When people first walked across the Bering Land Bridge thousands of years ago, dogs were by their sides, according to a study published in the journal Science.
Robert Wayne of the University of California, Los Angeles, and Jennifer Leonard of the Smithsonian Institute, used DNA material—some of it unearthed by miners in Alaska—to conclude that today’s domestic dog originated in Asia and accompanied the first humans to the New World about 10,000 to 15,000 years ago. Wayne suggests that man’s best friend may have enabled the tough journey from Asia into North America. “Dogs may have been the reason people made it across the land bridge,” said Wayne. “They can pull things, carry things, defend you from fierce animals, and they’re useful to eat.”
Researchers have agreed that today’s dog is the result of the domestication(驯化) of wolves thousands of years ago. Before this recent study, a common thought about the precise origin of North America’s domestic dog was that Natives domesticated local wolves, the descendents(后代) of which now live with people in Alaska, Canada, and the Lower 48.
Dog remains from a Fairbanks-area gold mine helped the scientists reach their conclusion. Leonard, an evolutionary biologist, collected DNA from 11 bones of ancient dogs that were locked in permafrost(永冻层) until Fairbanks miners uncovered them in the 1920s. The miners donated the preserved bones to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, where they remained untouched for more than 70 years. After borrowing the bones from the museum, Leonard and her colleagues used radiocarbon techniques to find the age of the Alaska dogs. They found the dogs all lived between the years of 1450 and 1675 A.D., before Vitus Bering and Aleksey Chirikov who were the first known Europeans to view Alaska in 1741. The bones of dogs that wandered the Fairbanks area centuries ago should therefore be the remains of “pure native American dogs,” Leonard said. The DNA of the Fairbanks dogs would also expose whether they were the descendents of wolves from North America.
Along with the Fairbanks samples, the researchers collected DNA from bones of 37 dog specimens(标本) from Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia that existed before the arrival of Columbus. In the case of both the Alaska dogs and the dogs from Latin America, the researchers found that they shared the most genetic material with gray wolves of Europe and Asia. This supports the idea of domestic dogs entering the New World with the first human explorers who wandered east over the land bridge.
Leonard and Wayne’s study suggests that dogs joined the first humans that made the adventure across the Bering Land Bridge to slowly populate the Americas. Wayne thinks the dogs that made the trip must have provided some excellent service to their human companions or they would not have been brought along. “Dogs must have been useful because they were expensive to keep,” Wayne said. “They didn’t feed on mice; they fed on meat, which was a very guarded resource.” The underlined word “remains” is closed in meaning to ______.
| A．leftover food | B．animal waste |
| C．dead bodies | D．living environment |
According to the study described in Paragraph 4, we can learn that ______.
| A．ancient dogs entered North America between 1450 and 1675 AD |
| B．the 11 bones of ancient dogs are not from native American dogs |
| C．the bones discovered by the gold miners were from North American wolves |
| D．the bones studied were not from dogs brought into North America by Europeans |
What can we know from the passage?
| A．Native Americans domesticated local wolves into dogs. |
| B．Scientists discovered some ancient dog remains in 1920s. |
| C．Latin America’s dogs are different from North America’s in genes. |
| D．Ancient dogs entered North America across the Bering Land Bridge. |
The first humans into the New World brought dogs along with them because ______.
| A．dogs fed on mice | B．dogs were easy to keep |
| C．dogs helped protect their resources | D．dogs could provide excellent service |
What does the passage mainly talk about ______.
| A．the origin of the North American dogs |
| B．the DNA study of ancient dogs in America |
| C．the reasons why early people entered America |
| D．the difference between Asian and American dogs |
Chinese reports say the country’s vast pool of cheap labor is getting smaller, which could hurt an economy that heavily depends on labor-intensive manufacturing.
The academy’s research shows that China’s rural labor surplus, the source of migrant workers for the country’s factories, is about 50 million people—far less than the previously estimated 150 to 200 million.
Jonathan Unger, director of the Contemporary China Center at the Australian National University, says fewer rural residents are willing to leave their farms today. This is partly because there are more employment opportunities in rural areas, and because agricultural prices have gone up.
“And at the same time taxes in the countryside, fees in the countryside have gone down because of new sets of government policies,” he explained. “So people are not eagerly forced in the way they were five, six years ago to leave the farm in order to earn enough money for their families.”
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences says another reason for the reduced labor pool is the country’s population policy, which allows city residents to have just one child, and farmers up to two if the first one is a girl.
A UN study predicts that China’s workforce will reach its top in 2015 and then gradually drop. Some of China’s major manufacturing areas, such as Guangdong Province, already face labor shortages.
Some economists think these shortages are, at least for now, a regional rather than a national problem. Sun Mingchun, an economist with investment bank Lehman Brothers in Hong Kong, points out that there are still millions of people in China who can not find work.
57. According to the academy’s research, China’ rural labor surplus today is about _______.
A. 150 million B. 50 million C. 200 million D. 175 million
58. The reason why many rural residents don’t leave their farms today is ________.
A. the farmers are older than before.
B. the farmers are lazier than before
C. the farmers have much more money
D. there are more employment opportunities and agricultural prices have gone up
59. Which of the following is TURE according to the passage?
A. A study of UN estimates China’s workforce will come to the top in 2015.
B. No a study shows millions of people can’t find work in China.
C. The country’s population policy isn’t a reason for the reduced labor.
D. Five years ago, few farmers left their homes to earn money for supporting their families.
60. According to some economists, the shortage of Chinese workforce __________.
A. is a national problem B. is a regional problem
C. is not a problem D. can be solved easily
One of the most wonderful things about having a positive attitude is that it can touch many people, and it often exists in our everyday life.
Recently, I stopped by a store to get a newspaper and a bottle of drink. The young woman at the check-out counter said, “That’ll be three dollars in all please.” She then glanced down at the paper I was buying and said. “I’m sick and tired of all this negative stuff-on the front pages. I want to read some good news for a change.” She then said, “In fact, I think soemone should just publish a Good News newspaper--- a paper with wonderful, inspirational stories about people over-coming difficulty and doing good things for others. I’d buy one every day!” she then thanked me for coming in and said, “Maybe we’ll get lucky tomorrow; maybe we’ll get some good news.” And she laughed. She made my day.
The following day after my business appointments. I dropped by the same store again to pick up bottled water and a piece of newspaper, but a different young lady was behind the counter. As I checked out I said “Good afternoon” and handed her my money. She said nothing, not a word, not a smile or not a gesture. She just handed me my change and in a negative tone ordered “Next!”
It hit me right between the eyes: Two people, the same age; one made me feel great, and the other, well, made me feel that I had inconvenienced her by showing up.
Every morning you should ask yourself this important question. “Who do I want to be today? The Grouch(不高兴的人) or ‘The Good News Girl?’” Your answer will go a long way toward determining the joy and happiness that you will experience in your life.
53. What does the first salesgirl dislike according to her words?
A. Those who have bad manners.
B. The bad news in the newspaper.
C. The advertisements in the newspaper.
D. The bad news who break the laws.
54. After he had bought a newspaper on the first day the author _________.
A. was very lucky and excited that day
B. always remembered the girl’s word
C. read the news in the newspaper carefully
D. was in a pleasant mood the whole day
55. We learn from the passage that the salesgirl the author met the next day was ________.
A. humorous B. enthusiastic C. very cool D. positive
56. What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 4 mean?
A. I was very surprised. B. I was especially angry.
C. I felt very unhappy. D. It hurt my heart badly.
“Human influenza viruses can survive and be infectious for several days when they are deposited on banknotes,” according to the latest study by Yves Thomas and his colleages in Switzerland. Scientists put different types of flu virus onto Swiss franc notes and found that they could survive from a few hours to more than a week. The results depended on the type of flu virus.
According to the study, Swiss-banknotes are mostly cotton covered by a nonporous resin(无孔树脂). Banknotes from other countries may be composed of different materials, and this could affect viral transmission. “Whether similar results would be obtained with banknotes from other countries and with different characteristics needs to be studied.” the authors wrote. In an interview with Reuters, Thomas said. “Our studies have convinced us that it is possible to catch the flu from banknotes, but the chances are very, very small and there is no cause for concern among the gneral population,” To be sure, many kinds of frequently touched surfaces could temporarily hide the flu virus. Broadly speaking, scientists consider the risk of transmission in this way to be low. Particularly if hand-washing and other hygiene measures are practiced.
Three things must happen for a flu virus to be transmitted from one person to another via money. First, a person who is infected with the flu virus must sneeze or cough onto the banknote. Next, an uninfected person would need to touch the money while the virus si still present. Finally, that person would need to put his hand in his mouth or pick his nose, says Thomas. The best defense against infection: follow public health guidelines and wash your hands frequently.
49. What does the underlined word “this” refers to in the second paragraph?
A. The time when people stay in a bank.
B. The fact that banknotes may consist of deferent materials.
C. The bank where people draw their money.
D. The country where the banknotes are in circlation.
50. From the last paragraph, we can know that an infected person should ________.
A. pay attention to his personal hygiene B. wash his hands after leaving a bank
C. be monitored at a bank D. not cough at a bank
51. What can we learn from the passage?
A. Any person who touches banknotes will become infected.
B. Different flu viruses stay on the surface of banknotes for different lengths of time.
C. The bank should not allow any infected person to enter.
D. Only banknotes in Switzerland can transmit the flu virus.
52. What is the best title for the passage?
A. Is it Dangerous to Stay in a Bank?
B. How to Avoid Being Infected with the Flu Virus?
C. Can You Catch the Flu from Handling Money?
D. Why Do People Refuse to Use Banknotes in Switzerland?
As a parent you have the responsibility to help your children understand money. But first you will need to understand your own attitude towards money, and make sure to practise what you teach.
Ask yourself what things that cost money are the most important to you. Also ask yourself what financial goals do you have for yourself and your family this year, in five years, and so on?
Take a minute to write down a list. Below are some ideas to get you started. There’s no right or wrong here. This exercise is just to help you grasp what money means to you so that you can help your children understand your values.
◆ Home
◆ Household expenses
◆ Education
◆ Recreation, entertainment
◆ Savings
◆ Charitable contributions
You can start discussing money when your children are as young as three years old. The best time to teach a child anything is when he or she shows an interest. So he prepared to start talking about money when your child starts asking you to buy candy or toys.
Begin by showing how money is exchanged for items or services. Show your children how money works by allowing them to buy something, such as a toy or a book.
Be open and honest, and explain to your children why they can or cannot have certain items. If you must say no to a child’s request to spend money, you might say, “You have enough toy trucks now.” Or, if the request is for multiple items, “You have a choice to make, between this toy and that one.”
You can start explaining the bigger picture once your children understand the basic function of money. Show an older child how money is used to provide for the whole family.
45. Why should parents understand their own money attitudes first?
A. To help their children earn money. B. To set an exampel to their children.
C. To help them set financial goals. D. To help them tell right from wrong.
46. Which of the following is NOT one of the major categories of things that cost money listed in the article?
A. Travel and investments. B. Household expenses.
C. Education and entertainment. D. Savings and charitable contributions.
47. Which of the following is NOT a way to teach the children about money?
A. Showing how money is exchanged.
B. Allowing children to buy whatever they like.
C. Explaining the limits involved in using money.
D. Having an open discussion about money.
48. According to the passage, when should parents start teaching a child about money?
A. When the child can understand its basic function.
B. When the child can understand how money is used to provide for the whole family.
C. When the child knows how to support a family.
D. As young as three, or when they start showing an interest.
The 149th anniversary of Washington University’s founding will be celebrated with a presentation of Distinguished Alumni(校友) Awards for six famous teachers and alumni for their outstanding professional achievements, public service, extraordinary service to Washington University, or all three. Among the sixd awards winners for this year is Chen Zhangliang.
Chen Zhangliang is one of China’s most famous scientists, who was born into a poor fisherman’s family in Fuqing City, Fujian Province in 1961. after graduating from a university at home, Chen went to the US for further study. Since coming to Washington University as a doctoral student in 1983 to study transgenic(转基因的) plant engineering, Chen’s academic career has focused on gene cloning and the development of disease-and-pest-resistant plants. He completed his doctoral degree in biology at Washington University in 1987 and returned to Beijing to establish the National Laboratory of Plant Genetic Engineering at Peking University.
A productive scholar, Chen has published many books and more than one hundred research papers. He holds over ten patents with an equal number pending(等待决定的). Currently he is president of China Agricultural University and vice president of Peking University.
In addition to his academic career, Chen is also founder and president of the Weiming Biotechnology Company, which produces many DNA recombinant drugs and vaccines. He’s also a representative of China’s National People’s Congress and vice chairman of China Biotechnology Association. In addition, he serves as vice chairman for the China’s National Youth Federation.
Among his many honors are the UNESCO Javed Husain Prize for Young Scientists and TIME’s Global 100 Roster of Young Leaders for the New Millennium, as well as the Science and Technology prizes from the Ministry of Education in China.
41. Chen Zhangliang takes part in the following activities EXCEPT __________.
A. the Chinese government’s work
B. the university’s management
C. the management of agriculture
D. the production of biochemistry medicines
42. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Chen Zhangliang gained a doctor’s degree at the age of 26.
B. It’s possible for Chen Zhangliang to obtain about 20 patents.
C. Chen Zhangliang established the genetic engineering laboratory in Beijing.
D. Distinguished Alumni Awards are mainly given to the students of the university.
43. What’s the passage mainly about?
A. An introdction to Washington University’s anniversary activities.
B. A brief introduction to a world-famous university.
C. The scientific achievements and honors of Chen Zhangliang.
D. The career development of Chen Zhangliang
44. This passage gives us the inspiration that ___________.
A. knowledge can change one’s destiny
B. wehre there’s a will, there’s a way
C. a good scholar can become an official
D. a good beginning is half done