英语听力精选进阶版 7209

Background: 科学家首次破解了马铃薯这种作物的全部基因组。这一成果刊登在最新一期的《自然》期刊上。这一突破将有助于提高马铃薯产量。

The humble¹ potato is in fact the world's fourth largest food crop, with a global annual yield of around 330 million tonnes.

In an international project lasting² several years, researchers have successfully recorded its complete chemical blueprint³, deciphering and organising hundreds of millions of pieces of genetic⁴ coding.

By mapping the plant's genome scientists can locate the genes⁵ that control various traits, like colour, starchiness and flavour, leading to the creation of improved varieties at a much quicker pace.

Professor Iain Gordon from the James Hutton Institute in Dundee, which headed the British team, said the genome sequence would allow breeders to develop new types that are more nutritious⁶, resistant⁷ to pests and diseases and easier to cultivate.

He said the breakthrough could help to meet the challenge of feeding the world's soaring population.

Glossary⁸ 词汇表

humble 不起眼的 

the food crop 农作物 

a global annual yield 全球年产量 

the chemical blueprint 化学蓝图 

to decipher 解释 

a trait 一个特点 

the starchiness 淀粉含量 

a breeder 培植人员 

the breakthrough 这一突破 

to soar 大幅上升

Questions and Answers:

1. How popular is the consumption of potatoes? 

It is very popular. The potato is the world's fourth largest food crop and the global annual production is around 330 million tones.

2. Why is the mapping of the genome important? 

Because it helps researchers to create better varieties of potatoes.

3. What kind of potato would be better to feed the world? 

According to the report, it would be new types that might be more nutritious, resistant to pests and easier to cultivate.

4. True or false? It took many years for the British scientists to map the potato genome. 

False. The discovery was made not only by British scientists but by researchers from other countries too.

1 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

2 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

3 blueprint   

n.蓝图，设计图，计划；vt.制成蓝图，计划

参考例句：

• All the machine parts on a blueprint must answer each other.设计图上所有的机器部件都应互相配合。
• The documents contain a blueprint for a nuclear device.文件内附有一张核装置的设计蓝图。

4 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

5 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

6 nutritious   

adj.有营养的，营养价值高的

参考例句：

• Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。

7 resistant   

adj.(to)抵抗的，有抵抗力的

参考例句：

• Many pests are resistant to the insecticide.许多害虫对这种杀虫剂有抵抗力。
• They imposed their government by force on the resistant population.他们以武力把自己的统治强加在持反抗态度的人民头上。

8 glossary   

n.注释词表；术语汇编

参考例句：

• The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
• For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便，我们在附录中也提供了术语表。