New Research Lights the Way to Super-fast Computers
(1) New research published today in the journal Nature Communications, has demonstrated how glass can be manipulated to create a material that will allow computers to transfer information using light. This development could significantly increase computer processing speeds and power in the future.
(2)The research by the University of Surrey, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge and the University of Southampton, has found it is possible to change the electronic properties of amorphous chalcogenides, a glass material integral to data technologies such as CDs and DVDs.
By using a technique called ion doping, the team of researchers have discovered a material that could use light to bring together different computing functions into one component, leading to all-optical systems.
(3)Computers currently use electrons to transfer information and process applications. On the other hand, data sources such as the Intemet rely on optical systems; the transfer of information using light. Optical fibers are used to send information around the world at the speed of light, but these signals then have to be converted to electrical signals once they reach a computer, causing a significant slowdown in processing.
(4) "The challenge is to find a single material that can effectively use and control light to carry information arotmd a computer. Much like how the web uses light to deliver information, we want to use light to both deliver and process computer data," said project leader, Dr Richard Curry of the University of Surrey.
(5) "This has eluded researchers for decades, but now we have now shown how a widely used glass can be manipulated to conduct negative electrons, as well as positive charges, creating what are known as 'pn-junction' devices. This should enable the material to act as a light source, a light guide and a light detector -- something that can carry and interpret optical information. In doing so, this could transform the computers of tomorrow, allowing them to effectively process information at much faster speeds."
(6) The researchers expect that the results of this research will be integrated into computers within ten years. In the short term, the glass is already being developed and used in next-generation computer memory technology known as CRAM, which may ultimately be integrated with the advances reported.
23. Paragraph 2 __________
24. Paragraph 3__________
25. Paragraph 4 __________
26. Paragraph 5 __________
A. Expectation of the discovery
B. The problem of current computers
C. A new finding
D. The purpose of the research
E. Public reaction to the discovery
F. The use of the new material
27. The result of the research can help computers to increase __________.
28. Current computers transfer information using __________.
29. The new glass material makes it possible to fulfill different computing function __________.
30. Glass is used in the research to carry and process
A. optical information
B. processing speeds
C. electrons
D. positive charges
E. data technologies
F. all-optical systems
2014年真题
Pathways to Research: Problem-solving
(1) Pittsburgh's many hills aren't kind to bikers. Anyone hoping to pedal to work there has to contend with steep streets like Canton Avenue, which famously climbs at a nearly 40-degree angle. As a result, some residents avoid biking altogether.
(2) But University of Pittsburgh graduate Micah Toll,23, and a few friends recently launched an invention that they hope will increase the city's pedal power. An electric bike called to Pulse PEVO.
A super-strong battery powers the bicycle. Able to hit nearly 20 miles per hour without pedaling, it zips up the city's most daunting(令人却步的)hills. Toll hopes it will persuade people in Pittsburgh and elsewhere to get out of their cars and onto bikes.
(3) If it sounds like Toll has a knack ( 窍门 ) for fixing problems, that's because he does. In high school, he designed a new type of construction beam. It weighs no more than a feather pillow but can be used to build sturdy ( 坚固的 ) homes for refugees fleeing war or natural disaster.
For his work, Toll was invited to attend the Inter International Science and Engineering Fair(self)- twice, in 2006 and 2007. The annual competition for young researchers is program of Society for Science & the Public (that's the parent organization of Science News for Kids). Toll says that when, it comes to science, he keeps it simple: "You see a problem and say, "How could I solve that?"
(4) He's not the only to take that approach. Many young researchers get their start by trying to solve a problem or fulfill a need in their own communities. When students dedicate themselves to finding a solution that many benefit their community, "a passion is ignited (点燃) ," says Wendy Hawkins, executive director of the Inter Foundation, which sponsors Intel ISEF." Finding that passion and fostering it can be the key to many students future success," she says.
23. Paragraph 1 __________
24. Paragraph 2__________
25. Paragraph 3 __________
26. Paragraph 4 __________
A. Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
B. The enthusiasm for solving problems
C. The young researchers' passion
D. An invention increasing pedal power
E. Why people avoid biking in Pittsburgh
F. The cause of national disaster
27. A Pulse PEVO is powered with __________.
28. Toll hopes his Pulse PEVO will encourage people to __________.
29. A new construction beam invented by Toll weighs like __________.
30. Many young researchers are finding solutions to problems that may __________.
A. a nearly 40-degree angle
B. get on bikes
C. a feather pillow
D. fix more problems
E. a super-strong battery
F. benefit their community
2013年真题
Black Holes
(1) Black holes can be best described as a sort of vacuum, sucking up everything in space.
Scientists have discovered that black holes come from an explosion of huge stars. Stars that are near death can no longer burn due to loss of fuel, and because its temperature can no longer control the gravitational (重力的 ) force, hydrogen ends up putting pressure onto the star's surface until it suddenly explodes then collapses.
(2) Black holes come from stars that are made of hydrogen, other gases and a few metals. When these explode it can turn into a stellar-mass (恒星质量) black hole, which can only occur if the star is large enough (should be bigger than the sun) for the explosion to break it into pieces, and the gravity starts to compact every piece into the tiniest particle. Try to see and compare: if a star that's ten times the size of the sun end up being a black hole that's no longer than 70 kilometers, then the Earth would become black hole that's only a fraction of an inch!
(3) Objects that get sucked in a black hole will always remain there, never to break free. But remember that black holes can only gobble up (吞噬) objects within a specific distance to it. It's possible for a large star near the sun to become a black hole, but the sun will continue to stay in place. Orbits ( 轨道) do not change because the newly formed black hole contains exactly the same amount of mass as when it was a star, only this time its mass is totally contracted that it can end up as no bigger than a state.
(4)So far, astronomers have figured out that black holes exist because of Albert Einstein's theory of relativity. In the end, through numerous studies, they have discovered that black holes truly exist. Since black holes trap light and do not give off light, it is not possible to detect black holes via a telescope. But astronomers continue to explore galaxies (银河系) , space and the solar system to understand how black holes might evolve. It is possible that black holes can exist for millions of years, and later contribute further process in galaxies, which can eventually lead to creation of new entities. Scientists also credit black holes as helpful in learning how galaxies began to form.
23. Paragraph 1 __________
24. Paragraph 2 __________
25. Paragraph 3 __________
26. Paragraph 4 __________
A. Is there proof that black holes really exist?
B. What are different types of black holes?
C. How are black holes formed?
D. How were black holes named
E. What happens to the objects around a black hole?
F..What are black holes made of?
27. Black holes are formed after__________.
28. When a large star explodes, the gravity compacts every piece into __________.
29. A newly formed black hole and the star it comes from are of__________.
30. Albert Einstein's theory of relativity helps to prove __________.
A. the creation of new entities
B. an explosion of huge stars
C. the tiniest particle
D. the same amount of mass
E. the existence of black holes
F. a fraction of an inch
答案与解析
2015年真题
23．C。题干：第二段的主要内容是__________。第二段的第一句是主题句，可知几所大学的研究发现amorphous chalcogenides的电子特性可以改变，amorphous chalcogenides是数据技术必需的一种玻璃材料，其他句子具体解释这个发现，所以C(一项新的发现)是正
确答案。
24．B。题干：第三段的主要内容是__________。第三段没有明显的主题句，主要介绍了目前电脑使用电子进行信息的传输和应用的处理，但是这会引起处理速度的显著下降(significant slowdown)，故B(目前电脑的问题)是正确答案。
25．D。题干：第四段的主要内容是__________。第四段的主题句为首句，即挑战就是要找到一种单一的材料，可以有效地使用和控制光来携带信息，故D(研究的目的)是正确答案。
26．F。题干：第五段的主要内容是__________。第五段没有明显的主题句，主要说明了过去特别困扰研究者，但是现在已经发现如何广泛使用玻璃来传导负电子以及正电子，这使得该材料可以发挥光源的作用，故F(新材料的用途)是正确答案。
27．B。题干：研究的结果有助于电脑增加__________。按照出题顺序与段落顺序一致的原则，利用help computers to increase可以定位到第一段的最后一句，可知这将有效提高电脑的处理速度和功率，所以答案为B(处理速度)。
28．C。题干：目前电脑传输信息使用__________。利用题干关键词Current和transfer information可以定位到第三段第一句，可知目前电脑使用电子进行信息的传输和应用的处理，所以该题答案为C(电子)。
29．F。题干：新的玻璃材料使得满足不同的计算功能的__________成为可能。利用题干关键词different computing functions可以定位到第二段的最后一句，可知通过这种玻璃材料可以使用光把不同的计算功能融进一个零件之中，从而形成全光系统，所以答案为F(全光系统)。
30．A。题干：玻璃被用在研究中是为了携带和处理__________。利用题干关键词9lass和carry and process可以定位到第五段“This should enable the material to act as a light source，a light guide and a light detector--something that can carry and interpret optical information”，可知这种玻璃可以发挥光源、光导和光检测的作用，从而可以携带和解释光学信息，结合语境可知A(光学信息)是正确答案。
2014年真题
23．E。题干：第一段的主要内容是__________。该段首句讲到：Pittsburgh的山峰对很多自行车骑行者不太友好。后面解释了这里街道很陡(steep)。因此这一段的主题是E(为什么人们不在Pittsburgh骑车)。
24．D。题干：第二段的主要内容是__________。第二段首句讲到：有人最近开发了一种有望增加蹬力的发明。因此该段主题答案为D(增加蹬力的发明)。
25．B。题干：第三段的主要内容是__________。本段的主题句为第一句：如果听上去Toll有解决问题的窍门，那是因为Toll确实有。后面的事例都在证明他如何展现自己解决问题的能力和激情。因此B选项(解决问题的热情)是答案。
26．C。题干：第四段的主要内容是__________。通过该段前两句可知：Toll不是一个采用这种途径(解决日常实际问题)的人，年轻的研究者们也会从致力于解决社区实际问题开始，该段中也出现了关键词passion(激情)，跟C选项形成对应。
27．E。题干：一个脉冲PEVO用__________提供能量。由PEVO定位到第二段中“An electric bike called to Pulse PEVO．A super-strong baRery powers the bicycle”，由此可知a super-strong baRery(超强电池)是正确答案。
28．B。题干：Toll希望他的脉冲PEV0能鼓励人们__________。用hope和PEVO定位到第二段最后一句“Toll hopes it will persuade people in Pittsburgh and elsewhere to get out oftheir cars and onto bikes”，可知他希望人们能由此走出汽车，骑上自行车。因此答案为B。
29．C。题干：Toll发明的建设光束重量像 __________ 。由construction beam定位到第三段中“It weighs no more than a feather pillow”，可知C(羽毛枕头)是正确答案。
30．F。题干：很多年轻研究者寻找问题的解决方案以便__________。用young researchers定位到最后一段“Many young researchers get their start by trying to solve a problem or fulfill a need in their own communities”可知，年轻的研究者们从解决问题开始时为了满足社区的需求。因此F(造福他们的社区)是正确答案。
2013年真题
23．C。第一段没有主题句，通过第二句可知黑洞形成是由于巨大的星体爆炸，第三句说明了巨大的星体是如何爆炸的，所以第一段讲的就是黑洞的形成过程，因此答案为C(黑洞是如何形成的)。
24．F。第二段首旬是主题句，即“黑洞来自那些由氢、其他气体以及一些金属组成的星体”，因而F选项(黑洞是由什么构成的)为正确答案。
25．E。第三段的主题句为首句，即“被黑洞吞噬的物体永远存在，永远不会逃逸出来”。但第二个句子是将but放在句首，所以重点就转向第二个句子，即“但是要记住黑洞只能吞噬与其保持特定距离的物体”，所以E(黑洞周围的物体会怎么样)为正确答案。
26．A。第四段的主题句是首句，即“到目前为止，天文学家根据爱因斯坦的相对论已经推断出黑洞的存在”，后面的句子都是有关天文学家对黑洞的研究，并且证明黑洞是真实存在的，所以A选项(有证据证明黑洞真实存在吗)为正确答案。
27．B。题干：黑洞是__________在之后形成的。利用题干的关键词black holes和form可以定位到第一段第二句，可知科学家发现黑洞源于巨大的星体爆炸，所以正确答案为B(巨大星体的爆炸)。
28．C。题干：当巨大的星体爆炸时，重力将爆炸物压缩成__________。利用题干的关键词explode，compact，gravity可以定位到第二段：“…，and the gravity starts to compact every piece into the tiniest particle．”可知重力把爆炸产生的物体压缩成颗粒。因此此处填“最微小的粒子”，所以正确答案为C(最微小的颗粒)。
29．D。题干：新形成的黑洞和产生黑洞的那个星体__________。利用题干关键词the newly formed black hole可以定位到文章第三段“the newly formed black hole contains exactly the same amount of mass as when it was a star”，可知黑洞和形成黑洞的那个星体的质量相同，所以正确答案为D。
30．E。题干：爱因斯坦的相对论有助于证明__________。利用题干关键词Albert Einstein’s theory定位到文章第四段第一句，可知天文学家断定黑洞的存在是因为爱因斯坦的相对论，所以正确答案为E。
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