Which came first, the chicken or the egg? This is one of life’s __1__ questions and people have been debating about it for thousands of years. Now scientists believe they have solved this _2__. Researchers from Sheffield and Warwick Universities in England discovered the answer __3__. They used a super computer to observe the shell-making process while a new shell was __4__. Then they found one protein called OC17 that is __5__ for forming eggshell. This is only found inside a chicken’s body, which is proof that the _6__ came first. The team was __7__ looking at how animals and birds make eggshells but suddenly made their surprising __8__. The big question now is where chickens came from. The _9__ is from dinosaurs. The research team said eggshells are one of nature’s most __10__ creations. Professor John Harding from the team told reporters: “Understanding how chickens make eggshells is fascinating in itself, but it can also be __11__ in designing new materials.” Eggshells are very lightweight but incredibly strong. Even the most up-to-date materials __12__ by the world’s top engineers can not produce anything as __13__ as an eggshell. Professor Harding added that __14__ eggshells could help to cure bone diseases and design materials for the construction industry.“Nature has found wonderful ways that __15__ for all kinds of problems in materials science and technology — we can learn a lot from them.” he said. 小题1: A.strangest B.best C.oldest D.longest 小题2: A.puzzle B.story C.history D.idea 小题3: A.on purpose B.by chance C.without hesitation D.at work 小题4: A.breaking B.changing C.disappearing D.forming 小题5: A.necessary B.easy C.kind D.impossible 小题6: A.egg B.eggshell C.chicken D.dinosaur 小题7: A.obviously B.originally C.thoughtfully D.surprisingly 小题8: A.invention B.mistake C.statement D.discovery 小题9: A.answer B.research C.key D.egg 小题10: A.strange B.ridiculous C.funny D.amazing 小题11: A.hopeful B.helpful C.respectful D.colorful 小题12: A.bought B.cut C.designed D.carried 小题13: A.brilliant B.ordinary C.1ight D.strong 小题14: A.finding B.watching C.studying D.making 小题15: A.happen B.work C.wait D.look