Scientists from China, Sweden and the United Stated have developed a high-producing rice that can reduce methane emission(甲烷排放), a major greenhouse gas blamed for global warming, from rice fields, according to a paper published on the latest issue of Nature.
By inserting a barley(大麦) gene into rice, Sun Chuanxin and his colleagues created SUSIBA2 Rice, which stores more starch(淀粉) in the section of the rice above ground, according to a paper published on the latest issue of Nature.This means the grains will have more starch while the root will exude less nutrients that will later be turned into methane by microbes(微生物) in the soil, Sun, who works with Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, told Xinhua.
"It solves two major problems mankind faces at one time: environmental degradation and the need for increased grain output," Wang Feng, another scientist, said, adding that the rice can cut methane discharge by more than 90 percent during summer and more than half during autumn, as "the rice displays a greater emission reduction effect in high temperatures." Meanwhile, small-scale trials have also suggested an increased output: a single plant of the new breed has 300 more grains with a starch content 10 percent higher. Wang said the team is working on applications for the rice in different areas, seasons and using different farming techniques. "It's still far away from mass application, but at least we see the light of hope."
Human-induced methane, though less abundant than carbon dioxide in the air, is responsible for 20 percent of the global warming effect. Rice paddies are the largest single source of methane linked to human activity. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, China produces 209 million tons of rice in 2014, or 28 percent of the world's total of 734 million.
1.SUSIBA2 Rice will be a major breakthrough because _______.
A. it tastes with a barley flavor
B. it well balances environmental protection and grains increase
C. it contains more starch than the ordinary rice
D. it gives off less methane in summer than in winter
2.What can we learn from the text?
A. Scientists will soon grow the new rice in large areas
B. Human-related methane contributes most to global warming
C. China may contribute greatly to global warming reduction
D. Rice fields will be reduced all over the world
3.The purpose of this writing is to ________.
A. ask people to cut down on their dependence on rice consumption
B. draw people’s attention to the serious consequences of global warming
C. introduce a new kind of genetically-modified rice and its possible benefits
D. indicate human-related methane alone is to blame for global warming effects
Language changes all the time. The words used by young people in the UK can be very different to those used by adults. These extremely informal words and expressions are known as “slang”. Here are a few examples:
·Instead of using different tag question like isn’t it? Can’t you or don’t they? People use “innit”.e.g. It’s hot here, isn’t it?=It’s hot here, innit!
·Instead of saying very, really or completely, they use “well”. e.g. I’m well tired.
· “Whatever” means “I don’t care”. e.g. A: But the teacher says we can’t leave until we’ve finished. B:Whatever. I’m going.
Nobody uses slang and not everybody likes it. A school in Sheffield, in the north of England, recently instructed its pupils to stop using slang words. The head teacher says that if young people learn to speak ‘correctly’ this will help them get a good job.
When British people use slang, it’s no surprise that some students say they can’t understand native speakers. But perhaps learners don’t need to worry about communicating with native speakers so much. Research shows that most of the English spoken in the world today is spoken between non-native speakers of the language. In fact, when we think about “International English”, there is no such thing as a native or non-native speaker.
How important is it to understand these slang words and expressions? If you watch films or TV, chat online in English, then understanding slang can be very useful. But you probably won’t see much slang in your English exam though. With over seven billion people living on our planet today, it’s easy to think one person’s actions won’t make a difference, however, from personal experience, I can say: each of us is capable of making a difference, however small, to someone’s life.
1.Based on the slang mentioned above, what is the meaning of “I think you got me well wrong.”?
A. I think you really hurt my feelings
B. I think you totally misunderstood me
C. I think you found the completely wrong person
D. I think you completely brought the wrong thing
2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. It is essential to learn all the British slang
B. Native English speakers cannot understand each other well
C. English is used more between non-native speakers currently
D. Young people in Britain often use the same slang words as their parents
3.In the author’s opinion, why shouldn’t English learners be concerned about slangs?
A. British slangs can hardly come across to English learners
B. English learners won’t speak with the native speakers
C. English learners can make a difference in the world
D. There are more people who don’t use native slang to communicate
4.The author may agree to the opinion that _______.
A. individuals can play a part in others’ life
B. slang learning is an important part of language learning
C. one may express his doubt and disbelief by saying “Whatever”
D. English learners may feel difficult to communicate without slang
At least once each winter I manage to get a good flight in the middle of a snowstorm. Last Sunday was that flight. My gliding(滑翔的) partners had looked at the weather reports of showers and decided to stay at home. People say that you shouldn’t fly by yourself, but on that day I felt the urge to go flying and so headed for my favorite gliding site.
I had the mountain ridge to myself. After a smooth lift-off, I floated stably in the breeze, feeling at peace with myself and the world. I looked across the valley to Bedford and a moment later saw the town disappear in a band of snow that was moving towards me.
The breeze remained strong enough for flying and I knew that as long as the visibility was good, it was OK for me to stay in the air. The snow moved in and swirled around me. It was a light dry snow. The day was already very quiet but, somehow, the light snow made it even more silent. I felt like a snowflake.
Two bald eagles joined me. They didn’t pay me any attention and spent a few minutes flying around the ridge before disappearing. I flew through another band of snow. I had been flying for about 45 minutes when I next looked across the valley. I could see there were more bands of snow to come and the breeze was dying too.
It was time to go home, get in a hot bath and warm up. I couldn’t wait to tell my gliding partners that they had missed out on a perfect flight.
1.Why did the author’s gliding partners refuse to fly on that day?
A. They preferred to fly alone
B. The weather did not permit
C. They did not like winter flights
D. The equipment was not adequate
2.Which is closest in meaning to the underlined word “” in Paragraph 3?
A. Weather
B. Skill
C. Possibility
D. View
3.What can be inferred from the passage?
A. The bald eagle can cause damage to the author’s flight
B. The author will land and go home after the snow stops
C. Brand of snow will be a great threat to the author’s flight
D. The author will hesitate to share his experience with his partners
4.What could be the best title for the article?
A. The First Flight Alone
B. A Narrow-Escape Flight
C. One Never-Again Flight
D. An Impressive Winter Flight
假设你是李华，准备参加学校举办的主题为“健康成长”的英语作文比赛。请按要求写一篇短文，主要内容包括：
1.乐观的人生态度； 2.努力学习； 3.参加体育锻炼。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
3. 文章的开头已给出不计入总次数。
We all want to grow up happily and healthily, and for this goal we must do several things.
短文改错
假定英语课上英语老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中至多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
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. 每处错误及其修改均限一词。
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Today I visited the Smiths — my first time visit to a American family. They live in a small peacefully town. It was very kind for them to meet me at the railway station and drove me to their home. The Smiths did their best to make me feel at home. They offered myself coffee and other drinks. We have a good time talking and laughing together. They eager to know everything about China and asked me lots of question. In fact, they are planning to visit China in next year.
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
The local elementary school had just let out and I found myself behind a school bus as I was driving home. The bus stopped by a house 1. (stand) on top of a hill. A little girl no more than seven years old jumped down the bus steps and 2. (start) running up the driveway toward the house.
I looked up the hill to see 3. she was going and saw her Dad waiting for her. As she got closer and closer her Dad smiled and bent down to greet her. When she got to him, he folded her in 4. powerful arms and gave her a huge hug.
My eyes watered a bit as I watched this scene and remembered all the times 5. my own children had ran into my arms with 6. (smile) faces. Every single hug from them 7. (be) a fountain of youth and a treasure of joy.
My lovely trip down memory lane was interrupted when I heard the car behind me sound its horn (喇叭). I saw 8. school bus quickly pulling away. I started to follow it again with a 9. (light) spirit than I had before. I took that beautiful moment and stored it 10. (safe) in my soul where I knew it would remain forever.
