While both solar panels and plant leaves harvest energy from the sun, a team at Princeton University took biomimicry (仿生学) in solar panels a step further by adding folds to solar cells. The folds look like the natural wrinkles found in leaves, channeling more light into the cell. The researchers claimed in 2015 that the leaf-like cells generated 47 percent more electricity than those without folds.
Self-Cleaning Paint
The surface of the lotus (莲) plant’s leaves gets rid of dirt and water so well that this self-cleaning quality was named the “lotus effect” in 1977. In 1999, the German building company Sto released an outdoor paint called Lotusan. When dried, the paint’s surface is similar to that of the lotus leaf to shed water and dirt off immediately.
Bullet Trains
The Shinkansen Bullet Train in Japan is known for its aerodynamic shape that decreases the amount of sound the train makes while entering and exiting tunnels at speeds of 150 to 200 mph. The trains were modeled on a bird that hunts fish by diving into bodies of water. The shape of the train also allows it to travel 10 percent faster with about 15 percent less electricity.
Wetsuits
Unlike whales, beavers (河狸) don’t have layers of fat to keep them warm when they dive into icy water. Instead, their thick fur traps air among the individual hairs, keeping the mammals warm and dry. In 2016,a team of engineers at MIT sought to copy this quality in a wetsuit covered with rubber “hairs”, specifically designed for watersports athletes like surfers. Just like beavers, the athletes would be kept warm by hair trapped on the outside of the suit.
1. Which item is a brainchild of a German company?| A．Solar Panels. | B．Self-Cleaning Paint. |
| C．Bullet Trains. | D．Wetsuits. |
| A．By shedding water immediately. | B．By thickening the layers of the suit. |
| C．By adding special hairs to trap heat. | D．By self-heating the outside of the suit. |
| A．They are nature -inspired. | B．They increase fuel efficiency. |
| C．They are environmentally-friendly. | D．They generate no economic returns. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】How could we possibly think that keeping animals in cages in unnatural environments－mostly for entertainment purposes－is fair and respectful?
Zoo officials say they are concerned about animals. However, most zoos remain “collections” of interesting “things” rather than protective habitats. Zoos teach people that it is acceptable to keep animals bored, lonely, and far from their natural homes.
Zoos claim to educate people and save endangered species, but visitors leave zoos without having learned anything meaningful about the animals’ natural behavior, intelligence, or beauty. Zoos keep animals in small spaces or cages, and most signs only mention the species’ name, diet, and natural range(分布区). The animals’ normal behavior is seldom noticed because zoos don’t usually take care of the animals’ natural needs.
The animals are kept together in small spaces, with no privacy and little opportunity for mental and physical exercise. This results in unusually self-destructive behavior called zoochosis. A worldwide study of zoos found that zoochosis is common among animals kept in small spaces or cages. Another study showed that elephants spend 22 percent of their time making repeated head movements or biting cage bars, and bears spend 30 percent of their time walking back and forth, a sign of unhappiness and pain.
Furthermore, most animals in zoos are not endangered. Captive breeding(圈养繁殖) of endangered big cats, Asian elephants, and other species has not resulted in their being sent back to the wild. Zoos talk a lot about their captive breeding programs because they do not want people to worry about a species dying out. In fact, baby animals also attract a lot of paying customers. Haven’t we seen enough competitions to name baby animals?
Actually, we will save endangered species only if we save their habitats and put an end to the reasons people kill them. Instead of supporting zoos, we should support groups that work to protect animals’ natural habitats.
1. In the state of zoochosis, animals _________.| A．remain in cages | B．behave strangely |
| C．attack other animals | D．enjoy moving around |
| A．Zoos are not worth the public support. |
| B．Zoos fail in their attempt to save animals. |
| C．Zoos should treat animals as human beings. |
| D．Zoos use animals as a means of entertainment. |
| A．pointing out the faults in what zoos do |
| B．using evidence he has collected at zoos |
| C．questioning the way animals are protected |
| D．discussing the advantages of natural habitats |
| A．zoos have to keep animals in small cages |
| B．most animals in zoos are endangered species |
| C．some endangered animals are reproduced in zoos |
| D．it’s acceptable to keep animals away from their habitats |
【推荐2】The human tendency to gravitate towards people that are similar to them starts early. In school-age children, the behavior called homophily, or "love of the same" often has to do with how others dress or act. Adults tend to form groups based on professions or personalities. However, forming cliques (小集团) and shutting out those who are "different" is not just a human characteristic. South Africa's Cape baboons (狒狒) show similar tendencies too!
A team of researchers followed the same two troops of baboons for several months. What they noticed was that like humans, baboons rarely left their original groups. To prove if their observations were correct, the researchers conducted an experiment.
They began by placing some foods that the baboons had never seen before on the edge of paths the animals frequently crossed. The researchers recorded the time it took a baboon to get close enough to examine the new foods and the time for ones that had the courage to taste them. Sure enough, the most curious and daring baboons all belonged to the same group. What did surprise the scientists was that the baboons with similar personalities hung out together, regardless of whether they were male or female.
The researchers say this behavior is not a good sign for the animals, because the daring and curious baboons are also good problem solvers. The scientists worry that if the baboons share new problem-solving skills with only their group, it leaves the rest of the species vulnerable to any environmental changes or enemies.
Unfortunately, baboons are not the only animals that form cliques. In another study, the scientists divided 80 fish into two groups. After about three weeks，the fish were rearranged into smaller groups of ten. The researchers observed that many of the fish that had spent time together in the original two groups seemed to seek each other out. What was even more interesting is that once they re-grouped，they were able to find the hidden food much faster. This led the researchers to think that like humans, the fish tended to share their secrets with their best "friends".
1. What can be used to replace the underlined word "gravitate" in Paragraph 1?| A．Lose respect. | B．Feel attracted. |
| C．Move smoothly. | D．Behave naturally. |
| A．Baboons associate with similar others. |
| B．Male baboons tend to be in the same group. |
| C．Cautious baboons are good at finding new foods. |
| D．Female baboons are usually braver than male baboons. |
| A．To show they are different from baboons. |
| B．To introduce human-like behavior in fish. |
| C．To prove other animals form groups as well. |
| D．To explain how they get on with each other. |
【推荐3】Every small child knows the panic of losing sight of its mother in the supermarket, and as the pictures show, small whales obviously feel the same way.
Taken by a British diver who was following the sperm whale(抹香鲸) calf, they show the minute the baby -- who had lost track of its mum -- found her again in the sea off the Azores .
Jumping 30 ft across the waves, the newborn slammed(猛力推) its body onto the water with joy after becoming separated from its family group in the cold waters.
But the whale calf was doing more than just jumping for joy.
Justin Hart, who took the pictures, said that young whales communicate with older ones in the ocean by creating a slamming sound which travels through the water to the ears of the adults deep below.
By jumping out of the water and slamming its 12ft long body onto the surface of the sea up to 30 times, the baby whale is telling its relatives where it is so they can regroup.
He said, ‘Sperm whales, of all the whales and dolphins, are the species that div e the deepest and for the longest time.
‘The calves have to follow what’s going on below them from the surface -- probably listening to the echo location(回声定位) clicks of the adults.
‘However sometimes the adults re-surface far out of sight of the calf, and in this situation the whales often jump out of the water causing a large bang as their bodies hit the surface. In this way, whale family can regroup.’
Sperm whales live in nearly all the world’s oceans in groups of about 15 to 20 animals and they practice communal(集体的) childcare. The calves do not have to follow their mother too closely as a sperm whale calf can take milk from any milk-producing female in its social group.
1. The underlined word“they”in Paragraph 2 probably refers to ______.| A．the whales | B．the divers |
| C．the photos | D．the mothers |
| A．found its family with his help |
| B．suffered a lot in the cold waters |
| C．lost contact with its family for days |
| D．slammed as a means of communication |
| A．The young are independent. |
| B．They are highly social animals. |
| C．They tend to live in warm sea waters. |
| D．Females take turns to care for babies. |
【推荐1】Like many inventions, language translators were imagined by writers long before they became real. In Hugo Gernsback’s 1911 novel A Romance of the Year 2660, characters use a video telephone that can translate from one language to another. A language translator also appears in Murray Leinster’s 1945 First Contact. In that story, humans and creatures from another planet made a translation device together after asking for contact with one another. The idea of the language translator didn’t become truly popular, however, until the “universal translator” appeared in the 1970 Star Trek series, which delighted television viewers at that time. That device was universal in the sense that it could translate any language that it came across.
The first real language translator was demonstrated（展示）by engineers from IBM company and Georgetown University in 1954. Their machine could only translate Russian sentences into English.
Language translators have come a long way since then. Today, online translations can be accessed easily at no cost to users. With translation apps, users sometimes don’t even have to look things up. All they need to do is point their cellphone’s camera at some writing, and a translation immediately appears. If users want to translate something being said aloud, they just turn on their phone’s microphone. All of these features save time and effort.
Translation apps on phones make foreign travel much easier than before. They are invaluable and convenient when it comes to communicating with taxi drivers or hotel waiters who don’t speak a traveler’s native language. But these apps are far from perfect. Sometimes a translation makes no sense, forcing the user to guess what the translation means. At other times, the user might not know that the translation has failed until he or she shows it to a native speaker.
1. When was the idea of the language translator widely known?| A．In 1911. | B．In 1945. | C．In 1970. | D．In 1954. |
| A．writers are usually cleverer than inventors. |
| B．the idea of a language translator came from science stories. |
| C．engineers made language translators to delight TV viewers. |
| D．it took little effort for people to develop language translators. |
| A．Translation apps. | B．Users. |
| C．Translations. | D．Phones. |
| A．By telling that online translation will change our life. |
| B．By explaining that online translation has its weakness. |
| C．By introducing how to use translation apps in travelling. |
| D．By discussing why people should give up translation apps. |
| A．How do science stories become true? |
| B．Can languages be translated into each other? |
| C．How does a language translator develop? |
| D．Why do we depend on language translators? |
【推荐2】Digital health refers to the system of interconnected devices that can monitor and report important health information. Doctors can then use that information to ensure that your treatment is tailor-made to your situation.
The most useful aspect of digital health is the ability to constantly and accurately monitor vital information. Wearable devices can record your blood pressure or the rhythm of your heartbeat. The information is then accessible remotely through the internet, so your doctor has a wealth of information about your daily health. Your doctor can then use that information remotely to make changes to your treatment at any time.
A survey conducted by the company Lightico in March 2020, reveals how satisfied consumers are with this type of remote care. Forty-one percent said that the remote treatment they had received by means of digital devices and the internet was either “good” or “excellent.” The same positive attitude toward digital health can be seen among investors. In the first quarter of 2020, US$3.1 billion in new investments poured into the digital health industry, setting a new investment record.
Much of the excitement is connected close with the use of voice technology in digital health care. Today, around 2.5 billion devices have voice interfaces (界面) like Alexa, which enable the devices to produce and understand speech. As a result, users can communicate with these devices about their health needs by speaking instead of typing on a computer. Seniors, for example, can use Alexa to check their daily schedules and receive reminders to take their medicine.
Advances in digital health, however, also bring privacy concerns. Information regarding your health could be used for advertising or marketing, for example. If health records are accessible online, protecting your information from theft and unauthorized use might be difficult. But if managed properly, the benefits of digital health could certainly outweigh the risks.
1. What is this article mainly about?| A．The current state of health care training. |
| B．Health conditions that need urgent attention. |
| C．A technological trend in health care. |
| D．Rising pressure on health care workers. |
| A．A growing number of digital devices were recalled. |
| B．Funding for digital health increased considerably. |
| C．Some digital health firms nearly went out of business. |
| D．Many institutions devoted effort to medical research. |
| A．How they make workers efficient. |
| B．How they can benefit the elderly. |
| C．How they save instructors time. |
| D．How they entertain youngsters. |
| A．Worries about the side effects caused by modern drugs. |
| B．Rising manufacturing costs in the health care industry. |
| C．Government regulations limiting the use of digital devices. |
| D．The danger that personal health data could be stolen. |
【推荐3】Terrafugia Inc. said Monday that its new flying car has completed its first flight, bringing the company closer to its goal of selling the flying car within the next year. The vehicle — named the Transition — has two seats, four wheels and wings that fold up so it can be driven like a car. The Transition, which flew at 1,400 feet for eight minutes last month, can reach around 70 miles per hour on the road and 115 in the air. It flies using a 23-gallon tank of gas and burns 5 gallons per hour in the air. On the ground, it gets 35 miles per gallon.
Around 100 people have already put down a $10,000 deposit（定金） to get a Transition when they go on sale, and those numbers will rise after Terrafugia introduces the Transition to the public later this week at the New York Auto Show. But don’t expect it to show up in too many driveways. It’s expected to cost as much as $279,000. And it won’t help if you’re stuck in traffic. The car needs a runway.
Inventors have been trying to make flying cars since the 1930s, according to Robert Mann, an airline industry expert. But Mann thinks Terrafugia has come closer than anyone to making the flying car a reality. The government has already permitted the company to use special materials to make it easier for the vehicle to fly. The Transition is now going through crash tests to make sure it meets federal safety standards.
Mann said Terrafugia was helped by the Federal Aviation Administration’s (联邦航空管理局) decision five years ago to create a separate set of standards for light sport aircraft, which are lower than those for pilots of larger planes. Terrafugia says an owner would need to pass a test and complete 20 hours of flying time to be able to fly the Transition, a requirement pilots would find relatively easy to meet.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．The advantages of flying cars. |
| B．The basic data of the Transition. |
| C．The possible market for flying cars. |
| D．The designers of the Transition. |
| A．It causes traffic jams. | B．It is difficult to operate. | C．It is very expensive. | D．It burns too much fuel. |
| A．The government supports it. | B．The government is against it. |
| C．The government sets higher standards to discourage it | D．The government thinks it is on the way out. |
| A．Flying Car at Auto Show | B．The Transition’s First Flight |
| C．Pilots’ Dream Coming True | D．Flying Car Closer to Reality |
【推荐1】I am a product of mixed cultures ( dad is Arab , mom is American ), and I have grown up with cultural differences all my life . This has made me very conscious of watching what people do in different cultures around the world . Cross cultural understanding is really necessary if you want to get along with people from other places .
It is very common , and not considered rude to ask a person’ s age in Japan when you meet them for the first time . The Japanese language is a rich and complex language that has different words to use depending on the age or the person you are talking to . Therefore , it’s important for people to know your age range so as not to offend (冒犯) you by showing you less respect than you are due .
Hand gestures and signals are always better to use only in your home country where you understand what they mean . In Turkey , for example , allowing your thumb to protrude ( between your first and second finger in a fist is extremely rude. Also , don’t make an “OK” gesture , unless you mean to call someone a fool .
Don’t touch anyone’s head in Malaysia , especially babies . Pointing is also considered rude in Malaysia , where directions are normally given with an open hand .
Giving gifts in China can get you into trouble . Certain gifts in China can cause great offence, such as giving cut flowers , which is only done at funerals . Giving a clock is seen as bad luck since the words “giving a clock” sound just like the words “attending a funeral”. A gift of shoes would be interpreted as giving a gift of evil (邪恶). Nothing is expected to be associated with the word “four” because it sounds like the word “death”.
1. Why do Japanese like to ask others’ ages ?| A．To express their respect . | B．To satisfy their curiosity . |
| C．To avoid offending others . | D．To appear more friendly . |
| A．A smile . | B．A fight . | C．Some help . | D．An agreement . |
| A．Sending cut flowers to others . |
| B．Opening your hands in the street . |
| C．Putting your hand on a child’s head . |
| D．Purchasing a clock for your friend . |
| A．Cultural Differences Around the World |
| B．The Meaning of Culture in the Author’s Eyes |
| C．Communication Is Important in Modern Society |
| D．Living Abroad Helps to Learn Different Cultures |
| A．Floor 8 | B．Floor 6 | C．Floor 9 | D．Floor 4 |
【推荐2】Will it matter if you don’t take your breakfast? Recently a test was given in the United States. Those tested included people of different ages, from 12 to 83. During the experiment, these people were given all kinds of breakfasts, and sometimes they got no breakfast at all. Special tests were set up to see how well their bodies worked when they had eaten a certain kind of breakfast. The results show that if a person eats a proper breakfast, he or she will work with better effect than if he or she has no breakfast. This fact appears to be especially true if a person works with his brains. If a student eats fruit, eggs, bread and milk before going to school, he will learn more quickly and listen with more attention to class.
Opposite to what many people believe, if you don’t eat breakfast, you will not lose weight. This is because people become so hungry at noon that they eat too much for lunch, and end up gaining weight instead of losing. You will probably lose more weight if you reduce your other meals.
1. During the test, those who were tested were given ________.| A．no breakfast at all | B．very rich breakfast |
| C．little food for breakfast | D．different breakfast or none |
| A．breakfast has great effect on work and studies |
| B．breakfast has little to do with a person’s work |
| C．a person will work better if he has a simple breakfast |
| D．those working with brains should have much for breakfast |
| A．lose weight | B．not lose weight |
| C．be healthier | D．gain a lot of weight |
| A．Poor breakfasts affect those who work with brains. |
| B．Reducing lunch and supper is of less value in weight losing. |
| C．Morning diet may cause one to get fatter. |
| D．Eating less in lunch and supper may help to lose weight. |
【推荐3】Some of the recent scientific studies have found that people who receive higher education live longer than those who do not. According to a new study, reading books extends lifespan (寿命) by up to two years, and the more often you read, the better.
Back in 1975, economists concluded that longer lifespan is linked to the wealth of a person, and that wealth itself increases longevity. It seemed self-evident: everything people need to be healthy from food to medical care costs’ money. But soon it was realized that the data didn’t always fit that theory. Economic success didn’t always mean longer lives. In the 1980s, researchers found gaining higher education is connected with a greater increase in lifespan than gains in wealth.
One fact is of teachers and college professors: they live longer than the rest of the population. The reason is that they engage in research most of their lives for teaching or publishing, which increases their lifespanand most importantly also retards their aging process.
Let’s look at what benefits educated people. Educated people get routinely involved in social networks; they get access to information because of their ability to understand information. They can easily navigate the health care system; they have more social support.
Reading helps us understand how other people think and feel. Reading improves our emotional intelligence. This understanding can improve the quality of a person’s life as it would allow the person to act with better judgment and have more insight into the feelings and thought patterns of others. Research has shown that reading changes certain areas of the brain and causes certain other parts to be active. This effect can also be observed in adults who learn to read much later in life. Learning has no age bar. Each and every human is born with the right to be educated. So, don’t hold back your urge to learn. The goal of education is to improve intelligence as well as the lifespan.
1. What conclusion did economists in 1975 draw?| A．People need high-quality food to keep healthy. |
| B．Medical care costs more money than food. |
| C．Most old people have the’ habit of reading. |
| D．Wealthy people tend to live longer. |
| A．Health has nothing to do with wealth. |
| B．Education does affect people’s lifespan. |
| C．Economic success always belongs to professors. |
| D．Children from poor families can rarely gain higher education. |
| A．Speeds up. | B．Turns back. | C．Slows down. | D．Contributes to. |
| A．They are more connected to the society. |
| B．They can set up their own health care system. |
| C．They learn more about human body and medical care. |
| D．They are skilled in doing research through social networks. |
