题型:阅读选择 题类:模拟题 难易度:普通
广东省东莞市2019届英语中考二模试卷
For us humans, one of the greatest experiences is to taste all kinds of delicious food. But for penguins, they cannot get a taste of this happiness. That's because penguins can't actually taste the delicious flavors (味道) of their favorite food-fish!
Scientists from the University of Michigan examined the genome (基因组)of five species of penguins. They found that no one can taste umami (鲜味),the flavor of meat or fish, the BBC reported.
Many animals have five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami. But according to genetic data, penguins are believed to have only sour and salty tastes.
These findings are surprising and puzzling. And scientists don't have a good explanation for them. But they have a few ideas.
First, one of the umami genes doesn't work in cold temperatures. "It's about zero degrees when they eat cold fish," Zhang Jianzhi, the lead scientist, told the Daily Mail, so even if the penguins had a functional (功能的)gene, it might not work when they needed it.
Second, penguins' tongues (舌头) are very special which may have something to do with their lack of taste. Instead of being covered with taste buds which help to taste food, penguins' tongues are very spiky. This is better for them to hold slippery (滑的) fish than tasting them. One study even showed that some types of penguins don't even have taste buds.
However, penguins seem to be managing just fine.
"Their behavior of swallowing food whole, and their tongue structure and function, suggest that penguins need no taste perception," said Zhang.
China is a country with many colourful days and festivals. The Dragon Head- Raising Day is one of them. This special day is on the second day of the second month in the Chinese lunar calendar. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} The dragon is important in Chinese culture. We Chinese people call ourselves " the descendants(后代) of the dragon". {#blank#}2{#/blank#} On the day in ancient times, people put ashes in the kitchen. This was to" lead the dragon into the house". People believed that with the help of the dragon, they could have a good harvest(收成) in autumn.
Also, people eat special food on that day. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} For example, people eat "dragon's beard" noodles and dumplings called "dragon's ears".
Today, many customs have disappeared. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It was said that a haircut during the first lunar month may bring bad luck to the uncles of a family — mother's brothers. So many people have their hair cut on the Dragon Head-Raising Day.
A. The food is usually named after the dragon. B. But one that remains is the haircut. C. It stands for the start of spring and farming. D. People also hold dragon boat races on this day. E. So people celebrate the Dragon Head-Raising Day with many customs about the dragon. |
Why do people celebrate the Dragon Head-Raising Day?(不超过20个词) {#blank#}5{#/blank#}
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