Can people change their skin colour without suffering like pop king Michael Jackson? Perhaps yes. Scientists have found the gene that determines skin colour.

The gene comes in two versions, one of which is found in 99 per cent of Europeans. The other is found in 93 to 100 per cent of Africans, researchers at Pennsylvania State University report in the latest issue of Science.

Scientists have changed the colour of a dark-striped zebrafish to uniform gold by inserting a version of the pigment(色素) gene into a young fish. As with humans, zebrafish skin colour is determined by pigment cells, which contain melanosomes(黑色素). The number, size and darkness of melanosomes per pigment cell determines skin colour.

It appears that, like the golden zebrafish, light-skinned Europeans also have a mutation(变异) in the gene for melanosome production. This results in less pigmented skin.

However, Keith Cheng, leader of the research team, points out that the mutation is different in human and zebrafish genes.

Humans acquired dark skin in Africa about 1.5 million years ago to protect bodies from ultra-violet rays of the sun(太阳光紫外线), which can cause skin cancer.

But when modern humans leave Africa to live in northern latitudes, they need more sunlight on their skin to produce vitamin D. So the related gene changes, according to Cheng.

Asians have the same version of the gene as Africans, so they probably acquired their light skin through the action of some other gene that affects skin colour, said Cheng.

The new discovery could lead to medical treatments for skin cancer. It also could lead to research into ways to change skin colour without damaging it like chemical treatment did on Michael Jackson.

The passage mainly tells us that ________.

    A. scientists have found out that people’s skin colour is determined by the gene

    B. the new discovery could lead to search into ways to change skin colour safely

    C. pop king Michael Jackson often changed his skin colour as he liked

    D. people can not change their skin colour without any pain

The reason why Europeans are light-skinned is probably that ________.

    A. they are born light-skinned people

    B. light-skinned Europeans have mutation in the gen for melanosome production

    C. they have fewer activities outside

    D. they pay much attention to protecting their skin

It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

    A. nowadays people who want to change their skin colour have to suffer a lot from the damage caused by the chemical treatment

    B. Europeans and Africans have the same gene

    C. the new discovery has helped to find medical treatments for skin cancer

    D. there are two kinds of genes

The writer’s attitude towards the discovery is ________.

A. neutral                          B. negative                   C. positive                    D. indifferent

Can people change their skin color without suffering like pop king Michael Jackson? Perhaps yes. Scientists have found the gene that determines skin color.

    The gene comes in two versions, one of which is found in 99 per cent of Europeans. The other is found in 93 to 100 per cent of Africans, researchers at Pennsylvania State University report in the latest issue of Science.

    Scientists have changed the color of a dark-striped zebrafish（斑马鱼） to uniform gold by inserting a version of the pigment (色素) gene into a young fish. As with humans, zebrafish skin color is determined by pigment cells, which contain melanin (黑色素). The number, size and darkness of melanin per pigment cell determine skin color.

    It appears that, like the golden zebrafish, light-skinned Europeans also have a mutation (变异) in the gene for melanin production. This results in less pigmented skin.

    However, Keith Cheng, leader of the research team, points out that the mutation is different in human and zebrafish genes.

    Humans acquired dark skin in Africa about 1.5 million years ago to protect bodies from ultra-violet rays of the sun (太阳光紫外线), which can cause skin cancer.

    But when modern humans leave Africa to live in northern latitudes, they need more sunlight on their skin to produce vitamin D. So the related gene changes, according to Cheng.

    Asians have the same version of the gene as Africans, so they probably acquired their light skin through the action of some other gene that affects skin color, said Cheng.

    The new discovery could lead to medical treatments for skin cancer. It also could lead to research into ways to change skin color without damaging it like chemical treatment did on Michael Jackson.

1.The passage mainly tells us that ________.

A. people can not change their skin color without any pain

B. the new discovery could lead to research into ways to change skin color safely

C. pop king Michael Jackson often changed his skin color as he liked

D. scientists have found out that people’s skin color is determined by the gene

2.It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A. nowadays people who want to change their skin color have to suffer a lot from the damage caused by the chemical treatment

B. Europeans and Africans have the same gene

C. the new discovery could help to find medical treatments for skin cancer

D. there are two kinds of genes

3.Scientists have done an experiment on a dark-striped zebrafish in order to ________.

A. find the different genes of humans’

B. prove the humans’ skin color is determined by the pigment gene

C. find out the reason why the Africans’ skin color is dark

D. find out the ways of changing people’s skin color

4.The reason why Europeans are light-skinned is probably that _____

A. they are born light-skinned people

B. light-skinned Europeans have mutation in the gene for melanin production

C. they have fewer activities outside

D. they pay much attention to protecting their skin

5.The writer’s attitude towards the discovery is ________.

A. neutral B. negative        C. positive       D. unconcerned

 

Can people change their skin color without suffering like pop king Michael Jackson? Perhaps yes. Scientists have found the gene that determines skin color.

The gene comes in two versions, one of which is found in 99 per cent of Europeans. The other is found in 93 to 100 per cent of Africans, researchers at Pennsylvania State University report in the latest issue of Science.

Scientists have changed the color of a dark-striped zebrafish（斑马鱼） to uniform gold by inserting a version of the pigment (色素) gene into a young fish. As with humans, zebrafish skin color is determined by pigment cells, which contain melanin (黑色素). The number, size and darkness of melanin per pigment cell determine skin color.

It appears that, like the golden zebrafish, light-skinned Europeans also have a mutation (变异) in the gene for melanin production. This results in less pigmented skin.

However, Keith Cheng, leader of the research team, points out that the mutation is different in human and zebrafish genes.

Humans acquired dark skin in Africa about 1.5 million years ago to protect bodies from ultra-violet rays of the sun (太阳光紫外线), which can cause skin cancer.

But when modern humans leave Africa to live in northern latitudes, they need more sunlight on their skin to produce vitamin D. So the related gene changes, according to Cheng.

Asians have the same version of the gene as Africans, so they probably acquired their light skin through the action of some other gene that affects skin color, said Cheng.

The new discovery could lead to medical treatments for skin cancer. It also could lead to research into ways to change skin color without damaging it like chemical treatment did on Michael Jackson.

1. The passage mainly tells us that ________.

A．people can not change their skin color without any pain

B．the new discovery could lead to research into ways to change skin color safely

C．pop king Michael Jackson often changed his skin color as he liked

D．scientists have found out that people’s skin color is determined by the gene

2. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A．nowadays people who want to change their skin color have to suffer a lot from the damage caused by the chemical treatment

B．Europeans and Africans have the same gene

C．the new discovery could help to find medical treatments for skin cancer

D．there are two kinds of genes

3.Scientists have done an experiment on a dark-striped zebrafish in order to ________.

A．find the different genes of humans’

B．prove the humans’ skin color is determined by the pigment gene

C．find out the reason why the Africans’ skin color is dark

D．find out the ways of changing people’s skin color

4.The reason why Europeans are light-skinned is probably that _____

A．they are born light-skinned people

B．light-skinned Europeans have mutation in the gene for melanin production

C．they have fewer activities outside

D．they pay much attention to protecting their skin

5.The writer’s attitude towards the discovery is ________.

A．neutral（中立的）

B．negative

C．positive

D．indifferent（冷漠）

 

About 90 percent of Chinese believe the polarization(分化) between the rich and poor is “serious” in China, according to a survey conducted by China Youth Daily. And more than 80 percent of the respondents(对象) surveyed said something must be done to narrow the expanding gap between the rich and poor, while 14.1 percent said it was necessary.

The polarization has aroused wide concern among the public in recent years. The State Development and Reform Commission(国家发改委) said the Gini Coefficient had reached 0.47 for China, up from o.29 two decades ago. Usually, a country with a number above 0.4 is warned to pay attention to the income inequality problem.

To find out the people’s view, the survey covered 10,250 respondents, between the ages of 20 and 30 with a college education and a monthly salary between 1,000 and 3,000 yuan. Surprisingly, most disagreed with the view of experts who claim the urban-rural difference is causing the widening gap. More than 70 percent of the respondents believed that “ the group of special interests” is the prime reason for the polarization, followed by “people in power” 68 percent, and “bosses” 50 percent.

Another unexpected finding is that almost all agreed that a good educational background and knowledge were not the decisive factors in gaining wealth. About 95 percent said rich people are not necessarily those who are able to speak English or have a college education.

Today in China, rich people , accounting for 10 percent of the population, control 45 percent of the total social fortune, and poor people, also 10 percent of the population, only control 1.5 percent, according to an investigation published by the National Bureau of Statistics last June.

It can be inferred that the Gini Coefficient ( in paragraph 2) would probably be _____.

   A. the unit used in advanced mathematics

   B. the degree of a country’s development

   C. the level of the citizen’s living standard

   D. a measure of income inequality

Experts hold the view that the main reason for the polarization is _____.

   A. the urban-rural difference             B. the group of special interests

   C. the people in power                  D. the bosses

Which of the following can show the correct proportion(比例) of the social fortune among population?

 

What’s the best title of the passage?

   A. Close the Gap between the Rich and Poor

   B. Surveys conducted by China Youth Daily

   C. Higher education, Higher pay

   D. Rich-Poor Divide Serious, Study Finds

第三部分：阅读(共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分)

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Most people want to know how things are made. They honestly admit, however, that they hardly know a thing when it comes to understanding how a piece of music is made. Where a composer begins, how he manages to keep going – in fact, how and when he learns his trade – all are covered in complete darkness. The composer, in short, is a man of mystery.

One of the first things the common man wants to know about is the part inspiration（灵感）plays in a composer’s work. He finds it difficult to believe that composers are not much interested in that question. Writing music is as natural for the composer as eating or sleeping for all. Music is something that the composer happens to have been born for.

The composer, therefore, does not say to himself: “Do I feel inspired?” He says to himself: “Do I feel like working today?” And if he feels like working, he does. It is more or less like saying to himself: “Do I feel sleepy?” if you feel sleepy, you go to sleep. If you don’t feel sleepy, you stay up. If the composer doesn’t feel like working, he doesn’t work. It’s as simple as that.

66. What would be the best title for the text?

A. Composer: a man of mystery           B. Practice makes good music

C. Relation between sleeping and music       D. Music: product of nature

67. The words “covered in complete darkness” underlined in paragraph 1 most probably mean__________

A. difficult to be made   B. without any light       C. black in color    D. not known

68. Most people seem to think that a composer________.

A. finds it difficult to write music     B. considers it important to have a good rest

C. should like to talk about inspiration  D. never asks himself very simple questions

69. The author will most probably agree that composers_________.

A. are born with a gift for music      B. are people full of mystery

C. work late at night for their music     D. know a lot about eating and sleeping

70. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A. How the music produces.

B. How secret the composer’s work.

C. Why the composer is so popular with people.

D. What the composer often thinks about.