2012理工类职称英语教材新增文章.doc

.World Crude Oil Production May Peak a Decade Earlier Than Some Predict1Weaving with Light3Batteries Built by Viruses4Longer Lives for Wild Elephants6Some People Do Not Taste Salt Like Others8Marvelous Metamaterials10What Is the Coolest Gas in the Universe?12Smoking Can Increase Depressive Symptoms in Teens14Young Adults Who Exercise Get Higher IQ Scores162012年理工类职称英语教材新增文章下载目录：第二篇(C级)：World Crude Oil Production May Peak a Decade Earlier Than Some Predict第六篇(C级)：Weaving with Light第三十四篇(B级)：Batteries Built by Viruses第三十八篇(B级)：Longer Lives for Wild Elephants第四十五篇(A级)：Some People Do Not Taste Salt Like Others第四十六篇(A级)：Marvelous Metamaterials第二篇World Crude Oil Production May Peak a Decade Earlier Than Some PredictIn a finding that may speed efforts to conserve oil，scientists in Kuwait predict that world conventional crude oil production will peak in 2014.This prediction is almost a decade earlier than some other predictions. Their study is in ACSEnergy&Fuels1.Ibrahim Nashawi and colleagues point out that rapid growth in global oil consumption has sparked a growing interest in predicting peak oil. Peak oil is the point where oil production reaches a maximum and then declines. Scientists have developed several models to forecast this point，and some put the date at 2020 or later. One of the most famous forecast models is called the Hubbert model2.It assumes that global oil production will follow a bell shaped curve3.A related concept is that4 of Peak Oil. The term Peak Oil indicates the moment in which world wide production will peak，afterwards to start on irreversible decline.The Hubbert model accurately predicted that oil production would peak in the United States in 1970.The model has since gained in popularity and has been used to forecast oil production worldwide.However，recent studies show that the model is insufficient to account for5 more complex oil production cycles of some countries. Those cycles can be heavily influenced by technology changes，politics，and other factors，the scientists say.The new study describes development of a new version of the Hubbert model that provides a more realistic and accurate oil production forecast. Using the new model，the scientists evaluated the oil production trends of 47 major oil-producing countries，which supply most of the worlds conventional crude oil6.They estimated that worldwide conventional crude oil production will peak in 2014，years earlier than anticipated. The scientists also showed that the worlds oil reserves7 are being reduced at a rate of 2.1 percent a year. The new model could help inform energy-related decisions and public policy debate，they suggest.词汇：conserve v.保护，保存 irreversible adj.不可逆的，不可改变的crude oil原油spark v.闪耀;激发;鼓舞 insufficient 不充分的，不足的curve n.曲线注释：1.ACSEnergy&Fuels：ACS是American Chemical Society(美国化学学会)的缩写。该学会成立于1876年，现已成为世界最大的科技协会。多年来，ACS一直致力于为全球化学研究机构、企业及个人提供高品质的文献资讯及服务。ACS出版的期刊有34种，这些期刊在化学领域中是被引用次数最多的化学期刊，Energy&Fuels即是其中一本。2.the Hubbert model：赫伯特模型是美国地质学家M.King Hubbert于1956年创建的，这是一个随时间增长的模型，Hubbert将其引入油气田开发，经推导使其成为一个可以预测油气田累积产量、瞬时产量、年产量和可采储量等多项开发指标的多功能预测模型。3.a bell shaped curve：钟形曲线4.that of peak oil：that指代concept。5.account for：说明，解释6.conventional crude oil：常规原油7.oil reserves：石油储量。通常使用复数形式reserves。练习：1.Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word sparked appearing in paragraph 2 ?A.flashedB.stimulatedC.changedD.ended2.The term a bell shaped curve appearing in paragraph 2 indicates that global oil production willA.take the shape of a flat curve.B.keep growing.C.keep declining.D.start to decline after global oil production peaks.3.Which of the following is NOT true of the Hubbert model?A.It successfully predicted that oil production peaked in the U.S.in 1970.B.It has been used to predict oil production in many countries.C.It is insufficient to explain oil production cycles in some countries.D.It provides a very realistic and accurate oil production.4.What is the major achievement of the new study mentioned in the last paragraph?A.It predicts global oil production will peak in 2014.B.It predicts oil production will decline in 47 countries.C.It confirms further the effectiveness of the Hubbert model.D.It discovers a new gend of worldwide oil production.5.Who develop the new version of the Hubbert model ?A.American scientists.B.Kuwaiti scientists.C.British scientists.D.Scientists of 47 major oil-producing countries.答案与题解：1.B spark一词做及物动词使用时有“发动”、“激发的意思，在此意为stimulated，即“引发”，这个句子的意思是：全球石油消费的快速增长已引发了对“石油峰值”预测的兴趣。2.D 此句接下来的句子中所提到的a related concept即是与a bell shaped curve相关的概念，也就是说，接下来的这个句子对a bell shaped curve做了解释，即世界石油生产达到最大峰值后将下降。3.D 文章的第三段告诉我们，Hubbert预测模型精确地预测到美国石油生产于1970年将达到峰值。这一模型自受到公认后，已用于预测世界石油生产。第四段说，这一模型对于某些国家更加复杂的石油生产周期而言，其计算尚不充分。这些生产周期受到技术的改变、政策和其他因素的很大影响。所以，A、B和C都是对Hubbert模型的正确说明。4.A 选项B、C和D所述内容均未在文章中提到。最后一段告诉我们，科学家使用新的模型评估了47个主要的产油国家的石油生产趋势，并预计全球常规原油生产到2014年将达最高峰值。所以，A是答案。5.B短文第一段的第一个句子提供了答案。第六篇Weaving with LightIn the Sierra Madre mountain range of west central Mexico1，the native Huichol people2 live much the way their ancestors did-without electricity. Thats because its too expensive to string power lines3 to the remote mountain areas where they live. To help support themselves，the Huichol create beautiful artwork. They sell their art in cities hundreds of miles away from their villages. And without electricity-at home or on the road，they can only work during daylight hours. When it gets dark，they must stop whatever theyre doing.Now，a team of scientists，designers，and architects is using4 new technologies to provide the Huichol with light after the sun sets The scientists technique involves weaving tiny electronic crystals into fabrics that can be made into clothes，bags，or other items.By collecting the suns energy during the day，these lightweight fabrics provide bright white light at night. Their inventors have named the fabrics Portable Lights. Portable Lights have the potential to transform the lives of people without electricity around the world，says project leader Sheila Kennedy.“Our invention，”Kennedy says，“came from seeing how we could transform technology we saw every day in the United States and move it into new markets for people who didnt have a lot of money.”At the core of5 Portable Light technology are devices called high-brightness light-emitting diodes，or HB LEDs6.These tiny lights appear in digital clocks，televisions，and streetlights.LEDs are completely different from the light bulbs. Most of those glass bulbs belong to a type called incandescent lights. Inside，electricity heats a metal coil to about 2,200 degrees Celsius. At that temperature，bulbs give off light we can see.Ninety percent of energy produced by incandescent lights，however，is heat - and invisible. With all that wasted energy，bulbs bum out quickly. They are also easily broken.LEDs，on the other hand，are like tiny pieces of rock made up of molecules that are arranged in a crystal structure. When an electric current passes through an LED，the crystal structure produces light. Unlike incandescent bulbs，they can produce light of various colors. Within an LED，the type of molecules and their particular arrangement determines what color is produced.词汇：Portable adj.轻便的，手提式的 incandescent adj.白灼的Light-emitting diode(LED) 发光二极管 coil n.线圈，卷，圈Bulb n.灯泡;球状物 molecule n.分子注释：1.Sierra Madre mountain range of west central Mexico：墨西哥中西部的马德雷山脉。Sierra一词在西班牙语中本身就包含了“山脉”的意思，确切地说是“呈齿状起伏的山脉，因为在西班牙语中Sierra有“锯子的意思。2.Huichol people：维克人。他们是居住在墨西哥中西部地区马德雷山脉的土著印地安人。该地区山路崎岖，所以西班牙人未涉足于此，墨西哥文化也没能影响维克人的土著文化。据估计，维克印地安人现仅存约一万人。3.string power lines：架设输电线4.Now，a team of scientistsis using：a team of scientists可以视作单数，也可以视作复数。本句用作单数，所以后接的谓语动词是is。5.At the core of：此处the core of意为the basic or most important part of(最重要的部分)。6.At the core of Portable Light technology are devices called high-brightness light-emitting diodes， or HB LEDs：本句是倒装句，主语是“devices called high-brightness light-emitting diodes, or HB LEDs，谓语动词是“are”。High-brightness light-emitting diodes可译为“高亮度发光二极管。练习：1.To make a living，the Huichol create artwork andA.sell it to tourists in their villages.B.sell it in cities far away from their villages.C.display it in their village museum.D.keep it in their homes to attract tourists.2.Why Can Portable Lights emit light?A.Electronic crystals are woven into fabrics.B.Items such as clothes and bags are used to carry lights.C.The suns energy is collected during the day.D.All of the above.3.What does Sheila Kennedy say about Portable Lights?A.This invention Can change the lives of people，both rich and poor.B.They are widely used in the United States.C.Portable Lights can help poor people around the world to get light.D.They are expensive to make but easy to carry.4.What is the most important part of the Portable Light technology?A.HB LEDsB.Glass Bulbs.C.Incandescent lights.D.Heated metal coils.5.LEDs are different from light bulbs in thatA.LEDs ale incandescent lights while light bulbs are not.B.LEDs have a metal coil while light bulbs have not.C.LEDs emit colored light while most fight bulbs dont.D.LEDs are made up of tiny pieces of rock while light bulbs are not.答案与题解：1.B短文的第一段提供了答案，该段告诉我们，维克人为了谋生，制作工艺品，并到几百英里以外的城市去销售。2.D文章的第二和第三段包括了A、B和C所述内容。所以D是答案。3.C短文的第四和第五段提供了答案。短文第四段的句子说了Potable Lights可以在世界范围内改变穷乡僻壤用不上电的人们的生活，C准确地表达了这层意思，所以是答案。A不是答案，说Potable Lights能改变富人穷人的生活，不符合原文的意思。短文没有提及Portable Lights在美国使用，也没有说Portable Lights是否花费很大。所以B和D都不是答案。4.A 第六段的第一句提供了答案。Portable Lights技术的最主要部分是high-brightness light-emitting diodes，即高亮度发光二极管。5.C短文的第六段对light bulbs进行了描述。第二句中的those glass bulbs即指第一句中的light bulbs。因此，LEDs不是incandescent lights(白炽灯)，也没有金属丝。所以A和B均是错误的选择。最后一段的第一个句子LEDs，on the other hand，are like tiny pieces of rockmade up of molecules that are arranged in a crystal structure中的like pieces of rock，不等于pieces of rock，所以，D也是错误选择。根据短文的最后一段内容，C是正确选择。第三十四篇Batteries Built by VirusesWhat do chicken pox, the common cold，the flu，and AIDS have in common? Theyre all disease caused by viruses，tiny microorganisms that can pass from person to person. Its no wonder1 that when most people think about viruses, finding ways to steer clear of2 viruses is whats on peoples minds.Not everyone runs from the tiny disease carriers, though3.In Cambridge，Massachusetts4, scientists have discovered that some viruses can be helpful in an unusual way. They are putting viruses to work，teaching them to build some of the worlds smallest rechargeable batteries.Viruses and batteries may seem like an unusual pair, but theyre not so strange for engineer Angela Belcher, who first came up with5 the idea. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge，she and her collaborators bring together different areas of science in new ways. In the case of the virus-built batteries，the scientists combine what they know about biology，technology and production techniques.Belchers team includes Paula Hammond，who helps put together the tiny batteries，and Yet-Ming Chiang, an expert on how to store energy in the form of a battery. Were working on things we traditionally dont associate with nature, says Hammond.Many batteries are already pretty small. You can hold A，C and D batteries6 in your hand. The coin-like batteries that power watches are often smaller than a penny. However，every year，new electronic devices like personal music players or cell phones get smaller than the year before. As these devices shrink，ordinary bakeries wont be small enough to fit inside.The ideal battery will store a lot of energy in a small package. Right now，Belchers model battery，a metallic disk completely built by viruses，looks like a regular watch battery. But inside，its components are very small-so tiny you can only see them with a powerful microscope.How small are these battery parts? To get some idea of the size，pluck one hair from your head. Place your hair on a piece of white paper and try to see how wide your hair is-pretty thin，right? Although the width of each persons hair is a bit different，you could probably fit about 10 of these virus-built battery parts，side to side，across one hair. These microbatteries may change the way we look at viruses7.词汇：chicken pox水痘 collaborator n.合作者，协作者microorganism n.微生物 pluck v.拔，摘，采metallic adj.金属的注释：1.no wonder：不足为奇的，难怪2.steer clear of：避开，绕开3.though：意思为“然而，可是”。在句中使用时通常放在句末。4.Cambridge，Massachusetts：马萨诸塞州的剑桥市。本文第三段提到的the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT)in Cambridge即指坐落于剑桥市的麻省理工学院。麻省理工学院于1861年由著名自然科学家威廉巴罗吉杰斯创立。这是美国的一所私立研究型大学，培养高级科技人才和管理人才，是以理工科为主的、世界一流的综合性大学。5.came up with：提出6.A，C and D batteries：A、C、D均为电池型号。7.These microbatteries may change the way we look at viruses：这些微型电池可能会改变我们看待病毒的方式。作者想表达的意思是：人们一直认为病毒有害无益，现在病毒可用来制作电池，人们对病毒的看法可能会因此而发生变化。练习：1.According to the first paragraph，people try toA.kill microorganisms related to chicken pox，the flu，etc.B.keep themselves away from viruses because they are invisible.C.stay away from viruses because they are causes of various diseases.D.cure themselves of virus-related diseases by taking medicines.2.What is Belchers team doing at present?A.It is finding ways to get rid of viruses.B.It is mass-producing microbatteries.C.It is making batteries with viruses.D.It is analyzing virus genes.3.What expression below is opposite in meaning to the word shrink appearing in paragraph 5 ?A.Broaden.B.Spread.C.Extend.D.Expand.4.Which of the following is true of Belchers battery mentioned in paragraph 6?A.It is made of metal.B.It is a kind of watch battery.C.It can only be seen with a microscope.D.It is a metallic disk with viruses inside it.5.How tiny is one battery part?A.Its width is one tonth of a hair.B.It equals the width of a hair.C.It is as thin as a piece of paper.D.Its width is too tiny to measure.答案与题解：1.C 短文第一段的大致意思是，许多疾病都由病毒引起，诸如水痘、感冒和艾滋病，所以人们想尽办法躲避病毒。这是C所表达的意思。A不是正确选择，因为文章并没有说人们想方设法去杀死病毒。B的后半句的内容(病毒肉眼看不见)和D的内容(吃药治疗病毒引起的疾病)文中没有提到。2.C短文的第二段明确提供了答案。3.D 根据上下文，shrink在此的意思是“收缩，即“缩小。所以，它的反义词是expand(增大，扩张)。C不是正确选择，因为extend的意思是become longer，即“延伸”或“加长。A的意思是“加宽”，也不是答案。B的意思是“伸展，展开，在一定的上下文里也可以做shrink的反义词，但在第五段这个语境里，B不是最佳选择。4.D 第六段第二句中提到的metallic disk是指“金属圆盘”，它是微型电池的外形，其内部是由病毒构成的电池部件。微型电池不是由金属组成的，所以A不是答案。本段提到，这种电池looks like a regular watch battery，与手表里电池外形相似，但并不等同手表电池，所以B也不是正确选择。文章只是说电池的部件(但并没有说整个电池)小到只能用显微镜才能看到，所以C也不是正确的选择。D才是第六段所要表达的主要内容，因此是答案。5.A 短文最后一段的第四句(“you could probably fit about 10 of these virus-built battery parts，side to side，across one hair”)提供了本题的答案第三十八篇Longer Lives for Wild ElephantsMost people think of zoos as safe places for animals，where struggles such as difficulty finding food and avoiding predators dont exist. Without such problems，animals in zoos should live to a ripe old age1.But that may not be true for2 the largest land animals on Earth. Scientists have known that elephants in zoos often suffer from poor health. They develop diseases，joint problems and behavior changes. Sometimes, they even become infertile，or unable to have babies.To learn more about how captivity affects elephants，a team of international scientists compared the life spans of female elephants born in zoos with female elephants living outdoors in their native lands. Zoos keep detailed records of all the animals in their care，documenting factors such as birth dates, illnesses, weight and death. These records made it possible for me researchers to analyze 40 years of data on 800 African and Asian elephants in zoos across Europe. The scientists compared the life spans of the zoo-born elephants with the life spans of thousands of female wild elephants in Africa and Asian elephants that work in logging camps3，over approximately the same time period.The team found that female African elephants born in zoos lived an average of 16.9 years. Their wild counterparts who died of natural causes lived an average of 56 years-more than three times as long. Female Asian elephants followed a similar pattern. In zoos，they lived 18.9 years，while those in the logging camps lived41.7 years.Scientists dont yet know why wild elephants seem to fare so much better than their zoo-raised counterparts. Georgia Mason，a biologist at the University of Guelph in Canada who led the study，thinks stress and obesity may be to blame4.Zoo elephants dont get the same kind of exercise they would in the wild，and most are very fat. Elephant social lives are also much different in zoos than in the wild，where they live in large herds and family groups.Another finding from the study showed that Asian elephants born in zoos were more likely to die early than Asian elephants captured in the wild and brought to zoos. Mason suggests stress in the mothers in zoos might cause them to have babies that are less likely to survive.The study raises some questions about acquiring more elephants to keep in zoos. While some threatened and endangered species living in zoos reproduce successfully and maintain healthy populations，that doesnt appear to be the case with elephants. Currently，zoos are net consumers of elephants，not net producers, Mason says.词汇：predator n.食肉动物 captivity/ n.监禁;束缚ripe adj.成熟的 fare v.过活，生活infertile adj.不生育的 obesity n.过度肥胖;肥胖症注释：1.1ive to a ripe old age：这是一种固定用法，意思是live to an age that is considered to be veryold(长寿，高寿)。2.be true for：或者be true of：对适用。短文中第二段第一句：But that may not be true forthe largest land animals on Earth.这里，作为主语的that指的是第一段所陈述的内容。这个句