Every pet owner loves his pet. There is no argument here.
But when we asked our readers whether they would clone （克隆， 复制）their beloved animals, the responses（反应） were split almost down the middle. Of the 228 readers who answered it, 108 would clone, 111 would not and nine weighed each side without offering an opinion.
Clearly, from readers’ response, this is an issue that reaches deeply into both the joy and final sadness of owning a pet. It speaks, as well, to people’s widely differing expectations over the developing scientific procedure.
Most of the respondents who favored the idea strongly believed it would produce at least a close copy of the original; many felt the process would actually return an exact copy. Those on the other side, however, held little hope a clone could never truly recreate a pet, many simply didn’t wish to go against the natural law of life and death.
Both sides expressed equal love for their animals. More than a few respondents owned “the best dog/cat in the world”. They thought of their pets as their “best friend”, “a member of the family,”“the light of my life.” They told moving stories of pets’ heroism, intelligence and selfless devotion.
Then the loss is so disturbing---and the cloning so attractive. “People become very close to their animals, and the loss can be just as hard to bear as when a friend or family member dies,” says Gary Kowalski, author of Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet. “For me, cloning feels like an attempt to turn death away…It’s understandable. Death is always painful. It’s difficult to deal with. It’s hard to accept.”
But would cloning reduce the blow? This question seemed to be at the heart of this problem.So far as the cloning of pets is concerned, a recent survey shows that, of all pet owners, ____.
| A．a lot more of them are for it |
| B．a lot more of them are against it |
| C．very few of them are willing to tell their opinions |
| D．about half of them are for it and the other half against it |
While talking about the respondents from the readers, the expression “final sadness of owning a pet” refers to ____.
| A．the death of one’s pet |
| B．the high cost of owning a pet |
| C．the troubles one has to deal with in keeping a pet |
| D．the dangers about the cloning of a pet |
From what Gary Kowalski says, we can know that he ____.
| A．has never thought about the problem of cloning |
| B．is going to write another book on pets |
| C．is in favor of the idea of cloning pets |
| D．is all against the cloning of pets |
What is the key question at the heart of the problem of cloning pets?
| A．Can cloning make the pain one suffers less when a pet dies? |
| B．Can pet owners afford the cost of cloning? |
| C．Does cloning go against the law of nature? |
| D．How reliably does cloning produce an exact copy of one’s pet? |
People with mentally taxing jobs, including lawyers and graphic designers, may end up having better memory in old age, research suggests.
A study of more than 1,000 Scottish 70-year-olds found that those who had had complex jobs scored better on memory and thinking tests.
One theory is that a more stimulating environment helps build up a “cognitive reserve” to help buffer the brain against age-related decline. The research was reported in Neurology.
The team, from Heriot-Watt University, in Edinburgh, is now planning more work to look at how lifestyle and work interact to affect memory loss. Those taking part in the study took tests designed to assess memory, processing speed and general thinking ability, as well as filling in a questionnaire about their working life.
The analysis showed that those whose jobs had required complex skills in dealing with data or people, such as management and teaching, had better scores on memory and thinking tests than those who had done less mentally intense jobs such as factory workers, bookbinders, or carpet layers.
While the study did not look at biological reasons for the protective effect of certain jobs, potential explanations include that structural changes within the brain mean less damage is accumulated over time.
Study leader Dr Alan Gow said: “Our findings have helped to identify the kinds of job demands that preserve memory and thinking later on.” “However,” He added, “while it is true that people who have higher cognitive abilities are more likely to get more complex jobs, there still seems to be a small advantage gained from these complex jobs for later thinking skills.”
Dr Simon Ridley, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said the study added to the growing evidence about factors that affected brain health as we aged.
“Keeping the brain active throughout life could be helpful and different types of work may play a role. However, it’s important to note that this study points to a small and subtle association between occupation and later-life cognition rather than offering proof that people’s occupation has a direct influence.”According to the research, who may have the best memory in old age?
| A．Taxi drivers. | B．Computer programmers. |
| C．Supermarket cashiers. | D．Motor mechanics. |
Which of the following about the research work is TRUE?
| A．The research team studied both environmental and biological factors. |
| B．The researchers filled in a questionnaire about their working life. |
| C．The research objects included people from various jobs and of different ages. |
| D．The research is helpful to the study of brain health and is still under way. |
What Dr Alan Gow said implies that __________.
| A．their findings are helpful to identifying the kinds of job demands |
| B．people who do more complex jobs may benefit later thinking skills greatly |
| C．there exist links between job demands and preservation of memory |
| D．he didn’t confirm the links between complex jobs and later thinking skills |
We can learn from Dr Simon Ridley that __________.
| A．different occupations may make a difference in keeping the brain active |
| B．people’s occupation has a direct influence on later-life cognition |
| C．the study added more evidence about the factors affecting aging |
| D．the study denied the association between jobs and later-life memory |
What is the best title of the passage？
| A．Aging affects brain health |
| B．Complex jobs may protect memory |
| C．Occupations influence aging |
| D．Complex jobs demand complex skills |
The best selling children’s book, Pipilu Sending You 100 Lives, has been adapted into a homonymous play that will be put on for the first time next March and tour around 50 cities in China.
The book was adapted by the Hangzhou based Star Dream Factory.
“We don’t want to descend to the average children’s dramas that are overly eager to please the kids,” said Huang Qin, director of Star Dream Factory. “We want to provide something practically useful and mystically entertaining.”
The original book by Chinese children’s book writer Zheng Yuanjie focuses on safety tips for kids. With Zheng’s usual candor and simplicity, the book avoids sugar-coating reality. Instead, it illustrates the potential dangers in everyday life and provides possible solutions.
Zheng recalled that when he saw his new-born baby in the hospital, the first thought that hit him was to do his utmost to guarantee his son’s safety.
“Safety is of the greatest importance to a human being,” said Zheng. “If the person is gone, nothing else will matter.”
According to Zheng, there is no preaching or soapboxing in his book. He said that he just wanted to talk and tell the plain truth to the children in an easily understandable way.
This line of thought will be echoed in the theatrical reproduction, said director Guo Yan. She also said that the play will place emphasis on multimedia effects and the interaction with the families.
“Theatre may not ensure the children a path to professional esteem and better jobs in society, but it does have the power to give them strength (at heart),” said Huang Qin.
Huang also calls for consistent attention to child safety, pointing out the lack of universal education and effective legal channels.
The show is expecting an estimated audience of more than 100,000 people during its domestic tour in the upcoming year.Pipilu Sending You 100 Lives has been adapted into a play by ____.
| A．Huang Qin . | B．Zheng Yuanjie. |
| C．Guo Yan. | D．Star Dream Factory |
Which of the following words has the closest meaning to the underlined wordcandorin paragraph 4?
| A．difficulty. | B．safety |
| C．responsibility | D．honesty |
The book Pipilu Sending You 100 Lives is trying to tell the readers __________.
| A．how Pipilu give you 100 lives in a clear way |
| B．how Pipilu can live a more interesting life in a simple way |
| C．how we can live a safer life in an understandable way |
| D．how we can have 100 lives in a pleasing way |
According to Zheng,safety __________.
| A．is more important to people than any other things |
| B．is an essential part only to all the children |
| C．is more important to the old than the young |
| D．is more important to the young than the old |
The purpose of the passage is to______？
| A．introduce a play to remind children of the importance of safety |
| B．introduce a book and its homonymous play to the readers |
| C．tell the readers how to keep safe |
| D．tell the readers how important safety is |
Speed-reading is an indispensable skill in the Internet age. We skim over articles, e-mails and tweets to try to grasp key words and the essential meaning of a certain text. Bombarded with information from our electronic devices, it would be impossible to cope（应付）if we read word by word, line by line.
But a new trend calls on people to unplug and enjoy reading slowly, listing benefits beyond intellectual stimulation.
A recent story from The Wall Street Journal reported on a book club in Wellington, New Zealand, where members meet in a cafe and turn off their smart phones. They sink into cozy chairs and read in silence for an hour.
Unlike traditional book clubs, the point of the Slow Reading Club isn’t exchanging ideas about a certain book, but to get away from electronic devices and read in a quiet, relaxed environment. According to the Journal, the Wellington book club is just one example of a movement initiated (发起) by book lovers who miss the old-fashioned way of reading before the Internet and smart phones.
Slow readers, such as The Atlantic’s Maura Kelly, say a regular reading habit sharpens the mind, improves concentration, reduces stress levels and deepens the ability to empathize.
Some of these benefits have been backed up by science. For example, a study of 300 elderly people published by the journal Neurology last year showed that regular engagement in intellectually strenuous activities like reading slowed the rate of memory loss later in life.
Slow reading means a return to an uninterrupted pattern in a quiet environment free of distractions. “Aim for 30 minutes a day,” advises Kelly from The Atlantic. “You can squeeze in that half hour pretty easily if only during your free moments – whenever you find yourself automatically firing up your laptop to check your favorite site, or scanning Twitter for something to pass the time – you pick up a meaningful work of literature,” Kelly said. “Reach for your e-reader, if you like. Kindles make books like War and Peace less heavy, not less substantive(真实的), and also ensure you’ll never lose your place.”We prefer speed –reading because ____.
| A．we rely on e-mails and tweets too much. |
| B．we are busier than before |
| C．we have to read faster to get more information |
| D．we do not enjoy reading any more |
The aim of setting theSlow Reading Clubis to encourage people to _____.
| A．share their ideas about a certain book |
| B．read old-fashioned books |
| C．read as many books as possible |
| D．to enjoy slow reading |
We can learn from the passage that __________.
| A．the benefits of regular reading hasn’t been proved |
| B．for elderly people ,a good reading habit helps slow memory loss |
| C．speed reading can improve concentration and reduce stress levels |
| D．more elderly people enjoy slow reading now |
According to the last paragraph, a kindle is probably________.
| A．a software for downloading e-books |
| B．a software that helps people read slowly |
| C．a website for people to exchange books |
| D．a website for people to share their ideas about a book |
What can be the best title of the passage？
| A．Enjoy Speed-reading | B．Enjoy Slow-Reading |
| C．Enjoy Effective Reading | D．Enjoy Online Reading |
Moving in with a boyfriend causes women to eat more unhealthily and put on weight. But the opposite is true for men, whose longterm health benefits when they move in with a female partner.
Dieticians at Newcastle University said both partners try to please one another, and so change their dietary habits to suit their other half.
It leads men to eat more light meals, such as salads, fruit and vegetables, while women choose to make creamier, heavier dishes like curry or rich pasta sauces, which may please their partner.
Women still have the strongest longterm influence over the couple's diet and lifestyle, as they still have the traditional role of shopper and cook in most households.
The report, by Newcastle University's Human Nutrition Research Centre, reviewed the finding of a variety of research projects from the UK, North America and Australia, which looked at the eating and lifestyle habits of couples.
The research shows that women are more likely to put on weight and increase their consumption of foods high in fat and sugar when they move in with their partner.
Women also use food as a comfort when dealing with emotional stress and have been found to gain weight when a relationship ends, while the same finding has not been observed in men.
Many couples reported food as being central to their partnership, and eating together in the evening was particularly important to many.
Report author and registered dietician Dr. Amelia Lake said, “The research has shown that your partner is a strong influence on lifestyle and people who are trying to live healthier lives should take this factor into consideration.”According to the passage, moving in with a girlfriend, men ________.
| A．have few changes of their dietary habits |
| B．have to eat more unhealthy foods |
| C．don't like foods high in fat and sugar at all |
| D．try to eat foods that their girlfriends like |
The underlined word “light”(in Paragraph 3 ) probably means ________.
| A．not very heavy |
| B．gentle． |
| C．less in fat and sugar |
| D．not serious or important |
According to the report by Newcastle University's Human Nutrition Research Centre, ________.
| A．women put on weight only because they want to suit their other half |
| B．when men are faced with emotional stress, they will change their dietary habits |
| C．eating together in the evening is a good way to communicate for couples |
| D．it is wrong to change your dietary habits to suit your partner |
From the passage, we can infer that ________.
| A．women should pay more attention to their partner's influence on them |
| B．more men will play roles of shopper and cook in most households |
| C．couples will not change their dietary habits and lifestyle to please their partner |
| D．longterm health of men benefits when they move in with a female partner |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Don't be silly any more, women! |
| B．Which are better dietary habits? |
| C．Boyfriends make you fat |
| D．Dr. Amelia Lake and his study |
Today, people all over the world are moving out of small villages in the countryto go and live in big, noisy cities. They are moving from the peaceful hills, mountains, fields, rivers and streams of the countryside to the busy world of streets, buildings, traffic and crowds. This movement from rural areas to urban areas has been going on for over two hundred years.
In many countries, the main reason people come to live in towns and cities is work. After one or two large factories have been built in or near a town, people come to find work, and soon an industrial area begins to grow. There is usually a residential area nearby, too. The families of these workers need schools, hospitals and shops, so many people come to live in the area to provide these services and a city grows.
In every major city in the world, there is a business district where the big companies have their main offices. In the United States, this area is usually in the city center downtown. It is here that you can see many huge skyscrapers(摩天大楼) and office blocks. The people who work here often travel a long way to work each day. Many of them live in the suburbs of the city, far away from the industrial area and the city center. Some suburbs are very pleasant, with nice houses and big gardens. There are usually parks for children to play in and large department stores where you can buy all you need.
But what is the future of the big cities? Will they continue to get bigger and bigger? Perhaps not. Some major cities have actually become smaller in the last ten years, and it is quite possible that one day we will see people moving out of the major cities and back into smaller towns and villages.Why do people move to live in cities or towns?
| A．Because they can live more comfortably there. |
| B．Because they like noisy life better than peaceful life. |
| C．Because they mainly want to find work there. |
| D．Because they are sure of having a better life there. |
The underlined phrase “a residential area” means an area________.
| A．where people can buy things |
| B．which is suitable for living in |
| C．where people can do business |
| D．which is near a city center |
Which of the following statement is NOT true about the business district?
| A．Big companies usually have their main offices in the business district. |
| B．People usually work and live in the business district. |
| C．A business district usually lies in the city center downtown. |
| D．Nearly every major city has its own business district. |
In the United States, many people work in the center of a big city________.
| A．and live there |
| B．but live in the suburbs of the city |
| C．and live in another city |
| D．but live in rural areas |
We can infer that this movement from rural to urban areas ________.
| A．has been going on for more than 2,000 years |
| B．will surely continue in the future |
| C．may not continue in the future |
| D．has now stopped already |