Engineers in Upstate New York have invented a...

Engineers in Upstate New York have invented a folded paper device that looks like a decorated art project. But don't be fooled. This is actually a paper-based battery. No, it doesn't look like any of those metal batteries running flashlights or smartphones. In these systems, the battery can be printed on a page. The battery 's power consists of living bacteria.

Paper electronics are simple to make and inexpensive, notes study leader Seokheun Choi, an engineer at Binghamton University. They need no electrical outlet to recharge. They just need more bacteria, which can be found everywhere — including dirty water.

“ Most batteries use chemicals to generate electricity. Substituting bacteria can be an advantage,” Choi says.“They are cheap and self-repairing.” What paper-based batteries won't do is generate much power. They do, however create enough to run small devices in faraway or dangerous places — such as a battlefield . They might also find use in medicine . For instance, they might power tiny sensors, such as the types used to measure blood sugar.

This invention is based on an observation made more than a century ago — that microbes （微生 物） produce electricity as they digest food. Scientists refer to the bio-batteries based on this principle as microbial fuel cells. A fuel cell generates electricity like a regular battery. But a regular battery stops producing electricity when its inner chemical reactions stop. A fuel cell uses fuel that can be refilled. In this case, bacteria serve as the fuel. By refilling more microbes, as needed, scientists can keep these fuel cells running.

Lab tests have shown that the new battery can produce a current. Now, Choi and his team are looking at ways to increase the power. They're studying different shapes and materials for the anode and cathode （正负 极）. They're also looking for the best ways to combine batteries for more power. The beauty of the paper devices is that you can simply fold them to connect them. And they surely will be a trend in the near future.

1.What makes the paper-based batteries different from other batteries?

A.They are mainly used to run smartphones.

B.They use bacteria to generate electricity.

C.They are used to decorate small devices.

D.They take a much shorter time to recharge.

2.What can the paper-based batteries do?

A.Power tiny devices. B.Lower blood sugar levels.

C.Produce much electricity. D.Change chemicals in the paper.

3.What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?

A.The application of the new battery.

B.The characteristics of the paper batteries.

C.The intention to invent the device.

D.The working principle of the invention.

4.What is the author's attitude towards the development of the paper-based batteries?

A.Defensive. B.Optimistic.

C.Doubtful. D.Ambiguous.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The new invention made last month would have a variety of _______ in industry.

A. discoveries     B. profits    C. guidances    D. applications

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

In June 2000, Hanks was offered a scholarship to study in New York City _____ he could have supported his family, but he refused it.

A. by which               B. through which  C. with which               D. in which

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Thomas Wallin at Cornell University in New York and his colleagues have created soft robotic grippers(机械爪）that are capable of sweating to cool down.

The grippers are capable of a cooling capacity of 107 watts per kilogram,making them more efficient sweaters than mammals.By comparison,humans and horses have a maximum cooling capacity around 35 watts per kilogram.

Each gripper consists of three finger-like parts that bend simultaneously(同步地）to grasp small objects.The 3D-printed grippers are made from hydrogels -materials which can store large amounts of water.Each finger is made from an underlayer with an internal channel to let fluid flow and is capped with a surface layer containing micropores(微孔）。

At cold temperatures,the pores close.At temperatures higher than 30C,the surface layer expands,enabling pressurised fluid from the underlayer to sweat out.The material responds simultaneously to temperature changes without the need for external sensors.

＂Sweating takes advantage of evaporative water loss to rapidly dissipate(使消散）heat,”said Wallin in a press briefing yesterday.Unlike convection or radiation,sweating lowers the temperature of a body below that of its environment,he said.

＂When the local temperature rose above the transition,the pores would simply open on their own,"said Wallin.

When blown by wind from a fan,the sweating robots cooled at a rate of 39.1C per minute, about six times faster than similar devices that are unable to sweat.The technique could be used to help robots operate for long periods of time without overheating,said team-member Robert Shepherd,also at Cornwell.

However,there is currently no means for the robot to replenish(补充）its fluid stores after sweating.This means"the robots that operate via the autonomous sweating that we've created would have to also be able to drink",said Shepherd.

1.What is the most distinct feature of soft robotic grippers?

A.They can cool themselves down by sweating.

B.They can grasp objects like human fingers.

C.They can store large amounts of water.

D.They're 3D printed and can bend.

2.What is the fundamental principle behind the sweating of robotic grippers?

A.Three parts of each gripper bend at the same time.

B.The external sensors detect the temperature change.

C.Heat expands the material and squeezes the liquid out.

D.Radiation lowers the temperature below the environment.

3.We can conclude from the last paragraph that the robots

A.can sweat by themselves

B.need to be refilled with water

C.can sense thirst and drink water

D.can work long without overheating

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

(NEW YORK)---Scientists have discovered small signs of awareness in some vegetative(植物人的) brain injury patients and have even communicated with one of them---findings that are beneficial to how to assess and care for such people.

The new research suggests that standard tests may ignore patients who have some consciousness, and that someday some kind of communication may be possible.

In the strongest example, a 29-year-old patient was able to answer yes-or-no questions by picturing specific scenes the doctors asked him to imagine.

“We were stunned when this happened,” said one study author, Martin Monti of the Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge. “I find it really amazing. This was a patient who was believed to be vegetative for five years.”

Ever since a research paper four years ago described obvious signs of awareness in a vegetative patient, families of patients have been demanding brain scans, said Dr. James Bernat, a spokesman for the American Academy for Neurology.

But experts said more study is needed before the specialized brain scans could be used in medical treatment. “It’s still a research tool,” Bernat said.

Experts also pointed out that only a few tested patients showed evidence of awareness. And they said it is not clear what degree of consciousness and mental abilities the signs imply.

They also noted that the positive signals appeared only in people with traumatic(外伤的) brain injury---not in patients whose brains had been lacking in oxygen, as can happen when the heart stops.

The new study used brain scanning called functional MRI, for 23 patients in a vegetative state and 31 that are minimally(极微地) conscious.

Patients are said to be in a vegetative state if they are tested and found unable to do such things as move on command or follow a moving object with their eyes. Minimally conscious patients show signs of awareness, but they are minimal and discontinuous.

1. What is the practical use of the research?

2.What does the underlined word “stunned” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

3.One is considered vegetative if _______________.

4.The passage mainly deals with ________________.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

In fact Peter would rather have left for San Francisco than ____ in New York.. 　　

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

Public schools in New York，America’s biggest city, commonly have numbers for names．But this is unusual．In the United States，the process of naming a school often involves parents and the community

as well as elected school leaders.

Researchers say school names can show civic (市民的) values and also shape them． For example，naming a school after a historic person becomes a way to teach students about that person’s  importance in history．

A new study examines the naming of American public schools．The study is from the Manhattan Institute，an organization that does public policy research．The study shows that fewer and fewer schools are being named after people．Instead。more schools are being named after the local areas or natural features like hills．trees or animals．The researchers say these changes raise questions about the civic duty of public education．

The looked at seven states with 20% of all public school students in the country. They found the similar result in every state: new school are less likely to be named after people. This is true especially with presidents. For example, in Arizona, public school in the past 20 years were almost fifty times more likely to be named after such things as landforms or plants .

School officials say they try to choose names that will not offend anyone. For example, a few years ago the city of New Orleans banned the naming of any school after a person who owned slaves. Other school system have rules against naming new schools after any person, living or dead .

The researchers say naming a school after a person can lead it important debates about democratic values. They call for more research to identify the causes and effects of the changes in school names.

The causes may include changes in American culture as well as in the political control of school systems. One area worth exploring , they say, is the link between trends in school names and weak results for public schools on measures of civic education.

1.More schools are being named after the following EXCEPT ________ .

2.What does “they” in paragraph 7 refer to ?

3. If the passage appears in a newspaper, which column will it be ?

4. What’s the best title for the passage ?

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

—"I stayed at a hotel while in New York."

—"Oh, did you? You _____ with Barbara."

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

The New York Times _______ a wide circulation which was started in 1851.

A.is B.has

C.are D.have

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

I have two friends who love backpacking. They spent a lot of time in a part of New York State's Adirondack Mountains. It 　　 46 mountains with a height of over 4,000 feet. The Adirondack Mountain Club gives 　　 recognition, and an award, to anyone who 　 　　 　 all 46 mountains. My two friends decided to go for this award.

Now what you have to understand is that 　 　　 　 many of the 46 mountains have well-marked 　　 　 to their summits (山顶), others are not marked at all. You have to "bushwhack (在丛林中开路)" using a compass and a map.

My friends had climbed 45 of the mountains. They had just one 　　 　 — it was the most 　　 requiring bushwhacking. A hiking path led past the base of the mountain, but from that point they were on their own.

Early one morning they left their 　 　　 and walked five miles on the hiking path to the base of a chain of mountains. When they arrived, they 　　 　 that they had left their compass and map back in camp. Rather than 　　 the camp, they decided to bushwhack without the compass and map.

For hours they 　　 uphill enduring heat, thick bush, and black flies. 　 　　 　 , late in the afternoon they found themselves at the 　　 of a mountain successfully. They were exhausted but 　　 　 .

The feeling was short-lived, however. When they looked across the valley, they 　 　　 another higher mountain. They had climbed the 　　 one! It was too 　 　　 　 that weekend to put their error right. They had to 　　 　 another four months to climb the right mountain.

This story 　　 　 us a good lesson. Often in life we put in a great effort to reach a goal. But without the right "map" and "compass", it is 　　 　 to get "lost".

1.A. goes through　　　　　 B. consists of　　　　　　 C. relies on　　　　　　 D. connects to

2.A. special　　　　　　　　 B. similar　　　　　　　　 C. normal　　　　　　　 D. general

3.A. describes　　　　　　 B. draws　　　　　　　　 C. observes　　　　　　 D. climbs

4.A. while　　　　　　　　　 B. since　　　　　　　　 C. because　　　　　　 D. unless

5.A. paths　　　　　　　　　 B. rivers　　　　　　　　 C. views　　　　　　　 D. avenues

6.A. occupied　　　　　　　 B. left　　　　　　　　　　 C. deserted　　　　　　 D. missed

7.A. interesting　　　　　　 B. changeable　　　　　 C. reachable　　　　　 D. remote

8.A. house　　　　　　　　 B. room　　　　　　　　 C. camp　　　　　　　 D. yard

9.A. ignored　　　　　　　　 B. discovered　　　　　　 C. sensed　　　　　　　 D. explained

10.A. departing from　　　　 B. traveling to　　　　　 C. returning to　　　　 D. going for

11.A. jumped　　　　　　　 B. wandered　　　　　　 C. ran　　　　　　　　 D. walked

12.A. Immediately　　　　　 B. Surely　　　　　　　　 C. Finally　　　　　　　 D. Hopefully

13.A. bottom　　　　　　　　 B. top　　　　　　　　　　 C. slope　　　　　　　　 D. base

14.A. embarrassed　　　　　 B. moved　　　　　　　　 C. disturbed　　　　　 D. excited

15.A. admired　　　　　　　 B. checked　　　　　　 C. saw　　　　　　　　 D. appreciated

16.A. strange　　　　　　　 　 B. wrong　　　　　　　　 C. distant　　　　　　　 D. steep

17.A. late　　　　　　　　　　 B. dangerous　　　　　　 C. puzzling　　　　　　 D. helpless

18.A. save　　　　　　　　　　 B. wait　　　　　　　　　 C. gain　　　　　　　　 D. put

19.A. sends　　　　　　　　　 B. tells　　　　　　　　　 C. recommends　　　 D. teaches

20.A. easy　　　　　　　　　　 B. hard　　　　　　　　　 C. annoying　　　　　　 D. discouraging

高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析