The crisis at the damaged Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Station in northern Japan has raised worries about radiation risks. We spoke Tuesday with Jonathan Links, an expert in radiation health sciences. He is a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Maryland.
Professor Links says workers within the nuclear plant are the only people at risk of extremely high doses of radiation.
JONATHAN LINKS: "Of course, we don't know what doses they've received, but the only persons at risk of acute radiation effects are the workers."
For other people, he says, there may be a long-term worry. People can get cancer from low doses of ionizing radiation, the kind released in a nuclear accident.
Professor Links says scientists can use computers to quickly model where radioactive material has blown and settled. Then they measure how large an area is contaminated. He says if the situation is serious enough, officials could take steps like telling people not to eat locally grown food or drink the water.
JONATHAN LINKS: "But that would only be the case if there was a significant release and, because of wind direction, the radioactive material was blown over the area, and then settled out of the air into and onto water, plants, fruits and vegetables."
The reactors at Fukushima are on the Pacific coast. But Professor Links says people should not worry about any radioactive material leaking into the ocean.
JONATHAN LINKS: "Even in a worst-case scenario accident, the sea provides a very high degree of dilution. So the concentration of radioactivity in the seawater would still be quite low."
Japan is the only country to have had atomic bombs dropped on it. That memory from World War Two would create a stronger "psychological sensitivity" to radiation exposure, Professors Links says.
Next month is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the explosion and fire that destroyed a reactor at Chernobyl in Ukraine. The nineteen eighty-six event was the world's worst accident in the nuclear power industry.
A new United Nations report says more than six thousand cases of thyroid cancer have been found. These are in people who were children in affected areas of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. The report says that by two thousand five the cancers had resulted in fifteen deaths.
The cancers were largely caused by drinking contaminated milk. The milk came from cows that ate grass where radioactive material had fallen.
To get the latest updates, go to www.unsv.com.
Contributing: James Brooke
1.The passage mainly tells us __________.
A.What measures the Japan Government takes to solve the nuclear crisis . |
B.Worries and influences caused by the nuclear crisis . |
C.With great efforts of scientists , the Japan Government has put the nuclear crisis under control . |
D.To explain that the nuclear crisis has less effect on its neighboring countries. |
2.Which of the following is NOT the influences caused by the leak of Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Station?
A.Workers at the nuclear station are suffering the risk of death . |
B.People can get cancer from low doses of ionizing radiation, the kind released in a nuclear accident. |
C.The radioactive material may be blown over the area causing the pollution to water . |
D.The concentration of radioactivity in the seawater can not be diluted. |
3.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “dilution”?
A.chemical | B.salt | C.dissolution | D.elimination |
4.According to the passage which of the following is not TRUE ?
A.Water people drink ,food and vegetables people eat may be polluted by nuclear radiation . |
B.Japan is the only country to have had atomic bombs dropped on it. |
C.You can go to www.unsv.com. to get the latest news . |
D.The nuclear accident in Japan is the worst in the nuclear power industry. |
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
The crisis at the damaged Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Station in northern Japan has raised worries about radiation risks. We spoke Tuesday with Jonathan Links, an expert in radiation health sciences. He is a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Maryland.
Professor Links says workers within the nuclear plant are the only people at risk of extremely high doses of radiation.
JONATHAN LINKS: "Of course, we don't know what doses they've received, but the only persons at risk of acute radiation effects are the workers."
For other people, he says, there may be a long-term worry. People can get cancer from low doses of ionizing radiation, the kind released in a nuclear accident.
Professor Links says scientists can use computers to quickly model where radioactive material has blown and settled. Then they measure how large an area is contaminated. He says if the situation is serious enough, officials could take steps like telling people not to eat locally grown food or drink the water.
JONATHAN LINKS: "But that would only be the case if there was a significant release and, because of wind direction, the radioactive material was blown over the area, and then settled out of the air into and onto water, plants, fruits and vegetables."
The reactors at Fukushima are on the Pacific coast. But Professor Links says people should not worry about any radioactive material leaking into the ocean.
JONATHAN LINKS: "Even in a worst-case scenario accident, the sea provides a very high degree of dilution. So the concentration of radioactivity in the seawater would still be quite low."
Japan is the only country to have had atomic bombs dropped on it. That memory from World War Two would create a stronger "psychological sensitivity" to radiation exposure, Professors Links says.
Next month is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the explosion and fire that destroyed a reactor at Chernobyl in Ukraine. The nineteen eighty-six event was the world's worst accident in the nuclear power industry.
A new United Nations report says more than six thousand cases of thyroid cancer have been found. These are in people who were children in affected areas of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. The report says that by two thousand five the cancers had resulted in fifteen deaths.
The cancers were largely caused by drinking contaminated milk. The milk came from cows that ate grass where radioactive material had fallen.
To get the latest updates, go to www.unsv.com.
Contributing: James Brooke
1.The passage mainly tells us __________.
A.What measures the Japan Government takes to solve the nuclear crisis . |
B.Worries and influences caused by the nuclear crisis . |
C.With great efforts of scientists , the Japan Government has put the nuclear crisis under control . |
D.To explain that the nuclear crisis has less effect on its neighboring countries. |
2.Which of the following is NOT the influences caused by the leak of Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Station?
A.Workers at the nuclear station are suffering the risk of death . |
B.People can get cancer from low doses of ionizing radiation, the kind released in a nuclear accident. |
C.The radioactive material may be blown over the area causing the pollution to water . |
D.The concentration of radioactivity in the seawater can not be diluted. |
3.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “dilution”?
A.chemical | B.salt | C.dissolution | D.elimination |
4.According to the passage which of the following is not TRUE ?
A.Water people drink ,food and vegetables people eat may be polluted by nuclear radiation . |
B.Japan is the only country to have had atomic bombs dropped on it. |
C.You can go to www.unsv.com. to get the latest news . |
D.The nuclear accident in Japan is the worst in the nuclear power industry. |
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
People being tested for radiation exposure
The crisis at the damaged Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Station in northern Japan has raised worries about radiation risks. We spoke Tuesday with Jonathan Links, an expert in radiation health sciences. He is a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Maryland.
Professor Links says workers within the nuclear plant are the only people at risk of extremely high doses of radiation.
JONATHAN LINKS: "Of course, we don't know what doses they've received, but the only persons at risk of acute radiation effects are the workers."
For other people, he says, there may be a long-term worry. People can get cancer from low doses of ionizing radiation, the kind released in a nuclear accident.
Professor Links says scientists can use computers to quickly model where radioactive material has blown and settled. Then they measure how large an area is contaminated. He says if the situation is serious enough, officials could take steps like telling people not to eat locally grown food or drink the water.
JONATHAN LINKS: "But that would only be the case if there was a significant release and, because of wind direction, the radioactive material was blown over the area, and then settled out of the air into and onto water, plants, fruits and vegetables."
The reactors at Fukushima are on the Pacific coast. But Professor Links says people should not worry about any radioactive material leaking into the ocean.
JONATHAN LINKS: "Even in a worst-case scenario accident, the sea provides a very high degree of dilution. So the concentration of radioactivity in the seawater would still be quite low."
Japan is the only country to have had atomic bombs dropped on it. That memory from World War Two would create a stronger "psychological sensitivity" to radiation exposure, Professors Links says.
Next month is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the explosion and fire that destroyed a reactor at Chernobyl in Ukraine. The nineteen eighty-six event was the world's worst accident in the nuclear power industry.
A new United Nations report says more than six thousand cases of thyroid cancer have been found. These are in people who were children in affected areas of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. The report says that by two thousand five the cancers had resulted in fifteen deaths.
The cancers were largely caused by drinking contaminated milk. The milk came from cows that ate grass where radioactive material had fallen.
To get the latest updates, go to www.unsv.com.
Contributing: James Brooke
1.The passage mainly tells us __________.
A. What measures the Japan Government takes to solve the nuclear crisis .
B. Worries and influences caused by the nuclear crisis .
C. With great efforts of scientists , the Japan Government has put the nuclear crisis under control .
D. To explain that the nuclear crisis has less effect on its neighboring countries.
2.Which of the following is NOT the influences caused by the leak of Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Station?
A. Workers at the nuclear station are suffering the risk of death .
B. People can get cancer from low doses of ionizing radiation, the kind released in a nuclear accident.
C. The radioactive material may be blown over the area causing the pollution to water .
D. The concentration of radioactivity in the seawater can not be diluted.
3.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “dilution”?
A. chemical B. salt C. dissolution D. elimination
4.According to the passage which of the following is not TRUE ?
A. Water people drink ,food and vegetables people eat may be polluted by nuclear radiation .
B. Japan is the only country to have had atomic bombs dropped on it.
C. You can go to www.unsv.com. to get the latest news .
D. The nuclear accident in Japan is the worst in the nuclear power industry.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
The crisis(危机) at Japan’s Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear(核) energy center caused by the terrible earthquake has raised questions about the future of the nuclear energy industry. Arjun Makhijani is president of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research in the United States. He says the disaster(灾难)in Japan is historic.
This week, the chairman of America’s nuclear agency said there is little chance that harmful radiation(辐射) from Japan could reach the United States. Gregory also said America has a strong program in place to deal with earthquake threats. No new nuclear power centers have been built in the United States since nineteen seventy-nine. That was when America’s worst nuclear accident happened at the Three Mile Island center in Pennsylvania. The accident began to turn public opinion against nuclear energy. At present, about twenty percent of electricity in the United States comes from nuclear energy.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany would close seven nuclear power centers while energy policy is reconsidered. The European Union is planning to test all centers in its twenty-seven member nations.
Developing nations are less willing to slow nuclear expansion. China said it will continue with plans to build about twenty-five new nuclear reactors(反应堆). And India, under a cooperation agreement with the United States, plans to spend billions on new centers in the coming years.
Nuclear reactors supply fourteen percent of global electricity. Nuclear energy is a clean resource, producing no carbon gases. But radioactive waste is a serious unresolved issue. So is the presence of nuclear power centers in earthquake areas like the one near Bushehr, Iran.
1..
We can learn from the text that America ________.
A. experienced a terrible nuclear accident 32 years ago
B. has a strong program to deal with radiation danger
C. depends heavily on nuclear energy to produce electricity
D. will check all the reactors before cooperating with India
2..
According to the text, which country will be most likely to have a similar disaster?
A. German. B. Iran. C. India. D. China.
3..
How does the author seem to feel about the future of nuclear energy?
A. Satisfied. B. Pleased. C. Wordless. D. Surprised.
4..
The best title of the text is ________.
A. Various Opinions on Japan’s Nuclear Disaster
B. Japan’s Disaster is Likely to Run out of Control
C. America Feels Great Concern for Japan’s Nuclear Crisis
D. Japan’s Disaster Throws Doubt on Nuclear Energy Industry
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
BERLIN — With the crisis in Japan raising fears about nuclear power, Germany and Switzerland said on Monday that they would reassess the safety of their own reactors.
Doris Leuthard, the Swiss energy minister, said Switzerland would put off plans to build nuclear plants. She said no new ones would be permitted until experts had reviewed safety standards.
Germany will put off “the recently decided extension of the running time of German nuclear plants,” Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters. “This moratorium(延缓)will run for three months and it will allow for a thorough examination of the safety standards of the county’s 17 nuclear power plants.
The European Union called for a meeting on Tuesday of nuclear safety authorities to assess Europe’s preparedness.
Germany’s foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, called for a new risk analysis of the country’s nuclear plants, particularly regarding their cooling systems. He is the leader of the Free Democratic Party, which strongly supports nuclear power.
A previous government, led by the Social Democrats, passed a law in 2001 to close all the country’s nuclear plants by 2021. But Mrs. Merkel’s government changed that decision last year to extend the lives of the plants by an average of 12 years.
In Switzerland, Doris Leuthard said she had already asked to analyze the exact cause of the problems in Japan and draw up new or tougher safety standards “particularly in terms of seismic(地震的) safety and cooling.”
In Russia, the Prime Minister said his government would “draw conclusions from what’s going on in Japan.”
1.Where can you most likely read this passage?
A.In a newspaper. | B.In a magazine. |
C.In a science report. | D.In a diary. |
2.How will Germany react to Japan’s nuclear crisis?
A.Germany will close all the country’s nuclear plants. |
B.Germany will hold a meeting of nuclear safety authorities. |
C.Germany will change the decision made last year. |
D.Germany will delay the extension of nuclear plants running time. |
3.The author mentions all the following EXCEPT ______.
A.The moratorium in Germany will give time to examine the nuclear plants safety standards. |
B.Switzerland will not build new nuclear plants unless they meet the experts’ safety standards. |
C.The Social Democrats in Germany shares the same view with the Free Democratic Party. |
D.Russia will try to learn something from the nuclear power crisis in Japan. |
4.What is the best title of the passage?
A.Watch Out for the Danger of Nuclear Power |
B.Europe Is against Building Nuclear Plants |
C.Nuclear Plants in Europe Are Delayed |
D.Opinions on Nuclear Power Are Opposite. |
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
What will power your house in the future?Nuclear,wind,or solar power?According to scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT)in the US,it might be leaves—but artificial(人造的)ones.
Natural leaves are able to change sunlight and water into energy. It is known as photosynthesis(光合作用).Now researchers have found a way to imitate this seemingly simple process.
The artificial leaf developed by Daniel Nocera and his colleagues at MIT can be seen as a special silicon chip with catalysts(催化剂).Similar to natural leaves,it can split water into hydrogen and oxygen when put into a bucket of water. The hydrogen and oxygen gases are then stored in a fuel cell,which uses those two materials to produce electricity,located either on top of a house or beside the house.
Though the leaf is only about the shape of a poker card,scientists claimed that it is promising to be an inexpensive source of electricity in developing countries.“ One can imagine villages in India and Africa not long from now purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology,”said Nocera at a conference of the American Chemical Society.
The artificial leaf is not a new idea. The first artificial leaf was invented in 1997 but was too expensive and unstable for practical use. The new leaf,by contrast,is made of cheap materials,easy to use and highly stable. In laboratory studies,Nocera showed that an artificial leaf prototype(原型)could operate continuously for at least 45 hours without a drop in activity.
The wonderful improvements come from Nocera's recent discovery of several powerful,new and inexpensive catalysts. These catalysts make the energy transformation inside the leaf more efficient with water and sunlight. Right now,the new leaf is about 10 times more efficient at carrying out photosynthesis than a natural one. Besides,the device can run in whatever water is available;that is,it doesn't need pure water. This is important for some countries that don't have access to pure water.
With the goal to “make each home its own power station” and “give energy to the poor”,scientists believe that the new technology could be widely used in developing countries,especially in India and rural China.
1.Which of the following orders correctly shows how the artificial leaf is used to produce electricity?
a.artificial leaves split water into hydrogen and oxygen
b.the hydrogen and oxygen gases are stored in a fuel cell
c.the artificial leaves are put in water
d.the fuel cell uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity
A.c,b,a,d B.c,a,b,d
C.b,c,a,d D.c,a,d,b
2.The purpose of the scientists at MIT in developing the new artificial leaf is to________.
A.build up more power stations in the world
B.provide cheaper energy for developing countries
C.offer people in developing countries access to pure water
D.gain a deeper understanding of the photosynthesis process
3.The main idea of this passage is ________.
A.an introduction to the history of artificial leaves
B.an invention copying photosynthesis
C.giving energy to the poor
D.a mixture of water power and solar energy
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
What will power your house in the future?Nuclear,wind,or solar power?According to scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US,it might be leaves — but artificial (人造的) ones.
Natural leaves are able to change sunlight and water into energy. It is known as photosynthesis (光合作用).Now researchers have found a way to imitate this seemingly simple process.
The artificial leaf developed by Daniel Nocera and his colleagues at MIT can be seen as a special silicon chip with catalysts (催化剂).Similar to natural leaves,it can split water into hydrogen and oxygen when put into a bucket of water. The hydrogen and oxygen gases are then stored in a fuel cell,which uses those two materials to produce electricity,located either on top of a house or beside the house.
Though the leaf is only about the shape of a poker card,scientists claimed that it is promising to be an inexpensive source of electricity in developing countries. “One can imagine villages in India and Africa not long from now purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology,” said Nocera at a conference of the American Chemical Society.
The artificial leaf is not a new idea. The first artificial leaf was invented in 1997 but was too expensive and unstable for practical use. The new leaf,by contrast,is made of cheap materials,easy to use and highly stable. In laboratory studies,Nocera showed that an artificial leaf prototype (原型) could operate continuously for at least 45 hours without a drop in activity.
The wonderful improvements come from Nocera's recent discovery of several powerful,new and inexpensive catalysts. These catalysts make the energy transformation inside the leaf more efficient with water and sunlight. Right now,the new leaf is about 10 times more efficient at carrying out photosynthesis than a natural one. Besides,the device can run in whatever water is available;that is,it doesn't need pure water. This is important for some countries that don't have access to pure water.
With the goal to “make each home its own power station” and “give energy to the poor”,scientists believe that the new technology could be widely used in developing countries,especially in India and rural China.
1.Which of the following orders correctly shows how the artificial leaf is used to produce electricity?
a.artificial leaves split water into hydrogen and oxygen
b.the hydrogen and oxygen gases are stored in a fuel cell
c.the artificial leaves are put in water
d.the fuel cell uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity
A. c,a,b,d B.c,b,a,d
C.b,c,a,d D.c,a,d,b
2.The purpose of the scientists at MIT in developing the new artificial leaf is to________.
A.build up more power stations in the world
B.provide cheaper energy for developing countries
C.offer people in developing countries access to pure water
D.gain a deeper understanding of the photosynthesis process
3.The main idea of this passage is ________.
A.an introduction to the history of artificial leaves
B.a mixture of water power and solar energy
C.giving energy to the poor
D.an invention copying photosynthesis
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
What will power your house in the future?Nuclear,wind,or solar power?According to scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US,it might be leaves — but artificial (人造的) ones.
Natural leaves are able to change sunlight and water into energy. It is known as photosynthesis (光合作用).Now researchers have found a way to imitate this seemingly simple process.
The artificial leaf developed by Daniel Nocera and his colleagues at MIT can be seen as a special silicon chip with catalysts (催化剂).Similar to natural leaves,it can split water into hydrogen and oxygen when put into a bucket of water. The hydrogen and oxygen gases are then stored in a fuel cell,which uses those two materials to produce electricity,located either on top of a house or beside the house.
Though the leaf is only about the shape of a poker card,scientists claimed that it is promising to be an inexpensive source of electricity in developing countries. “One can imagine villages in India and Africa not long from now purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology,” said Nocera at a conference of the American Chemical Society.
The artificial leaf is not a new idea. The first artificial leaf was invented in 1997 but was too expensive and unstable for practical use. The new leaf,by contrast,is made of cheap materials,easy to use and highly stable. In laboratory studies,Nocera showed that an artificial leaf prototype (原型) could operate continuously for at least 45 hours without a drop in activity.
The wonderful improvements come from Nocera's recent discovery of several powerful,new and inexpensive catalysts. These catalysts make the energy transformation inside the leaf more efficient with water and sunlight. Right now,the new leaf is about 10 times more efficient at carrying out photosynthesis than a natural one. Besides,the device can run in whatever water is available;that is,it doesn't need pure water. This is important for some countries that don't have access to pure water.
With the goal to “make each home its own power station” and “give energy to the poor”,scientists believe that the new technology could be widely used in developing countries,especially in India and rural China.
1.Which of the following orders correctly shows how the artificial leaf is used to produce electricity?
a.artificial leaves split water into hydrogen and oxygen
b.the hydrogen and oxygen gases are stored in a fuel cell
c.the artificial leaves are put in water
d.the fuel cell uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity
A. c,a,b,d B.c,b,a,d
C.b,c,a,d D.c,a,d,b
2.The purpose of the scientists at MIT in developing the new artificial leaf is to________.
A.build up more power stations in the world
B.provide cheaper energy for developing countries
C.offer people in developing countries access to pure water
D.gain a deeper understanding of the photosynthesis process
3.The main idea of this passage is ________.
A.an introduction to the history of artificial leaves
B.a mixture of water power and solar energy
C.giving energy to the poor
D.an invention copying photosynthesis
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
What will power your house in the future?Nuclear, wind or solar power?According to scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, it might be leaves — but artificial (人造的) ones.
Natural leaves are able to change sunlight and water into energy. It is known as photosynthesis (光合作用). Now researchers have found a way to imitate this seemingly simple process.
The artificial leaf developed by Daniel Nocera and his colleagues at MIT can be seen as a special silicon chip with catalysts (催化剂). Similar to natural leaves, it can split water into hydrogen and oxygen when put into a bucket of water. The hydrogen and oxygen gases are then stored in a fuel cell,which uses those two materials to produce electricity,located either on top of a house or beside the house.
Though the leaf is only about the shape of a poker card, scientists claimed that it is promising to be an inexpensive source of electricity in developing countries. “One can imagine villages in India and Africa not long from now purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology,” said Nocera at a conference of the American Chemical Society.
The artificial leaf is not a new idea. The first artificial leaf was invented in 1997 but was too expensive and unstable for practical use. The new leaf, by contrast, is made of cheap materials, easy to use and highly stable. In laboratory studies, Nocera showed that an artificial leaf prototype (原型) could operate continuously for at least 45 hours without a drop in activity.
The wonderful improvements come from Nocera’s recent discovery of several powerful, new and inexpensive catalysts. These catalysts make the energy transformation inside the leaf more efficient with water and sunlight. Right now, the new leaf is about 10 times more efficient at carrying out photosynthesis than a natural one. Besides, the device can run in whatever water is available; that is, it doesn’t need pure water. This is important for some countries that don’t have access to pure water.
With the goal to “make each home its own power station” and “give energy to the poor”,scientists believe that the new technology could be widely used in developing countries,especially in India and rural China.
1.Which of the following orders correctly shows how the artificial leaf is used to produce electricity?
a. artificial leaves split water into hydrogen and oxygen
b. the hydrogen and oxygen gases are stored in a fuel cell
c. the artificial leaves are put in water
d. the fuel cell uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity
A. c, a, b, d B. c, b, a, d
C. b, c, a, d D. c, a, d, b
2.The purpose of the scientists at MIT in developing the new artificial leaf is to ________.
A. build up more power stations in the world
B. provide cheaper energy for developing countries
C. offer people in developing countries access to pure water
D. gain a deeper understanding of the photosynthesis process
3.The main idea of this passage is ________.
A. an introduction to the history of artificial leaves
B. a mixture of water power and solar energy
C. giving energy to the poor
D. an invention copying photosynthesis
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
What will power your house in the future? Nuclear, wind, or solar power? According to scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, it might be leaves – but man-made ones.
Natural leaves are able to change sunlight and water into energy. It is known as photosynthesis (光合作用). Now researchers have found a way to copy this seemingly simple process.
The man-made leaf developed by Daniel Nocera and his partners at MIT can be seen as a special chip with catalysts (催化剂). Similar to natural leaves, it can split water into hydrogen and oxygen when put into a bucket of water. The hydrogen and oxygen gases are then stored in a fuel cell (电池), which uses those two materials to produce electricity.
A man-made leaf is not a new idea. The first man-made leaf was invented in 1997 but was too expensive and changeable for practical use. The new leaf, on the contrary, is made of cheap materials, easy to use and highly stable. In laboratory studies, Nocera showed that a man-made leaf prototype (原型) could operate continuously for at least 45 hours without a drop in activity.
The wonderful improvements come from Nocera’s recent discovery of several powerful, new, inexpensive catalysts. These catalysts make the energy change inside the leaf more efficient with water and sunlight. Right now, the new leaf is about 10 times more efficient at carrying out photosynthesis than a natural one. Besides, the machine can run in whatever water is available; that is, it doesn’t need pure water. This is important for some countries that don’t have enough pure water.
With the goal to “make each home its own power station” and “giving energy to the poor”, scientists believe that the new machine could be widely used in developing countries, especially in India and rural China.
1.What will give power to our house in the future, according to MIT?
A. Man-made leaves. B. Nuclear.
C. Solar power. D. Wind.
2.Which of the following orders correctly shows how the man-made leaf is used to produce electricity?
a. man-made leaves split water into hydrogen and oxygen
b. the hydrogen and oxygen gases are stored in a fuel cell
c. the man-made leaves are put in water
d. the fuel cell uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity
A. cbad. B. bcad.
C. cabd. D. cadb.
3.What does the underlined “stable” in the 4th paragraph mean?
A. Secure. B. Powerful.
C. Unnatural. D. Unchangeable.
4.The aim of the scientists at MIT in developing the new man-made leaves is to .
A. build up more power stations in the world
B. provide cheaper energy for developing countries
C. offer people in developing countries access to pure water
D. gain a deeper understanding of the photosynthesis process
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
What will power your house in the future? Nuclear, wind, or solar power? According to scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, it might be leaves –but artificial ones.
Natural leaves are able to change sunlight and water into energy. It is known as photosynthesis (光合作用). Now researchers have found a way to imitate this seemingly simple process.
The artificial leaf developed by Daniel Nocera and his colleagues at MIT can be seen as a special silicon chip (硅片) with catalysts (催化剂). Similar to natural leaves, it can split water into hydrogen and oxygen when put into a bucket of water. The hydrogen and oxygen gases are then stored in a fuel cell (电池), which uses those two materials to produce electricity, located either on top of a house or beside the house.
Though the leaf is only about the shape of a poker card, scientists claimed that it is promising to be an inexpensive source of electricity in developing countries. “One can imagine villages in India and Africa not long from now purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology,” said Docera at a conference of the American Chemical Society.
An artificial leaf is not a new idea. The first artificial leaf was invented in 1997 but was too expensive and unstable for practical use. The new leaf, by contrast, is made of cheap materials, easy to use and highly stable. In laboratory studies, Nocera showed that an artificial leaf prorotype (原型) could operate continuously for at least 45 hours without a drop in activity.
The wonderful improvements come from Nocera’s recent discovery of several powerful new, inexpensive catalysts. These catalysts make the energy transformation (转换) inside the leaf more efficient with water and sunlight. Right now, the new leaf is about 10 times more efficient at carrying out photosynthesis than a natural one. Besides, the device can run in whatever water is available; that is, it doesn’t need pure water. This is important for some countries that don’t have access to pure water.
With the goal to “make each home its own power station” and “giving energy to the poor”, scientists believe that the new application could be widely used in developing countries, especially in India and rural China.
1.Which of the following order correctly shows how the artificial leaf is used to produce electricity?
a. artificial leaves split water into hydrogen and oxygen
b. the hydrogen and oxygen gases are stored in a fuel cell
c. the artificial leaves are put in water
d. the fuel cell uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity
A. cbad B. cabd C. bcad D. cadb
2.Which of the following statements about new artificial leaves is TRUE according to the article?
A. They are inexpensive but unstable.
B. They are as efficient at carrying out photosynthesis as natural leaves.
C. They can work only in pure water.
D. They need several catalysts to help them work efficiently.
3.The aim of the scientists at MIT in developing the new artificial leaves is to ________ .
A. build-up more power stations in the world
B. provide cheaper energy for developing countries
C. offer people in developing countries access to pure water
D. gain a deeper understanding of the photosynthesis process
4.What is the main point of the article?
A. Introduction to the history of artificial leaves.
B. An invention copying photosynthesis.
C. Giving energy to the poor.
D. A mixture of water power and solar energy.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析