GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – A fish that lives in mangrove swamps(红树沼泽)across the Americas can live out of water for months at a time, similar to how animals adapted(适应)to land millions of years ago, a new study shows.
The Magrove Rivulus, a type of small killifish, lives in small pools of water in a certain type of empty nut or even old beer cans in the mangrove swamps of Belize, the United States and Brazil. When their living place dries up, they live on the land in logs(圆木),said Scott Taylor, a researcher at the Brevard Endangered Lands Program in Florida.
The fish, whose scientific name is Rivulus marmoratus, can grow as large as three inches. They group together in logs and breathe air through their skin until they can find water again.
The new scientific discovery came after a trip to Belize. “We kicked over a log and the fish just came crowding out,” Taylor told Reuters in neighboring Guatgemala by telephone. He said he will make his study on the fish known to the public in an American magazine early next year.
In lab tests, Taylor said he found the fish can live up to 66 days out of water without eating.
Some other fish can live out of water for a short period of time. The walking catfish found in Southeast Asia can stay on land for hours at time, while lungfish found in Australia, Africa and South America can live out of water, but only in an inactive state. But no other known fish can be out of water as long as the Mangrove Rivulus and remain active, according to Patricia Wright, a biologist at Canada’s University of Guelph.
Further studies of the fish may tell how animals changed over time.
“These animals live in conditions similar to those that existed millions of years ago, when animals began making the transition(过渡)from water onto land,” Wright said. The Mangrove Rivulus is a type of fish that _______.
| A.likes eating nuts |
| B.prefers living in dry places |
| C.is the longest living fish on earth |
| D.can stay alive for two months out of water |
Who will write up a report on Mangrove Rivulus?
| A.Patricia Wright | B.Researchers in Guatemala |
| C.Scientists from Belize | D.Scott Taylor |
According to the text, lungfish can________
| A.breathe through its skin |
| B.move freely on dry land |
| C.remain alive out of water |
| D.be as active on land as in water |
What can we say about the discovery of Mangrove Rivulus?
| A.It was made quite by accident |
| B.It was based on a lab test of sea life |
| C.It was supported by an American magazine |
| D.It was helped by Patricia Wright |
The best way of learning a language is using it. The best way of learning English is talking in English as much as possible. Sometimes you’ll get your words mixed up and people will not understand you. Sometimes people will say things too quickly and you can’t understand them. But if you keep your sense of humor, you can always have a good laugh at the mistakes you make. Don’t be unhappy if people seem to be laughing at your mistakes .The most important thing for learning English is: Don’t be afraid of making mistakes because everyone makes mistakes.
( )62. The writer thinks the best way to learn a language is ______.
A writing in it B. using it C. learning the grammar.
( )63. What should you do in learning English?
A. Be careful not to make any mistakes.
B. Write as quickly as you can.
C. Talking in it as much as possible.
( )64. When people laugh at your mistakes, you______.
A. shouldn’t care about it B. should be angry with them C. should be happy
( )65. When you make a mistake, you should___________.
A. keep quiet B. get angry C. keep a sense of humor
( )66. What dose the passage mainly tell us?
A. Few people make mistakes in learning English.
B. Only foolish people make mistakes.
.C. Everyone makes mistakes in learning English
Machines in the home have a short history. Sewing machines, washing machines and tumble dries are common enough today, but a hundred years ago few people could even imagine such things. However, inventors have designed and built a wide range of household machines since then. In most cases the inventor tried to patent(申请专利)his machine, to stop anyone copying it. Then he tried to produce a lot of them. If the machine became popular, the inventor could make a lot of money.
In 1790 the first sewing machine was patented. The inventor was an Englishman called Thomas Saint. There was nothing to match his machine for forty years, and then someone built a similar device. He was a Frenchman, Bartelemy Thimonier. However, neither of these early machines worked very well. It wasn’t until 1846 that an inventor came up with a really efficient sewing machine. He was an American, Elias Howe and his machine was good enough to beat five skilled sewing women. He didn’t make much money from it, however. The first commercially successful sewing machine was patented by Isaac Singer five years later.
Today, we take washing machines for granted, but there was none before 1869. The revolving drum(旋转桶)of that first machine set a pattern for the future, but it was crude by today’s standards. The drum was turned by hand, and needed a lot of effort. Eight years passed before someone produced an electric washing machine. The world had to wait even longer for a machine to dry clothes. The first spin-drier was another American invention, patented in 1924; but it was 20 years before such machines were widely used.
It was yet another American, called Bissell, who introduced the carpet sweeper. He patented the original machine back in 1876. It didn’t pick up dirt very well, but it was quicker than a dustpan and brush. Thirty-six years later, even the carpet sweeper was old-fashioned: modern homes now have a vacuum cleaner(吸尘器)with an electric motor to suck the dust.
72. Whose sewing machine could do as much as,or even more than the work of five skilled sewing women?
A. Thomas Saint’s. B. Bartelemy Thimonier’s.
C. Elias Howe’s. D. Isaac Singer’s.
73. According to the article, modern inventors __________ .
A. follow the pattern of the first revolving drum but improve it much
B. only imitate (模仿)the first washing machine
C. power the first ever-made washing machine by electricity
D. have to wait for the first spin-drier for a long time
74. The underlined word “crude” in the sentence “but it was crude by today’s standards” probably means __________ .
A. useless B. ugly-looking C. rough D. not skillfully made
75. The article mainly tells us about __________ .
A. the great inventors in the world
B. the important inventions in the world
C. the short history of household machines
D. the importance of the machines used in the home
Advice to “sleep on it” could be well founded, scientists say. After a good night’s sleep a problem that seemed impossible to solve the night before can often appear more manageable, although no evidence has proved this by now. But researchers at the University of Luebek in Germany have designed an experiment that shows a good night’s sleep can improve insight (洞察力) and problem-solving.
“If you have some newly acquired memories in your brain, sleep acts on these memories and restructures (重构) them, so that after sleep the insight into a problem which you could not solve before increases,” said Dr. Jan Born, a neuroscientist (神经科学家), at the university. To test the theory, they taught volunteers two simple rules to help them put a string of numbers into a new order. There was also a third, hidden rule, which could help them increase their speed in solving the problem. The researchers divided the volunteers into two groups: half were allowed to sleep after the training while the rest were forced to stay awake. Born and his team noticed that the group that had slept after the training were twice as likely to figure out the third rule as the other group. “Sleep helped.” Born said in a telephone interview. “The important thing is that you have to have a memory representation in your brain of the problem you want to solve and then you sleep, so it can act on the problem.” But Born admitted that he and his team don’t know how restructuring of memories occurs or what governs it. Pierre Marquette and Pierre Ruby of the University of Liege in Belgium said the experimental evidence supports the suggestion that sleep can help develop creative thinking. Although the role of sleep in human creativity will still be a mystery, the research gives people good reason to fully respect their periods of sleep, they added.
68. The underlined phrase “sleep on it” in Paragraph 1 probably means _____.
A. to put something to be solved aside until the next day
B. to get as much sleep as possible
C. to go on sleeping without being disturbed
D. to sleep till you usually get up the next morning
69. Jan Born and his team carried out the experiment through _____.
A. interview B. comparison C. surveyD. imagination
70. It can be inferred from the passage that _____.
A. sleep is the only way to solve hard problems
B. people should sleep so long as they have time
C. people know how sleep reconstructs memories
D. people have various periods of sleep
71. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. How Sleep Works B. No Evidence, but Well Founded
C. Sleep Helps Solve Problems D. Born’s Discovery On Sleep
AMERICANA HOTEL CRYSTAL CITY
Convenient location 5 minutes from Washington D.C. and one block to Crystal City METRO(地铁),Crystal City Underground, Alexandria. Free Parking, free Deluxe Continental Breakfast and complimentary(收费的)Hotel Shuttle Service to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
14000 Jefferson Davis Hwy(endurance on S. Eads St.)
Phone (703) 979-3722
DAYS INN ARLINGTON
Days Inn Arlington is located two miles from the Pentagon, Lincoln Memorial. There is a restaurant which serves American style food, plus two meeting rooms and an outdoor pool. Complimentary shuttle service runs to the Rosslyn Metro Station. Complimentary parking is available on the property. An experienced staff welcomes guests.
Phone(703)525-0300
THE HIGHLANDER MOTORINN
Comfortable rooms at moderate rates. Convenient location only minutes away from Washington area attraction. Near VA Square METRO Station and Ballston Commons Shopping Mall. Free continental breakfast, free parking.
Phone(703)524-4300
HYATT REGENCY CRYSTAL CITY
Conveniently located next to Washington National Airport and two miles from Washington D.C. Complimentary Shuttle to and from National Airport, metro, local restaurants and shopping. Experience a view to remember at out rooftop restaurants “Chesapeake Grill.” Call for Reservations.
Phone(073)418-12341(800)233-1234
64. Which hotel does not provide service to drive its guests to the airport or metro stations?
A.Americana Hotel Crystal City B.Days Inn Arlington
C.The Highlander Motor Inn D.Hyatt Regency Crystal City
65. If you want to stay in a hotel which provides free parking and free breakfast, which Telephone numbers will you ring to ask for further information?
A.(703)979-3722 or (703)524-4300 B.(703)524-4300 or (073) 418-12341
C.(073)418-12341 or (703) 525-0300 D.(703)525-0300 or (703)979-3722
66. Which hotel is close to airports?
A.Americana Hotel Crystal City B.Days Inn Arlington
C.Hyatt Regency Crystal City D.The Highlander Motor Inn
67. Steven loves the idea of having delicious meal while enjoying the night view of Washington D. C. He will probably reserve a room by calling .
A.(703)524-4300 B.(073)418-12341
C.(703)525-0300 D.(703)979-3722
Every family with kids has seen its share of arguments, shouting and complaining. It turns out that all those conflicts serve an important purpose in the development of children . Saying “no” followed by a bad temper, just may be an unavoidable part of growing up. And that’s a good thing. These are the first steps toward independence. Even young children have to challenge their parents sometimes. Studies have shown the following:
·Although stressful, conflicts are beneficial for children.
·Learning to manage conflicts is necessary for a child’s development.
·Conflicts during the preschool years occur because children desire even more attention than parents can or should give.
If you understand why conflicts occur, it can minimize the conflicts between you and your children. Conflict is a child’s attempt to develop a sense of self and how he or she learns to express his or her needs and ideas. Parents develop and drive this independence by putting children to the outside world both formally and informally.
Conflicts can grow out of a difference of opinion or might just be a way to blow off steam(发脾气) . In rare situations, constant conflicts between parents and children can indicate a deeper emotional problem. Consult your doctor if this seems to be your situation.
It’s important to offer your child choices, which should be determined by age and developmental level. The more responsible a child is, the more choices he or she gets in reward. You can threaten your child with punishment, but often offering a choice will better improve angry situations. Consequences and rewards should have some meaning to your child.
Often a child’s adverse(敌对的)reaction when he or she hears the word “no” can be avoided by giving the child an explanation as to why you have refused his or her request.
60. Why does the author think conflicts are good?
A. It’s a sign that children are trying to be independent.
B. Children can learn to control the bad temper.
C. This can develop a better way of communication.
D. It can improve the relationship between parents and children.
61. A 3-year-old boy challenges his parents angrily, according to studies, because he may,
A. feel being ignored by his parents.
B. get tired of being looked after by his parents.
C. want to stay with his parents at any time.
D. be blamed by his parents for his faults.
62. In most cases , the conflicts between parents and their children.
A. lead to more misunderstandingsB. don’t hurt feelings
C. are highly valued by parents D. involve visiting doctors
63. What can be concluded from the passage?
A. Children understand what their parents think of clearly.
B. Children enjoy giving their opinions by conflicting with their parents.
C. Most parents would rather punish their children than reward them.
D. Communication can reduce conflicts between parents and children.