Question

【題目】 A breathtaking trick potentially left over from our ancestors might be found in us — the ability to sense oxygen through our skin.

Amphibians, animals such as frogs that can live both on land and in water, have long been known to be capable of breathing through their skin. In fact, the first known lungless frog that breathes only through its skin was discovered recently in the rivers of Borneo.

Now the same oxygen sensors found in frog skins and in the lungs of mammals (哺乳動物) have unexpectedly been discovered in the skin of mice.

“No one had ever looked,” explained Randall Johnson, a biologist researcher.

Mice and frogs are quite distant relatives, so the fact they have these molecules (分子) in common in their skin suggests they might well be found in the skin of other mammals, such as humans.

“We have no reason to think that they are not in the skin of people too,” Johnson said.

These molecules not only detect oxygen, but help increase levels of vital red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. Normal mice breathing in air that is 10 percent oxygen—a dangerously low level similar to conditions at the top of Mount Everest, and about half that of air at sea level. However, mice that had the oxygen sensor HIF-1a genetically removed from their skin failed to produce this hormone (荷爾蒙) even after hours of such low oxygen.

These findings, if they hold true in humans, suggest one could raise the level of oxygen circulating inside the body. This could help treat lung diseases and disorders such as anemia (貧血癥) without injecting drugs, which make up a multibillion-dollar market, Johnson said.

Athletes also often try to get more oxygen delivered to their muscles in order to improve their performance. They often do this by training at high altitudes or in low-oxygen tents. The new study suggests they might want to expose their skin as well as breathing in low-oxygen air to improve their performance. “It’s hard to say what exactly might be done, however—there’s a lot we don’t know yet,” Johnson explained.

The scientists detailed their findings in the April 18 issue of the journal Cell.

【1】Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A.Johnson believes that Oxygen sensors also exist in human skin.

B.People have to surf the Internet to read detailed findings.

C.It has been proved that these findings help treat lung diseases.

D.It has long been expected oxygen sensors exist in mice’s skin.

【2】One of the functions of the molecules mentioned above is _______.

A.carrying oxygen around the bodyB.improving athletes’ performance

C.detecting oxygenD.increasing level of oxygen

【3】What is Johnson’s attitude to the application of the findings to the athletes’ training?

A.NegativeB.Doubting

C.PositiveD.Hesitating

【4】The best title of the passage may be _______.

A.Great Findings Benefits Athletes A Lot

B.Frogs And Mice Are Distant Relatives

C.First Known Animal Breathes Through Skin

D.Humans Might Sense Oxygen Through Skin

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】C

【3】C

【4】D

【解析】

本文是說明文。科學家們發(fā)現(xiàn)人體皮膚是氧氣傳感器，皮膚中的分子可以檢測到氧氣，還能幫助增加紅細胞的水平，這樣可以將氧氣輸送到全身各處。這一研究發(fā)現(xiàn)可以用于治療肺部疾病和貧血癥等疾病，也可以運用于運動員的訓練中。

【1】細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第六段”‘We have no reason to think that they are not in the skin of people too,’ Johnson said.（約翰遜說：“我們沒有理由認為它們不在人們的皮膚里。）”可知，約翰認為人體皮膚里也有這種能檢測到氧氣的分子，皮膚成為了氧氣傳感器。故選A項。

【2】細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第七段中“These molecules not only detect oxygen, but help increase levels of vital red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body.（這些分子不僅能檢測到氧氣，還能幫助增加非常重要的紅細胞水平，而這可以將氧氣輸送到全身各處。）”可知，這些分子的其中一個作用是檢測到氧氣。故選C項。

【3】推理判斷題。根據(jù)倒數(shù)第二段中 “The new study suggests they might want to expose their skin as well as breathing in low-oxygen air to improve their performance. “It’s hard to say what exactly might be done, however—there’s a lot we don’t know yet,” Johnson explained.（新的研究表明，他們可能想要暴露他們的皮膚在空氣中，呼吸低氧空氣，以提高他們的成績。）”可以推斷，Johnson對于研究的發(fā)現(xiàn)運用到運動員的訓練中是持肯定的態(tài)度，只是認為有更多的東西還有待發(fā)現(xiàn)。故選C項。

【4】主旨大意題。文章第一段中提到“the ability to sense oxygen through our skin”；科學家們發(fā)現(xiàn)人體可以通過皮膚呼吸到氧氣，人體皮膚是氧氣傳感器。皮膚中的分子可以檢測到氧氣，還能幫助增加紅細胞水平，將氧氣輸送到全身各處。因此文章的標題應為“人類可以通過皮膚感知氧氣”。故選D項。