How far would you be willing to go to satisfy your need to know？Far enough to find out your possibility of dying from a terrible disease？These days that’s more than an academic question，as Tracy Smith reports in our Cover Story.
There are now more than a thousand genetic(基因的) tests，for everything from baldness to breast cancer，and the list is growing.Question is，do you really want to know what might eventually kill you？For instance，Nobel Prizewinning scientist James Watson，one of the first people to map their entire genetic makeup，is said to have asked not to be told if he were at a higher risk for Alzheimer’s(老年痴呆症)．
“If I tell you that you have an increased risk of getting a terrible disease，that could weigh on your mind and make you anxious，through which you see the rest of your life as you wait for that disease to hit you.It could really mess you up.” said Dr.Robert Green，a Harvard geneticist.
“Every ache and pain，” Smith suggested，could be understood as “the beginning of the end.”“That’s right.If you ever worried you were at risk for Alzheimer’s disease，then every time you can’t find your car in the parking lot，you think the disease has started.”
Dr.Green has been thinking about this issue for years.He led a study of people who wanted to know if they were at a higher genetic risk for Alzheimer’s.It was thought that people who got bad news would，for lack of a better medical term，freak_out.But Green and his team found that there was “no significant difference” between how people handled good news and possibly the worst news of their lives.In fact，most people think they can handle it.People who ask for the information usually can handle the information，good or bad，said Green.
小题1:The first paragraph is meant to________.| A．ask some questions | | B．introduce the topic | | C．satisfy readers’ curiosity | | D．describe an academic fact |
小题2:Which of the following is TRUE of James Watson?| A．He is strongly in favor of the present genetic tests. | | B．He is more likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. | | C．He believes genetic mapping can help cure any disease. | | D．He doesn’t want to know his chance of getting a disease. |
小题3:According to Paragraphs 3 and 4，if a person is at a higher genetic risk，it is________.| A．advisable not to let him know | | B．impossible to hide his disease | | C．better to inform him immediately | | D．necessary to remove his anxiety |
小题4:The underlined part “freak out” in Paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to “________”．| A．break down | B．drop out | | C．leave off | D．turn away |
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小题1:B
小题2:D
小题3:A
小题4:A |
小题1: B
解析 在第一段中通过两个问题引出本文要谈论的话题。
小题2: D
解析 根据第二段“Nobel Prizewinning scientist James Watson，one of the first people to map their entire genetic makeup，is said to have asked not to be told if he were at a higher risk for Alzheimer’s(老年痴呆症)．”可知，James Watson要求如果他的基因表明他有很高的老年痴呆症的可能性不要告诉他。
小题3: A
解析 根据这两个自然段可知，如果你提前被告知你将来可能患某种可怕的疾病，你可能会心情焦虑甚至精神崩溃。故A项符合。
小题4: A
解析 根据划线词所在句子及后一句可知，freak out的意思是break down(精神垮掉)。 |
核心考点
试题【How far would you be willing to go to satisfy your need to know？Far enough to fi】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
[详细]举一反三
Scientists discovered 163 new species in Southeast Asia’s Greater Mekong region last year，but all are at risk of extinction due to climate change，the WWF said in a report released Friday.
The newly discovered creatures include a birdeating frog with fangs (毒牙)，a bird that would rather walk than fly and a gecko (壁虎) whose alien appearance inspired the report’s title of “Close Encounters”，the conservation group said.
The report was released ahead of major UN talks on climate change in Bangkok next week，which are being held before a makeorbreak summit in Copenhagen this December.
“Some species will be able to adapt to climate change，and many will not，potentially resulting in massive extinction，” Stuart Chapman，director of the WWF Greater Mekong program，said in the report.“Rare and endangered species like those newly discovered are especially vulnerable (易受伤害的) because climate change will further shrink their already restricted habitats，” he said.
“The new discoveries in 2010 include 100 plants,28 fish,18 reptiles,14 amphibians,2 mammals and a bird，”the WWF report said.The area spans Cambodia，Laos，Myanmar，Thailand，Vietnam and China’s Yunnan Province.
“Among the new species is the birdeating fanged frog，which remains hidden in a protected area of Thailand despite the fact that scientists are studying there for 40 years，” the report said.
The tigerstriped pit viper was discovered accidentally on an island off the coast of Vietnam when a scientist was looking for a lizard and his son pointed out that his hand was on a rock right next to the snake’s fangs.“We caught the snake and the gecko and they both proved to be new species，” researcher Lee Grismer of La Sierra University in California was quoted as saying in the report.The leopard gecko，found on another Vietnamese island，has the coloring of a leopard and bizarre orange，catlike eyes and thin legs.
The Greater Mekong region has proved a rich area for scientists.The WWF said in December 2010 that it had found 1,068 new species there between 1997 and 2009.
小题1:What is special about the newly discovered bird?| A．It usually walks. | | B．It likes walking and flying. | | C．It can eat other birds. | | D．It can eat frogs. |
小题2:Stuart Chapman believes that________.| A．most of the newly discovered species can adapt to climate change | | B．climate change can cause massive extinction of the newly discovered species | | C．the newly discovered species are not so vulnerable to climate change | | D．many species have already died out because of climate change |
小题3:When Lee Grismer discovered the tigerstriped pit viper，he probably felt________.| A．frightened | B．disappointed | | C．excited | D．puzzled |
小题4:What does the passage mainly tell us?| A．The Greater Mekong region is a rich area for scientists. | | B．Many rare species remain to be discovered in the Mekong region. | | C．Scientists have discovered many new species in the Mekong region. | | D．Climate change threatens Mekong new species. |
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Five cloned pigs，whose organs are much less likely to be rejected(排斥) by a patient，have been born in the U．S.
More than 62,000 people in the U．S. alone are waiting to ____ donated hearts，lungs and so on.The number of human donors falls far short of ____.Pig organs are of a(n) ____ size to human organs，and some scientists hope they might be used to help meet the ____.But previous attempts to transplant pig tissue into humans have ____.
The five pigs ____ a gene that adds a sugar to the surface of pig cells.The sugar would ____ immune(免疫的) rejection of the tissue.“This advance provides a neartime ____ for overcoming the problem that there is not enough human organs for transplants，”says an expert.“This is the ____ gene for overcoming the ____ stage of rejection.”
____，scientists warn that much more work is necessary ____ organs from copies of the pigs could be transplanted into humans.Human genes will need to be added，to ____ rejection of the organ in the long term.There are also ____ that pig viruses could infect patients.
Cloning techniques were ____ to the production of the pigs.Genes can only be knocked out(去除) in a single cell.Cloning of these single cells then allowed the ____ of a whole animal in which the gene was knocked out in every cell.But the PPL researchers have ____ in knocking out only one copy of the gene.The team will now attempt to knock out both copies of the gene.
The team will also ____ tests to investigate whether a virus from the pigs could infect human cells.“Although a lot of the work is very ____，we’re still very far off being able to grow an organ，” says Julia，who is working on this project and quite ____ to creating similar knockout pigs with researchers at the University of Missouri.
| 小题1: | | A．exchange | B．check | | C．possess | D．receive |
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| 小题2: | | A．discussion | B．demand | | C．doubt | D．distance |
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| 小题3: | | A．beneficial | B．identical | | C．similar | D．certain |
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| 小题4: | | A．shortage | B．condition | | C．satisfaction | D．argument |
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| 小题5: | | A．continued | B．failed | | C．finished | D．paused |
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| 小题6: | | A．lack | B．include | | C．make | D．change |
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| 小题7: | | A．leave | B．cause | | C．block | D．destroy |
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| 小题8: | | A．supply | B．ambition | | C．contribution | D．solution |
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| 小题10: | | A．last | B．whole | | C．next | D．early |
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| 小题11: | | A．However | B．Therefore | | C．Besides | D．Finally |
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| 小题12: | | A．because | B．before | | C．if | D．after |
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| 小题13: | | A．prevent | B．ignore | | C．judge | D．weaken |
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| 小题14: | | A．regrets | B．emotions | | C．concerns | D．interests |
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| 小题15: | | A．simple | B．vital | | C．unusual | D．basic |
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| 小题16: | | A．collection | B．application | | C．reception | D．creation |
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| 小题17: | | A．delighted | B．succeeded | | C．joined | D．believed |
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| 小题18: | | A．conduct | B．plan | | C．design | D．study |
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| 小题19: | | A．perfect | B．strange | | C．exciting | D．disappointing |
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| 小题20: | | A．opposed | B．used | | C．devoted | D．suited |
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Plastic is one of the most important technological discoveries of the 20th century.However，it may soon be replaced.The new development—liquid wood—can replace plastics in all branches of modern industries.
Plastic as a material enjoys the biggest demand in the modern world，but it does have a number of drawbacks.First and foremost，plastic isn’t recyclable.Secondly，it contains toxins (毒物) helping develop cancerous diseases.Finally，it’s made of oil and oil reserves aren’t endless.
The liquid wood technology is likely to replace plastic and provide mankind with new materials for many years ahead.Norbert Eisenfreich，a senior researcher at the Faunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT) in Germany，said that arboform，the new material，is made of lignin (木质素)，which can be obtained from soft tissues of wood.Once mixed with several other materials，it turns into solid and nontoxic alternative for plastics.
ICT team leader Emilia Regina InoneKauffmann said the woodworking industry separates wood into three basic components，including lignin.Lignin isn’t used for the production of paper.Specialists of ICT mixed lignin with several natural materials and thus invented the material which could be melted and molded (铸型)．
When solid，arboform looks like plastic and possesses the qualities of polished wood.It can be used for the production of any items.Arboform is already used for the production of car parts which require extra strength.In addition，liquid wood can be recycled repeatedly.The material preserved all of its qualities even if it’s reprocessed ten times.
However，the new invention doesn’t enjoy an extensive use due to the high content of sulphur (硫) in it.German researchers are sure to reduce the amount of sulphur by 90 percent very soon to make arboform usable for home needs.
小题1:According to the passage，plastic________.| A．plays a big role in the modern world | | B．helps to protect our environment in some way | | C．has been replaced by the newly discovered material | | D．helps us to reduce the use of petrol |
小题2:What’s the advantage of arboform over plastics?| A．It is easily made from natural oil. | | B．It is more widely used in household. | | C．It is recyclable and friendly to the environment. | | D．It contains no poisonous materials. |
小题3:It can be concluded that German researchers will focus their future work firstly on________.| A．the material’s extensive use | | B．the content of sulphur in arboform | | C．the production cost of arboform | | D．the qualities of liquid wood |
小题4:The main purpose of the passage is to________.| A．advertise the new material—arboform | | B．introduce liquid wood which will replace plastic | | C．advertise new products made of arboform | | D．show readers how to produce arboform |
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One of the most popular activities enjoyed by Americans is spending time in forests and walking along paths through the country.This activity，called hiking，has led to the creation of paths throughout the United States.
One of the longest is the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.The trail is the first completed part of the National Trails System.The trails system was established by Congress and the president in 1968.The Appalachian Trail is more than 3,400 kilometers long.It starts in the northeastern state of Maine and ends in the southeastern state of Georgia.The trail goes through 14 states.They are Maine，New Hampshire，Vermont，Massachusetts，Connecticut，New York，New Jersey，Pennsylvania，Maryland，West Virginia，Virginia，Tennessee，North Carolina，and Georgia.
The path takes walkers through the Appalachian Mountains.They extend from the Canadian province of Quebec to the southern American state of Alabama.
The Appalachian Mountains are among the oldest on Earth.They first began forming about one thousand million years ago.During the millions of years since then，the mountains were changed and reformed by the forces of water and wind.Ice also changed the mountains，making many of them smaller and digging valleys and lakes among them.Many different kinds of trees grow along the trail.And many different kinds of animals live in the forests along the trail.
Lands along the trail are protected by the federal government and by state governments.Some parts are not protected by the government directly.Instead，they are protected by legal agreements with private owners willing to permit people to walk across their property.
Walkers on the Appalachian Trail pass through some of the great valley systems of the mountains.They can look down into these beautiful valleys and see farms and forests stretching across the land for many kilometers.Farmland in the valleys is rich and productive.And some of the great events in American history took place in the valleys.For example，one of the great battles of the American Civil War was fought in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.
小题1:The Appalachian Trail________.| A．is more than four thousand three hundred kilometers long | | B．starts in the northern state of Maine | | C．goes through more than fourteen states | | D．ends in the southeastern state of Georgia |
小题2:The Appalachian Mountains________.| A．are the first completed part of the National Trails System | | B．began forming one million years ago | | C．were changed by natural forces like water，wind and ice | | D．were around by valleys and rivers and famous for its scenery |
小题3:The lands along the trail________.| A．are protected entirely by either the federal government or state governments | | B．are mainly protected by legal agreements with private owners | | C．can be visited by travelers freely only under the permission of owners | | D．are protected by both the federal government and state governments |
小题4:What is mainly described in the last paragraph?| A．The Appalachian Mountains have some great valley systems. | | B．Farms and grasslands stretch across the valleys for many kilometers. | | C．One of the American independence battles was fought in the Shenandoah Valley. | | D．Lakes in the Appalachian Mountains are one of the most beautiful sights. |
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Scott Langteau has this message for kids：spend less time playing video games.
It’s a message that many a mom and dad have tried to impress upon many a youngster (and some notsoyoungsters) who spend perhaps a bit too much time with game controllers in hand.
But the 40yearold Langteau isn’t a parent.He’s a veteran (老手) of the video game industry—one who played producer on three “Medal of Honor” games and cofounded his own game development company.
Langteau has just published a children’s books called Sofa Boy，which tells the story of a kid who spends too much time sitting on the couch with controller clutched in hand and the rather terrible consequences that follow.
It’s a fairy tale plucked straight from Langteau’s own experiences as a lad with a fondness for video games and his own bouts with a bit of game addiction.But first，Langteau would like to make one thing clear，“I’m not saying that you shouldn’t play video games.I think video games are great.I think they do great things for kids.”Instead，Langteau says his book is all about a little something called moderation (克制)．
“It’s about being well rounded，” he says.“Just like with anything else，we all need to make sure that there’s a variety in what we do.”
Video gamers can be rather badtempered when it comes to accepting criticism about their favorite entertainment.And understandably so.After all，most people who go around talking about the dangers of playing video games tend to be outsiders—people who don’t play video games and certainly don’t understand that they can be a valuable and healthy form of entertainment.
But Langteau and Sofa Boy seem to be in a unique position to deliver a message of gaming moderation that the young game masses might actually listen to.After all，this is a man who understands what it means to be a kid with a passion for games.His early experience has taught him a lesson.
小题1:Scott Langteau published Sofa Boy to________.| A．share his great skills on games | | B．warn kids against game addiction | | C．tell about his fairy tale as a kid | | D．deliver a message for video games |
小题2:Which of the following is TRUE about Sofa Boy?| A．The book implies the writer’s own story. | | B．The book describes a veteran of games. | | C．The boy in the book wins a medal in games. | | D．The boy in the book is not a video game addict. |
小题3:We can learn from the passage that________.| A．Langteau advises the young to play games within limits | | B．Langteau advises the young not to play games | | C．playing video games ruins the future of kids | | D．playing video games doesn’t benefit kids |
小题4:By saying “It’s about being well rounded，...” (in Para.6)，Langteau means________.| A．games do great good to kids | | B．gamers are usually fat and round | | C．games should be viewed from all sides | | D．gamers are to blame for their behaviors |
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