy dolphins
C. identifying a similar genetic pathway in human
D. analysing more blood samples from hungry dolphins
3.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Scientists have found a similar genetic switch in humans.
B. More British people will suffer type 2 diabetes due to obesity.
C. 2.2 million people with type 2 diabetes die in Britain every year.
D. Dolphins imitate diabetes to avoid a high blood sugar level.
4.What will happen to dolphins if not fed for a night according to Venn-Watson?
A. Their metabolism breaks down.
B. They become resistant to insulin.
C. Their heart and kidneys are damaged.
D. They keep high levels of blood sugar.
They baby is just one day old and has not yet left hospital. She is quiet but alert （警觉）. Twenty centimeters from her face researchers have placed a white card with two black spots on it. She stares at it carefully. A researcher removes the card and replaces it by another, this time with the spots differently spaced. As the cards change from one to the other, her gaze（凝视） starts to lose its focus — until a third, with three black spots, is presented. Her gaze returns: she looks at it for twice as long as she did at the previous card. Can she tell that the number two is different from three, just 24 hours after coming into the world?
Or do newborns simply prefer more to fewer? The same experiment, but with three spots shown before two, shows the same return of interest when the number of spots changes. Perhaps it is just the newness? When slightly older babies were shown cards with pictures of objects (a comb, a key, an orange and so on), changing the number of objects had an effect separate from changing the objects themselves. Could it be the pattern that two things make, as opposed to three? No again. Babies paid more attention to squares moving randomly on a screen when their number changed from two to three, or three to two. The effect even crosses between senses. Babies who were repeatedly shown two spots became more excited when they then heard three drumbeats than when they heard just two; likewise （同样地） when the researchers started with drumbeats and moved to spots.
1.The experiment described in Paragraph 1 is related to the baby’s__.
A. sense of hearing B. sense of sight
C. sense of touch D. sense of smell
2.Babies are sensitive to the change in______.
A. the size of cards B. the colour of pictures
C. the shape of patterns D. the number of objects
3.Why did the researchers test the babies with drumbeats?
A. To reduce the difficulty of the experiment.
B. To see how babies recognize sounds.
C. To carry their experiment further.
D. To keep the babies’ interest.
4. Where does this text probably come from?
A. Science fiction. B. Children’s literature.
C. An advertisement. D. A science report.
Some people will do just about anything to save money. And I am one of them. Take my family’s last vacation. It was my six-year-old son’s winter break form school, and we were heading home from Fort Lauderdale after a weeklong trip. The flight was overbooked, and Delta, the airline, offered us $400 per person in credits to give up our seats and leave the next day. I had meetings in New York，So I had to get back. But that didn't mean my husband and my son couldn't stay. I took my nine-month-old and took off for home.
The next day, my husband and son were offered more credits to take an even later flight. Yes, I encouraged—okay, ordered—them to wait it out at the airport, to "earn" more Delta Dollars. Our total take: $1,600. Not bad, huh?
Now some people may think I'm a bad mother and not such a great wife either. But as a big-time bargain hunter, I know the value of a dollar. And these days, a good deal is something few of us can afford to pass up.
I've made living looking for the best deals and exposing （揭露） the worst tricks. I have been the consumer reporter of NBC's Today show for over a decade. I have written a couple of books including one titled Tricks of the Trade: A Consumer Survival Guide. And I really do what I believe in.
I tell you this because there is no shame in getting your money’s worth. I’m also tightfisted when it comes to shoes, clothes for my children, and expensive restaurants. But I wouldn't hesitate to spend on a good haircut. It keeps its shape longer, and it's the first thing people notice. And I will also spend on a classic piece of furniture. Quality lasts.
1. Why did Delta give the author's family credits?
A. Their flight had been delayed.
B. They had early bookings.
C.They took a later flight.
D. Their flight had been cancelled.
2.What can we learn about the author?
A. She is very strict with her children.
B. She seldom makes a compromise.
C.She rarely misses a good deal.
D. She is interested in cheap products.
3.What does the author do?
A. She's a media person. B. She's a housewife.
C. She's a teacher. D. She's a businesswoman.
4.What does the author want to tell us?
A. How to expose bad tricks.
B. How to reserve airline seats.
C. How to spend money wisely.
D. How to make a business deal.
The National Gallery
Description:
The National Gallery is the British national art museum built on the north side of Trafalgar Square in London. It houses a diverse collection of more than 2,300 examples of European art ranging from 13th-century religious paintings to more modern ones by Renoir and Van Gogh. The older collections of the gallery are reached through the main entrance while the more modern works in the East Wing are most easily reached from Trafalgar Square by a ground floor entrance
Layout:
The modern Sainsbury Wing on the western side of the building houses 13th- to 15th-century paintings, and artists include Duccio, Uccello, Van Eyck, Lippi, Mantegna, Botticelli and Memling.
The main West Wing houses 17th-century paintings, and artists include Leonardo da Vinci,Cranach, Michelangelo, Raphael, Bruegel, Bronzino, Titan and Veronese.
The North Wing houses 17th-century paintings, and artists include Caravaggio, Rubens, Poussin, Van Dyck, Velazquez, Claude and Vermeer.
The East Wing houses 18th- to early 20th-century paintings, and artists include Canaletto, Goya, Turner, Constable, Renoir and Van Gogh.
Opening Hours:
The Gallery is open every day from 10am to 6pm (Fridays 10am to 9pm) and is free, but charges apply to some special exhibitions.
Getting There:
Nearest underground stations: Charing Cross (2-minute walk), Leicester Square (3-minute walk), Embankment (7-minute walk), and Piccadilly Circus (8-minute walk).
1.In which century’s collection can you see religious paintings?
A. The 13th. B. The 17th.
C. The 18th. D. The 20th.
2. Where are Leonardo da Vinci’s works shown?
A. In the East Wing. B. In the main West Wing.
C. In the Sainsbury Wing. D. In the North Wing.
3.Which underground station is closest to the National Gallery?
A. Embankment. B. Leicester Square.
C. Piccadilly Circus. D. Charing Cross.
假设你叫李华，是一家英文杂志社的心理咨询师。某中学生小王给你写信，提到自己偏胖，想节食减肥，征求你的意见。请你给她回一封信，谈谈你对该问题的见解。内容要点如下：
1．健康比漂亮更重要；
2．学生以学习为主，不要过于注重外貌和别人的看法；
3．可通过多锻炼身体保持健康，要改变不良的饮食习惯；
4．健康的心态也很重要。
注意：
1．短文必须包括所有内容要点，可适当发挥；
2．词数：100左右。
3．参考词汇：state of mind 心态
Dear Xiao Wang,
I have received and read your letter, in which you mentioned that you wanted to lose weight by dieting.
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短文改错（共10小题，每题1分，满分10分）
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间修改作文,请你修改你同桌写的以下作文,文中共有10处语言错误,每句最多有两处.错误涉及一个单词的增加,删除和修改.
增加:把缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧),并在其下面写出该词.
删除:把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉.
修改:在错的词下划一横线,并在该词下面写出修改后的词.
注意:1.每处错误极其修改均限一词.
2.只允许修改10处,多者从第11处不记分.
Dear Jin Jing,
Your problem is common one among middle school students．Maybe the following advices can help you．First in all, believe in yourself．Your greatest problem is that you lack self-confidence．The first thing you must do it is to smile at your classmates．One smile speaks loud about your wish to make friends than any words．Your smile will show that you are friendly to him．Next, trying talking with a student who is as shy as you or who share the same interest with you．You can discuss your studies with a classmate and you can also talk about your hobbies．Unless anyone is in trouble, you should be ready to help him or her．Once you have confidence, you can make as many friends as possibly．
Yours,
