选择知识点

The idea of turning recycled plastic bottles into clothing is not new.During the last five years,a large number of clothing companies,businesses and environmental organizations have started turning plastics into fabric to deal with plastic pollution.But there's a problem with this method.Research now shows that microfibers could be the biggest source of plastic in the sea.
Dr.Mark Browne in Santa Barbara,California,has been studying plastic pollution and micro-fibers for 10 years now.He explains that every time synthetic（合成的）clothes go into a washing machine,a large number of plastic fibers fall off.Most washing machines can't collect these microfibers.So every time the water gets out of a washing machine,microfibers are entering the sewers and finally end up in the sea.
In 2011，Browne wrote a paper stating that a single piece of synthetic clothing can produce more than l,900 fibers per wash.Browne collected samples from seawater and freshwater sites around the world,and used a special way to examine each sample.He discovered that every single water sample contained microfibers.
This is bad news for a number of reasons.Plastic can cause harm to sea life when eaten.Studies have also shown that plastic can absorb other pollutants.
Based on this evidence,it may seem surprising that companies and organizations have chosen to turn plastic waste into clothing as an environmental "solution".Even though the science has been around for a while,Browne explains that he's had a difficult time getting companies to listen.When he asked well-known clothing companies to support Benign by Design-his research project that seeks to get clothes that have a bad effect on humans and the environment out of the market,Browne didn't get a satisfying answer.Only one women's clothing company,Eileen Fisher,offered Browne funding.



What has happened during the past five years？ ______
A. Fabric has become much stronger.
B. Plastic pollution has been less serious.
C. Microfibers have been greatly improved.
D. Many plastic bottles have been reused.

What does Browne think of washing synthetic clothes？ ______

A. It is worsening environmental problems.
B. It is adding microfibers to the clothes.
C. It is making synthetic clothes last longer.
D. It is doing great damage to washing machines.

What can be inferred about Browne's Benign by Design research project？ ______

A. It has achieved great success.
B. It hasn't got anything done.
C. It is facing some difficulties.
D. It is known to very few people.

Where is the text most likely from？ ______

A. A novel.
B. A magazine.
C. A diary.
D. A guidebook.

My parents want me to ______ but now I still want to set off for a new adventure.（　　）

Can you think of a day without music？We can hear music everywhere：in the streets and at home,over the radio and on TV，in the shops and in the parks.People all over the world are fond of music.They listen to music,they dance to music,and they learn to play musical instruments.
Music isn't only combination of pleasant sounds.It is an art which reflects life.There are lot of different kinds of music.Some of them appeared long ago,and some are modern.Folk music appeared long ago,but it is still alive.Folk songs are very pleasant to listen to.Classical music is often associated with the music of the past.Rap is a modern musical style where the singer speaks or shouts the words in time to music with a steady beat.
Great Britain has produced more popular music stars than any other country.British groups often set new trends in music.New styles,groups and singers continue to appear.Many of the new bands have been able to use changes in technology to develop their music such as computerised drum machines,synthesizers and other electronic instruments.
Tastes differ.So people's musical interests range from pop and rock music to classical music and opera.My favourite style of music is pop music,because it is full of energy.When I listen to pop music it makes me remember happy times and forget the problems of everyday life.I also enjoy listening to classical music.The music I hate is heavy metal,I find it noisy.When I listen to this style of music it presents to my mind pictures of dark days.My mother and father agree with my tastes in music.Though they prefer to listen to classical,they think that modern music is not too bad.
Music appeals to our hearts.It comforts our souls and enriches our minds.Music is beauty in sounds；it is our magic source of inspiration.



What is the first paragraph mainly about？ ______
A. Several types of music.
B. Different musical tastes.
C. The development of musical styles.
D. The importance of music in our lives.

How is the second paragraph developed？ ______

A. By giving examples.
B. By analysing reasons.
C. By describing courses.
D. By making comparisons.

Why does the author like pop music？ ______

A. It is played with electronic instruments.
B. It is characterised by a steady beat.
C. It is loud and strong.
D. It sounds energetic.

What is the author's parents' attitude towards his musical taste？ ______

A. Doubtful.
B. Supportive.
C. Dissatisfied.
D. Unconcerned.

Christian Eijkman,a Dutch doctor,left the Netherlands for the island of Java.Many people on the island had a disease called beri-beri.He was going there to try and find a cure.
At first,Eijkman thought some kind of germ （细菌） caused beri-beri.He raised some chickens.He didn't eat them,but made experiments on them.The local people were quite surprised at that.One day he noticed that his chickens became sick when they were fed the food most Javanese ate - refined white rice （精炼米）.When he fed them with unrefined rice,also known as brown rice,they recovered.Eijkman realized that he had made an important discovery - that some things in food could prevent disease.These things were named vitamins（维生素）.The Javanese were not getting enough vitamins because they had actually removed the part that contains vitamins.Later,other diseases were also found to be caused by the lack of vitamins in a person's food.
Today many people know the importance of vitamins and they make sure they have enough vitamins from the food they eat.If they don't,they can also take vitamin pills.



The underlined word "cure" in Paragraph 1 probably means ______ .

A. a medical treatment
B. a kind of vitamin
C. a kind of germ
D. a kind of rice

If a person doesn't get enough vitamins in his diet,he'd better ______ .

A. eat more rice
B. eat more meat
C. eat some chicken
D. eat vitamin pills

We can learn from the passage that ______ .

A. beri-beri was caused by chickens
B. the Javanese didn't like vitamins
C. Christian Eijkman's experiment was successful
D. the Javanese's disease was caused by a kind of germ

Why did Christian Eijkman raise some chicken？ ______

A. To eat them.
B. To give the Javanese a surprise.
C. To carry out his experiments.
D. To make money by selling them.

The running buffalo clover（a plant）used to spread across eight states,from Virginia to Arkansas.The more it was walked on by the buffalo the better it grew.
When buffalo disappeared,the plant was gone,too.Researchers believed the plant was extinct,which had not been spotted since 1940s—until a population was found in West Virginia in 1983.Now,after decades of protection,the small plant stands to be removed from the list of species protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Biologist Rodney Bartgis came across a patch of running buffalo clover in 1983.He was recording plants in West Virginia and was wandering around a car road in the New River Gorge when he spotted some "unique-looking" leaves,which he recognized as running buffalo clover.After the finding was confirmed,the clover was considered no longer extinct and placed on the endangered-species list in 1987.
Part of the reason it took a while to start to find the clover in the wild is that,unlike other rare plants,this one won't grow in unspoiled areas.It likes being run over.When the clover was first discovered,US Fish and Wildlife Services（USFWS） forest managers were told to avoid driving in the area populated by the plant.But this made the clover there disappear.In the Fernow Forest in West Virginia,Gundy,a research forester,realized the skidders used to pull trees had helped ensure the clover's growth before anyone knew it was there.So in her work monitoring the population in Fernow,Gundy runs over the clover with a skidder. "You need to remember to agitate it," she says.
Since 1987，researchers have found 154 populations.But it's not out of the woods yet.The clover still faces threats from invasive species.The USFWS will have a public comment period,when the clover's case for delisting will be reviewed.Even if it is delisted,biologists from the USFWS will observe populations for years closely to ensure that the species is secure.



What do we know about the running buffalo clover from the first two paragraphs？ ______

A. It has died out due to some human action.
B. It still needs careful protection from extinction.
C. It was considered extinct before its rediscovery.
D. It can grow better without buffalo stepping on it.

What do we know about Rodney Bartgis from the text？ ______

A. He discovered the clover by accident.
B. He noticed the clover in an unspoiled area.
C. He hardly recognized the clover when first seeing it.
D. He had searched for the clover for years before finding it.

How should we deal with the buffalo clover according to what Gundy said in paragraph 4？ ______

A. She advised we should keep away from it.
B. She suggested we should disturb it.
C. She told us to remember to water it often.
D. She asked us to plant more and more buffalo clover.

What can we infer from the text？ ______

A. The buffalo ate up the clover in the US.
B. The clover is almost free from natural enemies.
C. The USFWS is cautious of the protection of the clover.
D. The clover won't be removed from the protection list.

Evidence of a worm-like creature about the size of a grain of rice has been uncovered in South Australia,and researchers believe it is the oldest ancestor on the family tree that includes humans and most animals.The creature lived about 535 million years ago. It is considered to be an evolutionary step forward for early life on Earth.
Researchers have been trying to find evidence of the common ancestor of most animals.Developing its body structure and organization successfully allowed life to move in specific,purposeful directions.This includes everything from worms and dinosaurs to amphibians（两栖动物）and humans.But for our common ancestor,they knew that fossils（化石）of the tiny,simple creatures they imagined would be nearly impossible to find because of its size and soft body.Then,they turned to fossilized burrows,dated to the Ediacaran Period,found in South Australia.
For 15 years,scientists knew the burrows were created by the creature.There was no evidence of what made the burrows and lived in them until researchers decided to take a closer look at the burrows.Geology professor Mary Droser spotted impressions shaped like ovals near the burrows.
A 3-D laser scan revealed the impressions containing evidence of a body shaped and sized like a rice grain,with a noticeable head and tail which suggested it had muscles.The muscles would have enabled the creature to move and create the burrows,like the way a worm moves.And the size of the creature matched with the size of the burrows they found.
The researchers involved in the study named the creature Ikaria wariootia.The first name translates as "meeting place" in the Adnyamathanha language.Adnyamathanha is the name of Australian people that live in the area where the fossil was found.



What does the underlined word "It" mean in the first paragraph？ ______

A. A worm-like creature.
B. A grain of rice.
C. A family tree.
D. An evolutionary step.

What did the researchers do during the study？ ______

A. They developed the creature in the expected way.
B. They studied a large number of worms and dinosaurs.
C. They observed the burrows close up.
D. They went back to the Ediacaran Period some years ago.

What inspired the scientists to explore the origin of the burrows？ ______

A. A 3-D laser scan.
B. The impressions.
C. Some good ovals.
D. More burrows.

What does the text mainly tell us？ ______

A. The researchers worked very hard in the burrow.
B. The worm-like creature may be animals' ancestor.
C. It is very difficult to name a new kind of creature.
D. Australian people like fossils of many creatures.

Just as humans are usually left- or right-handed,many animals favor one side of their body for certain tasks.The strength of this preference varies：some individuals are happy to use either side,while others strongly favor one side（known as being strongly "lateralized"）.
The University of Exeter study found that grey squirrels which strongly favored a side did less well on a learning task.They had to learn to use a paw（爪子），rather than their mouth,to get nuts.
"It has been suggested that being strongly lateralized makes brains more efficient,with each hemisphere（半球）focusing on different tasks," said Dr Lisa Leaver. "This could help animals survive,which would explain the evolution of laterality（向侧性）across the animal kingdom."
"In fish and birds,there is evidence that being strongly lateralized is linked to better cognitive（认知的）performance（brain function）.However,limited data from studies of mammals（哺乳动物）suggest a weak or even negative relationship.Our study measured speed of learning among grey squirrels and,in line with these previous mammal studies,suggests that strong lateralization is linked to poor cognitive performance," said Dr Leaver.
In the study,wild grey squirrels on the University of Exeter's Streatham Campus were presented with transparent tube containing peanuts.Squirrels usually collect food with their mouth,but the tube was too narrow to allow this,so they had to learn to use a paw.By measuring both how quickly squirrels learned and how strongly they favored a particular paw,the researchers could assess both learning and laterality.
More than 30 squirrels were observed,with 12 providing enough data for inclusion in the study.
The relationship between laterality and human cognitive performance is still unclear,though some research has suggested that less lateralized people may be more creative. "More research on mammals is needed to understand the complex relationship between laterality and cognitive performance," Dr Leaver said.



What did the University of Exeter study focus on？ ______

A. The effects of lateralization on learning.
B. The cause of strong lateralization.
C. The evolution process of laterality.
D. The habits of grey squirrels.

What can we know from the fourth paragraph？ ______

A. Fish and birds have similar brain structures.
B. Strongly lateralized birds are better at learning.
C. Most fish and birds have strong lateralization.
D. Strongly lateralized grey squirrels have a higher IQ.

How did the strongly lateralized squirrels act in the study？ ______

A. They were slower to get peanuts.
B. They got more peanuts than others.
C. They got through the tube quickly.
D. They used their paws more skillfully.

What can be a suitable title for the text？ ______

A. Left-handed animals prove more intelligent.
B. Laterality is connected with better brains.
C. Grey squirrels change their habits for food.
D. Strongly "handed" squirrels are less good at learning.

When kids sit down to eat lunch at school,fruits and vegetables may not be their first choice.But with more time at the lunch table,they are more likely to pick up those healthy foods.If we want to improve children's nutrition and health,ensuring longer school lunch breaks can help achieve those goals,according to research from the University of Illinois.
"Ten minutes of seated lunch time or less is quite common.Scheduled lunch time may be longer,but students have to wait in line to get their food.This means the amount of time children actually have to eat their meals is much less than the scheduled time," says Melissa Pflugh Prescott,assistant professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. "During shorter lunch periods,children ate significantly less of the fruit and vegetable parts of their meal,while there was no significant difference in the amount of entrees （主食） they consumed.It makes sense that you might eat the part of the meal you look forward to first,and if there's enough time left you might go towards the other parts.But if there's not enough time,fruit and vegetables are likely to suffer," Prescott explains.
"Our findings support policies that require at least 20 minutes of seated lunch time at school," she states.School lunch time policies can be decided at the district level,with some room for individual schools to set their own standards；for example,schools can institute a longer lunch time than the district mandates （授权）.
Prescott notes that longer lunch time can also have beneficial effects for children beyond healthy eating. "The amount of seated time children have is also a really valuable time for them to connect with their friends；they might have limited opportunities to do so throughout the school day.We found significantly fewer social interactions during the 10-minute lunch time.That indicates other positive outcomes may come from longer lunch breaks as well," she concludes.



Why do students eat less of the fruit and vegetables according to Prescott？ ______

A. They are unwilling to wait in line.
B. They're not used to a balanced diet.
C. There is not enough time for them.
D. There is too much study pressure on them.

What does the underlined word "institute" in Paragraph 3 probably mean？ ______

A. Put off.
B. Set up.
C. Make use of.
D. Run out of.

What does the last paragraph mainly talk about？ ______

A. Key reasons for a longer lunch time.
B. The importance of a healthy diet.
C. Other benefits of a longer lunch time.
D. The detailed lunch time arrangements.

What can be the best title for the text？ ______

A. Eating lunch at school makes children healthier
B. Longer school lunch time enables children to learn better
C. Kids at school spend much time waiting in line for lunch
D. Longer lunch time helps kids eat more fruit and vegetables

Exercising regularly not only helps you keep slim,but also improves your overall health and well-being.Different exercises produce different results,as they focus on alternate parts of the body.There are four broad exercise categories：endurance,strength,flexibility,and balance.Many people often only focus on one exercise type,but including all four in your workout will produce better results and reduce your risk of injury.
Endurance
Endurance exercises increase your breathing and heart rate.By doing endurance exercises,you are working to keep your heart,lungs,and blood-flow system healthy while improving your total fitness.Over time these activities will make everyday activities seem easier.
Strength
If you want to build up your muscles,then strength exercises,which are also known as "resistance training"，are right for you.Even the slightest increase in strength can make a huge difference in your ability to carry out daily tasks.Developing strong muscles also reduces your risk of weak bones.
Flexibility
Flexibility exercises help stretch your body's muscles.This allows for more freedom of movement for other exercises and can also improve your range of motion,posture,ability to breathe deeply,and blood flow.Also it reduces the muscle tension caused by stress.
Balance
Balance exercises help prevent falls and are especially important to older adults,helping them stay independent.Most good balance exercises are ones that keep you constantly moving with your feet on the ground.Heel-to-toe walking and standing on one foot are simple ways to improve balance.



How can a person benefit most from their exercise routine？ ______

A. By combining different exercise types together.
B. By having sufficient rest between their workouts.
C. By concentrating on one training aspect at a time.
D. By increasing the frequency of their training gradually.

Which exercise types are most useful to improve a person's breathing function？ ______

A. Strength and Balance.
B. Flexibility and Balance.
C. Endurance and Strength.
D. Endurance and Flexibility.

Which part of the body plays the most important role in balance-related exercises？ ______

A. Arms.
B. Legs.
C. Waist.
D. Neck.

The history of microbiology begins with a Dutch cloth maker named Antoni van Leeuwenhoek,a man of no formal scientific education.In the late 1600s,Leeuwenhoek,inspired by the magnifying lenses（放大镜）he used to examine cloth,built some of the first microscopes.He developed a technique to improve the quality of tiny,rounded lenses,some of which could magnify an object up to 270 times.After removing some plaque from between his teeth and examining it under a lens,Leeuwenhoek found tiny twisting creatures,which he called "animalcules".
His observations,which he reported to the Royal Society of London,are among the first descriptions of microbes（微生物），Leeuwenhoek discovered an entire universe invisible to the human eye.He found different microbes in samples of pond water,rain water,and human blood.He gave the first description of red blood cells,observed plant tissue,examined muscle,and investigated the life cycle of insects.
Nearly two hundred years later,Leeuwenhoek's discovery of microbes helped French chemist and biologist Louis Pasteur to develop his "theory of disease".This concept suggested that disease originates from tiny organisms attacking and weakening the body.Pasteur's theory later helped doctors to fight infectious diseases including anthrax,diphtheria,polio,smallpox,tetanus,and typhoid.All these breakthroughs were the result of Leeuwenhoek's original work.Leeuwenhoek did not foresee this legacy.
In a 1716 letter,he described his contribution to science this way："My work,which I've done for alone time,was not pursued in order to gain the praise I now enjoy,but chiefly from a strong desire for knowledge,which I notice resides in me more than in most other men.And therefore,whenever I found out anything remarkable.I have thought it my duty to put down my discovery on paper,so that the scientific community might be informed thereof."



Which of the following best describes Leeuwenhoek？ ______

A. A trained researcher with an interest in microbiology.
B. A curious amateur who made pioneer studies of microbes.
C. A talented scientist interested in finding a cure for disease.
D. A bored cloth maker who accidentally made a major discovery.

The underlined phrase "this legacy" in paragraph 3 refers to ______ .

A. the discovery of microbes
B. Pasteur's theory of disease
C. Leeuwenhoek's contribution
D. the origin of the tiny organism

What does the quote from Leeuwenhoek's letter suggest？ ______

A. He admitted that many of his discoveries happened by chance.
B. He considered his work to be central to later medical breakthroughs.
C. He was greatly concerned with improving people's living conditions.
D. He believed the sharing of knowledge was a key to scientific progress.

What is the correct order for the following events？ ______
a.Magnifying lenses were built.
b.The "theory of disease" was put forward.
c.Microbes were discovered in samples of waters.
d.Leeuwenhoek's first microscopes were successfully developed.
e.Leeuwenhoek explained his thoughts upon his own contribution.

A. a-d-c-e-b
B. d-a-c-e-b
C. a-c-d-b-e
D. d-a-e-b-c