Plastic is everywhere because plastic is an extremely useful material.It is cheap, strong and lightweight.What’s more, it can take on nearly any form or shape, from soft and stretchy (有弹性的) to hard and glasslike.

Plastic, however, is far from perfect.It may even be bad for us.Studies now suggest that poisonous chemicals can get out of some types of plastic, get into our bodies, and cause a variety of health problems, including cancer, birth defects and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (注意缺陷障碍).

Two types of chemicals in particular have raised special concern lately.They are called phthalates (邻苯二甲酸盐) and Bisphenol-A (二酚基丙烷), BPA for short. Not all plastic products contain them.But the ones that do are surrounded by controversy (争议).That’s because experts disagree on how dangerous these chemicals are.

Plastic is a single word, but plastic isn’t just one thing.What all plastics share in common are plasticizers -- special chemicals that allow the material to be changed into nearly any shape or texture.Plasticizers (塑化剂) are added to plastic during the manufacturing process.

Phthalates and BPA are two types of plasticizers that work in different ways.Phthalates add softness to things like shampoo bottles, raincoats and rubber.They are also used in perfumes and makeup.BPA, on the other hand, gives a hard, clear, almost glasslike feel to products such as infant bottles.BPA also appears in food and soda cans, DVDs and other unexpected places.

How do these chemicals get into us? When plastic is heated in the microwave or dishwasher, chewed on or scratched, the chemicals can seep (渗透) out of the plastic.Even though we can’t see them, we eat them, drink them and breathe them in.

Scientists and parents are especially worried about young children, who tend to chew on everything, including plastic.Dozens of countries, including the European Union, Japan, Canada and Mexico have already banned phthalates from products made for children younger than three.California and Washington have done the same.And a number of other states are considering similar rules.As for BPA, Canada became the first country to ban the chemical from baby bottles.A dozen states are considering it.

1.What can we know about the plastic from the first paragraph?

A.Its characters and effects. B.Its wide use and bad points.

C.Its importance and chemicals. D.Its popularity and advantages.

2.Which of the following products contains BPA?

A.A soft plastic cup. B.A pencil eraser.

C.A baby milk bottle. D.A new perfume.

3.Phthalates and BPA can get into us __________.

A.through mouth or nose

B.through blood transfusion

C.by feeling plastic products

D.by heating in the microwave

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A.A new ban on plastic products.

B.Problems caused by the plastic.

C.Good points of the plastic.

D.The use of plasticizers.

British MPs (国会议员) have voted in favour of the creation of babies with DNA from two women and one man, in a historic move. The UK is now set to become the first country to introduce laws to allow the creation of babies from three people. In a free vote in the Commons, 382 MPs were in favour and 128 against the technique that stops genetic diseases being passed from mother to child. During the debate, ministers said the technique was “light at the end of a dark tunnel” for families.

A further vote is required in the House of Lords. If everything goes ahead then the first such baby could be born next year. Supporters said it was “good news for progressive medicine” but critics say they will continue to fight against the technique that they say raises too many ethical (伦理的) and safety concerns. Estimates suggest 150 three-person babies could be born each year.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “We're not playing god here; we're just making sure that two parents who want a healthy baby can have one.” The method, which was developed in Newcastle, should help women like Sharon Bernadi, from Sunderland, who lost all seven of her children to mitochondrial (线粒体的) disease. Ms Bernadi said she was “overwhelmed” by the decision.

Mitochondria are the tiny compartments (隔间) inside nearly every cell of the body that transform food into useable energy. They have their own DNA, which does not affect characteristics such as appearance. Defective mitochondria are passed down only from the mother. They can lead to brain damage, muscle wasting, heart failure and blindness. The technique uses a modified version to combine the DNA of the two parents with the healthy mitochondria of a donor woman. It results in babies with 0.1% of their DNA from the second woman and is a permanent change that would be passed down through the generations.

1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. The new technique is intended to provide the parents a healthy baby.

B. The mitochondrial disease can lead to various fatal illnesses.

C. Britain is the first country to have created three-person babies.

D. All of Ms Bernadi’s children died of a genetic disease.

2. The underlined word “defective” is closest to the meaning of ________.

A. strangely-made B. normally developed

C. functioning perfectly D. not functioning properly

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

A. Mitochondria are inside nearly every cell that change food into useable energy

B. DNA of Mitochondria can affect a person’s appearance

C. in medical science ethical factors should be taken into consideration

D. the donor woman’s DNA will not be found in the three-person baby

4. Prime Minister David Cameron _________ the creation of such babies.

A. is in favour of B. throws doubt on

C. objects to D. is indifferent to

All of us go through some difficult times as we approach teenage years. It’s the age when we have to deal with the most in our life. This transition (过渡) from childhood to adulthood is for some, but rough for others. The most important thing about being a teenager is . When we are teenagers, we would get blamed or even punished for anything wrong we do. Unlike before when we were small kids, even if we made a big trouble, we didn’t need to pay anything for it.

It’s all not so about being a teenager though. We don’t have to have our take us to somewhere we want to go or we couldn’t go before. We can have with friends or even alone, which we couldn’t have because we were too to know what pleasure is! It’s a very enjoyable time of life. During this age, we are old enough to what is good for us, and make decisions by ourselves without others.

But like the saying goes “All good things must come to an end, but all bad things can continue .” During this period, we are having much for our studies. If we don’t pass, we won’t get jobs, and things will take a turn for the . With the present world economy in , we have to do really, really well in our for a job. Adults say that their is the hardest part of life. But I think the transition from a kid to an adult is much than being already an adult. What we do in our teenage years will what we become and how we lead our life in the future.

In conclusion, it is quite that parents put much pressure on an already stressed out teenager. If they realized that, living condition for teenagers would be much better. for the teens ourselves we should get to know what is best for us. What’s more, we should understand the right of life we choose at this age can make us happy for the rest of our existence.

1.A. chances B. changes C. feelings D. expectations

2.A. smooth B. practical C. demanding D. necessary

3.A. knowledge B. independence C. confidence D. responsibility

4.A. easy B. strange C. bad D. interesting

5.A. guides B. partners C. parents D. friends

6.A. fun B. trouble C. relation D. business

7.A. proud B. young C. smart D. mature

8.A. predict B. remember C. imagine D. understand

9.A. guiding B. helping C. inviting D. consulting

10.A. occasionally B. briefly C. forever D. increasingly

11.A. pressure B. passion C. motivation D. panic

12.A. better B. worse C. fewer D. more

13.A. decline B. hope C. increase D. debt

14.A. contribution B. education C. application D. qualification

15.A. promotion B. work C. experience D. age

16.A. harder B. happier C. easier D. lighter

17.A. reflect B. confirm C. determine D. identify

18.A. vital B. urgent C. common D. unnecessary

19.A. Thus B. Although C. But D. Because

20.A. experience B. way C. condition D. power

Bobbi Kristina Brown's family has been gathered around her since she was hospitalized on Saturday after being found unconscious in the bathtub of her suburban Atlanta townhome.

Whitney Houston's only child is now at Emory University Hospital and is still fighting for her life, as a family statement said on Monday.

Nothing has changed, despite reports that are popping up and painting a more serious picture.

Fox News reported Wednesday that the situation is horrific. "It's now a matter of when the family wants to let go and accept that she's pretty much not going to make it," a source told FOX411. "They've left it up to the family as to how long they want to keep her alive."

People Magazine is also reporting that a doctor told Brown's family on Wednesday that nothing more could be done. "Everyone is coming to the hospital to say goodbye," said a family member.

And the Daily Mail says Brown has been taken off life support.

But Bobby Brown issued a statement late Thursday denying these reports.

"If we issued a statement every time the media published a false report regarding this matter, that's all we would be doing 24 hours a day. This is false, just as is the vast majority of the other reporting that is currently taking place," he said, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

A source close to the family tells USA TODAY that it's wrong to say the family is gathering to say goodbye, because the family has been there since the beginning, so nothing is any different today for them.

Also, Brown is "not brain dead," as has been reported.

And, as for other stories saying that the Houston family is feuding with Bobbi Kristina's dad, Bobby Brown? Those aren't true either. They "are NOT fighting," says our source.

1.According to Fox News, Bobbi Kristina is _________.

A. within an inch of life

B. on the way to success

C. left aside by her family

D. in a good state

2.Bobby Brown holds the opinion that _________.

A. they are busy issuing statements all day

B. the family is saying goodbye to Kristina

C. he is getting along well with the Houston family

D. most journalists are getting the wrong end of the stick.

3.Which can be the best title of the passage?

A. An Accident In The Bathtub

B. Kristina, We’re Still Praying And Waiting On A Miracle

C. False Reports From Different News Media

D. Bobbi Kristina’s Final Days

BEIJING, (Xinhua) —China’s capital city launched its first underground library, “M Subway Library” on Jan. 12,2015. The theme of its first activity is “Our Characters”. Citizens riding the special train on subway Line 4 now can read e-books provided by the National Library by scanning the QR code in the carriage.

“M Subway Library” is a public welfare program initiated by the Beijing MTR and the National Library to provide qualified book resources to the public through the platform of public transportation. The library will organize different themed activities regularly and recommend a dozen free books to the public each year in the long term.

XINING, (Xinhua) —A bullet train made its maiden trip from Xining city to Lanzhou city in Northwest China on Dec. 26, 2014, marking the start of the full operations of the Lanxin high-speed railway. The Lanxin high-speed railway links Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, and Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province, slashing the total travel time from more than 23 hours to 11 hours and 50 minutes. The 1,776-kilometer high-speed rail line, with a designed speed of 250 kilometers per hour, is China’s first high-speed railway built in a high-altitude region.

NINGBO, (Xinhua) —Ningbo Subway Line 1 started running special trains with 3D paintings featuring the city’s culture starting on Dec. 20, 2014.Through the paintings, the city in East China’s Zhejiang province seeks to share its culture and attract more outside visitors. The paintings focus on four themes: rice cake, fishing festival, books and Buddhism.

1.The purpose of launching “M Subway Library” is to .

A.earn more money by making advertisements in the carriage

B.attract more tourists to come to Beijing to take the subway

C.make the idea of “Green Travel” go deep into people’s mind

D.offer the passengers an additional reading platform

2.Which of the following statements is correct according to the news?

A.The Lanxin high-speed railway covers Gansu, Xinjiang and Tibet.

B.It is China’s first high-speed railway.

C.It has a length of 1,776 kilometers.

D.It will take you 11 hours and 50 minutes to travel from Xining to Urumqi.

3.What can you enjoy when you ride the special train on subway Line 1 in Ningbo?

A.Chinese classical music.

B.3D paintings about Ningbo’s culture.

C.Traditional Chinese paintings.

D.3D films which were shot in Ningbo.

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