Both warm-blooded and cold-blooded desert animals have ways to escape the desert heat. Warm- blooded desert animals, such as rats and mice, rest during the day, often staying in cool underground burrows. At night they search for food. Animals that are out during the day, such as cold-blooded lizards and snakes, are active only for short periods. As their body temperature rises, these reptiles(爬行动物) move into the shade in order to cool down. In the early evening, when the sun grows weaker, the reptiles become more active and begin their search for food again.
Getting enough water to survive is a major problem for all desert animals. Some desert animals, like desert birds, manage to find water holes. Other desert animals, such as the kangaroo rat and the related jerboa, get water only from the food that they eat. Because these animals eat mainly dry seeds, they must survive on a tiny amount of water.
Most deserts have only a small number of frogs and toads because these animals must be near water to survive. Yet even these creatures have adapted(适应) to desert conditions. When small amounts of water collect in temporary streams, the desert-living frogs and toads become active. After a rainfall, they lay their eggs. The eggs grow into tadpoles in a few days and into adults in just four weeks. When the puddles(水坑) dry up, the adult frogs or toads dig into the ground. Their metabolism(新陈代谢) slows, and they stay beneath the ground until the next rain, which may be as good as a year away. Until then, their bodily activities continue at a reduced rate.
The camel — often called the ship of the desert — is one of the most successful desert animals. Camels can go for long periods without water, but eventually they must drink. When water becomes available to them after a long drought, they may drink 95 liters of water or more. When water is not available, what helps camels survive the desert heat is the fat stored in their humps(驼峰). A camel’s hump contains about 12 kilograms of fat. Fat is rich in hydrogen. As the fat is digested, hydrogen from the fat combines with oxygen in the air that the camel breathes. The result is H2O, or water. Each kilogram of fat that a camel digests produces about a liter of water. Desert animals are usually more active at night because _____.
| A.it is cooler at night |
| B.it is easier to find water |
| C.they like the dark |
| D.they are less likely to be attacked at night |
Which of the following desert animals can get water only from the food?
| A.The camel. |
| B.The kangaroo. |
| C.The frog. |
| D.The rat. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A.All the desert animals rest during the day. |
| B.All the desert animals don’t rest during the day. |
| C.Cold-blooded desert animals are out most of the day. |
| D.None of the cold-blooded desert animals go out during the day. |
The title for this passage could probably be _____.
| A.Hot Deserts |
| B.Desert Animals |
| C.How Desert Animals Get Water |
| D.Ways To Escape the Desert Heat |
The underlined word “burrows” in the first paragraph can be replaced by _____.
| A.holes |
| B.caves |
| C.rooms |
| D.openings |
International Exchange Programme
The application form for participation on the exchange programme for 2016/17 can be found in Application Procedures.
Applying Qualification—Current Queen Mary undergraduate students(with the exception of students in Biomedical Sciences,Chemistry,Dentistry and Medicine)have qualifications to apply.
Law Students—Students enrolled in The School of Law should contact Sheila Shirley(s.shirley@qmul.ac.uk)for details of study abroad opportunities.
English and Drama Studen—Students cannot study abroad for the full academic year. Students will be able to spend only the autumn semester studying at one of our exchange partners·
Applications
A complete application will consist of the two-page application form,a personal statement and a supporting academic reference.Students should follow these application procedures. Applicants must ensure they have spoken to their departmental study abroad instructor before submitting their application.Applications can be submitted in person at The Study Abroad Office(E09,Ground Floor,Queens’Building)or by email to h.gibney@qmul.ac.uk
New Exchange Partners for 2016/2017
For 2016/17 we hope to offer students the opportunity to study abroad at the following new partners:The University of Pennsylvania—UPenn(USA),The University of Sydney(Australia) and Waseda University(Japan).Should we be unable to send students to any of these new institutions on exchange,and if you intend to include one or more of these destinations with your application,please provide at least one alternative destination from the list of other partner programmes.Who can apply for the exchange programme?
| A.Students in Biomedical Sciences |
| B.Students in Chemistry |
| C.Students in Dentistry |
| D.Students in English and Drama |
The law students who want to study abroad should______.
| A.email to h.gibney@qmul.ac.uk |
| B.email to s.shirley@qmul.ac.uk |
| C.go to E09,Ground Floor,Queens’Building |
| D.go to Masons Lecture Theatre Hall,Bancroft Building |
What will you do if you can’t be sent to the new exchange partners?
| A.Wait for another proper opportunity. |
| B.Cancel your exchange programme. |
| C.Provide another university from the list. |
| D.Contact the university by yourself. |
Once school is out for the summer, students can begin their vacation trips in the great state of New Hampshire. Here are some low budget destinations.
Cannon Mountain
It is not only the well-known oldest ski area in the US, but a top summer destination. The site offers views of the attractions of NH’s Old Man of the Mountain, and the nests of eagles from the surrounding mount. You can treat yourselves to not only the small train ride, but a walk through the US ski museum and a hike along the small road. Feel free to choose a picnic lunch, or eat in the hotel. To comfortably enjoy the Cannon Mountain trip, plan to bring $20 per person in your group.
Mount Washington Auto Road
No trip to New Hampshire is complete without taking a drive up to the Mount Washington Auto Road. At $28 per vehicle and driver, plus $8 for each adult, you can arrive at the mountain top. You can start your trip to the highest top in the northeast, where you can spend a day climbing the rocks, exploring the weather station and the hiker rest area.
Cruising on Lake Winnipesaukee
Lake Winnipesaukee offers seasonal trips on the largest lake in New Hampshire. Summer cruises are designed for all the visitors, from plants tours and houses visiting to evening dinner cruises. Tickets change from $15 to $123 depending on the number of visitors and the season.
Prescott Park Arts Festival
Since 1974, the Prescott Park Arts Festival in Portsmouth has been hosting a free theater experience in the lovely river side Prescott Park. Past performances have included Annie, Shrek the Musical, and other plays. These community theater programs are a delight. And they run from June to August, with both evening shows and afternoon concerts.what can we learn about Cannon Mountain?
| A.It is the oldest ski area in the world. |
| B.A small train ride is available there. |
| C.Tourists have to take their food there. |
| D.There are nests of eagles on the mount. |
How much should you pay if you drive to Mount Washington Auto Road together with your parents?
| A.$ 28 | B.$36 | C.$44 | D.$52 |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
| A.Summer cruises are more expensive in the busy season. |
| B.The Prescott Park Arts Festival lasts for a month every year. |
| C.Tourists can dine in the hotel for free in the Cannon Mountain. |
| D.Tourists can explore the weather station in the Cannon Mountain. |
Researchers in the US say they might have discovered how to fight against and even reverse some processes of ageing, at least in mice. Injecting the blood of young mice into the older ones improved their brainpower, a study found. Scientists at Stanford University plan to carry out trials in people in the hope that new treatments for dementia(痴呆症) can be developed.
“There are factors present in blood from young mice that can recharge an old mouse’s brain so that it functions more like a younger one,”says Dr. Tony from Stanford University School of medicine. In the study published in Nature Medicine, mice aged 18 months were given injections of the blood taken from mice aged 3 months. The injected mice performed better on memory tests than mice of the same age that had not been given the blood. Dr. Tony said it was not known whether the same was true of humans, but a trial was planned.
A research center in UK said the treatment restored certain aspects of learning and memory in mice, but was of unknown importance to humans. The research, while very interesting, did not test the type of brain damage that was seen in dementia, which is not a necessary consequence of ageing.
Meanwhile, two similar studies by a separate team have thrown more light on how young blood may benefit the old, in mice at least. A substance in the blood of mice previously shown to have an anti-ageing effect on heart muscle also improved brain cells, according to a Harvard team. The research, published in Science, found the blood factors encouraged the growth of brain cells in old mice, and restored their sense of smell. The same chemical also improved muscle power of aged mice, the researchers found. The underlined word in paragraph 1 probably means _________.
| A.change | B.destroy |
| C.speed | D.increase |
Scientists in the US will test the discovery in humans with the aim of __________.
| A.proving the possibility to live longer. |
| B.showing the importance of scientific research. |
| C.publishing the study in Nature Medicine. |
| D.treating an age-related disease successfully. |
According to the studies, the blood from young mice benefits the old in certain ways except in_________.
| A.memory | B.muscle power |
| C.fur color | D.brain cells |
What’s the author’s attitude to the anti-ageing studies?
| A.supportive | B.objective |
| C.negative | D.doubtful |
If you're not a fan of KFC's famous Double Down hot dog, don't worry! KFC in the UK is developing a new treat: an edible coffee cup.
The product is still in the trial stage and not yet available for purchase, but according to a KFC news report, the treat is made from a unique biscuit, wrapped in sugar paper, and lined with a layer of heat-resistant white chocolate, which helps keep the coffee hot. As you drink the coffee in the cup, the white chocolate lining will begin to melt slowly, and the biscuit begins to soften.
But it doesn't end there --- the cups are not only edible, they also have a pleasant smell. KFC partnered with The Robin Collective, an experimental food company, to make the cups with coconut sun cream, freshly cut grass and wild flowers scents. According to the news report, that's because the scents arouse the positive memories we associate with warm weather, sunshine and summer holidays. Sounds ... delicious?
A manager at KFC said, “We have been experimenting with the edible packaging in limited quantities to see if it could be a popular product in the market. We believe if our customers occasionally like to have their cake and eat it, why wouldn’t they want to have their cup and eat it instead! ”
The edible cups will only be available in the UK when it comes out. According to a spokesperson for KFC, there are at present no plans to bring it to the U.S. yet.The cup is lined with a layer of white chocolate to_________.
| A.make the cup smell delicious |
| B.prevent the heat giving off soon |
| C.help the cup look beautiful |
| D.keep the biscuit tasting soft |
What does KFC do with the new product in its trial stage?
| A.Promote it by adding different scents. |
| B.Sell it at a lower price in the US first. |
| C.Invite customers to eat it for free. |
| D.Test it in the market in small quantities. |
Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?
| A.The cup not only tastes good but also smells delicious. |
| B.The cup is developed with the help of The Robin Collective |
| C.Customers all over the world can soon try the edible cup. |
| D.The cup is made from biscuit, sugar paper and chocolate. |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A.KFC’s new product---Edible coffee cups |
| B.A new treat---Coffee cups and positive memories |
| C.Coffee cups made from biscuits and chocolate |
| D.The development of KFC company in the UK |
Have you ever had a science class that you look forward to? It doesn’t happen often. But when you have a teacher like Mrs. Field, it’s more than a science class. It’s a science class where learning is easy and fun. There is no getting down to a huge textbook or listening to a teacher about something you don’t care about.
My experience with Mrs. Field didn’t start with science class, but with her as my tutor. I was always a weak reader and wasn’t getting any better. My parents told me I needed to be tutored. One day after school, I went into the library with my mom for my first tutoring time. I had no idea who was tutoring me. My mom practically had to drag me into the library. The first thing we did was to play a game to get to know each other and get rid of the awkwardness. We didn’t even play a reading game.
We also went around the library and I got to pick out a book I wanted to read. She didn’t make me read a boring textbook about something I didn’t care about. I didn’t even pick a book. I picked out a magazine about remote control cars. I thought to myself, how bad could it be? To my surprise, She told me even though I was reading a magazine, I was still reading. After the first magazine, she picked out a book she liked. I would read a chapter and then she would read a chapter to me, in this way I didn’t have to read for long periods of time.
As I got better and faster at reading, I was able to read two chapters in the same amount of time, which used to take me to read one chapter.
Reading is one of the most important things in high school and college to be successful. If it were not for her, I would not be the reader I am today ! The writer tutored by Mrs. Field because____________.
| A.he was too shy to talk with others. |
| B.he found science fun but hard. |
| C.he was eager to learn science. |
| D.he lacked the skills of reading. |
It can be inferred from the second paragraph that __________.
| A.the writer knew Mrs. Field very well |
| B.the writer was unwilling to be tutored |
| C.the writer felt awkward to read in the library |
| D.the writer went to the library to play a reading game |
At the library, the writer __________.
| A.chose any book he was interested in |
| B.played a reading game with Mrs. Field |
| C.was asked to read one chapter after another |
| D.had to read textbooks rather than magazines |
What’s the author’s feeling about Mrs. Field according to the last paragraph?
| A.unsatisfied | B.worried |
| C.grateful | D.regretful |