Remember solar roadways, where solar panels were embedded (嵌入) in roads? The idea of the solar roadway seems attractive because the solar resource is everywhere, and someday there will be a lot of electric cars that will need charging. But for me, the idea has little to recommend it. There is another kind of road — the railway — that might be a much better place for solar panels. And that’s what is happening in Germany, where the British company Bankset Energy is installing solar panels between the rails.
As estimated, 100 kilowatts of electricity can be generated per kilometer of railway line. Since the rail network in Germany is over 60,000 kilometers long, the power that can be generated is comparable to the output of five nuclear power plants in total.
But, why is putting solar panels is a railway better than a roadway? Trains generally stay on the rails, so there is no need to have solar panels designed to take any serious load. Although there is a serious amount of vibration, the panels wouldn’t shake apart. Railways usually own their rights of way and restrict access, so they have much better control. They also own the electrical infrastructure, which is right overhead and can directly use the electricity. German railways have been trying to justify hydrogen-powered trains because it was too expensive to electrify many of their lines. Turning their rail beds into power sources might change the economics.
On the other hand, rail rights of way are generally a lot wider than the tracks; it might make more sense to fix the panels next to the tracks, pointing in the right direction instead of lying flat. German Rail is already a huge consumer of solar power from more conventional installations.
1. What does the author think of solar roadways?| A．He thinks they are attractive. |
| B．He shows disapproval of them. |
| C．He believes they are underused. |
| D．He figures they are energy-saving. |
| A．The solar railway has won wide recognition. |
| B．Germany is leading the world in rail transportation. |
| C．Fixing solar panels on railways in better than on roadways. |
| D．The solar railway has great potential for generating electricity. |
| A．The length of the railway. |
| B．The lower installation costs. |
| C．The safety of the solar panels. |
| D．The wider use of the electricity. |
| A．German roadways start to go downhill. |
| B．Solar railways are coming down the line. |
| C．German railway are facing a great challenge. |
| D．Solar energy becomes a cost-competitive alternative. |
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【推荐1】Off-Peak fares are cheaper tickets for traveling on trains that are less busy, offering good value for money. The tickets may require you to travel at specific times of day, days of the week or on a specific route. Where there is more than one Off-Peak fare for a journey, the cheaper fare is called Super Off-Peak.
You can buy Off-Peak tickets any time before you travel, either online or at a local station. The travel restrictions for your Off-Peak ticket will depend on the journey you are making. The tickets must be used on the date shown on the ticket. For Off-Peak return tickets, related journeys must be made on the date shown on your ticket as well.
Children aged five to fifteen get a 50% discount for all Off-Peak fares. Up to 2 children under 5 years can travel free with each fare paying adult. Railcard holders get l/3 off all Standard Class Off-Peak fares. Senior, and disabled Railcard holders also get l/3 off all First Class Off Peak fares. Please note that minimum fares and time restrictions may apply to tickets bought with a Railcard.
If you plan on a train trip with friends or your family, you may get group travel discounts. Three or four can travel for the price of just two adults-leaving everyone more money to spend on the day out! If you are traveling in a group of ten or more at Off-Peak times, you may be able to obtain a further discount through the train company you are traveling with. Contact the train company directly and be aware that you may need to book tickets in advance.
For more information, please visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.
1. An Off-Peak ticket differs from other tickets in .| A．its good value for money | B．its convenience |
| C．the specific trains | D．travel schedules |
| A．￡6. | B．￡18. |
| C．￡7. | D．￡12. |
| A．becoming a VIP | B．traveling at rush time |
| C．buying tickets online | D．getting group travel discounts |
| A．An announcement. | B．A ticket booking guide. |
| C．A business report. | D．A travel review. |
【推荐2】The automobile（汽车）has many advantages. Above all, it offers people freedom to go where they want to go, when they want to go there. The basic purpose of a motor vehicle is to get from point A to point B as cheaply, quickly, and safely as possible.
In addition, much of the world's economy is built on producing motor vehicles and supplying roads, services and repairs for those vehicles. Half of the world's paychecks are auto related. In the United States, one of every six dollars spent and one of every six nonfarm jobs are connected to the automobile or related industries, such as oil, steel, rubber, plastics, automobile services, and highway construction.
In spite of their advantages, motor vehicles have many harmful effects on human lives and on air, water, land, and wild life resources. Since Karl Benz built the first automobile, almost 18 million people have been killed by motor vehicles. In addition to the tragic loss of life, these accidents cost American society about $60 billion annually in lost income and in insurance, administrative, and legal expenses.
Los Angeles is a global symbol of urban sprawl（城市扩张）built around a vast network of freeways. An estimated one third of the city's total metropolitan（大都市的）area and two thirds of its downtown area are devoted to roads, parking lots and other automobile related uses. Each day, its network of streets and freeways is crowded with more than five million vehicles, which are responsible for 85% of both the air pollution and the noise in this urban area.
If present trends continue, U. S. motorists will spend an average of two years of their lifetimes in traffic jams. Streets that used to be for people are now for cars. Pedestrians and people riding bicycles in the streets are subjected to noise, pollution, stress, and danger.
Motor vehicles are the largest source of air pollution, producing a haze of smog over the world's cities. In the United States, they produce at least 50% of the country's air pollution.
What do you think should be done?
1. Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．Automobile develops slowly in style. |
| B．Automobile brings us little convenience. |
| C．Automobile causes no harm to wildlife. |
| D．Automobile is an important part of the world's economy. |
| A．To give an example of automobile's influence. |
| B．To show the benefits of the automobile. |
| C．To provide some useful advice for the readers. |
| D．To introduce readers a new topic for discussion. |
| A．Subjective. | B．Objective. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Supportive. |
| A．Advantages of the Automobile |
| B．Disadvantages of the Automobile |
| C．Double-edged Sword of the Automobile |
| D．The automobile is Responsible for Traffic Accidents |
【推荐3】A Russian natural gas tanker has completed an experimental round trip along the Northern Sea Route (NSR)—the first time the path across the Arctic has been made at this time of year. It returned to the Russian gas station at Sabetta on February 19. The voyage by the Christophe de Margerie tanker through the ice is the latest visual indicator of climate change in the cold region.
The tanker set out from a Chinese port on January 27 after delivering its cargo. It entered the Northern Sea Route, which traverses Russia’s north coast. A few days later near Cape Dezhnev, it was met by the Russian nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy (50 Years of Victory). Together they completed the 2, 500-nautical-mile voyage through the ice in 11 days and 10 hours.
The ship managed to complete the first leg of the trip from Russia to China without an icebreaker. Both of the journeys broke records for winter navigation due to the changing climate in the Arctic allowing passage through thinner ice. Using the Northern Sea Route lets shippers in Russia and other countries avoid a much longer southern journey around Europe, the Middle East and all of southern Asia, saving millions of dollars.
The ships encountered no multi-year buildup of old ice on the route, and the deepest ice was about 5 feet thick. However, meteorologist and journalist Eric Holthaus called that a clear indicator of “a climate emergency”.
Last May, Christophe de Margerie became the first large-capacity cargo ship to complete an eastbound transit of the Northern Sea Route, two months earlier in the year than the journey traditionally made.
“As a result of the early Northern Sea Route voyage completed by Christophe de Margerie in May 2020, as well as the current NSR voyage, the navigation in the Eastern part of the Arctic was practically doubled,” Eric Holthaus said. He noted that for decades the transit route along that part of the NSR had typically remained closed by ice from November until July.
1. Which factor contributed most to Christophe de Margerie’s successful trip?| A．The ideal equipment. | B．The ocean current. |
| C．The nuclear power. | D．The climate change. |
| A．Picked up | B．Prepared for | C．Came across | D．Depended on |
| A．doubtful | B．concerned | C．critical | D．patient |
| A．2 months. | B．3 months. | C．4 months. | D．6 months. |
【推荐1】Before the age of the smartphone, photographers had to learn how to use high-tech cameras and photographic techniques. Not everyone had cameras, and it took skill and a good eye to capture and create a great photograph. Today, with the huge range of camera apps on our smartphones, we’re all amateur photographers, and pretty good ones at that, since the quality of smartphone images now nearly equals that of digital cameras.
The new ease of photography has given us a tremendous appetite for capturing the magical and the ordinary. We are obsessed with documenting everyday moments, whether it’s a shot of our breakfast, our cat or the cat’s breakfast. And rather than collect pictures in scrapbooks, we share, like, and comment on them with friends and strangers around the globe. Even photojournalists are experimenting with mobile phones because their near invisibility makes it easier to capture unguarded moments. And the Internet allows them to avoid traditional media, to act as their own publishers reaching huge audiences via social media sites such as Instagram. A photograph taken in New York can get a response from someone in Lagos within seconds of being uploaded.
In the past, magazines published unforgettable photos of important people and global events that captured our imaginations. These photos had the power to change public opinion and even the course of history. But if there are fewer memorable images today, it’s not because there are fewer good images. It’s because there are so many, and no one image gets to be special for long.
As people everywhere embrace photography and the media make use of citizen journalists. professional standards appear to be shifting. Before digital images, most people trusted photographs to accurately reflect reality. Today, images can be altered in ways the naked eye might never notice. Photo journalists are trained to accurately represent what they witness. Yet any image can be altered to create an “improved” picture of reality. The average viewer is left with no way to assess the accuracy of an image except through trust in a news organization or photographer.
The question of the accuracy of images gets even trickier when photojournalists start experimenting with camera apps - like Hipstamatic or Instagram—which encourage the use of filters(滤镜). Images can be colored,brightened, faded, and scratched to make photographs more artistic, or to give them an antique look. Photographers using camera apps to cover wars and conflicts have created powerful images—but also controversy. Critics worry that antique-looking photographs romanticize war, while distancing us from those who fight in them.
Yet photography has always been more subjective than we assume. Each picture is a result of series of decisions—where to stand, what lens to use, what to leave in and what to leave out of the frame. Does altering photographs with camera app filters make them less true? There’s something powerful and exciting about the experiment the digital age has forced upon us. These new tools make it easier to tell our own stories - and they give others the power to do the same. Many members of the media get stuck on the same stories, focusing on elections, governments, wars, and disasters,and in the process, miss out on the less dramatic images of daily life that can be as revealing.
Who knows? Our obsession with documentation and constantly being connected could lead to dramatic change in our way of being. Perhaps we are witnessing the development of a universal.
Who knows? Our obsession with documentation and constantly being connected could lead to dramatic change in our way of being. Perhaps we are witnessing the development of a universal visual language, one that could change the way we relate to each other and the world. Of course, as with my language, there will be those who product poetry and those who make shopping lists.
1. According to the author, there are fewer memorable photographs today because ________.| A．the quality of many images is still poor |
| B．there are so many good images these days |
| C．traditional media refuse to allow amateur photos |
| D．most images are not appealing to a global audience |
| A．indicate it’s a word cited fro m another source |
| B．stress that the picture of reality is greatly improved |
| C．draw audience attention to a word worth considering |
| D．show it’s arguable whether the picture is truly improved |
| A．The daily life pictures are very expressive themselves. |
| B．Photographs of the digital age are more subjective than before. |
| C．Photos altered by filters of camera apps are too subjective to be true. |
| D．Many members of the media value daily life images over major social events. |
| A．Camera Apps Bury Authenticity |
| B．Photography Redefined: A Visual Language |
| C．S mart-phone: Killer of Professional Photography |
| D．The Shifting Standards of Professional Photography |
【推荐2】A ship has used autonomous (自主的) sailing technology to complete a trip across world oceans for the first time. The Mayflower Autonomous Ship is a completely autonomous ocean research ship powered by artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
The Mayflower recently completed a five- week trip across the Atlantic Ocean without any humans on board. It set off from the British port of Plymouth on April 27 and arrived in the eastern Canadian city of Halifax on June 5. The 15-meter Mayflower is named after a ship that carried a group of European settlers from Plymouth to North America more than 400 years ago. That famous trip, in 1620, prepared the way for Britain’s colonization (殖民) of what Europeans called the New World.
The Mayflower experienced breakdowns on its latest trip, as well as an earlier attempt to cross the Atlantic. The first attempt, in June 2021, was called off after a breakdown forced the ship to return to Plymouth. Later ,during the latest trip, a problem with the ship’s power system led project organizers to send the ship to Portugal’s Azores in the mid-Atlantic. A team member was flown to the area to perform repairs.
More troubles came in late May when the Mayflower developed another power issue. That trouble was also repaired. But the team decided to send the ship on a new path to Halifax Experts say AI is getting much better at helping self- sailing ships understand their surroundings and pilot themselves. But most autonomous systems cannot repair themselves when the engine fails. The Mayflower is equipped with instruments designed to measure the health of ocean water. Such ships could be used to probe into parts of oceans that are too difficult for people to reach.
1. What can we learn about the Mayflower Autonomous Ship?| A．It sailed by itself. |
| B．It is over 400 years old. |
| C．It is named after the latest ship. |
| D．It carried Europeans in the 16th century. |
| A．It set off from America. |
| B．It turned back halfway. |
| C．It received repairs on the scene. |
| D．It reached its destination smoothly. |
| A．The misuse of AI. |
| B．Some machine failures. |
| C．Some experts’ suggestions. |
| D．The wrong choice of sailing course. |
| A．Move. | B．Drag. | C．Improve. | D．Explore. |
【推荐3】What exactly is a computer? That’s not always an easy question to answer. Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines a computer as “a programmable usually electronic device that can store, retrieve(检索), and process data”.
For thousands of years, people have tried to improve their lives by inventing machines to make certain tasks easier. Some people believe a simple mechanical device called an “abacus” was one of the earliest forms of a computer.
Modern computers were developed much more recently. The first modern electronic computer—known as the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer or ENIAC—became operational in 1946. Weighing more than 30 tons, ENIAC took up as much space as 1,800 square feet.
So what’s the smallest computer available today? As of 2015, the smallest computer is just one cubic millimeter. However, today’s computer manufacturers are constantly producing newer and smaller models at a rate too fast to keep up with.
| A．Today, we rely on computers for all sorts of things. |
| B．Today’s computers keep getting smaller and smaller. |
| C．Ancient people used the device to perform simple calculations(计算). |
| D．Since then, computers have become much smaller and much more powerful. |
| E．Others think a computer is anything that transforms information in a meaningful way. |
| F．Modern laptops are slow compared to modern supercomputers. |
| G．Whatever is smallest today will probably be replaced with something even smaller tomorrow! |
【推荐1】Vidal first experienced Brazil’s carnival celebrations as a baby living in Salvador, the capital of Bahia State. Before he was even one year old, his mother took him to his first carnival event.
The cultural traditions of Salvador have stuck with him. And, Vidal, a trained musician, now performs the typical music of Bahia in the U.S. He often plays in the Washington area.
February is the carnival season in Brazil and other countries around the world. Even the Washington area celebrates the season. Last week,Vidal and other musicians performed here for a carnival celebration. Performing in Washington and other U.S. cities has helped Vidal stay close to his Brazilian roots(根).
“Living in the U.S. now and not being able to enjoy carnival as I used to in Brazil with my friends and family is really heartbreaking. And that was the reason why I decided to start making my own events—carnival parties—just to get connected to my roots, to my happiness.”
It may come as a surprise, but Washington is said to have one of the largest followings for Brazilian culture in the U.S. This year alone, there are more than twelve carnival celebrations in the Washington area. Here, the season isn’t celebrated on city streets as in Brazil, where it is warm summer. February is one of Washington’s coldest months. So, the events take place at theatres, restaurants and other places.
Carnival is one of the world’s biggest celebrations. In many countries, activities take place for a few weeks each year and include huge parades(游行) and street parties with live music. Carnival goers wear colourful, themed clothing and masks(面具).
1. What do we know about Vidal from the passage?| A．He didn’t enjoy carnival at first. |
| B．His mother trained him to be a singer. |
| C．He encouraged Americans to celebrate carnival. |
| D．Brazil’s traditional cultures influenced him greatly. |
| A．Excited. | B．Sad. | C．Proud. | D．Anxious. |
| A．Because weather conditions are not good. |
| B．Because American carnivals fall in hot summers. |
| C．Because they want to make carnivals different. |
| D．Because few people celebrate carnivals in Washington. |
【推荐2】Wondering what bacteria are? First, to help to understand a bit about our bodies, think of a brick house. All the bricks stick together to form the walls. Similarly, our body is built of building blocks. Instead of bricks, however, our bodies are built out of cells. These cells are extremely small.
Bacteria are very small, single-celled organisms. Our body is made out of trillions (万亿)of cells, while a bacterium has only one cell. Bacteria are similar to the cells that make up our body. They are very small microorganisms, often much smaller than our cells. Bacteria are found almost everywhere on Earth. Right now, bacteria are probably living on your skin and in your body.
Many bacteria are helpful. They can help your body break down and digest food. Some bacteria, however, like Salmonella, are harmful and can make people very sick. Many bacteria get food from their environment. Also, bacteria have a DNA blueprint, and can reproduce.
We know of at least 300 species of bacteria, and scientists often discover new species. Some bacteria are good for us. Many bacteria are harmless. Some bacteria are dangerous, and along with other bad microbes (微生物), they are called “germs”.
Bacteria are small, usually microscopic organisms. This means you typically can’t see bacteria without a microscope or another tool. Bacteria are living organisms. However, some bacteria can use photosynthesis (光合作用), like plants, to create energy. This means they use sunlight and other things to create energy.
Bacteria are found pretty much everywhere on Earth. Right now, bacteria are likely present on your skin. They may also be present on the computer screen, on your food, and in many other places. Many bacteria live in your digestive tract and help your body break down food.
1. Why does the author mention the brick house?| A．To show the importance of cells. |
| B．To give an explanation for cells. |
| C．To help understand bacteria. |
| D．To prove bacteria are necessary for our body. |
| A．Bacteria can be only seen with the help of a microscope. |
| B．Bacteria are found only in human’s body. |
| C．Bacteria are similar to the cells in size. |
| D．Bacteria are single-celled organisms. |
| A．Some bacteria can generate energy. |
| B．Most bacteria are dangerous. |
| C．Bacteria are a little bit bigger than cells. |
| D．We know of less than 30, 000 species of bacteria. |
| A．The introduction of germ |
| B．The introduction of bacteria |
| C．The discovery of new bacteria |
| D．The distinction of god and bad bacteria |
【推荐3】Four species of bacteria – three of them previously unknown to science – have been discovered on board the International Space Station (ISS), starting questions about how they got there, and how they have managed to survive.
Their discovery may also improve future efforts to cultivate crops during long spaceflight missions, since related species are known to promote the growth of plants and help them fight off pathogens（病原菌）.
Previous studies had suggested that certain bacteria could survive the hard conditions of space, which survived on the space station’s surface for three years. They were deliberately placed there to test the theory that life exists throughout the universe and may be transported between planets by space dust, asteroids（小行星）,or even polluted spacecraft.
The new bacteria were similarly identified from swabs（棉签）of various locations inside the ISS. One was discovered on a dining table; another on an overhead board in a research area used to study low gravity; the third in the Cupola observatory. The fourth species, which was already known of, was found on an old air-purifying filter（净化过滤器）, which had been returned to Earth. All of them are rod-shaped bacteria belonging to the family – usually found in soil and fresh water, where they help to promote plant growth and defend against harmful bacteria.
They’re most likely to have been transferred to the ISS from Earth – rather than coming from outer space – and have either survived since the the beginning of the station, or were introduced when new astronauts or supplies arrived.
It is important to understand the types of microbes（微生物）that can accumulate, survive, and even grow well in this unique environment, because they may affect the health of crew, the spacecraft’s structure, or dirty the planets and astronomical bodies they visit.
1. Why was the discovery of the bacteria important?| A．They are all well known species. | B．They are all previously unknown. |
| C．They are good for people’s health. | D．They are helpful with space planting. |
| A．They can not live in hard conditions. | B．They can be transported by space dust. |
| C．Some kinds have a very strong life. | D．Some kinds exist throughout the universe. |
| A．They may strengthen the spacecraft. | B．They are unlikely to come from Mars. |
| C．They will not put other planets to danger. | D．They can hardly grow in the spacecraft. |
