Researchers at the University of Scotland have discovered a protein that can influence viruses developing and even can control cancer. Now the fight is on to fully understand how it works in the hope of turning the laboratory research into a treatment.
The protein is called Hira. Technically it is a histone（组蛋白）complex, but it is easier to understand in terms of what it can do. Three years ago Dr Taranjit Singh Rai and colleagues at the Beatson Cancer Institute and Glasgow University reported that Hira could possibly suppress the division of cells that causes cancer. In the course of that research, Dr Rai found out something unusual. In the lab they have established that the Hira protein has a role to play in the anti-viral fight, thus, making it have a fundamental role to play in fighting against cancer.
The trick in using it to fight diseases may lie in increasing Hira levels in our cells. “I think what researchers might be interested in is how we can increase levels of this protein to deal with the viruses better, Dr Rai said.
Dr Rai has led an international study and support has come from Cancer Research UK and the results are published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research. But there is a major concern that the research is still limited to the laboratory.
It is going to take some time, probably years, before this work can move out of the lab and into clinics and hospitals. But the researchers are excited Hira will one day be the basis of a new approach in medicine.
12. What does the underlined word “suppress" in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
A. Motivate. B. Monitor. C. Control. D. Improve.
13. What can be known from the text?
A. Hira has been used in the medical treatment.
B. More studies should be done on Hira.
C. The levels of Hira in cells are unchangeable.
D. Hira can bring about side effects.
14. What is the researchers' attitude to the future of Hira?
A. Cautious. B. Optimistic.
C. Disapproving. D. Doubtful.
15. What's the text mainly about?
A. A new way to use the protein.
B. A new approach to improving the division of cells.
C. A new medicine that can fight diseases.
D. A protein that can stop viruses developing.
【答案】12. C    13. B    14. B    15. D
【解析】
这是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了苏格兰大学研究人员发现了一种可以抑制病毒复制，甚至控制癌症的蛋白质。
【12题详解】
词义猜测题。根据文章第二段“Hira could possibly suppress the division of cells that causes cancer. the Hira protein has a role to play in the anti-viral fight, thus, making it have a fundamental role to play in fighting against cancer.”可知hira在对抗癌症的过程中起基础性作用，因为hira能够控制引发癌症的细胞分裂。故选C项。
【13题详解】
推理判断题。根据文章最后一段“It is going to take some time, probably years, before this work can move out of the lab and into clinics and hospitals.”可知，hira用于临床实践还需要很长时间，甚至很多年，所以hira目前仍需要进行试验研究。故选B项。
【14题详解】
推理判断题。根据文章最后一段“But the researchers are excited Hira will one day be the basis of a new approach in medicine.”可知，作者认为在医疗上，hira将来会成为一种新的基础医疗方法。所以，作者对此持乐观态度。故选B项。
【15题详解】
主旨大意题。根据文章第一段“Researchers at the University of Scotland have discovered a protein that can influence viruses developing and even can control cancer.”可知苏格兰大学的研究人员发现了一种抑制病毒传播和控制癌症的蛋白质。故选D项。