It's hair-raising news for criminals on the run. Scientists behind a new study have worked out how to identify individuals only based on the proteins(蛋白质) in a single piece of their hair.
While the police already look at DNA from hair as part of investigations, the technique is far from ideal: DNA is easily changeable, meaning it can only be analyzed within a certain time period after the crime. But the new technique could even be used to solve historical or archaeological cases, making it far superior to DNA arrangement in many ways.
DNA change depends on several environmental factors including temperature, humidity and PH. It is also affected by the activity of bacteria and other microorganisms. In contrast, actual hairs can survive for a long time-----sometimes centuries. After bones and teeth, hair is in fact one of the most resistant structures of the human body.
In order to understand how the protein can be used to identify individuals, it is important to understand proteins are coded by DNA. This means that a certain level of the genetic variation that we see in different people's DNA passes into their proteins. In fact, genetic information in the DNA is translated into chains that make up proteins.
The method not only allows for human identification but it can also show how old the sample is and what region it comes from, so that we can distinguish between current and ancient samples. But while the discovery is exciting, the technique is not quite polished enough to be used in the court room. The main task now will be to analyze hair samples from all over the world, which will make it a lot more reliable.
The new discovery will promote the significance of hair as evidence in courts, at a time when some forensic(司法鉴定的) disciplines have been criticized in the US. It will also be of great use in archaeology.
1.What's the main idea of the passage?
A. DNA evidence is far from ideal.
B. Criminals on the run get hair-raising news.
C. Scientists are planning a test of human hair.
D. Humans can be identified by proteins in hair.
2.Which evidence is more reliable for the police to identify a criminal?
A. Lost teeth B. The footprint.
C. Personal belongings D. Damaged DNA.
3.In what way is the new technique superior to DNA test?
A. Serving as evidence in courts.
B. Possessing genetic information.
C. Inferring the height of a person.
D. Distinguishing the region of a person.
4.What will scientists do in the following few years?
A. Test hair samples worldwide. B. Legalize the hair evidence.
C. Apply protein-test to archaeology. D. Map the structure of DNA.
5.Who will welcome the discovery?
A. Criminals. B. Employers.
C. Hairdressers. D. Archaeologists.
If you make a list of the world’s top ten most challenging jobs, chances are that being a teacher will not make the cut. But think about the discouraging task millions of educators face each day as they try to shape a group of often bad-tempered, wild kids into intelligent, well-rounded individuals. That surely has to be the toughest job in the world, especially given that there is no promotion or bonus awaiting them even if they are wildly successful!
What if these all-important individuals that we often take for granted disappear from our lives? That was what Project Ed and Participant Media’s Teach campaign asked filmmakers of all ages to imagine in their recently-held competition. Entitled “A World Without Teachers”, its purpose was to inspire more young people to become teachers. However, the 62 amazing video submissions also serve as a reminder of how horrible things would be if we didn’t have these selfless individuals guiding us through life. What was interesting is that even the youngest participants did not appear to be happy at the idea of not having anybody telling them what to do.
High-school student Savannah Wakefield reflected if art as we know it today would have been different without teachers. Would Monet have discovered his talent for impressionism? Los Angeles-based Miles Horst, who won the 1000 USD prize for the best adult submission imagines a world where teachers are replaced by a “brain box” in his fun lively entry.
Youth category winner Marina Barham’s video represents a fact we all know but often forget. Teachers don’t just teach, they inspire—something that no electronic device, no matter how smart, can do! So the next time you think your teacher is being “mean” for trying to channel you in the right direction, imagine a life without him/her. We have a feeling it will not appear as rosy!
1.What is the text mainly about?
A. The significance of teachers.
B. The campaign to promote teachers’ status.
C. A survey of people’s views about teachers.
D. A competition to win the prize for the best teacher.
2.From the passage we can learn that .
A. teaching naughty kids is a very discouraging task
B. being a teacher is one of the most challenging jobs in the world
C. a successful teacher has the greatest chance to be promoted
D. teachers have little influence on kids’ individual development
3.What is the purpose of the project “A World Without Teachers”?
A. To attract kids to submit more videos of their teachers.
B. To encourage more people to go into teaching career.
C. To expect teachers to devote themselves to their jobs.
D. To remind students to appreciate teachers’ hard work.
4.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 4 suggest?
A. Teaching is quite different from other jobs.
B. The future of teachers’ work appears inspiring.
C. A world without teachers will be unimaginable.
D. Many people attach more importance to teaching.
Oil is essential for modern life. About 64 percent of the world’s oil is located in the Middle East, but the heaviest consumers of oil are Europe, America, and Japan. The problem lies in getting the oil from the countries that produce it to the countries that consume it. This is mainly done using oil tankers. Usually the oil is shipped safely and with no problems, but occasionally there is a disaster.
Every year millions of tons of oil are spilled into the ocean. Although this is only a small percentage of the total amount shipped around the world each year, this spilled oil can have terrible effects on ocean life, including the coastlines where the oil washes up onto shore.
One of the worst oil spills in history occurred along the Alaskan coastline in 1989, when the Exxon Valdez tanker got stuck off the coast of Alaska, spilling 42 million liters of oil. Although it wasn’t the largest oil spill, the disaster was terrible because it occurred in such a sensitive natural area. In this spill, the tanker’s captain, who was tired from overwork and drinking alcohol, had gone to take a rest. He gave control of the ship to another sailor, who was unfamiliar with the route. The ship ran onto Bligh Reef. Damaged by the reef, the ship leaked oil out into the ocean. More than 1,600 kilometers of coastline were affected by the oil spill. Many birds and otters died as a result of the oil covering their skin, and many other sea creatures and the animals that fed on them were also severely affected.
1.Which country is NOT among the largest consumers of oil?
A. Japan B. Iraq
C. America D. Germany
2.What does the underlined “them” refer to?
A. The birds. B. The otters.
C. The sea creatures. D. The birds and the otters.
3.Which of the following statement is true?
A. The oil leak of Alaska is because the captain was unfamiliar with the route.
B. Many birds and otters died from eating the spilled oil.
C. Alaska spill was the most serious spill of all time.
D. Although some oil leak is not serious, it will affect ocean life.
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1.Why are there an increasing number of medical related emergencies?
A. Old people’s quality of life is down at present.
B. The old are not paying attention to their health.
C. The overall health of the old is worse than before.
D. Many old people have no one to keep them company.
2.What's the main advantage of the system mentioned in the text?
A. Preventing falls. B. Serving as an alarm.
C. Replacing doctors. D. Improving health and mind.
3.What benefit can the first 100 callers to order get?
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This printer is of good quality．If it _______ break down within the first year, we would repair it at our expense．
A. would B. should C. could D. might
________achievements, last week’s ministerial meeting of the WTO here earned a low, though not failing, grade.
A. In terms of B. In case of
C. In favour of D. In face of
