A healthy dose of sunshine may be the secret to staying young, British scientists have disclosed.
Vitamin D is produced naturally by the skin in response to sunlight and may help to slow the ageing process and protect against heart disease, according to the study.
Researchers from King's College London studied 2,160 women aged between 18 and 79, looking at their telomeres - a biological marker of ageing found in DNA.As people get older, their telomeres get shorter and they are easy to have illnesses.
But the study found women with high levels of vitamin D had comparatively longer telomeres - a sign of being biologically younger and healthier.
The study suggests vitamin D may help to slow down the ageing process of DNA, and therefore the ageing process as a whole.
Lead researcher Dr Brent Richards said: "These results are exciting because they prove for the first time that people who have higher levels of vitamin D may age more slowly than people with lower levels of vitamin D.
"This could help to explain how vitamin D has a protective effect on many ageing related diseases, such as heart disease and cancer."
He said further studies are required to confirm the findings.
Professor Tim Spector, head of KCL's twin research unit, and a co-author of the report, added: "Although it might sound absurd(荒谬的), it's possible that the same sunshine which may increase our risk of skin cancer may also have a healthy effect on the general ageing process."
Vitamin D made by the action of sunlight on the skin accounts for 90 per cent of the body's supply, but lower levels can also be obtained through food such as fish, eggs and breakfast cereals.
Other studies have suggested the vitamin plays a key role in protecting against cancer and heart disease.
58.What’s the best title of this passage?
A.Sunshine helps to keep you young.
B.Vitamin D has a protective effect on many diseases.
C.Telomeres - a biological marker of ageing.
D.People have found the secret to having a long life.
59.How can people get Vitamin D?
A.through water. B. through sunshine.
C.through food. D.both B and C.
60.Which of the following is not true according to the passage?
A.women with high levels of vitamin D shows a sign of being biologically younger and healthier.
B.vitamin D has a protective effect on many ageing related diseases.
C.too much sunshine may increase our risk of skin cancer.
D.It has been proved that sunshine helps to keep you young.
B
Can you imagine traveling to work in a one-man submarine? Some scientists believe that some day one-man submarines will be as numerous (许多) as automobiles are today. A famous French driver says, “One day soon, men will walk on the ocean floor as they do on the street!” Perhaps during your lifetime people will travel, work, and live in the sea.
If human beings want to live in the ocean, many human problems will need to be studied first. Some of these problems, similar to those of living in outer space, are pressure, lack of oxygen and weightlessness. Many questions remain unanswered.For example, can our blood adjust itself to underwater surroundings? What will happen to our muscle if we live in the water very long? Scientists are searching for answers.
Perhaps in the future man will live in the sea, away from the crowded and noisy cities on land.The sea has plenty of space, not only for floating communities (团体) and parks, but also for storing supplies and for underwater travel.
Some scientists believe that ocean living will benefit man in more than physical ways. In the freedom and beauty of the deep sea, man may find new sources of joy.
60.According to the passage, which of the following is true?
A.Man will live in the sea just like living on the earth in time.
B.Human beings can now freely walk on the ocean floor just like walking on the street.
C.There are as many submarines as automobiles in the ocean.
D.A famous French driver found a safe way to travel to the ocean floor.
61.If human beings want to live in the ocean, _____.
A.problems such as pressure, lack of oxygen and weightlessness have to be solved
B.people have to answer many questions asked by scientists
C.underwater surroundings must be improved to fit the human bodies
D.human muscle must be exposed in the water for a long time
62.Which of the following might not be the reason for the people who want to live in the ocean?
A.The sea has plenty of space.
B.The cities on land are crowded, noisy and polluted.
C.Ocean living will do good to them in physical ways and spiritual ways.
D.There are communities and parks on the ocean floor.
63.What’s the best title of the passage?
A.The Use of One-man SubmarineB.Living Things in the Ocean
C.Ocean LivingD.Beauty of Ocean Floor
第三部分阅读理解(共20小题;每小题2分,满分40分)
A
Experts around Europe are discussing the embarrassing museum safety following the theft of two art masterpiece paintings on Sunday. A large hunt got under way Monday for thieves who walked into a lightly guarded museum in Oslo, Norway, tore two paintings off the wall and ran away.
Some expressed fear that works of art are in increasing danger from violent robbery — unless, said Deputy Culture Minister Yngve Slettholm, "we lock them in a mountain bunker(碉堡)."
Armed, masked robbers stole the Edvard Munch masterpiece "The Scream" and another of Munch's works, "Madonna," from Oslo's Munch Museum on Sunday as visitors watched in disbelief.
The purpose behind the robbery also remained unknown. But art experts guessed the thieves were either looking for money or wished to impress other criminals since it would be nearly impossible to sell such famous pieces of art.
This is the second time in a decade that a version of the painting has been stolen. Another version of "The Scream" was stolen from Oslo's National Gallery in February 2004, but recovered three months later. The Munch works were not insured against theft, because it was impossible to set a price on them, said John Oeyaas, managing director of Oslo Forsikring, the city-owned company that insured the paintings against damage. But he said the theft in broad daylight from one of Norway's most visited museums raises the question of security — "How can we make these artworks available to the public while still ensuring their safety?"
56. The stolen paintings were drawn by ______.
A. Oslo Forsikring B. Yngve Slettholm C. Edvard Munch D. John Oeyaas
57.Which of the following description is correct about the theft?
A.The two paintings were stolen on Monday
B.Visitors to the museum saw the faces of the robbers
C.The thieves were looking for money
D.The thieves had weapons with them during the theft
58. The Oslo’s Munch Museum ______.
A.is one of the most popular museum in the country
B.had all its paintings insured against theft
C.were going to lock the paintings in a mountain bunker
D.had another version of “The Scream” stolen in 2004
59. What could be the best title for this passage?
A.Dangers of Violent Robbery
B.How to Ensure Safety of Artworks
C.Priceless Art Lost in Bold Theft
D.Famous Art Works Favored by Thieves
E
“On this joyful and solemn occasion, all the peoples across the nation feel extremely proud for the progress and development of the motherland and have full confidence in the bright prospects for the great rejuvenation(生机与活力) of the Chinese nation,” Hu said in short speech standing atop Tiananmen gate with the rest of the collective leadership looking on.
Behind the celebrations is the tremendous change of fortunes China has experienced. China has gone from poor and internationally weak when the communists took over, to the world’s third-largest economy and new power whose input the. U. S. superpower seeks to solve the global economic crisis and Iran’s nuclear challenge.
Even the uninvited seemed excited, gathering on side streets to get a glimpse of the passing parade or watching from home.
“China’s power makes us proud. Over the span of 60 years China has developed so rapidly,” said retiree(退休人员) Wang Shumin, standing in a back alley watching the parade on TV through a shop window. “China is now powerful and has a position on the world stage.”
Standing nearby, Liu Shuping praised the blue skies: “Even the weather has paid attention today.”
57.What’s the second paragraph mainly about?
A.Global economic crisis
B.China in great poverty when founded
C.China has experienced tremendous change of fortune
D.USA superpower in the world
58.Where did Wang Shumin watch the parade on TV?
A.At home B.On Tiananmen Square
C.In a store D.In a back alley
59.From what Wang Shumin and Liu Shuping said, we can conclude that ______.
A.The whole nation is in great pride
B.China involves in world affairs
C.China has become superpower after USA
D.The weather in Beijing is pleasant
60.The occasion mentioned in the passage above may most probably occurred ______.
A.on China’s 60th anniversary
B.50 years after the communists took power in China
C.on Oct.1.1949.
D.on August.1.1999
D
LONDON—Archaeologists have discovered a smaller prehistoric(史前) site near Britain’s famous circle of standing stones at Stonehenge.
Researchers have named the site “Bluehenge” after the color of the 27 Welsh stones that were laid to make up a path. The stones have disappeared, but the path of holes remains.
The new circle, unearthed over the summer by researchers from Sheffield University, represents an important find, researchers said Saturday. The site is about a mile away from Stonehenge.
Bluehenge, about 80 miles southwest of London, is believed to date back to about the time Stonehenge was built, about 5,000 years ago.
Mike Parker Pearson of Sheffield University said he believed the path and stonehenge itself were linked to rituals(仪式) of life and death.
Mike Parker suggested that the ancient funerary rituals began at a different circle site known as “Wood-henge”, which represented the world of the living. The bodies of the dead were then brought down the River Avon to Bluehenge, which represented death, and were finally carried along a ceremonial route known as the Avenue to Stonehenge.
Bournemouth University Professor Tim Darvill, an expert on Stonehenge, told Britain’s Dail Mail that Bluehenge “adds to the richness” of the ancient site’s story.
“This henge is very important because it forms part of the picture of ceremonial monuments in the area and puts Stonehenge into context,” Darvill was quoted(引述) as saying. “It’s no longer Stonehenge standing alone, but it has to be seen in context with the landscape.”
53.How many henges are mentioned in this passage?
A.Two B.Three C.Four D.Five
54.Who believed the Stonehenge is related to ancient ritual of death?
A.Archaeologists from London B.Welsh researchers
C.Mike Parker Pearson D.Professor Tim Darvill
55.What does the underlined sentence “It’s no longer Stonehenge standing alone, but it has to be seen in context with the landscape.” in the last paragraph mean?
A.Stonehenge has noting to do with Bluehenge
B.Woodhenge represented the world of living in ancient times.
C.Bluehenge represented death
D.Stonehenge, Woodhenge and Bluehenge should be studied together
56.From the passage we can learn that ______.
A.researchers have named the site “Bluehenge,” because they have found blue huge stones there
B.funerary rituals were carried out along the path starting from Woodhenge, River Avon to Bluehenge, finally Stonehenge.
C.Bluehenge is 1 mile away from London
D.Bluehenge dates back to 2000 BC
C
—“In the case of mild illness, patients should be provided with supportive care at home by a designated caregiver and only referred to health care facilities if they deteriorate or develop danger signs.
—Such danger signs may include: weakness or inability to stand, lethargy, unconsciousness, convulsions, very difficult or obstructed breathing or shortness of breath, inability to drink fluids, high fever.
—Treatment at home should entail(需要) rest, fluids(液体), medication for fever, and good nutrition, with patients kept separate from other people except one designated carer who should wash their hands and household surfaces frequently.
—It is more important in the home that patient wears a mask than the caregiver. The mask need not be worn all day and only when close contact with the caregiver is anticipated.
—If enough masks are available, caregivers should also use them to cover their mouth and nose during close contact.
—Windows should be kept open to allow good ventilation(通风).
49.The passage is written to ______ .
A.offer some suggestions for the treatment of mild patients
B.give tips on how to wear masks
C.show danger signs of infected patients
D.tell people how to take care of mild patients
50.The illness mentioned in the passage may_____.
A.have no cure B.have no prevention
C.be highly contagious D.be deadly
51.The passage may be taken form _____.
A.a doctor’s note B.a patient’s description
C.guidelines from a government D.guidelines from a health organization
52.When should the caregivers wear masks?
A.When the patients are present.
B.When close contact with patients is a must.
C.All day long.
D.When there is no good ventilation.