· Web view目录. 2011年理工新书 (红色标题为2011年新增文章) 第二篇 World Crude...
Transcript of · Web view目录. 2011年理工新书 (红色标题为2011年新增文章) 第二篇 World Crude...
目录
2011年理工新书 (红色标题为2011年新增文章)
第二篇 World Crude Oil Production May Pea k a Decade Earlier Than Some Predict(C级)
第六篇： Waving With Light （C级）第三十四篇 Batteries Built by Viruses（B级）
第三十八篇 Longer Lives for Wild Elephants(B级) -
第四十五篇: Some People Do Not Taste Salt Like Others(A级)
第四十六篇 Marvelous Metamaterials（A级）
目录
第一篇： Ford Abandons Electric Vehicles (C级)---------- ---------------------------------- 3
第二篇 World Crude Oil Production May Pea k a Decade Earlier Than Some Predict(C级)------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
第3篇 Citizen Scientists （C级）------------------------------------------------------------ 9
第四篇 Motoring Technology (C级)----------------------------------------------- ------------12
第五篇： Late-Night Drinking(C级) --------------------------------------------------------------- 15
第六篇： Waving With Light （C级）-------------------------------------------------------------18
第七篇: Sugar Power for Cell Phones (C级) -------------------------------------------------- 21
第八篇 Eiffel Is an Eyeful1(C级) ------------------------------------------------------------- 24
第九篇： Egypt Felled by Famine(C级) -----------------------------------------------------------27
第十篇： Young Female Chimps Outlearn Their Brothers(C级) ------------------------------ 30
第十一篇： The Net Cost of Making a Name for Yourself(C级) ----------------------------------33
第十二篇： Florida Hit by Cold Air Mass(C级) -----------------------------------------------------36
第十三篇: Invisibility Ring (C级) -----------------------------------------------------------------39
第十四篇: Japanese Car Keeps Watch for Drunk Drivers (C级) -----------------------------41
第十五篇： Winged Robot Learns to Fly(C级) -------------------------------------------------------44
第十六篇： Japanese Drilling into Core of Earth(C级) ----------------------------------------------47
第十七篇: A Sunshade for the Planet (C级) ---------------------------------------------50
第十八篇: Thirst for Oil (C级) ------------------------------------------------------------------------53
第十九篇： Prolonging Human Life(C级) -----------------------------------------------------------55
第二十篇： Explorer of the Extreme Deep (C级) ---------------------------------------------------58
第二十一篇：Plant Gas (C级) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 61
第二十三篇：Powering a City? It’s Breeze微风1(C级) --------------------------------------------68
第二十四篇：Underground Coal Fires-- a Looming Catastrophe1(C级) --------------------------71
第二十五篇：Eat to Live(C级) --------------------------------------------------------------------------74
第二十六篇：Male and Female Pilots Cause Accidents Differently(C级) -------------------------77
第二十七篇：Driven to Distraction(C级) ---------------------------------------------------------------80
第二十八篇：Sleep Lets Brain File Memories1(C级) ------------------------------------------------ 83
第二十九篇： Food Fright(C级) ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------- 86
第三十篇： Digital Realm(C级) --------------------------- --------------------------------------- 89
第三十一篇： Hurricane Katrina (B级) --------------------------- -------------------------- -----92
第三十二篇： Mind-reading Machine(B级) -------------- ------------------------------------------95
第三十三篇 Experts Call for Local and Regional Control of Sites for Radioactive Waste（B级）-------------- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------98
第三十四篇 Batteries Built by Viruses（B级）-- ----------------------------------------- 102
第三十五课： Putting Plants to Work 原书出题有错6题 答案5题 （理工174p）(B级)105
第三十六篇: Listening Device Provides Landslide Early Warning (B级) ----------------- 109
第三十七篇： “Don’t Drink Alone” Gets New Meaning(B级) ---------------------------------111
第三十八篇 Longer Lives for Wild Elephants(B级) ------------------------------------------114
第三十九篇： Clone Farm(B级) -------------------------------------------------------------------118
第四十篇： Air Pollution Cloud Measured on Both Sides of Pacific(B级) ---------------121
第四十一篇 Too Little for Global Warming(A级) --------------------------------------------124
第四十二篇 Renewable Energy Sources(A级) ------------------------------------------------127
第四十三篇： Forecasting Methods(A级) ------------------------------------------------------ 130
第四十四篇： Defending the Theory of Evolution1 Still Seems Needed(A级) ------------133
第四十五篇: Some People Do Not Taste Salt Like Others(A级) ----------------------------137
第四十六篇 Marvelous Metamaterials（A级）----------------------------------------------141
第四十七篇： Listening to Birdsong(A级) ------------------------------------------------------145
第四十八篇： ‘Hidden’ Species May Be Surprisingly Common(A级) ------------------ 148
第四十九篇： U.S. Scientists Confirm Water on Mars(A级) ---------------------------------152
第五十篇 Cell Phones Increase Traffic, Pedestrian Fatalities （A级）--------------155
2011年理工新书 (红色标题为2011年新增文章)
2011年理工新书 (红色标题为2011年新增文章)
第二篇 World Crude Oil Production May Pea k a Decade Earlier Than Some Predict(C级)
第六篇： Waving With Light （C级）第三十四篇 Batteries Built by Viruses（B级）
第三十八篇 Longer Lives for Wild Elephants(B级) -
第四十五篇: Some People Do Not Taste Salt Like Others(A级)
第四十六篇 Marvelous Metamaterials（A级）
第四部分 阅读理解
第一篇：
Ford Abandons Electric Vehicles (C级)
The Ford motor company’s1 abandonment of electric cars effectively signals the end of the road for the technology, analysts say.
General Motors2 and Honda3 ceased production of battery-powered cars in 1999, to focus on fuel cell4 and hybrid electric gasoline engines5, which are more attractive to the consumer. Ford has now announced it will do the same.
Three years ago, the company introduced the Think City two-seater car and a golf cart called the THINK, or Think Neighbor6. It hoped to sell 5,000 cars each year and 10,000 carts. But a lack of demand means only about 1,000 of the cars have been produced, and less than 1,700 carts have been sold so far in 2002.
“The bottom line is7 we don’t believe that this is the future of environment transport for the mass market,” Tim Holmes of Ford Europe said on Friday. “We feel we have given electric our best shot8.”
The Think City has a range of only about 53 miles and up to a six-hour battery recharge time. General Motors’ EVI electric vehicle also had a limited range, of about 100 miles.
The very expensive batteries also mean electric cars cost much more than petrol-powered alternatives. An electric Toyota9 RAV4 EV vehicle costs over $42,000 in the US, compared with just $17,000 for the petrol version. Toyota and Nissan10 are now the only major auto manufacturers to produce electric vehicles.
“There is a feeling that battery electric has been given its chance. Ford now has to move on with its hybrid program11, and that is what we will be judging them on,” Roger Higman, a senior transport campaigner at UK Friends of the Earth, told the Environment News Service.
Hybrid cars introduced by Toyota and Honda in the past few years have sold well. Hybrid engines offer grater mileage than petrol-only engines, and the batteries recharge themselves. Ford says it thinks such vehicles will help it meet planned new guidelines12 on vehicle emissions13 in the US.
However, it is not yet clear exactly what those guidelines will permit. In June, General Motors and Daimler Chrysler14 won a court injunction, delaying by two years Californian legislation requiring car-makers to offer 100,000 zero-emission and other low-emission vehicles in the state by 2003. Car manufacturers hope the legislation will be rewritten to allow for more low-emission, rather than zero-emission, vehicles.
练习:
1. What have the Ford motor company, General Motor’s and Honda done concerning electric cars?
A) They have started to produce electric cars.
B) They have done extensive research on electric cars.
C) They have given up producing electric cars.
D) They have produced thousands of electric cars.
2. According to Tim Holmes of Ford Europe, battery-powered cars
A) will be the main transportation vehicles in the future.
B) will not be the main transportation vehicles in the future.
C) will be good to the environment in the future.
D) will replace petrol-powered vehicles in the future.
3. Which auto manufacturers are still producing electric vehicles?
A) Toyota and Nissan.
B) General Motor’s and Honda.
C) Ford and Toyota.
D) Honda and Toyota.
4. According to the eighth paragraph, hybrid cars
A) offer fewer mileage than petrol driven cars.
B) run faster than petrol driven cars.
C) run more miles than petrol driven cars.
D) offer more batteries than petrol driven cars.
5. Which of the following is true about the hope of car manufacturers according to the last paragraph?
A) Low-emission cars should be banned.
B) Only zero-emission cars are allowed to run on motorways.
C) The legislation will encourage car makers to produce more electric cars.
D) The legislation will allow more low-emission to be produced.
练习:
1. What have the Ford motor company, General Motor’s and Honda done concerning electric cars?
A) They have started to produce electric cars.
B) They have done extensive research on electric cars.
C) They have given up producing electric cars.
D) They have produced thousands of electric cars.
2. According to Tim Holmes of Ford Europe, battery-powered cars
A) will be the main transportation vehicles in the future.
B) will not be the main transportation vehicles in the future.
C) will be good to the environment in the future.
D) will replace petrol-powered vehicles in the future.
3. Which auto manufacturers are still producing electric vehicles?
A) Toyota and Nissan.
B) General Motor’s and Honda.
C) Ford and Toyota.
D) Honda and Toyota.
4. According to the eighth paragraph, hybrid cars
A) offer fewer mileage than petrol driven cars.
B) run faster than petrol driven cars.
C) run more miles than petrol driven cars.
D) offer more batteries than petrol driven cars.
5. Which of the following is true about the hope of car manufacturers according to the last paragraph?
A) Low-emission cars should be banned.
B) Only zero-emission cars are allowed to run on motorways.
C) The legislation will encourage car makers to produce more electric cars.
D) The legislation will allow more low-emission to be produced.
理工 第二篇 World Crude Oil Production May Pea k
a Decade Earlier Than Some Predict(C级)
In a finding that may speed efforts to conserve oil, scientists in Kuwait predict that world conventional crude oil production will peak in 2014. This prediction is almost a decade earlier than some other predictions．Their study is in ACS’ Energy＆Fuels1．
Ibrahim Nashawi and colleagues point out that rapid growth in global oil consumption has sparked a growing interest in predicting "peak oil"．"Peak oil "is the point where oil production reaches a maximum and then declines. Scientists have developed several models to forecast this point, and some put the date at 2020 or later. One of the most famous forecast models is called the Hubbert model2. It assumes that global oil production will follow a bell shaped curve3. A related concept is that4 of "Peak Oil." The term "Peal Oil" indicates the moment in which world wide production Will peak, afterwards to start on irreversible decline．
The Hubbert model accurately predicted that oil production would peak in the United States in 1970. The model has since gained in popularity and has been used to forecast oil production worldwide．
However, recent studies show that the model is insufficient to account for5 more complex oil production cycles of some countries．Those cycles can be heavily influenced by technology changes, politics, and other factors, the scientists say.
The new study describes development of a new version of the Hubbert model that provides a more realistic and accurate oil production forecast．Using the new model, the scientists evaluated the oil production trends of 47 major oil-producing countries, which supply most of the world’s conventional crude oil6． They estimated that worldwide conventional crude oil production will peak in 2014, years earlier than anticipated. The scientists also showed that the world's oil reserves7 are being reduced at a rate of 2.1 percent a year. The new model could help inform energy-related decisions and public policy debate, they suggest.
练习：
1．Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word "sparked" appearing in paragraph 2?
A．flashed B．stimulated C．changed D．ended
2．The term "a bell shaped curve" appearing in paragraph 2 indicates that global oil production will
A．take the shape of a flat curve． B．keep growing．
C．keep declining． D．start to decline after global oil production peaks．
3．Which of the following is NOT true of the Hubbert model?
A．It successfully predicted that oil production peaked in the U．S．in l 970．
B．It has been used to predict oil production in many countries．
C．It is insufficient to explain oil production cycles in some countries．
D．It provides a very realistic and accurate oil production．
4．What is the major achievement of the new study mentioned in the last paragraph?
A．It predicts global oil production will peak in 2014．
B．It predicts oil production will decline in 47 countries．
C．It confirms further the effectiveness of the Hubbert model．
D．It discovers a new trend of Worldwide oil production．
5．Who develop the new version of the Hubbert model?
A．American scientists． B．Kuwaiti scientists．
C．British scientists． D．Scientists of 47 major oil-producing countries．
练习：
1．Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word "sparked" appearing in paragraph 2?
A．flashed B．stimulated C．changed D．ended
2．The term "a bell shaped curve" appearing in paragraph 2 indicates that global oil production will
A．take the shape of a flat curve． B．keep growing．
C．keep declining． D．start to decline after global oil production peaks．
3．Which of the following is NOT true of the Hubbert model?
A．It successfully predicted that oil production peaked in the U．S．in l 970．
B．It has been used to predict oil production in many countries．
C．It is insufficient to explain oil production cycles in some countries．
D．It provides a very realistic and accurate oil production．
4．What is the major achievement of the new study mentioned in the last paragraph?
A．It predicts global oil production will peak in 2014．
B．It predicts oil production will decline in 47 countries．
C．It confirms further the effectiveness of the Hubbert model．
D．It discovers a new trend of Worldwide oil production．
5．Who develop the new version of the Hubbert model?
A．American scientists． B．Kuwaiti scientists．
C．British scientists． D．Scientists of 47 major oil-producing countries．
词汇：
Conserve v． 保护，保存 crude oil原油
spark v．闪耀；激发； curve n．曲线
irreversible adj．不可逆的，不可改变的 insufficient adj.充分的，不足的
注释：
1．ACS' Energy & Fuels：ACS是American Chemical Society(美国化学学会)的缩写。该学会成立于l876年，现已成为世界最大的科技协会。多年来，ACS一直致力于为全球化学研究机构、企业及个人提供高品质的文献资讯及服务。ACS出版的期刊有34种，这些期刊在化学领域中是被引用次数最多的化学期刊，Energy＆Fuels即是其中一本。
2．the Hubbert model：赫伯特模型是美国地质学家M．King Hubbert于1956年创建的，这是一个随时间增长的模型，Hubbert将其引入油气田开发，经推导使其成为一个可以预测油气田累积产量、瞬时产量、年产量和可采储量等多项开发指标的多功能预测模型。
3．a bell shaped curve：钟形曲线
4．that of peak oil：that指代concept。
5．account for：说明，解释
6．conventional crude oil：常规原油
7．oil reserves：石油储量。通常使用复数形式reserves。
答案与题解：
1．B spark一词做及物动词使用时有"发动"、"激发"的意思，在此意为stimulated，即"引发"，这个句子的意思是：全球石油消费的快速增长已引发了对"石油峰值"预测的兴趣。
2．D此句接下来的句子中所提到的a related concept即是与a bell shaped curve相关的概念，也就是说，接下来的这个句子对a bell shaped curve做了解释，即世界石油生产达到最大峰值后将下降。
3．D 文章的第三段告诉我们，Hubbert预测模型精确地预测到美国石油生产于1970年将达到峰值。这一模型自受到公认后，已用于预测世界石油生产。第四段说，这一模型对于某些国家更加复杂的石油生产周期而言，其计算尚不充分。这些生产周期受到技术的改变、政策和其他因素的很大影响。所以，A、B和C都是对Hubbert模型的正确说明。
4．A选项8、C和D所述内容均未在文章中提到。最后一段告诉我们，科学家使用新的模型评估了47个主要的产油国家的石油生产趋势，并预计全球常规原油生产到2014年将达最高峰值。所以，A是答案。
5．B 短文第一段的第一个句子提供了答案。
第3篇 Citizen Scientists （C级）
Understanding how nature responds to climate change will require monitoring key life cycle events — flowering, the appearance of leaves, the first frog calls of the spring — all around the world. But ecologists can't be everywhere so they're turning to non-scientists, sometimes called citizen scientists, for help.
Climate scientists are not present everywhere. Because there are so many places in the world and not enough scientists to observe all of them, they're asking for your help in observing signs of climate change across the world. The citizen scientist movement encourages ordinary people to observe a very specific research interest — birds, trees, flowers budding, etc. — and send their observations to a giant database to be observed by professional scientists. This helps a small number of scientists track a large amount of data that they would never be able to gather on their own. Much like citizen journalists helping large publications cover a hyper-local beat, citizen scientists are ready for the conditions where they live. All that's needed to become one is a few minutes each day or each week to gather data and send it in.
A group of scientists and educators launched an organization last year called the National Phenology Network. "Phenology" is what scientists call the study of the timing of events in nature.
One of the group's first efforts relies on scientists and non-scientists alike to collect data about plant flowering and leafing every year. The program, called Project BudBurst, collects life cycle data on a variety of common plants from across the United States. People participating in the project — which is open to everyone - record their observations on the Project BudBurst website.
"People don't have to be plant experts -they just have to look around and see what's in their neighborhood," says Jennifer Schwartz, an education consultant with the project. "As we collect this data, we'll be able to make an estimate of how plants and eommunities of plants and animals will respond as the climate changes."
词汇：
Frog n. 蛙 Ecologist n.生态学家 Phenology n.物候学 Bud v.发芽，萌芽；n.芽，花蕾
Neighbor(u)rhood n.近邻；邻近地区 Database n.数据库
Professional adj.专业的，职业的；n.职业选手，专业人员
注释：
1. life cycle：生命周期，即生物发展过程的系列变化。
2. hyper-local beat: beat 在此做名词用，意思是：某类新闻报道，如，a business beat； 商业专题报道。这是近年来出现的新词。Hyper-local beat 即 hyper-local news，指 的是被传统新闻报道方式所忽略的小型社区或居民居住区里发生的相关信息报道。在美 国由此而诞生了 hyper-local news website，专门对主流媒体所没有覆盖的地区所发生 的事件进行报道，其形式多以网民，即短文中所提及的 citizen journalists，上传所 在社区发生的事件报道、照片或视频为主。这是网络时代产生的又一新生事物。
3. data 是复数形式，但常用做单数，所以这里的代词是 it。另参见 最后 一段“As we collect this data, ...”。这里的 data 也用作单数。
4. phenology：物候学或生物气候学，是气候学和生态学的边缘学科，主要研究气候环境 对生物的影响。
5. communities：生态学词汇：生物群落，记载比较相似的环境条件下在特定自然区域或 环境中生活和互相影响的一群植物和动物。
练习：
1. Ecologists turn to non-scientist citizens for help because they need them
A) to provide their personal life cycles. B) to observe the life cycle of plants.
C) to collect data of the life cycle of living things. D) to teach children knowledge about climate change.
2. What are citizen scientists asked to do?
A) To develop a specific research interest and become professional scientists.
B) To send their research observations to a professional database.
C) To increase their knowledge about climate change.
D) To keep a record of their research observations.
3. In "All that's needed to become one... (paragraph2) ", what does the word "one" stands for?
A) a citizen journalist. B) a citizen scientist. C) a scientist. D) a citizen.
4. What is NOT true of Project BudBurst?
A) Only experts can participate in it. B) Everybody can participate in it.
C) It collects life cycle data on a variety of common plants. D) It has its own website.
5. What is the final purpose of Project BudBurst?
A) To study when plants will have their first buds.
B) To find out the types of plants in the neighborhood.
C) To collect life cycle data on a variety of common plants from across the United States.
D) To investigate how plants and animals will respond as the climate changes.
练习：
1. Ecologists turn to non-scientist citizens for help because they need them
A) to provide their personal life cycles. B) to observe the life cycle of plants.
C) to collect data of the life cycle of living things. D) to teach children knowledge about climate change.
2. What are citizen scientists asked to do?
A) To develop a specific research interest and become professional scientists.
B) To send their research observations to a professional database.
C) To increase their knowledge about climate change.
D) To keep a record of their research observations.
3. In "All that's needed to become one... (paragraph2) ", what does the word "one" stands for?
A) a citizen journalist. B) a citizen scientist. C) a scientist. D) a citizen.
4. What is NOT true of Project BudBurst?
A) Only experts can participate in it. B) Everybody can participate in it.
C) It collects life cycle data on a variety of common plants. D) It has its own website.
5. What is the final purpose of Project BudBurst?
A) To study when plants will have their first buds.
B) To find out the types of plants in the neighborhood.
C) To collect life cycle data on a variety of common plants from across the United States.
D) To investigate how plants and animals will respond as the climate changes.
答案与题解：
1. C第一段和第二段的第一句告诉我们，要在世界范围内观察气候对大自然中生物生命周 期的影响，数量有限的科学家不可能足迹遍及天下，为此科学家求助于普通公民的参与 。 所以 C 是正确选择。
2. B第二段第三句中 encourage ordinary people to observe…的主语是 The citizen scientist movement，即公民参与科学观察的运动。所以 D 不是正确选择。A 和 C 不符 合文章的句意，因此也不是正确的选择。这个句子的大意是：这一运动鼓励普通公民根 据自己的兴趣爱好进行科学观察，并将观察结果送交数据库，让专门领域的科学家做进 一步的观察。B 正确表达了这个意思。
3. B one 在 这 里 是 一 个 代 词 ， 其 前 置 词 是 citizen scientists ， 而 不 是 citizen journalists，这里的 one 指的是 one of citizen scientists。所以 A、C 和 D 都不是 正确选择。这个句子的意思是，只要每天或每星期花上几分钟收集数据并发送出去，就 能成为一个公民科学家。
4. A 文章最后一段说，这个计划向所有人开放（open to everyone），所以应选择 A。B，C，D 所述内容都在该段中提到。
5. D C 表述的内容是 Project Budburst 所要做的工作，但其最终的目的不仅仅是收集数 据，而是研究气候变化对生物生命周期的影响。因此，D 才是正确答案。
第四篇
Motoring Technology (C级)
1.2 million road deaths worldwide occur each year, plus a further 50 million injuries. To reduce car crash rate, much research now is focused on safety and new fuels—though some electric vehicle and biofuel1 research aims at going faster.
Travelling at speed has always been risky. One cutting edge area2 of research in motoring safety is the use of digital in-car assistants3. They can ensure you don’t miss crucial road signs or fall asleep. The use of artificial intelligence software allows these assistants to monitor your driving and makes sure your phone or radio doesn’t distract you at a vital moment. Most crashes result from human and not mechanical faults.
Some safety developments aim to improve your vision. Radar can spot4 obstacles in fog, while other technology “sees through” high-sided5 vehicles blocking your view6.
And improvements to seat belts, pedal control and tyres are making driving smoother and safer. The colour of a car has been found to be linked with safety, as have, less surprisingly, size and shape7.
And alternatives to fossil-fuel8 based petrol, such as plant oils, are a hot area of research. Fuel cells9 based on hydrogen burn cleanly, and are the subject of a serious research effort.
But whatever is in the fuel tank, you don’t want a thief in the driving seat and there have been many innovations, some using satellite tracking and remote communications10, to fight against car theft. These communication systems can also come into play11 if you crash, automatically calling for help.
Accidents cause many traffic jams, but there are more subtle interplays between vehicles that can cause jams even on a clear but busy road. Such jams can be analysed using statistical tools. Robotic drivers could be programmed to make traffic flow smoothly and will perhaps one day be everyone’s personal chauffeur, but their latest efforts suggest that won’t be soon.
练习：
1. What are researchers interested in doing as the road accidents worldwide increase to a shocking rate?
A. They are developing faster electric vehicles.
B. They are analyzing road deaths occurring worldwide every year.
C. They focus their research on safety and new fuels.
D. They are designing fully automatic cars.
2. According to the second paragraph, most road accidents happen
A. because drivers fall asleep.
B. because drivers make mistakes.
C. because of engine failure.
D. because of speeding.
3. Which of the safety developments is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A. Radars that can help drivers to see obstacles in fog.
B. Devices that can help drivers to see through big vehicles.
C. Improvements in seat belts, pedal controls and tyres.
D. Windscreens that can help drivers to improve their vision.
4. What is Not the purpose of innovations that use satellite tracking and remote communications?
A. To prevent car thieves from getting into your car.
B. To call for help when one’s car crashes.
C. To call for help when the car gets jammed in the traffic.
D. To track the car down when it is being stolen.
5. What is true of robotic drivers?
A. It will take some time before robotic drivers can be put to practical use.
B. Robotic drivers are not allowed to drive on busy roads.
C. Robotic drivers can never replace human drivers.
D. Robotic drivers are too expensive to use.
练习：
1. What are researchers interested in doing as the road accidents worldwide increase to a shocking rate?
A. They are developing faster electric vehicles.
B. They are analyzing road deaths occurring worldwide every year.
C. They focus their research on safety and new fuels.
D. They are designing fully automatic cars.
2. According to the second paragraph, most road accidents happen
A. because drivers fall asleep.
B. because drivers make mistakes.
C. because of engine failure.
D. because of speeding.
3. Which of the safety developments is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A. Radars that can help drivers to see obstacles in fog.
B. Devices that can help drivers to see through big vehicles.
C. Improvements in seat belts, pedal controls and tyres.
D. Windscreens that can help drivers to improve their vision.
4. What is Not the purpose of innovations that use satellite tracking and remote communications?
A. To prevent car thieves from getting into your car.
B. To call for help when one’s car crashes.
C. To call for help when the car gets jammed in the traffic.
D. To track the car down when it is being stolen.
5. What is true of robotic drivers?
A. It will take some time before robotic drivers can be put to practical use.
B. Robotic drivers are not allowed to drive on busy roads.
C. Robotic drivers can never replace human drivers.
D. Robotic drivers are too expensive to use.
第五篇：
Late-Night Drinking(C级)
卫生第七篇 综合第十一篇
Coffee lovers beware. Having a quick “pick-me-up” cup of coffee1 late in the day will play havoc破坏 with2 your sleep. As well as being a stimulant, caffeine interrupts the flow of melatonin甲氧基色胺, the brain hormone that sends people into a sleep.
Melatonin levels normally start to rise about two hours before bedtime. Levels then peak between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., before falling again.3 “It’s the neurohormone that controls our sleep and tells our body when to sleep and when to wake,” says Maurice Ohayon of the Stanford Sleep Epidemiology Research Center at Stanford University in California. But researchers in Israel have found that caffeinated coffee halves the body’s levels of this sleep hormone.
Lotan Shilo and a team at the Sapir Medical Center in Tel Aviv University found that six volunteers slept less well after a cup of caffeinated coffee than after drinking the same amount of decaf. On average, subjects slept 336 minutes per night after drinking caffeinated coffee, compared with 415 minutes after decaf. They also took half an hour to drop off4—twice as long as usual—and jigged around5 in bed twice as much.
In the second phase of the experiment, the researchers woke the volunteers every three hours and asked them to give a urine尿液 sample. Shilo measured concentrations of a breakdown product of melatonin. The result suggest that melatonin concentrations in caffeine drinkers were half those in decaf drinkers. In a paper accepted for publication in Sleep Medicine, the researchers suggest6 that caffeine blocks production of the enzyme that drives melatonin production.
Because it can take many hours to eliminate caffeine from the body, Ohayon recommends that coffee lovers switch to decaf after lunch.
练习：
1. The author mentions “pick-me-up” to indicate that
A) melatonin levels need to be raised.
B) neurohormone can wake us up.
C) coffee is a stimulant.
D) decaf无咖啡因咖啡 is a caffeinated慢性咖啡中毒 coffee.
2. Which of the following tell us how caffeine affects sleep?
A) Caffeine blocks production of the enzyme that stops melatonin production.
B) Caffeine interrupts the flow of the hormone that prevents people from sleeping.
C) Caffeine halves the body’s levels of sleep hormone.
D) Caffeine stays in the body for many hours.
3. What does paragraph 3 mainly discuss?
A) Different effects of caffeinated coffee and decaf on sleep.
B) Different findings of Lotan Shilo and a team about caffeine.
C) The fact that the subjects slept 415 minutes per night after drinking decaf.
D) The evidence that the subjects took half an hour to fall asleep.
4. What does the experiment mentioned in paragraph 4 prove?
A) There are more enzymes酶 in decaf drinkers’ urine sample.
B) There are more melatonin concentrations in caffeine drinkers’ urine sample.
C) Decaf drinkers produce less melatonin.
D) Caffeine drinkers produce less sleep hormone.
5. The author of this passage probable aggress that
A) coffee lovers sleep less than those who do not drink coffee.
B) we should not drink coffee after supper.
C) people sleep more soundly at midnight than at 3 a.m..
D) if we feel sleepy at night, we should go to bed immediately.
练习：
1. The author mentions “pick-me-up” to indicate that
A) melatonin levels need to be raised.
B) neurohormone can wake us up.
C) coffee is a stimulant.
D) decaf无咖啡因咖啡 is a caffeinated慢性咖啡中毒 coffee.
2. Which of the following tell us how caffeine affects sleep?
A) Caffeine blocks production of the enzyme that stops melatonin production.
B) Caffeine interrupts the flow of the hormone that prevents people from sleeping.
C) Caffeine halves the body’s levels of sleep hormone.
D) Caffeine stays in the body for many hours.
3. What does paragraph 3 mainly discuss?
A) Different effects of caffeinated coffee and decaf on sleep.
B) Different findings of Lotan Shilo and a team about caffeine.
C) The fact that the subjects slept 415 minutes per night after drinking decaf.
D) The evidence that the subjects took half an hour to fall asleep.
4. What does the experiment mentioned in paragraph 4 prove?
A) There are more enzymes酶 in decaf drinkers’ urine sample.
B) There are more melatonin concentrations in caffeine drinkers’ urine sample.
C) Decaf drinkers produce less melatonin.
D) Caffeine drinkers produce less sleep hormone.
5. The author of this passage probable aggress that
A) coffee lovers sleep less than those who do not drink coffee.
B) we should not drink coffee after supper.
C) people sleep more soundly at midnight than at 3 a.m..
A) if we feel sleepy at night, we should go to bed immediately.
理工 第六篇： Waving With Light （C级）
In the Sierra Madre mountain range of west central Mexico1, the native Huichol people2 live much the way their ancestors did--without electricity. That’s because it’s too expensive to string power lines3 to the remote mountain areas where they live. To help support themselves, the Huichol create beautiful artwork. They sell their art in cities hundreds of miles away from their villages. And without electricity--at home or on the road, they can only work during daylight hours. When it gets dark, they must stop whatever they’re doing.
Now, a team of scientists, designers, and architects is using4 new technologies to provide the Huichol with light after the sun sets．The scientists’ technique involves weaving tiny electronic crystals into fabrics that can be made into clothes, bags, or other items.
By collecting the sun’s energy during the day, these lightweight fabrics provide bright white light at night．Their inventors have named the fabrics “Portable Lights.” Portable Lights have the potential to transform the lives of people without electricity around the world, says project leader Sheila Kennedy．
"Our invention," Kennedy says, "came from seeing how we could transform technology we saw every day in the United States and move it into new markets for people who didn't have a lot of money．"
At the core of Portable Light technology are devices called high-brightness light-emitting diodes，or HB LEDs6．These tiny lights appear in digital clocks，televisions，and streetlights．
LEDs are completely different from the light bulbs．Most of those glass bulbs belong to a type called incandescent lights．Inside，electricity heats a metal coil to about 2，200 degrees Celsius．At that temperature，bulbs give off light we can see．
Ninety percent of energy produced by incandescent lights, however, is heat—and invisible．With all that wasted energy, bulbs burn out quickly．They are also easily broken．
LEDs，on the other hand，are like tiny pieces of rock made up of molecules that are arranged in a crystal structure．When an electric current passes through an LED，the crystal structure produces light．Unlike incandescent bulbs, they Can produce light of various colors．Within an LED, the type of molecules and their particular arrangement determines what color is produced．
练习：
1．To make a living, the Huichol create artwork and
A．sell it to tourists in their villages．
B．sell it in cities far away from their villages．
C．display it in their village museum．
D．keep it in their homes to attract tourists．
2．Why can Portable Lights emit light?
A．Electronic crystals are woven into fabrics．
B．Items such as clothes and bags are used to carry lights．
C．The sun's energy is collected during the day．
D．All of the above．
3．What does Sheila Kennedy say about Portable Lights?
A．This invention can change the lives of people，both rich and poor．
B．They are widely used in the United States．
C．Portable Lights can help poor people around the world to get light．
D．They are expensive to make but easy to carry．
4．What is the most important part of the Portable Light technology?
A．HB LEDs B．Glass Bulbs．
C．Incandescent lights． D．Heated metal coils．
5．LEDs are different from light bulbs in that
A．LEDs are incandescent lights while light bulbs are not．
B．LEDs have a metal coil while light bulbs have not．
C．LEDs emit colored light while most light bulbs don't．
D．LEDs are made up of tiny pieces of rock while light bulbs are not．
练习：
1．To make a living, the Huichol create artwork and
A．sell it to tourists in their villages．
B．sell it in cities far away from their villages．
C．display it in their village museum．
D．keep it in their homes to attract tourists．
2．Why can Portable Lights emit light?
A．Electronic crystals are woven into fabrics．
B．Items such as clothes and bags are used to carry lights．
C．The sun's energy is collected during the day．
D．All of the above．
3．What does Sheila Kennedy say about Portable Lights?
A．This invention can change the lives of people，both rich and poor．
B．They are widely used in the United States．
C．Portable Lights can help poor people around the world to get light．
D．They are expensive to make but easy to carry．
4．What is the most important part of the Portable Light technology?
A．HB LEDs B．Glass Bulbs．
C．Incandescent lights． D．Heated metal coils．
5．LEDs are different from light bulbs in that
A．LEDs are incandescent lights while light bulbs are not．
B．LEDs have a metal coil while light bulbs have not．
C．LEDs emit colored light while most light bulbs don't．
D．LEDs are made up of tiny pieces of rock while light bulbs are not．
词汇：
Po rtable adj．轻便的，手提式的 light—emitting diode(LED)发光二极管
bulb n．灯泡； incandescent adj．白灼的
coil n．线圈，卷，圈 molecule n．分子
注释：
1．Sierra Madre mountain range of west central Mexico：墨西哥中西部的马德雷山脉o Sierra；一词在西班牙语中本身就包含了“山脉”的意思，确切地说是“呈齿状起伏的山脉”，因为在西班牙语中Sierra有“锯子”的意思。
2．Huichol people：维克人。他们是居住在墨西哥中西部地区马德雷山脉的土著印地安人。该地区山路崎岖，所以西班牙人未涉足于此，墨西哥文化也没能影响维克人的土著文化。据估计，维克印地安人现仅存约一万人。
3．string power lines：架设输电线。
4．Now，a team of scientists…is usin9：a team of scientists可以视作单数，也可以视作复数。本句用作单数，所以后接的谓语动词是is。
5．At the core of：此处the core of意为the basic or most important part of(最重要的部分)。
6．At the core of Portable Light technology are devices called high—brightness light—emitting diodes, or HB LEDs：本句是倒装句，主语是“devices called high—brightness light—emitting diodes，or HB LEDs”，谓语动词是“are”。high．brightness light．emitting diodes可译为“高亮度发光二极管。
答案与题解：
1．B短文的第一段提供了答案，该段告诉我们，维克人为了谋生，制作工艺品，并到几百英里以外的城市去销售。
2．D文章的第二和第三段包括了A、B和C所述内容。所以D是答案。
3．C短文的第四和第五段提供了答案。短文第四段的句子说了Potable Lights可以在世界范围内改变穷乡僻壤用不上电的人们的生活，C准确地表达了这层意思，所以是答案0 A不是答案，说Potable Lights能改变富人穷人的生活，不符合原文的意思。短文没有提及Portable Lights在美国使用，也没有说Portable Lights是否花费很大。所以B和D都不是答案。
4．A第六段的第一句提供了答案。Portable Lights技术的最主要部分是high—brightness light—emitting diodes，即高亮度发光二极管。
5．C短文的第六段对light bulbs进行了描述。第二句中的those glass bulbs即指第一句中的light bulbs。因此，LEDs不是incandescent lights(白炽灯)，也没有金属丝。所以A和B均是错误的选择。最后一段的第一个句子LEDs，on the other hand，are like tiny pieces of rock made up of molecules that are arranged in a crystal structure中的like pieces of rock，不等于 pieces of rock，所以，D也是错误选择。根据短文的最后一段内容，C是正确选择
第七篇:
Sugar Power for Cell Phones (C级)
Using enzymes commonly found in living cells, a new type of fuel cell produces small amounts of electricity from sugar. If the technology is able to succeed in mass production, you may some day share your sweet drinks with your cell phone.
In fuel cells, chemical reactions generate electrical currents. The process usually relies on precious metals, such platinum. In living cells, enzymes perform a similar job, breaking down sugars to obtain electrons and produce energy.
When researchers previously used enzymes in fuel cells, they had trouble keeping them active, says Shelley D. Minteer of St Louis University. Whereas biological cells continually produce fresh enzymes, there’s no mechanism in fuel cells replace enzymes as they quickly degrade.
Minteer and Tamara Klotzbach, also of St Louis University, have now developed polymers that wrap around an enzyme and preserve it in a microscopic pocket. “We tailor these pockets to provide the ideal microenvironment” for the enzyme. Minteer says. The polymers keep the enzyme active for months instead of days.
In the new fuel cell, tiny polymer bags of enzyme are embedded in a membrane that coats one of the electrodes. When glucose from a sugary liquid gets into pocket, the enzyme oxidizes it, releasing electrons and protons. The electrons cross the membrane and enter a wire through which they travel to the other electrode, where they react with oxygen in the atmosphere to produce water. The flow of electrons through the wire constitutes an electrical current that can generate power.
So far, the new fuel cells don’t produce much power, but the fact that they work at all is exciting, says Paul Kenis, a chemical engineer at the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign. “Just getting it to work,” Kenis says, “is a major accomplishment.”
Sugar – eating fuel cells could be an efficient way to make electricity. Sugar is easy to find. And the new fuel cells that run on it are biodegradable, so the technology wouldn’t hurt the environment. The scientists are now trying to use different enzymes that will get more power from sugar. They predict that popular products may be using the new technology in as little as 3 years.
练习:
1. According to the first paragraph, when can we share our sweet drinks with our cell phones?
A When enzymes can be commonly found in living cells.
B When the technology of producing a new type of fuel cell appears.
C When the technology of new type of fuel cell is suitable for mass production.
D When the technology of mass producing cell phones appears.
2. What trouble did Minteer and Klotzbach have in their research?
A They had trouble keeping enzymes in fuel cells active.
B They had trouble keeping biological cells active.
C They had trouble producing fresh enzymes.
D They had trouble finding mechanism for producing enzymes.
3. According to Paragraph 5, electrons are released
A when bags of enzymes are embedded in the new fuel cell.
B when glucose from a sugary liquid goes through the enzyme.
C when the enzyme oxidizes the glucose from a sugary liquid that goes through a pocket.
D when the enzyme oxidizes the sugary liquid that goes through a pocket.
4. What is exciting about the new fuel cells?
A Their limitless power generation capacity is amazing.
B Their limited power generation capacity is a good beginning.
C Their limited power generation capacity is the result of great efforts.
D Their limitless power generation capacity is a major accomplishment.
5. According to the last paragraph, what is NOT true of the new fuel cells?
A The new fuel cells run on sugar that is easy to find.
B The new fuel cells are environment friendly.
C The new fuel cells are biologically degradable.
D It will take some time before the new fuel cells can be used in popular products.
练习:
2. According to the first paragraph, when can we share our sweet drinks with our cell phones?
A When enzymes can be commonly found in living cells.
B When the technology of producing a new type of fuel cell appears.
C When the technology of new type of fuel cell is suitable for mass production.
D When the technology of mass producing cell phones appears.
2. What trouble did Minteer and Klotzbach have in their research?
A They had trouble keeping enzymes in fuel cells active.
B They had trouble keeping biological cells active.
C They had trouble producing fresh enzymes.
D They had trouble finding mechanism for producing enzymes.
3. According to Paragraph 5, electrons are released
A when bags of enzymes are embedded in the new fuel cell.
B when glucose from a sugary liquid goes through the enzyme.
C when the enzyme oxidizes the glucose from a sugary liquid that goes through a pocket.
D when the enzyme oxidizes the sugary liquid that goes through a pocket.
4. What is exciting about the new fuel cells?
A Their limitless power generation capacity is amazing.
B Their limited power generation capacity is a good beginning.
C Their limited power generation capacity is the result of great efforts.
D Their limitless power generation capacity is a major accomplishment.
5. According to the last paragraph, what is NOT true of the new fuel cells?
A The new fuel cells run on sugar that is easy to find.
B The new fuel cells are environment friendly.
C The new fuel cells are biologically degradable.
D It will take some time before the new fuel cells can be used in popular products.
第八篇：
Eiffel Is an Eyeful1(C级)
综合十七篇
Some2 300 meters up, near the Eiffel Tower’s wind-whipped summit the world comes to scribble3. Japanese, Brazilians, Americans—they graffiti4 their names, loves and politics on the cold iron—transforming the most French of monuments into symbol of a world on the move5.
With Paris laid out in miniature6 below, it seems strange that visitors would rather waste time marking their presence than admiring the view7. But the graffiti also raises a question: Why, nearly 114 years after it was completed, and decades after it ceased to be the world’s tallest structure, is la Tour Eiffel still so popular8?
The reasons are as complex as the iron work that graces9 a structure some 90 stories high. But part of the answer is, no doubt, its agelessness. Regularly maintained, it should never rust away. Graffiti is regularly painted over, but the tower lives on.
“Eiffel represents Paris and Paris is France. It is very symbolic,” says Hugues Richard10, a 31-year-old Frenchman who holds the record for cycling up to the tower’s second floor—747 steps in 19 minutes and 4 seconds, without touching the floor with his feet, “It’s iron lady, it inspires us11,” he says.
But to what? 12 After all, the tower doesn’t have a purpose. It ceased to be the world’s tallest in 1930 when the Chrysler Building13 went up in New York. Yes, television and radio signals are beamed from the top, and Gustave Eiffel, a frenetic builder who died on December 27, aged 91, used its height for conducting research into weather, aerodynamics and radio communication.
But in essence the tower inspires simply by being there—a blank canvas for visitors to make of it what they will14. To the technically minded15, it’s an engineering triumph. For lovers, it’s romantic.
“The tower will outlast all of us, and by a long way16,” says Isabelle Esnous, whose company manages Eiffel Tower.
练习：
1. Why does the author think the Eiffel Tower is transformed into symbol of a world on the move?
A) Tourists from all over the world come to the Eiffel Tower by car or by plane.
B) Tourists of all nationalities come to scribble on the cold iron of the tower.
C) The Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in the world.
D) The Eiffel Tower represents all the towers in the world.
2. What seems strange to the author?
A) Visitors prefer wasting time scribbling to enjoying the view.
B) Visitors spends much time watching other people scribbling.
C) Only Japanese, Brazilians and Americans like to mark their presence.
D) Scribbling spread from country to country.
3. Which statement is NOT true of Hugues Richard?
A) He is a cyclist.
B) He is a record holder.
C) He climbed 747 steps up the tower in 19 minutes and 4 seconds.
D) He cycled up to the tower’s second floor.
4. What did the builder use the Eiffel Tower for?
A) Sending radio and television signals all over the world.
B) Conducting research in various fields.
C) Giving people inspiration.
D) Demonstrating French culture.
5. Which of the following is nearest in meaning to “(The Eiffel Tower is like) a blank canvas for visitors to make of it what they will”?
A) Visitors can do whatever they want on the tower.
B) Visitors can paint on the tower whatever they want.
C) Visitors can imagine freely what the tower represents.
D) Visitors can draw on a blank canvas provided by the Tower management company.
练习：
1. Why does the author think the Eiffel Tower is transformed into symbol of a world on the move?
A)Tourists from all over the world come to the Eiffel Tower by car or by plane.
B) Tourists of all nationalities come to scribble on the cold iron of the tower.
C) The Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in the world.
D) The Eiffel Tower represents all the towers in the world.
2. What seems strange to the author?
A) Visitors prefer wasting time scribbling to enjoying the view.
B) Visitors spends much time watching other people scribbling.
C) Only Japanese, Brazilians and Americans like to mark their presence.
D) Scribbling spread from country to country.
3. Which statement is NOT true of Hugues Richard?
A) He is a cyclist.
B) He is a record holder.
C) He climbed 747 steps up the tower in 19 minutes and 4 seconds.
D) He cycled up to the tower’s second floor.
4. What did the builder use the Eiffel Tower for?
A) Sending radio and television signals all over the world.
B) Conducting research in various fields.
C) Giving people inspiration.
D) Demonstrating French culture.
5. Which of the following is nearest in meaning to “(The Eiffel Tower is like) a blank canvas for visitors to make of it what they will”?
A) Visitors can do whatever they want on the tower.
B) Visitors can paint on the tower whatever they want.
C) Visitors can imagine freely what the tower represents.
D) Visitors can draw on a blank canvas provided by the Tower management company.
第九篇：
Egypt Felled by Famine(C级)
卫生第二十二篇
Even ancient Egypt’s mighty pyramid builders were powerless in the face of the famine that helped bring down their civilization around 2180BC. Now evidence gleaned from mud deposited by the River Nile1 suggests that a shift in climate thousands of kilometers to the south was ultimately to blame—and the same or worse could happen today.
The ancient Egyptians depended on the Nile’s annual floods to irrigate their crops. But any change in climate that pushed the African monsoons southwards out of Ethiopia2 would have diminished these floods.
Dwindling rains in the Ethiopian highlands would have meant fewer plants to stablise the soil. When rain did fall it would have washed large amounts of soil into Blue Nile3 and into Egypt, along with sediment from the White Nile4.
The Blue Nile mud has a different isotope signature from that of the White Nile. So by analysing isotope differences in mud deposited in the Nile Delta, Michael Krom of Leeds University worked out what proportion of sediment came from each branch of the river.
Krom reasons that during periods of drought, the amount of the Blue Nile mud in the river would be relatively high. He found that one of these periods, from 4500 to 4200 years ago, immediately predates the fall of the Egypt’s Old Kingdom.
The weakened waters would have been catastrophic for the Egyptians. “Changes that affect food supply don’t have to be very large to have a ripple effect in societies,” says Bill Ryan of the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory in New York.
Similar events today. Could be even more devastating, says team member Daniel Stanley, a geoarchaeologist from the Smithsonian Institution5 in Washington, D.C.. “Anything humans do to shift the climate belts would have an even worse effect along the Nile system today because the populations have increased dramatically.”
练习：
1. Why does the author mention “pyramid builders”?
A) Because they once worked miracles.
B) Because they were well-built.
C) Because they were actually very weak.
D) Because even they were unable to rescue their civilization.
2. Which of the following factors was ultimately responsible for the fall of the civilization of ancient Egypt?
A) Change of climate.
B) Famine.
C) Flood
D) Population growth.
3. Which of following statements is true?
A) The White Nile is the trunk of the River Nile.
B) They White Nile is the trunk of the Blue Nile.
C) The White Nile is a branch of the Blue Nile.
D) The White Nile and the Blue Nile are branches of the River Nile.
4. According to Krom, Egypt’s Old Kingdom fell
A) immediately after a period of drought.
B) immediately after a period of flood.
C) just before a drought struck.
D) just before a flood struck.
5. The word “devastating” in the last paragraph could be best replaced by
A) “frustrating”.
B) “damaging”.
C) “defeating”.
D) “worrying”.
练习：
1. Why does the author mention “pyramid builders”?
A) Because they once worked miracles.
B) Because they were well-built.
C) Because they were actually very weak.
D) Because even they were unable to rescue their civilization.
2. Which of the following factors was ultimately responsible for the fall of the civilization of ancient Egypt?
A) Change of climate.
B) Famine.
C) Flood
D) Population growth.
3. Which of following statements is true?
A) The White Nile is the trunk of the River Nile.
B) They White Nile is the trunk of the Blue Nile.
C) The White Nile is a branch of the Blue Nile.
D) The White Nile and the Blue Nile are branches of the River Nile.
4. According to Krom, Egypt’s Old Kingdom fell
A) immediately after a period of drought.
B) immediately after a period of flood.
C) just before a drought struck.
D) just before a flood struck.
5. The word “devastating” in the last paragraph could be best replaced by
A) “frustrating”.
B) “damaging”.
C) “defeating”.
D) “worrying”.
第十篇：
Young Female Chimps Outlearn Their Brothers(C级)
Young female chimps are faster and better learners than young male chimps, suggests a new study1, echoing learning differences seen in human girls and boys2.
While young male chimps pass their time playing, young female chimps carefully study their mothers. As a result, they learn how to fish for3 tasty termite snacks over two years before the boys.
Elizabeth Lonsdorf, now at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, US, and colleagues at the University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, spent four years watching how young chimpanzees in the Gombe National Park in Tanzania4 learned “cultural behavior.”
The sex differences in learning behavior were “consistent and strikingly apparent”, says the team. The researchers point out that similar differences are seen in human children with regard to5 skills such as writing. “A sex-based learning differences may therefore date back6 at least to the last common ancestor of chimpanzees and humans,” they write in the journal Nature.
Chimps make flexible tools from vegetation and then insert them into termite mounds, extract them and then munch the termites clinging onto the tool. The researchers used video cameras to record this feeding behavior and found that each chimp mother had her own technique, such as how she used tools of different lengths.
Analysis of the six infants whose ages were known showed that girl chimps were an average of 31 months old when they succeeded in fishing out their termites, where the boy chimps were aged 58 months on average. Females were also more skillful at getting out more termites with every dip7 and used techniques similar to their mothers while males did not.
Instead of studying their mothers, the boy chimps spent a significantly greater amount of time frolicking around the termite mound. Behaviors such as playing or swinging might help the male infants later in life when typically male activities like hunting or fighting for dominance become important, suggest the researchers.
Lonsdorf adds that there are just two main sources of animal protein for chimps—the termites or colobus monkeys. “Mature males often hunt monkeys up trees, but females are almost always either pregnant or burdened with a clinging infant8. This makes hunting difficult,” she says “Adult females spend more time fishing for termites than males.” So becoming proficient at termite fishing9 could mean adult females eat better,” They can watch their offspring at the same time. The young of both sexes seem to pursue activities related to their adult sex roles10 at a very young age.”
练习：
1. Why do young female chimps learn faster than young male chimps at fishing for termites?
A) Because young female chimps don’t play with their brothers.
B) Because young female chimps begin to study their mothers earlier.
C) Because young male chimps never learn to fish for termites.
D) Because young male chimps are not interested in termites.
2. What are the tools with which chimps fish for termites?
A) Tree branches.
B) Vegetables.
C) Fruits.
D) Grass.
3. Which of the following is true about chimps fishing for termites according to paragraph 6?
A) Males often compete with females in fishing for termites.
B) Males could get out more termites with every dip.
C) Females could get out more termites with every dip.
D) Males are good at mastering technique for fishing for termites.
4. How did the researchers explain the fact that boy chimps spent more time on playing?
A) They like hunting.
B) They enjoy fighting.
C) It helps them to stay fit.
D) It will make them good fighters and hunters in the future.
5. According to the last paragraph, which of the following is NOT true?
A) Adult chimps hunt monkeys while young chimps fish for termites.
B) The main source of animal protein for male chimps is colobus monkeys.
C) The main source of animal protein for female chimps in termites.
D) Female chimps fish for termites while watching their children.
练习：
1. Why do young female chimps learn faster than young male chimps at fishing for termites?
A) Because young female chimps don’t play with their brothers.
B) Because young female chimps begin to study their mothers earlier.
C) Because young male chimps never learn to fish for termites.
D) Because young male chimps are not interested in termites.
2. What are the tools with which chimps fish for termites?
A) Tree branches.
B) Vegetables.
C) Fruits.
D) Grass.
3. Which of the following is true about chimps fishing for termites according to paragraph 6?
A) Males often compete with females in fishing for termites.
B) Males could get out more termites with every dip.
C) Females could get out more termites with every dip.
D) Males are good at mastering technique for fishing for termites.
4. How did the researchers explain the fact that boy chimps spent more time on playing?
A) They like hunting.
B) They enjoy fighting.
C) It helps them to stay fit.
D) It will make them good fighters and hunters in the future.
5. According to the last paragraph, which of the following is NOT true?
A) Adult chimps hunt monkeys while young chimps fish for termites.
B) The main source of animal protein for male chimps is colobus monkeys.
C) The main source of animal protein for female chimps in termites.
D) Female chimps fish for termites while watching their children.
第十一篇：
The Net Cost of Making a Name for Yourself(C级)
Companies are paying up to $10,000 to register a domain name1 on the Internet even though there is no guarantee that they will get the name they want.
The task of registering domains ending in. com,.org,.edu and . net is at present contracted out by the US government to the Virginia-based company Network Solutions. The contract runs out2 this year, and the government wants to bring in a different scheme.
But last year, an ad hoc3 committee of the Internet’s great and good4 revealed its own plan. This involved setting up seven new domains, each indicating the kind of business or organization using that name5. The committee recruited 88 companies around the world to act as registrars for its. Firm,. Shop,. web,. arts,. rec,. info and. nom domains. The US government has still to give the system its blessing6, and may yet push ahead7 with its original scheme. Despite this, the 88 registrars have been taking applications for several months. They are due8 to start registering names this month with the Internet Council of Registrars, thich grew out of the ad hoc committee.
To prevent conflicting names from being registered, the council will take one name from each registrar in turn before going back for the second name in their queues, and so on. This has led to a flourishing trade, with companies trying to buy a place near the head of the queue. Global Names of Singapore is charging $10,000 to make sure a request for a name is the first one it sends off to the central database. Other registrars are charging nonrefundable deposits for places at the top of the queue. David Maher, chairman of the Policy Oversight Committee that is helping to set up and oversee the system, says that all registrars are subject to9 local laws regarding consumer protection and competition. But he says that the committee “will not act as an enforcement body10 in this area.”
练习:
1. The domain name “.edu” is operated by
A) the US government.
B) the company Network Solutions.
C) Internet Council of Registrars.
D) both A and B.
2. The. Firm,. Shop,. Web,. Arts,. Rec,. info and. nom domains are NOT run by
A) a temporary committee organized by Internet’s influential services.
B) the US government.
C) 88 registrars.
D) Internet Council of Registrars.
3. Global Names of Singapore is
A) a company which apples for a name on the Internet.
B) a registrar.
C) a company under the supervision of Policy Oversight Committee.
D) the central database.
4. How can a company successfully register a name with the Internet?
A) It must pay up to $10,000 or a nonrefundable deposit.
B) Its application must be the first one at the top of the registration queue.
C) It must get approval from the Policy Oversight Committee.
D) Both A and B
5. What is the meaning of the phrases “net cost” in the title?
A) The amount of money covering the basics.
B) The registration fee for a domain name on the Internet.
C) The amount of money for the construction of a network in a company.
D) The amount of money paid to the Internet service annually.
练习:
1. The domain name “.edu” is operated by
A) the US government.
B) the company Network Solutions.
C) Internet Council of Registrars.
D) both A and B.
2. The. Firm,. Shop,. Web,. Arts,. Rec,. info and. nom domains are NOT run by
A) a temporary committee organized by Internet’s influential services.
B) the US government.
C) 88 registrars.
D) Internet Council of Registrars.
3. Global Names of Singapore is
A) a company which apples for a name on the Internet.
B) a registrar.
C) a company under the supervision of Policy Oversight Committee.
D) the central database.
4. How can a company successfully register a name with the Internet?
A) It must pay up to $10,000 or a nonrefundable deposit.
B) Its application must be the first one at the top of the registration queue.
C) It must get approval from the Policy Oversight Committee.
D) Both A and B
5. What is the meaning of the phrases “net cost” in the title?
A) The amount of money covering the basics.
B) The registration fee for a domain name on the Internet.
C) The amount of money for the construction of a network in a company.
D) The amount of money paid to the Internet service annually.
第十二篇：
Florida Hit by Cold Air Mass(C级)
In January, 2003, the eastern two-thirds of the United States was at the mercy of1 a bitterly cold air mass2 that has endangered Florida’s citrus trees, choked3 northern harbors with ice and left bewildered residents of North Carolina’s Outer Banks digging out of up to a foot of snow4.
The ice chill deepened as temperatures fell to the single digits5 in most of the South, with an unfamiliar dip below the freezing mark6 as far south as parts of interior South Florida. Temperatures in Florida plunged, with West Palm Beach dropping to a record low of 2 degrees7.
“We couldn’t believe how cold it was,” said Martin King, who arrived this week in Orlando8 from England. “We brought shorts, T-shirt, and I had to go out and buy another coat.”
The temperature plunge posed a threat9 to Florida’s US$9.1 billion-a-year citrus crop, more of which is still on the trees. Growers were hurrying to harvest at much of the fruit as possible before it was damaged by cold.
“Time is of the essence10 in getting fruit to the plant,” said Tom Rogers, a citrus grower who expected to see damage to oranges and grapefruit at that time.
In Florida, Governor Jeb Bush signed an emergency order to eliminate the weight limit on trucks so citrus growers could get as much fruit to market as possible.
Casey Pace, a spokeswoman for Florida Citrus Mutual, said growers had sprayed trees with sprinklers, which created a layer of ice and helped maintain a temperature near freezing. Citrus trees are considered in danger of damage if the temperature drops below minus 2 degrees Celsius for four hours or more. Snow ranging from a dusting to up to 30 centimeters11 blanketed12 the Carolinas, Tennessee and parts of Virginia.
练习：
1. Which of the following statements is not meant in the first two paragraphs?
A) The cold air mass was a threat to Florida’s citrus crop.
B) The temperature in the United States except the South dropped below the freezing mark.
C) The northern harbors were blocked with ice.
D) The eastern two thirds of the United States was hit by cold air mass.
2. According to the second paragraph, in which area(s) did the temperature fall below zero?
A) Most of the South.
B) Parts of interior South Florida.
C) West Palm Beach.
D) All of the above
3. King’s statement that “We brought shorts, T-shirt, and I had to go out and buy another coat.” Shows that
A) he was caught by the sudden cold.
B) he needed formal clothes.
C) fashion in Florida is tempting.
D) Florida is hot compared with England.
4. Governor Jeb issue the emergency order because he
A) thought speed limit for trucks was unreasonable.
B) tried to improve the traffic condition of the express ways.
C) wanted to encourage trucks to transport as much fruit to market at possible.
D) wanted to stop trucks from carrying too much fruit to market.
5. Which statement is NOT true according to the last paragraph?
A) Sprinklers were used to protect citrus trees from being damaged.
B) Citrus trees would be damaged if the temperature drops below minus 2℃ for four hours.
C) The Carolinas, Tennessee and parts of Virginia were covered with snow.
D) Florida Citrus Mutual sprayed trees with sprinklers for citrus growers.
练习：
1. Which of the following statements is not meant in the first two paragraphs?
A) The cold air mass was a threat to Florida’s citrus crop.
B) The temperature in the United States except the South dropped below the freezing mark.
C) The northern harbors were blocked with ice.
D) The eastern two thirds of the United States was hit by cold air mass.
2. According to the second paragraph, in which area(s) did the temperature fall below zero?
A) Most of the South.
B) Parts of interior South Florida.
C) West Palm Beach.
D) All of the above
3. King’s statement that “We brought shorts, T-shirt, and I had to go out and buy another coat.” Shows that
A) he was caught by the sudden cold.
B) he needed formal clothes.
C) fashion in Florida is tempting.
D) Florida is hot compared with England.
4. Governor Jeb issue the emergency order because he
A) thought speed limit for trucks was unreasonable.
B) tried to improve the traffic condition of the express ways.
C) wanted to encourage trucks to transport as much fruit to market at possible.
D) wanted to stop trucks from carrying too much fruit to market.
5. Which statement is NOT true according to the last paragraph?
A) Sprinklers were used to protect citrus trees from being damaged.
B) Citrus trees would be damaged if the temperature drops below minus 2℃ for four hours.
C) The Carolinas, Tennessee and parts of Virginia were covered with snow.
D) Florida Citrus Mutual sprayed trees with sprinklers for citrus growers.
第十三篇: Invisibility Ring (C级)
Scientists can’t yet make an invisibility cloak like the one that Harry Potter uses But, for the first time, they’ve constructed a simple cloaking device that makes itself and something placed inside it invisible to microwaves.
When a person “sees” an object, his or her eye senses many different waves of visible light as they bounce off the object. The eye and brain then work together to organize these sensations and reconstruct the object’s original shape. So, to make an object invisible, scientists have to keep waves from bouncing off it. And they have to make sure the object casts no shadow. Otherwise, the absence of reflected light on one side would give the object away.
Invisibility isn’t possible yet with waves of light that the human eye can see. But it is now possible with microwaves. Like visible light, microwaves are form of radiant energy. They are part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which also includes radio waves, infrared light, ultraviolet rays, X rays, and gamma rays. The wavelengths of microwaves are shorter than those of radio waves but longer than those of visible light.
The scientists’ new “invisibility device” is the size of a drink coaster and shaped like a ring. The ring is made of a special material with unusual ability. When microwaves strike the ring, very few bounce off it. Instead, they pass through the ring, which bends the waves all the way around until they reach the opposite. The waves then return to their original paths.
To a detector set up to receive microwaves on the other side of the ring, it looks as if the waves never changed their paths – as if there were no object in the way! So, the ring is effectively invisible.
When the researchers put a small copper loop inside the ring, it too, is nearly invisible. However, the cloaking device and anything inside it do cast a pale shadow. And the device works only for microwaves, not for visible light or any kind of electromagnetic radiation. So, Harry potter’s invisibility cloak doesn’t have any real competition yet.
练习:
1. Harry Potter is mentioned in the passage, because scientists
A can now make an invisible cloak of the same kind as he uses.
B try to make an invisible cloak of the same kind as he uses.
C try to invent a device similar in idea to the invisible cloak he uses.
D know that it is possible to make an invisible cloak of the same kind.
2. What is true of microwaves?
A Their wavelengths are shorter than those of visible light.
B Their wavelengths are longer than those of visible light.
C They are different from visible light as they are a kind of radiant energy.
D They are visible to the human eye.
3. What is NOT true of the invisibility device?
A It is made of a special material with unusual ability.
B Microwaves bounce off it when they strike it.
C Microwaves pass through it when they strike it.
D It bends microwaves all the way around until they reach the opposite side.
4. What does the word “coaster” mean in the passage?
A A disk or plate placed under a drinking glass to protect a table top.
B A vessel engaged in coastal trade.
C A roller coaster.
D A resident of a coastal area.
5. Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak doesn’t have any real competition yet, because
A scientists have not found out how his cloak works.
B the cloaking device is a total failure.
C the cloaking works only for microwaves.
D the cloaking device works only for visible light.
练习:
1. Harry Potter is mentioned in the passage, because scientists
A can now make an invisible cloak of the same kind as he uses.
B try to make an invisible cloak of the same kind as he uses.
C try to invent a device similar in idea to the invisible cloak he uses.
D know that it is possible to make an invisible cloak of the same kind.
2. What is true of microwaves?
A Their wavelengths are shorter than those of visible light.
B Their wavelengths are longer than those of visible light.
C They are different from visible light as they are a kind of radiant energy.
D They are visible to the human eye.
3. What is NOT true of the invisibility device?
A It is made of a special material with unusual ability.
B Microwaves bounce off it when they strike it.
C Microwaves pass through it when they strike it.
D It bends microwaves all the way around until they reach the opposite side.
4. What does the word “coaster” mean in the passage?
A A disk or plate placed under a drinking glass to protect a table top.
B A vessel engaged in coastal trade.
C A roller coaster.
D A resident of a coastal area.
5. Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak doesn’t have any real competition yet, because
A scientists have not found out how his cloak works.
B the cloaking device is a total failure.
C the cloaking works only for microwaves.
D the cloaking device works only for visible light.
第十四篇:
Japanese Car Keeps Watch for Drunk Drivers (C级)
A concept car developed by Japanese company Nissan has a breathalyzer—like detection system and other instruments that could help keep drunk or over – tired drivers off the road.
The car’s sensors check odors inside the car and monitor a driver’s sweat for traces of alcohol. An in – car computer system can issue an alert or even lock up the ignition system if the driver seems over – the –limit. The air odor sensors are fixed firmly and deeply in the driver and passenger seats, while a detector in the gear – shift knob measures perspiration from the driver’s palm.
Other carmakers have developed similar detection systems. For example, Sweden’s Volvo has developed a breathalyzer attached to a car’s seat belt that drivers must blow into before the engine will start.
Nissan’s new concept vehicle also includes a dashboard –mounted camera that tracks a drivers alertness by monitoring their eyes. It will sound an alarm and issue a spoken warning in Japanese or English if it judges that the driver needs to pull over and rest.
The car technology is still in development, but general manager Kazuhiro Doi says the combination of different detection systems should improve the overall effectiveness of the technology. “For example, if the gear –shift sensor was bypassed by a passenger using it instead of the driver, the facial recognition system would still be used,” Doi says. Nissan has no specific timetable for marketing the system, but aims to use technology to cut the number of fatalities involving its vehicles to half 1995 levels by 2015.
The car’s seat belt can also tighten if drowsiness is detected, while an external camera checks that the car is keeping to its lane properly. However, Doi admits that some of the technology, such as the alcohol odor sensor, should be improved. “If you drink one beer, it’s going to register, so we need to study what’s the appropriate level for the system to activate,” he says.
In the UK, some research groups are using similar advanced techniques to understand driver behavior and the effectiveness of different road designs.
练习:
1. Which of the following statements is NOT true of the Japanese concept car?
A It has a sensor system that could issue a warning if the driver is drunk.
B It has sensors that detect traces of alcohol inside the car.
C It has sensors locked up in the ignition system.
D It has a breathalyzer – like detection system.
2. What has Volvo developed?
A The same detection system mentioned in the previous paragraph.
B A breathalyzer attached to a car’s seat belt.
C A smart car seat belt.
D An intelligent engine.
3. What is the function of the camera mentioned in Paragraph 4?
A It monitors the driver’s eyes to see if he needs a rest.
B It judges if the driver wants to pull over.
C It judges if the driver wants to take a rest.
D It issues an alarm when the driver speaks.
4. According to Doi,
A the overall effectiveness of the detection technology has improved.
B Nissan is making timetable to market the detection system.
C it is impossible to improve the overall effectiveness of the detection system.
D Nissan aims to improve the detection technology to reduce the fatality rate.
5. Which of the following is NOT mentioned on Paragraph 6?
A An external camera checks that the car is going properly.
B The car will automatically keep to its lane.
C The seat belt will tighten when the driver is found drowsy.
D The technology of the alcohol odor sensor should be improved.
练习:
1. Which of the following statements is NOT true of the Japanese concept car?
A It has a sensor system that could issue a warning if the driver is drunk.
B It has sensors that detect traces of alcohol inside the car.
C It has sensors locked up in the ignition system.
D It has a breathalyzer – like detection system.
2. What has Volvo developed?
A The same detection system mentioned in the previous paragraph.
B A breathalyzer attached to a car’s seat belt.
C A smart car seat belt.
D An intelligent engine.
3. What is the function of the camera mentioned in Paragraph 4?
A It monitors the driver’s eyes to see if he needs a rest.
B It judges if the driver wants to pull over.
C It judges if the driver wants to take a rest.
D It issues an alarm when the driver speaks.
4. According to Doi,
A the overall effectiveness of the detection technology has improved.
B Nissan is making timetable to market the detection system.
C it is impossible to improve the overall effectiveness of the detection system.
D Nissan aims to improve the detection technology to reduce the fatality rate.
5. Which of the following is NOT mentioned on Paragraph 6?
A An external camera checks that the car is going properly.
B The car will automatically keep to its lane.
C The seat belt will tighten when the driver is found drowsy.
D The technology of the alcohol odor sensor should be improved.
第十五篇：
Winged Robot Learns to Fly(C级)
Learning how to fly took nature millions of years of trial and error1—but a winged robot has cracked2 it in only a few hours, using the same evolutionary principles.
Krister Wolff and Peter Nordin of Chalmers University of Technology (CUT) in Gothenburg, Sweden, built a winged robot and set about3 testing whether it could learn to fly by itself, without any pre-programmed data on what flapping is or how to do it.
To begin with4, the robot just twitched and jerked erratically. But, gradually, it made movements that jained height. At first, it cheated—simply standing on its wing tips was one early short cut5. After three hours, however, the robot abandoned such methods in favor of6 a more effective flapping technique, where it rotated its wings through 90 degrees and raised them before twisting them back to the horizontal and pushing down..
“This tells us that this kind of evolution is capable of7 coming up8 with flying motion,” says Peter Bentley, who works on evolutionary computing at University College London. But while9 the robot had worked out how best to produce life10, it was not about to take off. “There’s only so much that evolution can do,” Bentley says. “This thing is never going to fly because the motors will never have the strength to do it,” he says.
The robot had metre-long wings made from balsa wood and covered with a light plastic film. Small motors on the robot let it move its wings forwards or backwards, up or down or down or twist them in either direction.
The team attached the robot to two vertical rods, so it could slide up and down. At the start of a test, the robot was suspended by an elastic band. A movement detector measured how much lift, if any11, the robot produced for any given movement.
A computer program fed the robot random instructions12, at the rate of1
