1 . A team of researchers at ETH Zurich has the perfect long-lasting solution to our fog problem. They have developed a very thin and gold-based transparent coating (涂层) that can convert sunlight into heat, which can be applied to glass and other surfaces to prevent them from fogging.
The special coating is developed using titanium oxide and gold particles. It selectively absorbs infrared radiations (红外线辐射) from the sunlight and creates a heating effect that is powerful enough to keep fog away from the surface of an object. The coating basically employs heat to stop fogging. The coating absorbs a large part of the infrared radiation, which causes it to heat up-by up to 8℃.
Previously, products like anti-fogging sprays (喷雾) create a very thin film of water on the surface to remove fog. The problem with such surfaces is pollution. Along with water, the sprays also attract dirt, dust, oil, and various other dirty substances, and just a little dirt on the surface makes it useless. However, the new coating repels (排斥) water. Furthermore, the coating is significantly thinner, which makes it more transparent as well as flexible. It is heated passively and requires, during daytime, no additional energy source.
Gold might be expensive, but the researchers stress that their coating requires so little that the material costs remain low. Their coating is produced with standardized and readily scalable methods, all cost-effectively. However, although this product can work at very low levels of solar radiation, it does rely on a certain amount of light.
The researchers will develop the coating further for other applications. In the process, they will examine whether other metals work just as well as gold. There is no need to fear. However, this would cause a car or a building to heat up more in the summer. The researchers have already filed a patent. Hopefully, this groundbreaking product will soon be available on the market.
1. How does the new coating work to remove fog?A.By reflecting part of sunlight selectively. |
B.By keeping cool air away from the object. |
C.By creating a thin film of water on the surface. |
D.By absorbing infrared radiations to heat the coating. |
A.To stress the advantages of the new coating. |
B.To introduce the inspiration behind the new coating. |
C.To prove the difficulty of creating anti-fogging products. |
D.To explain the reason for the anti-fogging coating being popular. |
A.It is considerably expensive. | B.It depends on sunlight to work. |
C.It takes too much time to produce. | D.It is difficult to clean and maintain. |
A.Apply for a patent for the invention. |
B.Develop the product for more practical uses. |
C.Explore the environmental impact of the coating. |
D.Seek a more environmentally friendly material to replace gold. |
2 . An earthquake can strike without warning. But many injuries and deaths from this kind of natural disaster can be prevented if people follow these safety tips.
If you’re inside a building, stay there! One of the most dangerous things to do in an earthquake is to try to leave a building.
If you are trapped in the ruins, cover your mouth with a handkerchief or a piece of clothing. Use your cellphone to call for help if possible. Don’t shout.
Be prepared for aftershocks
A.Don’t move about or kick up dost. |
B.If you’re outside, go to an open space. |
C.Shouting can cause you to breathe in dust. |
D.Don’t park your car under a tree or any tall object. |
E.Take a good hold of your cellphone in the building. |
F.They can happen in the first hours after the earthquake. |
G.Most injuries happen when people inside buildings try to get out. |
A Norwegian company has created what it calls the world’s first zero-emission, automatic cargo ship. Developed by chemical company Yara International, the ship
The shipping industry accounts for between 2.5% and 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Maritime Organization. Nearly all of Norway’s electricity is generated by hydroelectric power, which is
Capable of carrying 103 containers and with
As well as
4 . Coral reefs(珊瑚礁) are a unique ocean ecosystem consisting of rocky structures mainly formed by coral animals and some other ocean life. Despite only covering 0. 2 percent of the ocean floor, coral reefs support at least 25 percent of marine species, as well as providing food and economic security for hundreds of millions of people.
However, coral reefs across the world are under threat. Warmer oceans can cause the coral bleaching(漂白). It happens when the corals lose colored algae(海藻) living in their bodies and turn completely white. Without the algae, the corals lose their main food source and can die. In addition, as oceans become more acidic(酸性的) from absorbing CO₂, corals in acidic conditions become weak in forming reefs.
In 2021, the United Nations reported a 14 percent loss of corals across the world largely from rising sea temperatures in the previous 13 years. Australia declared mass bleaching events in 2022 across large parts of the Great Barrier Reef, four times since 2016. Data from the Philippines showed higher than usual ocean temperatures between 2015 and 2017 had caused a serious three-year bleaching events in reefs across the planet.
Scientists have been cooperating to see how coral reefs can be protected. Thankfully, they find those coral reefs in the hot parts of the globe are the worst affected. They contain corals with better heat resistance. So their research focus on finding genes(基因) for heat tolerance so that they can be passed on to future generations. Biologists also mix corals that are more resilient to higher temperatures with those that are not and the resulting generation has a better chance of survival.
Ultimately, scientists add that without a serious decline in greenhouse gas, 99 percent of the world’s coral reefs will be gone by the end of the century. There is a limit to how quickly corals can adapt warm climate, but if temperatures rise rapidly, then extinction is certain.
1. Which is the main threat to coral reefs?A.Declining ocean acidification. | B.Loss of colored algae. |
C.Increasing sea temperatures. | D.Lack of food source. |
A.No actions are taken to protect coral reefs. |
B.Coral bleaching is the worst in Australia. |
C.Coral reefs have grown rapidly for years. |
D.Coral reefs receive impacts globally. |
A.Reducing greenhouse gas emission. | B.Transplanting them to the hot parts. |
C.Relying on genes science. | D.Limiting their spread. |
A.Where Are Coral Reefs Spread? |
B.How Can Coral Reefs Survive? |
C.Coral Reefs, A New Threat To Ocean Life |
D.Coral Reefs, A Busy Underwater Community |
5 . In 2014, Xu Yitang, a Beijing native who had been studying Peking Opera since childhood, went with friends for a birthday celebration to Beijing Zoo. Little did he know that a chance encounter at the aquarium there would excite a lifelong passion. As Xu Yitang stared at corals bathed in tank’s light, a sense of wonder crowded into his mind. Lost in the beauty and mystery of the creatures, he spent the entire afternoon in front of it. After that, he began to frequent the local market to learn about coral farming from merchants who sell ornamental plants, fish and corals. He also searched for information on relevant forums online. Before long, he had set up a small fish tank at home and started cultivating a coral.
Nowadays, Xu Yitang who has moved to the tropical island of South China’s Hainan province, works for a Sanya-based tropical biological laboratory belonging to the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Each day, he spends several hours diving deep under the waves to observe and document the growth and development of the creatures that captured his heart all those years ago. Nicknamed “coral man”, he is actively engaged on such social media platforms as Sina Weibo, where he regularly shares visually beautiful photos and entertaining videos of corals. He aims to encourage individuals to take action in protecting coral reefs and the oceans as a whole from the destructive impact of climate change and human activities.
Unfortunately, with the strengthening of the greenhouse effect, rising sea temperatures have led to coral bleaching (白化) and decay. A coral reef’s beautiful colors come from the symbiotic algae (共生藻类) zooxanthellae that provide more than 90 percent of the energy through photosynthesis (光合作用). Coral bleaching occurs when coral expels the algae and dies due to the lack of nutrients.
In the laboratory, he would film educational videos to raise awareness and knowledge about corals, so that people can learn how to protect them effectively.
1. What changed Xu Yitang’s career choice?A.Frequenting the local market. |
B.Setting up a small fish tank at home. |
C.Having an encounter at the aquarium. |
D.Observing coral growth and development. |
A.Xu is a diver in the lab. |
B.Xu is a coral conservationist. |
C.Xu spends few hours on his work every day. |
D.Xu shares his videos for corals through social media platforms. |
A.Rising sea temperatures. | B.Lots of nutrients in the water. |
C.Coral farming practices. | D.Lack of sunlight in deep waters. |
A.Critical. | B.Indifferent. | C.Objective. | D.Enthusiastic. |
1. 简介北京洪灾;
2. 洪灾发生时如何避险(至少两条);
3. 呼吁携手保护地球。
注意:(1)写作词数应为80左右;
(2)可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
Dear Peter,
I’ve received your letter.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Best wishes!
Yours,
Li Hua
7 . Most environmental pollution on Earth comes from humans and their inventions, such as cars or plastic. Today, car emissions(排放物) area major source of air pollution leading to climate change, and plastics fill our ocean, creating a significant health issue to marine(海洋的) animals.
And what about the electric light, thought to be one of the greatest human inventions of all time? Electric light can be a beautiful thing, guiding us home when the sun goes down,keeping us safe and making our homes bright. However, like carbon dioxide emissions and plastic, too much of a good thing has started to impact the environment. Light pollution, the inappropriate use of outdoor light, is affecting human health, wildlife behavior and our ability to observe stars.
Light pollution is a global issue. This became obvious when the World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness, a computer-generated map based on thousands of satellite photos, was published in 2016. Available online for viewing, the map shows how and where our globe is lit up at night. Vast areas of North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia are glowing(发光) with light, while only the most remote regions on Earth(Greenland, Central African Republic and Niue) are in total darkness. Some of the most light-polluted countries in the world are Singapore, Qatar, and Kuwait.
Sky glow is the brightening of the night sky, mostly over cities, due to the electric lights of cars, street lamps, offices, factories, outdoor advertising, and buildings, turning night into day for people who work and play long after sunset.
People living in cities with high levels of sky glow have a hard time seeing more than a handful of stars at night. Astronomers are particularly concerned with sky glow pollution as it reduces their ability to view stars.
More than 80 percent of the world’s population, and 99 percent of Americans and Europeans, live under sky glow.
1. What can we learn from paragraph 2?A.The use of outdoor light must be forbidden. |
B.Electric light has both advantages and disadvantages. |
C.Electric light is the main factor to keep us safe. |
D.Electric light is the greatest human invention. |
A.Qatar. | B.Singapore. | C.Kuwait. | D.Niue. |
A.Sky glow costs too much. |
B.Sky glow has a bad effect on their sleep. |
C.Sky glow affects their viewing stars. |
D.Sky glow wastes too much electricity. |
A.Light pollution | B.Plastic pollution |
C.Different kinds of pollution | D.Air pollution |
A.The stronger sunshine. | B.The heat given off by his car. | C.The pollution in the air. |
1. What are the highest temperatures in Northern India now?
A.About 35℃. | B.Almost 40℃. | C.Over 45℃. |
A.About 200. | B.About 1,000. | C.About 2,000. |
A.Government projects will be done at night. |
B.Bottles of water will be sold at low prices. |
C.School days will be reduced. |
A.Cooler. | B.All the same. | C.Hotter. |
1. What do storm hunters do?
A.Follow tornadoes and study them. |
B.Save people in stormy weather. |
C.Collect pictures about tornadoes. |
A.Read magazines about tornadoes. |
B.Measure tornadoes closely in his car. |
C.Invent instruments to forecast tornadoes. |
A.Publishing an article about tornadoes. |
B.Setting up a research project. |
C.Recording the inside of a tornado. |