A
Hacking isn’t just for computers and smart phones. According to a study, scientists have found a way to hack a plant’s genes in order to make it use sunlight more quickly. Someday, the results could increase the number of food produced around the world.
Scientists used tobacco plants in the study because it is easy to change the plants’ genes. Hacked plants are larger than normal plants.
Photosynthesis is the word used to describe how plants use sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to make their own food. Scientists say this is a very slow process. Plants use less than 1 percent of the energy. But by hacking a plant’s genes, the scientists were able to increase the amount of leaf growth on plants between 14 and 20 percent. Scientists hacked the plant’s protective system. Normally, this system starts when a plant gets too much sunlight. When the plant senses the light, it creates more leaves. When the plant is in shade, the protective system is turned off. And the process is slow.
The new study sped up the process by changing the plant’s genes, the protective system turned on and off more quickly than normal. As a result, leaf growth on the plants scientists used in the study increased. Leaf growth on two plants increased by 20 percent, while leaf growth on a third plant increased by 14 percent. Scientists conducted the study on tobacco plants. But they think the genetic changes would produce the same results in corn and rice.
Agriculture professor Tala Awanda said the study makes sense, but cautioned the yield(产量)might not be quite so high for conventional food crops. Still, she added in an email, “this study remains a breakthrough”.
【文章大意】本文是一篇说明文, 介绍了科学家研究发现了通过植入植物基因使植物更快地利用阳光的方法, 这种方法对提高粮食产量是个重大突破。
1. Which of the following is true according to Paragraph 1?
A. We can find hacking only in digital devices.
B. A plant’s genes can be changed by hacking.
C. Hacking can be used to change whatever you want.
D. Hacking has been used in improving food production.
【解析】选B。细节理解题。根据第一段中的“scientists have found a way to hack a plant’s genes in order to make it use sunlight more quickly”可知, 科学家发现了一种通过植入植物基因使其更快地利用阳光的方法, 由此可知, 植物的基因可以通过植入来改变。
2. Why did scientists choose tobacco plants to study?
A. Because they are very easy to get.
B. Because their genes are easy to change.
C. Because they are larger than other plants.
D. Because they can absorb sunlight quickly.
【解析】选B。细节理解题。根据第二段中的“Scientists used tobacco plants in the study because it is easy to change the plants’ genes. ”可知, 科学家在研究中选择使用烟草植物是因为它们的基因很容易改变。
3. We can learn from Paragraph 4 that changing the plants’ genes proved .
A. useless B. deadly
C. effective D. unrealistic
【解析】选C。 细节理解题。根据第四段中的“As a result, leaf growth on the plants scientists used in the study increased. ”可知, 结果, 科学家在研究中使用的植物叶片生长量增加了, 由此可知, 植入植物基因的方法证明是有效的。
4. What is Tala Awanda’s attitude toward the study?
A. Doubtful. B. Neutral.
C. Objective. D. Critical.
【解析】选C。推理判断题。根据最后一段中的. . . the study makes sense, but cautioned the yield might not be quite so high for conventional food crops. Still, she added in an email, “this study remains a breakthrough”. 可知, Awanda说这个研究很有意义, 但她警告说对传统农作物来说, 产量可能不会那么高, 最后她还说不管怎样, 这项研究仍是一个突破, 由此可知Awanda对这项研究持客观态度。
【知识拓展】佳词积累
1. smart adj. 聪明的; 智能的
2. normal adj. 正常的
3. process n. 过程
4. amount n. 数量
5. protective adj. 保护的
6. conventional adj. 传统的
7. speed up 加速
8. make sense 有意义
难句解读 According to a study, scientists have found a way to hack a plant’s genes in order to make it use sunlight more quickly.
分析: According to a study 在句中作状语, to hack a plant’s genes在句中作定语, in order to make it use sunlight more quickly在句中作目的状语。
翻译: 根据一个研究, 科学家们已经找到了一个植入植物基因使其更快地利用阳光的方法。
背景链接 Hack英译为黑客。黑客攻击通常指未经授权入侵计算机或网络。从事黑客活动的人被称为黑客。该黑客可能会改变系统或安全特性, 以实现不同于系统最初目的的目标。黑客行为也可以指非恶意的活动, 通常涉及对设备或流程的不寻常或临时变更。
