高三英语外刊阅读语法填空December 3.docxVIP

高中英语外刊阅读语法填空December 3 1奥密克戎毒株为何“需要关注”，现有防疫工具是否有效 Omicron: everything you need to know about new Covid variant What is it called? The variant （变异株）was 1_____(initial) referred to as B.1.1.529, but on Friday was designated (命名) as a variant of concern (VOC) by the World Health Organization because of its “concerning” mutations and because “preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection（再次感染） with this variant”. The WHO system assigns such variants a Greek letter, to provide a non-stigmatising（不污名化） label that does not associate new variants with the location 2_____ they were first detected. The new variant has been called Omicron. The B.1.1.529 variant was identified on Tuesday and highlighted as a concern due 3____its high number of mutations(突变), which could lead it to evade(逃避) immunity. It was also linked to a surge(激增) in case numbers in the Gauteng province of South Africa, the UK Health and Security Agency describing the variant as the “most 4_____(worry) we’ve seen”. Although initially linked to Gauteng, the variant did not necessarily originate there. The 5_____(early) sample showing the variant was collected in Botswana on 11 November. Scientists say that the unusual constellation （大量，系列）of mutations(突变) suggests it may have emerged during a chronic infection of an immunocompromised（免疫功能低下的） person, such as an untreated HIV/Aids patient. The variant has more than 30 mutations on its spike protein（刺突蛋白） – the key 6____(use) by the virus to unlock our body’s cells – more than double the number carried by Delta. Such a dramatic change has raised concerns that the antibodies(抗体) from previous infections or vaccination may no longer be well matched. Scientists are concerned by the number of mutations and the fact some of them have already been linked to 7____ ability to evade existing immune protection. These are theoretical(理论上的) predictions, though, and studies are rapidly being conducted 8_____(test) how effectively antib