Babies made from three people approved in UK
Babies made from two women and one man have been approved by the UK’s fertility regulator. The historic and controversial move is to prevent children from being born with deadly genetic diseases.
Doctors in Newcastle — who developed the advanced form of In Vitro Fertilization or IVF (人工授精) — are expected to be the first to offer the procedure and have already appealed for donor eggs. The first such child could be born, at the earliest, by the end of 2017.
Some families have lost multiple children to incurable mitochondrial (线粒体的) diseases, which can leave people with insufficient energy to keep their heart beating.
The diseases are passed down from only the mother, so a technique using a donor egg as well as the mother’s egg and father’s sperm has been developed.
The resulting child has a tiny amount of their DNA from the donor, but the procedure is legal and reviews say it is ethical (伦理的) and scientifically ready.
“It is a decision of historic importance,” said Sally Cheshire, chairwoman of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). “I’m sure patients will be really pleased by what we’ve decided today.”
But some scientists have questioned the ethics of the technique, saying it could open the door to genetically-modified(转基因) ‘designer’ babies.
The HFEA must approve every clinic and every patient before the procedure can take place. Three-person babies have been allowed only in cases where the risk of a child developing mitochondrial disease is very high.
Prof Mary Herbert, from the Newcastle Fertility Centre, said, “It is enormously pleasing that our many years of research in this area can finally be applied to help families affected by these devastating diseases”.
“Now that we are moving forward towards clinical treatments, we will also need donors to donate eggs for use in treatment to prevent affected women transmitting disease to their children.”
Prof Sir Doug Turnbull, the director of the Welcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research at Newcastle University, said, “We are delighted by today’s decision. We will also provide long-term follow up of any children born.”
NHS England has agreed to fund the treatment costs of the first trial of three-person IVF for those women who meet the HFEA criteria, as long as they agree to long-term follow up of their children after they are born.
1.Why is it historically important to approve babies made from three people?
A.It helps couples who lose the ability to give birth to a baby.
B.It marks a foundation stone to change babies’ appearances before birth.
C.It stops deadly genetic diseases passing down to newly-born babies.
D.It turns out to be an advanced form of In Vitro Fertilization.
2.Which of the following is TRUE about mitochondrial diseases?
A.They pass down on to babies from their parents.
B.They prevent people’s heart from functioning normally.
C.Some children infected can be cured with proper treatment.
D.Babies can be infected with them through a donor’s egg.
3.How can a clinic or a patient be approved of applying the three-person baby technique?
A.Only when the baby to be born needs it to survive.
B.Only when the patient gets financially prepared.
C.Only when the clinic gets scientifically ready.
D.Only when the technique is ethnically accepted.
4.What is the author’s attitude towards the approval of babies made from three people?
A.Supportive B.Indifferent C.Worried D.Objective
There' s a word of wellness I've loved for years. It's HALT: the idea that if you want to be calm and content, never let yourself get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired. Researchers are increasingly looking more closely at the“L”in“HALT”，with one report presented to the American Psychological Association finding that long-term loneliness might be a greater public health risk than obesity.
Loneliness is a problem with many faces. Some people are alone most of the time—data collected by the United Kingdom found that 200,000 people over the age of 75 had not had a conversation with a friend or a relative in more than a month. But some people feel lonely even in a crowded room, disconnected from meaningful relationships even though their days are filled with people.
To me, walking a positive path means walking alongside others—people who lift our spirits, share our values, challenge us to grow and learn and bring us joy. But social satisfaction doesn't come automatically or even easily to too many people. And in our age of individualized electronic devices, social media and text-based communication, it can be harder than ever to feel truly connected to others.
I was so heartened to read that recently the British Parliament (议会) has created a “Minister for Loneliness” position to promote research, education and principles so as to cure what some researchers call “the loneliness disease”. More and more doctors in America are also screening adult patients for loneliness at annual physical examinations, which is another promising sign.
With proper social support and community participation, loneliness can be prevented from happening. If you are feeling lonely, make a list of your daily routines and ask yourself how you could add more social interactions to each day. Try reaching out for volunteer opportunities, clubs and organizations to join and old friendships to renew. If you are struggling, ask a consultant to help you identify your social obstacles and overcome them.
1.What is paragraph 2 mainly talking about?
A.Aging population in Britain. B.Strange behavior of people.
C.Different types of loneliness. D.Social communication in Britain.
2.What does the author think makes people feel lonely?
A.Pressure from challenging work. B.Living far away from each other.
C.Fewer visits to relatives. D.Popularity of digital devices.
3.How does the author feel about “the loneliness disease”？
A.It is avoidable. B.It is hard to cure.
C.It needs official support most. D.It relies on doctors' work.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Building a Close Relationship B.Fighting Against Loneliness
C.The Risk of Being Lonely D.Measures of Avoiding Loneliness
It was an autumn day, and 1 was standing in the kitchen, hanging my head over the counter and trying to figure out how many calories were in a bowl of homemade yogurt and fruit. And I felt annoyed.
I was 16, and my best friend and I had gone to our first Weight Watchers meeting. It was the trend in the mid-1980s，and even though I was an athlete, like many teen girls, I didn't necessarily like what I saw in the mirror. But after a week or so of recording every meal and snack and calculating the calories, I had had enough. I went back to my routine of chowing whatever I wanted, running and skiing, and let that be that. And it's still pretty much what I do; as long as the workouts are regular and the food is whole and balanced, my body's set point hasn't varied for years.
The weight loss trend of three decades ago−full of scales and counting calories−has fallen away. Now fasting is popular. The ways to keep fit vary: on the 5:2 diet a person eats for five days and fasts for two days each week, while the 18:6 refers 10 fasting for 18 hours and then eating within a six-hour window each day.
In this issue, Associate Editor Mark Barna tries to understand the science behind the fasting plans. Researchers have found that animals like monkeys age more slowly after years of eating less, and in the lab in humans, they saw improvements in a number of signs that indicate risk of some hard to cure diseases. The hope for healthy weight loss isn’t over yet, but at least now the calculators don’t have to be out at every meal.
1.What made the author annoyed?
A.Her body was not as strong as an athlete’s.
B.There were too many calories in the yogurt and fruit.
C.The Weight Watches meeting was not necessary for her.
D.She had to work out the calories in every meal and snack.
2.Which of the following can replace the underlined word “chowing”?
A.Eating. B.Doing C.Cooking. D.Choosing.
3.How do people keep fit now?
A.They limit the calories they take in.
B.They lose weight only.
C.They fast daily or weekly.
D.They eat enough every day.
4.What do we know about the researchers’ finding in this passage?
A.People grow more slowly if they eat less.
B.People are healthier if they eat less.
C.People have stopped losing weight now.
D.People calculate their food for every meal.
It’s fun to dream about vacationing in Europe, but international flights are not always particularly affordable. If you’re looking to experience a taste of European culture, however, there are many places in the US with a European heritage(传统).
St. Augustine Florida
Founded by Spanish settlers in 1565, St. Augustine is full of Spanish-inspired architecture, historical sites and other attractions. The Colonial Quarter is a popular tourist area, and there are many places to grab traditional Spanish food.
Holland, Michigan
Holland was settled in 1847 by Dutch Calvinist separatists, under the leadership of Dr Albertus van Raalte. Terrible economic conditions in the Netherlands forced them to emigrate(移居国外), while their desires for religious freedom led them to unite and settle together as a group. Much of the original architecture was destroyed in an 1871 fire, but the city still has many windmills, eateries, art and even an annual tulip festival and holiday market.
New Glarus, Wisconsin
More than 160 years after it was founded, New Glarus has maintained much of its Swiss heritage and old world traditions. New Glarus’ Swiss immigrant roots are proudly on display with its Alpine architecture, Swiss Historical Village Museum and Yodel Club. The Wisconsin village also puts on cultural events like the Heidi Folk Festival and Swiss Volksfest.
Solvang, California
Located near Santa Barbara, Solang is a charming California city with Danish roots. A group of immigrates from Denmark founded Solvang just over 100 years ago to create a Danish home away from home. As such, the city is full of Danish architecture, restaurants, shops and even a copy of Copenhagen’s famous Little Mermaid statue.
1.Which US city might have the longest European origin ?
A.St. Augustine B.Holland C.New Glarus D.Solvang
2.Why did Dutch Calvinist separates decide to emigrate?
A.To reveal the dark side of their native place.
B.To pursue religious freedom and economic opportunities.
C.To found a Dutch community with united power.
D.To seek for a US state with better social welfare.
3.Which of the following originates from Denmark?
A.Yodel Club. B.The Heidi Folk Festival.
C.The Colonial Quarter. D.The Little Mermaid statue.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.How old was Dave when his father passed away?
A.15. B.10. C.5.
2.What did Dave do in the evenings?
A.He earned some money. B.He did housework for the family.
C.He drove his brother to some places.
3.Who introduced Andrew at the graduation ceremony?
A.His soccer coach. B.The school headmaster. C.The head of the school district.
4.What happened during Andrew’s speech?
A.His mother started crying. B.Andrew thanked his father.
C.Dave realized his hard work had paid off.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where is the art exhibition taking place?
A.At an art gallery. B.At a shopping mall. C.At an exhibition center.
2.What does the man think of the place of the exhibition now?
A.It is strange. B.It is ordinary. C.It is cool.
3.What is being shown in the painting section of the exhibition?
A.Mainly classical paintings. B.Largely contemporary paintings.
C.An equal number of classical paintings and contemporary paintings.
4.Which section is the most popular?
A.The video section. B.The sculpture section. C.The photography section.
