Alibaba Group Holding is sparing no effort to turn its annual Singles' Day shopping festival into a universal celebration. The challenge for billionaire Jack Ma's(Ma Yun)online kingdom is to break another sales record after a decade of rapid developments. With rising strong competition from smaller platforms such as JD.com Inc. and Pinduoduo Inc., Allibaba is seeking to add new growth engines.
Now the retail(零售)celebration on Nov.1 has become an important signal not just for the company, but also the world's second largest economy, China. This year, shoppers in China have broken last year's record by making the sum of $30.8 billion in sales, as the tradition marked its 10th year. "Singles' Day has now become a stage for Alibaba to present its power across all its platforms." Daniel Zhang (Zhang Yong), chief executive officer(CEO), said at an October news conference in Beijing. He's taking over after Ma steps down as executive chairman next year.
It was Zhang who came up with the idea of turning Singles' Day into a shopping festival a decade ago. Now that this year's one-day fair will be Ma's last as chairman, Zhang will need to prove he can carry on the wonder. "We think I billion packs will become a daily event in the future." he said.
To fuel growth, Alibaba is speeding up its global exploration. Eleme, the company it took control of this year, will provide services for selected Starbucks stores across 11 cities in China. Rural Taobao, aiming at the customers in the countryside will offer special discount(折扣)for goods across 800 counties.
Although it's been three years since Ma said he wants to make Singles' Day a global shopping event, that hasn't happened yet. International expansion will be a key part of Zhang's plan to keep breaking sales records.
1. According to paragraph 1, Alibaba is exploring more growth engines because .| A．other companies are competing for the market |
| B．it has broken a new sales record |
| C．Jack Ma's dream has come true |
| D．it has developed swiftly in the last ten years |
| A．shoppers in China doubted whether Zhang will be a successful CEO |
| B．the Singles' Day shopping festival started over ten years ago |
| C．the idea of the-retail celebration on Nov l I was put forward by Jack Ma |
| D．Zhang has a long way to go before he sets another sales record |
| A．giving an explanation | B．making a comparison |
| C．listing examples | D．offering data |
| A．challenging and hopeless | B．challenging but hopeful |
| C．worrying and doubtful | D．worrying but promising |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】According to a survey, in Washington, DC, only 69 percent of public school students graduate from high school on time. Many factors influence that low rate. One of the most important ones is whether the people around the students expect them to succeed.
So, for the past 40 years, a DC organization has stepped in to give around 10, 000 students the support and positive environment they need to thrive. This organization, called Higher Achievement, provides students with a welcoming space, help with class work, and caring teachers. More than 95 percent of students who complete Higher Achievement graduate from high school on time.
Katherine Roboff is the group's executive director in the DC area. She gives several reasons for the group's success. One is timing. Higher Achievement does not work with students who are already in high school. It works with students in middle school. They start High Achievement at fifth or sixth grade-in the US, that is usually age 11 or 12.
Roboff says research shows that if students are doing well academically in eighth grade — around age 13-they will have a greater chance of graduating from high school and going to college. In other words, what happens in middle school has a huge effect. The years between ages 10 and 13 may affect a student's future more than anything that happens academically in high school.
Roboff explains that students participate in Higher Achievement after school and during the summer, when public schools take a break of about two months. High Achievement students do homework, have community meetings, and work one-on-one with a mentor.
The purpose of the program is to help them use those after school and summer hours to become better prepared academically and to develop their leadership skills and confidence so that by the time they get into eighth grade they are ready to get into some of the top high schools.
1. What is the main idea of the second paragraph?| A．Higher Achievement works with college students. |
| B．Many students have doubts about the organization. |
| C．Higher Achievement has spread throughout the US. |
| D．Higher Achievement has helped many high school students. |
| A．they are certain to go to college | B．they are to succeed when they grow up |
| C．they are more likely to finish high school on time | D．they don't need any help in their studies |
| A．Those students in higher school. | B．Those students in middle school. |
| C．Those students who don't work well. | D．Those students whose family can't afford. |
| A．how Higher Achievement helps those students |
| B．public schools never offer positive environment |
| C．Higher Achievement only helps those who have good skills |
| D．Higher Achievement only helps the students in the eighth grade |
Do not miss your chance to see Texas’ first modern art museum—the McNay Art Museum. There are more than 20,000 different and significant works. With beautiful Spanish gardens and the amazing architecture of the building, the art within the walls isn’t the only wonder to see.
Address: 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave, San Antonio
TEL:(210)8245368
San Antonio Art League & Museum
The San Antonio Art League & Museum is a great showcase for local artists and home to permanent exhibits, many of which express the history of the area. The museum houses both traditional and contemporary works.
Address: 130 King William Street, San Antonio
TEL: (210) 2231140
Guinness World Records Museum
The Guinness World Records has probably brought you amazing stories of all the record holders in the world. This museum is a good choice for the entire family, as it contains some of the most amazing oddities in the world.
Address: 329 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio
TEl: (210)2262828
Buckhorn Saloon and Museum
For a cowboy-style activity, head to the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum. The Buckhorn Saloon and Museum is located only two blocks from the Alamo, offering a convenient location to those who are visiting Downtown San Antonio. After being built over 130 years ago, the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum has become a unique place for locals and tourists alike to visit. Here, guests will be able to feast upon delicious dishes.
Address:318 E. Houston Street, San Antonio
TEL: (210) 2474000
1. What can we see in Texas’ first modern art museum?| A．traditional and contemporary works | B．Stories of record holders |
| C．Beautiful gardens | D．Cowboy-style activities. |
| A．McNay Art Museum | B．Guinness World Records Museum |
| C．Buckhorn Saloon and Museum | D．San Antonio Art League & Museum |
| A．It only fits for local tourists. | B．It has a history of 100 years |
| C．It provides delicious foods. | D．It’s near downtown |
【推荐3】On January 22nd, 2021, China said it has established a new monitoring and research center for greenhouse gases and carbon neutrality(碳中和) in order to contribute more to fighting climate change. The official announcement of the Monitoring and Assessment Center for GHGs and Carbon Neutrality (温室气体及碳中和检测评估中心), located in Beijing, was made by the China Meteorological Administration. It is expected to play a vital role in providing both technical and scientific support for researchers. The center will gather top scientists in the field from both home and abroad. Apart from providing ways to achieve carbon neutrality, it will also be helpful to make technological breakthroughs in the next three to five years.
The center is tasked with creating a system to evaluate the effectiveness of the country’s efforts to fight climate change. The recruitment (招募) of staff members is expected to be finished in the next two months. A scientific steering committee will also be started in April to guide the center’s operation.
China is determined to peak(达到峰值) its carbon dioxide emissions(排放) before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. One of the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic is that humankind must pursue a green development path and green lifestyle. China will lower its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by more than 65 percent from the 2005 level and increase its share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 25 percent. By 2030, China will also increase its forest stock by 6 billion cubic meters from the 2005 level, and bring its total installed capacity (装机容量) of wind and solar power to over 1.2 billion kilowatts.
The establishment of the center proves China’s determination to pursue a green development road. It’s a concrete action that China has taken to fight the climate challenge. Carbon neutrality, or a net-zero carbon footprint, means reading a balance between carbon emissions and removing pollutants through carbon sinks and other offset (补偿).
China has sped up research and development of equipment to monitor greenhouse gases and carbon neutrality and achieved encouraging results. However, there is still a long way to go to reach the top world standard.
1. Why did China start the Center?| A．To produce more greenhouse gases. |
| B．To gather more scientists worldwide. |
| C．To contribute more to fighting climate change. |
| D．To introduce top scientists in carbon neutrality. |
| A．In January. | B．In March. | C．In April. | D．In May. |
| A．In 9 years. | B．In 16 years. | C．In 39 years. | D．In 65 years. |
| A．China’s new contribution to climate battle. |
| B．China peaks its carbon dioxide emissions. |
| C．The Center’s recruiting new members. |
| D．Installed capacity of wind and solar power. |
【推荐1】Rounds of applause (掌声) broke out as the first Chinese female astronaut (宇航员) Liu Yang shared her space adventure with students at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC).
“I get excited every time I look up at the sky because I know we have a space home up there, which was built by our Chinese astronauts,” said Liu. When she shared China’s manned space program achievements (成就), her own stories heartened many students who love aerospace.
With the launch (发射) of China’s Shenzhou-9 spaceship in June 2012, Liu became the first Chinese female astronaut in space, spending 13 days there. In June 2022, she re-entered space 10 years later in China’s Shenzhou-14 spaceship and completed many tasks, such as building the space station’s T-shape structure with other crew members during their six-month mission.
Many students from different schools in Hefei, the capital of east China’s Anhui Province, listened closely to the science popularization lecture on site, while many more took part in the event through live streaming in different parts of the country.
“How do you overcome various challenges in work?” “How do astronauts drink water in space?” “What’s your feeling when you first entered space?” Several students were lucky enough to be picked to ask Liu questions after the lecture.
“Lots of students from our school attended the event today. Being the first female astronaut in China, Liu Yang proved that everyone can try to achieve their dreams,” noted Sun Yan, a teacher from the middle school attached to USTC. “I believe the female students would be more confident in their decisions in the future.”
The activity was a part of the celebration of Space Day of China, which falls on April 24 every year. In 2016, China choose this date to celebrate Space Day to honor the launch of its first satellite Dongfanghong-1 into space on April 24, 1970.
1. What does the underlined word “heartened” mean in paragraph 2?| A．Encouraged. | B．Frightened. | C．Destroyed. | D．Warned. |
| A．Liu Yang’s experiences in space. |
| B．The length of Liu’s stay in space. |
| C．The launch of China’s spaceships. |
| D．The building of the space station. |
| A．They wanted to be astronauts. |
| B．They were top students in the school. |
| C．They were curious about life in space. |
| D．They were familiar with space exploration. |
| A．Disappointing. | B．Meaningful. | C．Boring. | D．Risky. |
【推荐2】New Zealand plans to forbid foreigners to buy existing homes. The ban is expected to become law this year. It aims to slow the rising housing prices and protect New Zealanders interested in buying a home.
The Labour Party government believes that foreign investors have pushed many possible first-time home buyers and families out of the housing market. Last year, housing prices across the country rose by 5.8 percent, to over $405,000. Housing prices rose even more in New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington. Price there rose by more than 18 percent over a 12-month period that ended in June 2017.
The rising prices have pushed home ownership outside the reach of many possible buyers. One home owner told VOA he feels sorry for the younger generation. “I just believe the market has made it impossible for them to get into the housing.” Just 25 years ago, three out of every four New Zealanders lived in their own homes. Now the rate is 64 percent — and falling.
The ban on forbidding foreigners to buy existing homes has yet to be approved. But the measure, called the Overseas Investment Amendment Bill, passed its first reading in parliament (国会)in December. Limiting foreign ownership of housing has been tried in other countries, including Switzerland, “ If foreign investors are looking to put their cash into New Zealand, if it then forces up the price of property, people cannot afford to live anymore.” says Norman Gemmell, chair of public finance at Victoria University.
Critics say foreign investors have had only a small effect on the cost of housing. Low interest rates, limited supply and immigration have also driven up house prices.
Housing prices continue to rise across the country. And for many New Zealanders, the dream of owning a home is as distant as ever.
1. Which is the main factor of the high housing prices, according to the Labour Party government?| A．Low interest rates. | B．Investors at home. |
| C．Immigration. | D．Foreign buyers. |
| A．Housing prices rose by over 18 percent over a year. |
| B．The housing prices of the capital city rose the least. |
| C．The rate of New Zealanders living in their own houses is decreasing. |
| D．The country has witnessed the highest rise in housing prices up to now. |
| A．has been approved in New Zealand |
| B．will encourage foreigners to buy a house |
| C．has been tried in other countries |
| D．will make local people harder to own a home |
| A．It is hard for the locals to buy a house in New Zealand. |
| B．New Zealand will prevent foreign buyers from buying a house. |
| C．The prices of houses in New Zealand have been rising sharply. |
| D．There are many reasons for high housing prices in New Zealand. |
【推荐3】Sunscreen protects our skin from sunburn. But did you know that it is harmful to coral (珊瑚) living in the ocean？
Some chemicals in sunscreen, such as benzophenone (二苯甲酮), can kill coral. Every year, about 4,000 to 6,000 tons of sunscreen will flow into coral areas, according to the US National Park Service.
About one and half years ago, Zhang Baoxin, 17, who studies at Guangdong Experimental High School, read about this in an article. Then she had an idea – to make an environmentally friendly sunscreen to protect the marine environment.
To make this happen, Zhang read lots of literature and then put forward a new formula (配方). She mixed natural plant oils with safe and commonly-used sunscreen ingredients, such as titanium dioxide (二氧化钛) and zinc oxide (氧化锌) powder .
She tested about 10 kinds of plant oils, including jojoba oil (荷荷巴油) and coconut oil, to figure out whether they can take in sunlight. She then used a microscope to find out if the oil could be mixed with the powder. After trying about 20 formulas, Zhang found a jojoba oil formula that is effective, cheap and easy to make.
Zhang wrote a paper to explain her findings with her experimental process and data. The project made Zhang a nominee (候选人) of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, an award to celebrate teenagers who help solve major water challenges. She was the only nominee from the Chinese mainland in 2020.
After this successful experiment, Zhang made some samples (样品) and printed out flyers (传单) for her new formula. She gave them out to people at swimming pools and water parks. “With my formula, anyone can make sunscreen at home. You just need a blender to mix the oil and the powder,” she said.
Zhang wants to study environmental science in college. “I want to use my knowledge to make a better world,” she said.
1. What inspired Zhang to make a new kind of sunscreen?| A．Her desire to protect sea species. |
| B．Her wish to study environmental science. |
| C．A book published by the US National Park Service. |
| D．A project at Guangdong Experimental High School. |
| A．Features of the new sunscreen. |
| B．Differences between different ingredients. |
| C．The process of developing the new sunscreen. |
| D．Difficulties Zhang met when making the new sunscreen. |
| A．She was accepted into a famous university. |
| B．She won the Stockholm Junior Water Prize. |
| C．She handed out her samples to people. |
| D．She continued to make other environmentally friendly products. |
| A．Curious and cheerful. |
| B．Helpful and sociable. |
| C．Diligent and cautious. |
| D．Creative and responsible. |
【推荐1】Let us suppose it is now about A.D. 2060. Let's make believe it is about 47 years from now. Of course, things have changed and life is very different.
Voyages to the moon are being made every day. It is as easy to take a holiday on the moon today as it was for the people in 1960 to take a holiday in Europe. At a number of scenic spots on the moon, many hotels have been built. In order that everyone can enjoy the beautiful scenery on the moon, every room has at least one picture window. Everything imaginable is provided for entertainment of young and old.
What are people eating now? People are still eating food. They haven't yet started to take on heir(继承) supply of energy directly as electrical current or as nuclear power. They may some day. But many foods now come in pill form, and the food that goes into the pill continues to come mainly from green plants.
Since there are several times as many people in the world today as there were a hundred years ago, most of our planet's surface has to be filled. The deserts are irrigated with water and crops are no longer destroyed by pests. The harvest is always good.
Farming, of course, is very highly developed. Very few people have to work on the farm. It is possible to run the farm by just pushing a few buttons now and then.
We are healthier both in our bodies and in our minds, and we know the causes and cure of disease and pain, and it is possible to get rid of diseases. No one has to be ill any more.
Such would be our life in 2060.
1. When was the passage written?| A．In about A.D. 2060 | B．In about 1960 | C．In about 2013 | D．In about 2014 |
| A．Many other animals. | B．Many tourists. |
| C．Many mountains. | D．A sea. |
| A．there are more pests | B．the crops are getting better |
| C．there are fewer people | D．there is less water |
【推荐2】If you want to travel from Xi’an to Chengdu by train, it will take about 16 hours. But starting this month, the new Xi’an-Chengdu high-speed railway will shorten this travel time to three hours.
The 643-kilometer line is China’s first high-speed railway to run through the Qinling Mountains, which form a natural boundary (分界线) between China’s north and south. With a speed of 250 km per hour, it’s also the first mountain-heavy train line to provide a 4G network. Along the way, the train passes through two areas for rare (稀有) wild animals — one for pandas and the other for crested ibises (朱鹮).
To reduce the railway’s influence on the animals, workers and experts have designed and built the railway to be environmentally friendly. There were 345 wild pandas living in the Qinling Mountains. China currently has 1,864 wild pandas in total, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
To avoid disturbing the pandas, the railway was designed to run through tunnels (隧道) within the area. Protective shields (防护屏) are placed near the entrance of each tunnel to stop animals from going in.
To protect the thousands of crested ibises that fly near one part of the railway, protective nets have been set up to make sure the birds will not fly into a train.
The nets are about 32 km long and 4 meters high. Experts tested different shapes and materials for building the nets before making their final choice.
1. From this month, it will take ________ to travel from Xi’an to Chengdu by the high speed train.| A．16 hours | B．13 hours | C．3 hours | D．1 hour |
| A．It is China’s first high-speed railway. |
| B．It runs through the Qinling Mountains. |
| C．It is the best mountain-heavy train line. |
| D．The train passes through many areas for rare wild animals. |
| A．To save money and energy. |
| B．To avoid damaging the mountains. |
| C．To avoid harming wild animals. |
| D．To help the train run through tunnels quietly. |
| A．Tunnels. | B．Tracks. |
| C．Protective shields. | D．Protective nets. |
| A．Xi’an Chengdu high-speed railway. |
| B．How to protect pandas and crested ibises. |
| C．Qinling Mountains. |
| D．Protective shields and nets. |
【推荐3】The idea that computers have some amount of “intelligence” is not new, says Ralph Haupter, the president of Microsoft Asia, pointing as far back as 1950 when computer pioneer Alan Turing asked whether machines can think. “So it has taken nearly 70 years for the right combination of factors to come together to move AI from concept to reality,” says Haupter.
It is predicted that the development of artificial intelligence will be the story of the coming generations, not just the coming year, but as 2019 gets underway, you’ll find AI will begin to touch your life in many ways according to some researchers.
“Personal assistant AIs will keep getting smarter. As our personal assistants learn more about our daily routines, I can imagine the day I need not to worry about preparing dinner. My AI knows what I like to eat, which days of the week I like to cook at home, and makes sure that when I get back from work all my groceries are waiting at my doorstep, ready for me to prepare that delicious meal I had been longing for.” ---Alecjandro Troccoli, senior research scientist, NVIDIA.
“Thanks to AI, the face will be the new credit card, the new driver’s license and the new barcode (条形码). Facial recognition is already completely transforming security with biometric capabilities being adopted, and seeing how technology and business are connected, like Amazon is with Whole Foods, I can see a near future where people will no longer need to stand in line at the store.” ---Georges Nahon, president, Orange Institute, a global research laboratory.
“2019 will be the year AI becomes real for medicine. By the end of the year we’re seeing solutions for population health, hospital operations and a broad set of clinical specialties quickly follow behind.” ---Mark Michalski, executive director, Massachusetts General Hospital.
1. What can we know about AI from the first two paragraphs?| A．People didn't expect AI to develop so rapidly. |
| B．The idea of AI just came up recently. |
| C．The concept of AI was put forward by Ralph Haupter. |
| D．It took more than 70 years to turn the concept into reality. |
| A．Alan Turing. | B．Georges Nahon. | C．Mark Michalski. | D．Alejandro Troccoli. |
| A．Executive director of a hospital. | B．President of a research laboratory. |
| C．Chairman of an energy corporation. | D．Chief operating officer of a newspaper. |
| A．By explaining cause and effect. | B．By presenting research results. |
| C．By listing some predictions. | D．By describing personal experiences. |
【推荐1】A few years ago, Adina Lichtman was handing out sandwiches on the streets of New York City to help people experiencing homelessness. One man, grateful for the sandwich, approached her and offered a surprising idea.
“It’s great that you’re giving out sandwiches,” he said, “but one thing we really need is socks, especially as winter approaches.”
“Here I was, sandwiches in hand, thinking I knew the best way to help people,” Lichtman said. “It was a powerful lesson, and I wanted to put it into action.”
She began that night, with a simple step: going door-to-door on the floor of her dormitory at New York University, asking her classmates if they could each just donate (捐赠) just one pair of their own socks to someone experiencing homelessness. She got 40 pairs of socks in a single night, from a single floor. The next morning she opened her door to find a lot of socks that other people had donated.
That morning officially kicked off Knock Knock, Give a Sock (KKGS), a new nonprofit (非营利的) organization that has now provided over 350,000 pairs of socks to the homeless across America. To date, over 50 colleges and high schools across the US have joined KKGS over the years.
“While many people donate clothing, 9 out of every 10 clothing donors have never donated socks. On top of that, people who are trying to donate socks often find it difficult to donate used socks,” she says. “KKGS is one of the only organizations that collects used socks. We have volunteers knocking on doors of their classmates in school, of their workmates at work, and even of their neighbors.”
But, whether you’re 26 or 62, you don’t need to wait to organize your own sock drive, collect socks, or even wash and clean some of your own to donate to your local shelter, or someone in need who you meet on the street.
1. How did the homeless man’s words affect Lichtman?| A．They caused her to start KKGS. |
| B．They pushed her to go to college. |
| C．They encouraged her to house the homeless. |
| D．They made her continue to give out sandwiches. |
| A．Some refused it politely. |
| B．They strongly supported it. |
| C．Some felt quite surprised by it. |
| D．They considered it unreasonable. |
| A．Take action in small ways. |
| B．Start your own organization. |
| C．Make donations from an early age. |
| D．Find creative ways to help people. |
【推荐2】Those concerned that robots are taking over the world can rest easy-for now. Though the androids have proved useful at performing ordinary tasks, they are not ready for prime time. At least that appears to be the case at Japan’s cutting-edge Henn-na Hotel chain where over half of the robot staff is being replaced by humans.
The first Henn-na Hotel opened in July 2015, where guests were greeted and checked-in by either a family-friendly English-speaking dinosaur robot or a Japanese-speaking humanoid. Autonomous robots stood ready to help guests carry luggage to their rooms, while a cute doll-shaped android called Churi, placed inside each room, provided them with information about nearby attractions. Even the hotel’s garbage cans were robotic.
Not surprisingly, the lodging, recognized in 2016 as the world’s first robot-staffed hotel by Guinness World Records, drew in curious visitors from all around the world.
But as the years have passed, the hotel’s main draw — its employees — are becoming less of a novelty (新颖) and more of a bother. Also as the robots are “aging”, they are costing more to repair and maintain. Earlier this month, the hotel chain’s parent company H. I. S. announced that it had decided to “fire” over half of the robot employees and replace them with humans. Among them are the chain’s two robot receptionists. In addition to scaring young guests, they are also unable to photocopy guests’ passports-a requirement when checking into a Japanese hotel--forcing human employees to step in each time. Also, out are the cute Churi robots, which have proved unable to answer even the simplest questions and annoyed guests by interrupting their conversations.
While this is a setback, the company’s officials are not discouraged. They plan to continue with their ambitious expansion plans and believe the human-robot interaction is a learning process.“When you actually use robots, you realize there are places where they aren’t needed.” said one of the officials.
1. What could robots in the first Henn-na Hotel do?| A．Offer guests traffic information. | B．Help guests pack their luggage. |
| C．Greet guests in English or Japanese. | D．Direct guests to check in at the front desk. |
| A．They cause trouble to customers. | B．They ignore instructions. |
| C．They annoy human employees. | D．They are beyond repair. |
| A．They think highly of their interaction with customers. |
| B．They are against the use of state-of-art equipment. |
| C．They plan to hire more cute Churi robots. |
| D．They’ve realized the limitations of robots. |
| A．Robot Employees-Ready for Prime Time |
| B．Japanese Hotel Chain Expands Ambitiously |
| C．Robot Employees-a New Novelty for Hotels |
| D．Japanese Hotel Chain “Fires” Robot Employees |
【推荐3】A widely-used gas that is currently produced from fossil fuels can instead be made by an artificial leaf that uses only sunlight, carbon dioxide and water, and which could eventually be used to develop a sustainable liquid fuel alternative to petrol.
The carbon-neutral (碳中和) device sets a new standard in the field of solar fuels, after researchers at the University of Cambridge demonstrated that it can directly produce the gas---called syngas (合成气) ---in a sustainable and simple way.
Rather than running on fossil fuels, the artificial leaf is powered by sunlight, although it still works efficiently on cloudy and overcast days. And unlike the current industrial processes for producing syngas, the leaf does not release any additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The results are reported in the journal Nature Materials.
Syngas is currently made from a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide (氧化碳)， and is used to produce a range of products, such as fuels, medicines, plastics and fertilizers.
“You may not have heard of syngas itself but every day, you consume products that were created using it. Being able to produce it sustainably would be a critical step in closing the global carbon cycle and establishing a sustainable chemical and fuel industry," said senior author Professor Erwin Reisner from Cambridge's Department of Chemistry, who has spent seven years working towards this goal.
The device Reisner and his colleagues produced is inspired by photosynthesis--- the natural process by which plants use the energy from sunlight to turn carbon dioxide into food.
On the artificial leaf, two light absorbers, similar to the molecules in plants that harvest sunlight, are combined with a catalyst (催化剂) made from the naturally abundant element cobalt (钴). When the device is dipped in water, one light absorber uses the catalyst to produce oxygen. The other carries out the chemical reaction that reduces carbon dioxide and water into carbon monoxide and hydrogen, forming the syngas mixture.
As an added bonus, the researchers discovered that their light absorbers work even under the low levels of sunlight on a rainy or overcast day.
“This means you are not limited to using this technology just in warm countries or only operating the process during the summer months,” said PhD student Virgil Andrei, first author of the paper. “You could use it from dawn until dusk, anywhere in the world.”
1. With the artificial leaf, we can _____.| A．produce syngas in a sustainable and simple way |
| B．prevent carbon dioxide from being release into the atmosphere |
| C．make products like medicines, plastics and fertilizers out of fossil fuels |
| D．harvest abundant sunlight through petrol and close the global carbon cycle |
| A．get rid of one light absorber |
| B．block the contact with sunlight |
| C．provide a special catalyst |
| D．keep the artificial leaf far away from water |
| A．Syngas has already been in widespread use around the world. |
| B．The artificial leaf is powered by fossil fuels rather than sunlight. |
| C．The artificial leaf doesn't depend too much on the weather or location. |
| D．Syngas is currently made from a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. |
