Nature has its own way of balancing itself out, but when we humans get involved, we tend to throw things out of control. Forests and oceans are natural carbon sinks that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but since we’ve been pumping too much into the air, those sinks can’t keep up. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute in Germany, led by biologist Tobias Erb, have figured out a way to supercharge plants to make them better at absorbing CO2, which could be a key defense against climate change.
Erb and his team figured out a way to make plants more efficient at absorbing carbon, so that they consumed more carbon in a shorter amount of time. “If you think about plants, they are efficient CO2-fixing filters, but they are not fast, ” Erb said. “I think there is a chance to improve existing biology with synthetic(人造的) biology.”
Erb’s team identified 17 enzymes(酶) from nine different organisms, re-engineering three of them, that had an enlarged carbon consumption. When those enzymes worked together as a team, they worked better at not only plants’ natural enzymes, but also themselves individually. Existing enzymes in plants consume about 5 to 10 molecules(摩尔) of CO2 per second. The team of enzymes that Erb used consumed 80 molecules per second.
So far, these enzymes have only been tested in test tubes in the lab, but the next step is real world testing where the enzymes would be introduced into plants to see if the same result occurs. If those tests show that plants really can be supercharged, we could have a new tool in the fight against climate change where not only do we protect the amazing carbon-absorbing forests we have, but we also add these super plants or an artificial leaf technology using the enzymes into other mixed fields.
1.Why can’t forests and oceans balance nature?
A. Because oceans and forests are getting smaller.
B. Because a large number of forests are cut down.
C. Because we human beings give off too much CO2.
D. Because there are too many creatures in the world.
2.Which is the key defense against climate change according to Erb and his team?
A. To increase the plants’ ability and efficiency to absorb CO2.
B. To make oceans and forests to absorb more CO2 quickly.
C. To reduce the human’s activities giving off too much CO2.
D. To increase the number of plants in the world.
3.What can we get from the last paragraph?
A. The enzymes have proved useful in real world.
B. The technology has worked against climate change.
C. The enzymes have not been used in the lab.
D. The technology may have a bright future.
4.This passage is intended to ________.
A. call on people to pay more attention to the balance of nature
B. introduce a possible way to better plants’ ability of absorbing CO2
C. analyze the cause and result of climate change related to plants
D. explore the possibility of using plants to fight against climate change
I’d like to share a little story with you about something that happened when I was four. I remember it clearly. Our loving family dog was nearing the end of his life. My father picked him up and put him in a little bed we had made for him. Our dog, my companion, whom we had cared for, bit my father when he attempted to help him. How could he? Why? I couldn’t understand it. I didn’t like him anymore.
I hadn’t thought about that story for a long time but something that happened last week brought it back to me. I went to speak with a friend. When I knocked on the door, I met in an instant an angry look and a few harsh(尖刻的)words. When the door was slammed(砰地关上)in my face, I stood there shocked, and in a rush, I was reminded of my dog bit my father 20 years ago or so. What brought that story back was that same feeling of betrayal.
Both stories taught me something the next day. You see, when I got up in the morning and was told my dog had died, it became clear to me that he must have been in great pain. For him to have bitten a family member, he could not have been himself. Much the same for the other story when I learned that my friend’s wife had just left him.
We are all beings of our environments, our opinions and feelings. And all of those things can cause you to say and do things that can’t be understood by those who are not in the same situation with you.
If you meet someone either behaving out of character or acting in a way that doesn’t seem to fit the situation, put out your hand and be patient when you think it is least possible for him to do so. You may turn around a story that has a sad ending simply by your actions.
1.What is the influence of the incident mentioned in Paragraph 1?
A. It hurt his father’s feeling deeply.
B. It has puzzled the author ever since.
C. It left a deep impression on the author.
D. It made the author dislike dogs.
2.What made the author think of the story of about 20 years ago?
A. His friend’s attitude.
B. The photo of the dog.
C. His father’s wound.
D. His friend’s suffering.
3.Why did the author’s friend say harsh words to the author?
A. He was ill-tempered.
B. He was suffering the pain of losing his wife.
C. He was bothered by an unexpected visit.
D. They once quarreled and he couldn’t forgive the author.
4.What’s the author’s advice to us?
A. Help those in need.
B. Look before you leap.
C. Respect for others is a kind of virtue.
D. Learn to put yourself in others’ shoes.
When my son was first diagnosed with Autism (自闭症), it was a very hard time for us. However, in some ways it was a relief, because we finally had a name for what was going on in our lives, but it also meant years more of uncertainty, and we didn’t know what the future held.
When I shared the news with my coworkers, I was so surprised and happy to receive so much immediate love and support from them. They were focused on what we needed, as opposed to how it would affect my ability to make it to work.
One co-worker, Jackie, in particular, was amazing to my family and me. She called me into her office a few days later, and gave me a “ worry stone”. It gives you something to focus on when you’re worried, rubbing your thumb around on this stone. It was a lovely gesture.
She then extended a permanent offer to drive us to any appointments or tests we needed. Considering the fact that we lived 90 minutes from where most treatment took place, this was a tremendous offer. She made it very clear to me that this offer included last minute trips or emergencies. Anytime we needed to go anywhere, she was willing to be our transportation. She said that we needed to be able to focus on our son instead of having to divide our attention between the road and him.
We never did need to take her up on her wonderful offer, but knowing it was there and that she was so willing to help made it feel like we were much less alone.
1.What does “a relief” refer to in the first paragraph ?
A. My son’s recovery from the disease.
B. The help from my co-workers.
C. Knowing what my boy’s problem is.
D. The sign of a better future.
2.Why did the co-worker offer to drive for us?
A. She is a more experienced driver.
B. We live far away from the hospital.
C. She lives very close to our house.
D. She wishes to reduce our worries.
3.What does the writer think of the offer by Jackie?
A. It’s a great comfort.
B. It’s a last-minute offer.
C. It’s not necessary.
D. It’s a difficult decision for her.
4.What might be the best title for the text?
A. Years of Uncertainty
B. The Most Generous Woman
C. In Time of Need
D. A Story of Sacrifice
Attractions in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Island
The site of the original British settlement and the main focus of most tourists. Most of Hong Kong’s highest skyscrapers and the financial center can be found here. Overall, Hong Kong Island is more modern and wealthy and dramatically less dirty than the other areas of Hong Kong. The Peak is the tallest point on the island, with the best views and highest real estate values in the world.
Kowloon
The peninsula to the north of Hong Kong Island, with great views of the island. It offers a chaotic mix of malls, street markets, and residential houses. It has a great view of Hong Kong Island. With over 2.1 million people living in an area of less than 47 square kilometres, Kowloon is one of the most densely populated places in the world. Kowloon includes TsimShaTsui, the location of many budget hotels and MongKok, a shopping district.
New Territorics
Named by British officials when leased from the Chinese government in 1898, the New Territories contain a curious mix of small farms, villages, industrial installations, mountainous country parks and towns that have the size of populations in some cities.
Lantau Island
A large island west of Hong Kong Island. You will not find many peaceful villages, but once you get over the stray dogs and the ramshackle buildings you will find beautiful mountains and beaches. The airport, Disneyland, and the Ngong Ping cable car are located here.
Outlying Islands
Well-known weekend destinations for the locals, the Outlying Islands are most of the islands surrounding Hong Kong Island. Highlights include Lamma, well known for its seafood and Cheung Chau, a small island that used to be a pirates’ den (贼窝), but now attracts seafood aficionados, windsurfers and sunbathing day trippers.
1.Where should you go if you want to have seafood?
A. Kowloon.
B. New Territories.
C. Lantau Island.
D. Outlying Islands.
2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. New Territories has towns with a large population.
B. Kowloon has many expensive hotels and a shopping district.
C. Lantau Island has most of the islands surrounding Hong Kong Island.
D. Hong Kong Island has the highest skyscraper of Hong Kong.
3.Where can this article probably be found?
A. A story book.
B. A news report.
C. A travel guide.
D. A science magazine.
假如你是某校学生会主席李华，你校将面向全体学生征集校训（school motto)，请根据下面提示写一份书面通知。
1. 活动目的；
2. 校训要求：积极向上、原创、简洁；
截止时间：本周五下午5点；
征集部门：学生会，campusactively@163.com；
颁奖时间和地点：3月23日上午9点，报告厅。
注意：100词左右，可适当添加情节以使行文流畅。
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假定英语课上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。
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注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Last week I noticed Jack coughing on our math class. See this, I offered to take him to a clinic. There the doctor asked Jack how he had coughed sometimes for long time. Jack nodded his head immediate. The doctor then wrote a prescription with instruction on how to take the Chinese medicine. When Jack tasted the medicine, he almost brings it up. I comforted him with an old saying “Good medicine for health tastes bitter to the mouth”. Jack managed to swallow them unwillingly. But when he had recovered three days later, he felt amazing at the effect of the Chinese medicine.
