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2014年职称英语理工类考试教材完形填空文章及译文（5）2014年职称英语考试时间为3月29日。
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Singing Alarms Could Save the BlindIf you cannot see, you may not be able to1 find your way out of a burning building — and that could be fatal. A company in Leeds could change all that2____1____ directional sound alarms capable of guiding you to the exit.Sound Alert, a company____2____ the University of Leeds, is installing the alarms in a residential home for____3____ people in Sommerset and a resource centre for the blind in Cumbria.____4____ produce a wide range of frequencies that enable the brain to determine where the____5____ is coining from.Deborah Withington of Sound Alert says that the alarms use most of the frequencies that can be____6____ by humans. “It is a burst of white noise____7____ people say sounds like static on the radio，” she says. “Its life-saving potential is great.”She conducted an experiment in which people were filmed by thermal-imaging cameras trying to find their way out of3 a large____8____ room. It____9____ them nearly four minutes to find the door____10____ a sound alarm, but only 15 seconds with one.Withington studies how the brain____11____ sounds at the university. She says that the____12____ of a wide band of frequencies can be pinpointed more easily than the source of a narrow band. Alarms____13____ the same concept have already been installed on emergency vehicles.The alarms will also include rising or falling frequencies to indicate whether people should go up____14____ down stairs. They were____15____ with the aid of a large grant from British Nuclear Fuels.词汇：directional adj.定向的exit n.出口install v.安装residential adj.居住的static n.静电噪声potential n.潜力thermal-imaging热效应成像pinpoint v.精确地确定concept n.概念，观念emergency n.紧急情况grant n.授予物，准许注释：1.在谓语动词中，不能并列使用两个情态动词，如may和can就不能并列使用。
2014年职称英语考试试题理工类c级真题及答案（word版）第1部分词汇选项1.Take some spare clothes in case you get wet.A fineB winterC outdoorD extra2.Afterwards there was just a feeling of let-down.A excitementB angerC calmD disappointment3.The AIDS convention will be held in Glasgow.A conferenceB partyC celebrationD union4.The new service helped boost pre-tax profits by 10%.A returnB realizeC increaseD double5.Some comments are just inviting trouble.A asking forB keeping out ofC getting intoD suffering from6.His knowledge of French is fair.A very usefulB very limitedC quite goodD rather special7.The book raised a storm of controversy.A damageB voiceC doubtD argument8.My principal concern is to get the job done fast.A seriousB mainC deepD particularck of space forbids further treatment of the topic here.A receivesB deservesC acceptsD prevents10.He made a number of rude remarks about the food.A commentsB signsC mannersD noises11.They are trying to identify what is wrong with the present systm.A proveB discoverC considerD imagine12.His heart gave a sudden leap when he saw her.A hopeB jumpC silenceD life13.The worst agonies of the war were now beginning.A partsB aspectsC painsD results14.I'm sure I'll be able to amuse myself for a few hours.A entertainB treatC holdD keep15.Several windows had been smashed.A cleanedB brokenC replacedD fixed答案：DDACA CDBDA BBCAB第二部分阅读判断So Many "Earths"The Milky Way(银河) contains billions of Earth-sized planets that could support life.That's the finding of new study.It draws on data that came from NASA's top planet-hunting telescope.A mechanical failure recently put that Kepter space telescope out of service.Kepler had played a big role in creating a census of planets orbiting some 170,000 stars. Its date have been helping astronomers predict how common planets are in our galaxy.The telescope focused on hunting planets that might have conditions similar to those on Earth.The authors of a study published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences conclude that between 14 and 30 out of every 100 stars with a mass and temperature similar to the Sun may host a planet that could support life as we know it.Such a planet would have a diameter at least as large as Earth's but no more than twice that big.The planet also would have to orbit in a stor's habitable zone. That's where the surface temperature would allow any water to exist as liquid.The new estimate of how many plantes might fit these conditions comes from studying more that 42,000 stars and identifying suitable worlds orbiting them.The scientists used those numbers to extrapolate(推算) to the rest of the stars that the telescope could not see.The estimate is rough，the authors admit. If applied to the solar system，it would define as habitable a zone starting as close ot the Sun as Venus and running to as far away as Mars. Neither planet is Earthlike(although either might have been in the distant pase). Using tighter limits the researchers estimate the between 4 and 8 out of every 100 sunlike stars could host an Earth-sized world.These are ones that would take 200 to 400 days to complete a yearly orbit.Four out of every 100 sunlike stars doesn't sound like a big number. It would mean however that the Milky Way could host more than a billion Earth-sized planets with a chance for life.16. The Kepler space telescpe has been in service for 15 yearsA RightB WrongC Not mentioned17.The main task of the Kepler space telescope is to find out planets with similar conditions to Earth's.A RightB WrongC Not mentioned18.The planet that could support life might be a little bit smaller than Earth.A RightB WrongC Not mentioned19.The Earth is a planet orbiting in the Sun's habitable zone.A RightB WrongC Not mentioned20.The new finding is based on a thorough study of 170,000 stars on the Milky Way.A RightB WrongC Not mentioned21.The estimate of the number of planets that could support life is not very accurate.A RightB WrongC Not mentioned22.This is the first research finding about the planets with a chance for life.A RightB WrongC Not mentioned答案：CABABAC第3部分概括大意与完成句子Pathways to Research：Problem-solving1 Pittsburgh's many hills aren't kind to bikers. Anyone hoping to pedal to work there has to contend with steep streets like Canton Avenue，which famouslyclimabs at a nearly 40-degree angle.As a result，some residents avoid biking altogether.2 But University of Pittsburgh graduate Micah Toll，23，and a few friends recently launched an invention that they hope will increase the city's pedal power. An electric bike called to Pulse PEVO. A super-strong battery powers the bicycle. Able to hit nearly 20 miles per hours without pedaling，it zips battery powers the bicycle. Able to hit nearly 20 miles per hour without pedating ，it zips up the city's most daunting(令人却步的)hills.Toll hopes it will persuade people in Pittsburgh and elsewhere to get out of their cars and onto bikes.3 If it sounds like Toll has a knack(窍门) for fixing problems，that's because he does. In high school，he designed a new type of construction beam. It weights no more than a feather pillow but can be used to build sturdy(坚固的)homes for refugees fleeing war or natural disaster.For his work，Toll was invited to attend the Inter International Science and Engineering Fair(Isef)—twice，in 2006 and 2007. The annual competition for young researchers is program of Society for Science&the Public(that's the parent organization of Science News for Kids).Toll says that when it comes to science，he keeps it simple：“You see a problem and say，“How couldI solve that?”4 He's not the only to take that approach. Many young researchers get their start by trying to solve a problem or fulfill a need in their own communities.When students dedicate themselves to finding a solution that many benefit theircommunity，“a passion is ignited(点燃)，”says Wendy Hawkins，executive director of the Inter Foundation，which sponsors Intel ISEF."Finding that passion and fostering it can be the key to many students future success."she says.23. Paragraph 124. Paragraph 225. Paragraph 326. Paragraph 4A Intel International Science and Engineering FairB The enthusiasm for solving problemsC The young researchers' passionD An invention increasing pedal powerE Why people avoid biking in PittsburghF The cause of national disaster27 A Pulse PEVO is powered with28 Toll hopes his Pulse PEVO will encourage people to29 A new construction beam invented by Toll weighs like30 Many young researchers are finding solutions to problems that mayA a nearly 40-degreeangleB get on bikesC a feather pillowD fix more problemsE a super-strong batteryF benefit their community答案：EDBC EBCF第4部分，阅读理解Approaches to Understanding IntelligencesIt bays to be smart, but we are not all smart in the same way .You may be a talented musician, but you might not be a good reader. Each of us is different.Psychologists disagree about what is intelligence and what are talents or personal abilities .Psychologists have two different views on intelligence .Some believe there is one general intelligence .Others believe there are many different intelligences .Some psychologists say there is one type of intelligence that can be measured with IQ tests .These psychologists support their view with research that concludes that people who do well on one kind of test for mental ability do well on other tests .They do well on tests using words, numbers or pictures. They do well on individual or group tests, and written or oral tests .Those who do poorly on one test, do the same on all tests.Studies of the brain show that there is a biological basis for general intelligence .The brain of intelligence people use less energy during problem solving .The brain waves of people with higher intelligence show a quicker reaction .Some researchers conclude that differences in intelligence result from differences in the speed and effectiveness of information processing by the brain .Howard Gardner, a psychologist at the Harvard School of Education, has four children .He believes that all children are different and shouldn’t be tested by one intelligence test .Although Gardner believes general intelligence exists, he doesn’t think it tells much about the talents of a person outside of formal schooling .He think that the human mind has different intelligences .These intelligences allow us to solve the kinds of problems we are presented with in life .Each of us has different abilities within these intelligences .Gardner believes that the purpose of school should be to encourage development of all of our intelligences .Gardner says that his theory is based on biology .For example ,when one part of the Brain is injured ,other parts of the brain still work .People who cannot talkbecause of Brain damage can still sing .So ,there is not just one intelligence to lose .Gardner has Identified 8 different kinds of intelligence; linguistic, mathematical, spatial, musical, Interpersonal, intrapersonal, body-kinesthetic(身体动觉的),and naturalistic .31. What is the main idea of this passage?A. How to understand intelligence.B. The importance of intelligence.C. The development of intelligence tests.D. How to become intelligent.32. Which of the following statements is true concerning general intelligence?A. Most intelligent people do well on some intelligence tests.B. People doing well on one type of intelligence test do well on other tests.C. Intelligent people do not do well on group tests.D. Intelligent people do better on written tests than on oral tests.33. Gardner believes that ________.A. children have different intelligences.B. all children are alike.C. children should take one intelligence test.D. there is no general intelligence.34. According to Gardner, schools should ________.A. test students’IQs.B. train students who do poorly on tests.C. focus on finding the most intelligent students.D. promote development of all intelligences.35. Gardner thinks that his theory has a ________ .A. musical foundation.B. biological foundation.C. intrapersonal foundation.D. linguistic foundation.答案：ABADBMusic is one of the most beautiful forms of artistic expression是ever invented. In movies and plays，music has an added function：it not only moves people but also can shock people.Our eardrums can withstand sound within 20 to 80 decibels(分贝).Once sound exceeds this limit，even beautiful music will become ear-splitting noise and harm health.A strong blast(响声) of high sound can twist and break a solid iron sheet.High sound of 150 decibels can kill a healthy rat.In movies，sometimes the hero can produce a sound that ordinary people can't hear and only those who have the same ability can feel.In nature，there is actually sound that is beyond our hearing. In physics，the sound that exceeds 20000Hz is called ultrasonic(超音波的).Dolphins，whales and bats can make suchhigh-frequency sound.It does no harm to health.Sound less than 20Hz is called infrasonic(次声)waves. When we move，the air will vibrate. The vibration of air can produce infrasonic wave.As the frequency of infrasonic waves is close to that of people's internal organs，infrasonic wave may cause resonance(共振) in human bodies. As a result，people's vision may weaken and internal organs may rupture(断裂). However，whether an infrasonic wave can be used as a weapon depends on its intensity. If its intensity is very low，it won't damage internal organs or a person's health. If the intensity of inf让sonic wave exceeds 160 decibels，it is extremely harmful. When wind blows at a force of 3 or 4 over the sea，it will produce infrasonic waves of several decibels. Only typhoons canproduce infrasonic waves of over 100 decibels. At present，scientists can only produce infrasonic weapons in the lab with the help of advanced scientific tools and powerful electric power.36 What could be the best title of the passage?A The power of musicB The harms of noisesC The magic of soundD The discovery of infrasonic waves37 What does the author say about music?A It may be harmful to people's halthB It always cheers people upC It is very often difficult to understandD It sounds better when it is lound enough38 It is true that the soundA of nature is the most beautifulB over 80 decibels is harmful to peopleC of high intensity benefits animalsD in movies is pleasing to the ear39 An ultrasonic soundA is very loudB does harm to people's healthC cannot be heard by peopleD is produced by the hero in movies40 It can be found from the last paragraph that infrasonic wavesA are harmless to people's healthB exist in people's internal organsC can be used as deadly weaponsD can improve eyesight答案：CABCCCompact DisksIf someone says to you your music CDs don't really hold any music on them, and they only have numbers recorded on them, you may not believe it. In fact, he isright in that sound is actually recorded onto the CDs as special numbers —a digital code.1 The code is pressed onto the CD as bumps on a long spiral track almost five kilometers long. These bumps are an average of 0.5 microns wide.A small laser beam shines onto the bumps as the CD turns. The light is reflected back to a receiver that records how the laser light bounces back. This lets the CD player2 turn the reflected light back into the original code. This means you can hear the original code as music.Digital codes are used with many technologies. E-mail needs these kinds of code numbers. Space probes communicate with their ground station on earth using digital codes. Bar codes are read as digital codes in computer systems. Digital communications with cell phones need digital codes. Weather radios also tune into specific signals using these codes.There are many types of compact disks. One format is called CD-RWs. They can be recorded on and re-recorded on(rewritten on)as you would do with a floppy disk3. Another format is the CD-ROM. The technology for recording on these disks is different from other CDs. These CDs have a dye layer that the CD writer can darken or leave clear. The clear and dark spots are the digital code. CD-ROM stands for Compact Disc —Read Only Memory4. This disk is like a "super" floppy disk that can hold lots of information. One CD-ROM can hold the same amount of data as 500 floppy disks. Information is permanently recorded onto it. Computer games and other programs are considered to be CD-ROMs.CDs were first sold to the public in 1982 These CDs still play well and sound fine. Current CDs are expected to last between 70 to 200 years. Of course, you can make sure your CDs last a long time by taking care of them.Science keeps on developing. It may not be many more years before a completely new technology is invented5 and introduced to the public for music recording. In the meantime, there is no doubt you will continue to enjoy listening to your favorite music on CDs6 and playing your favorite computer games onCD-ROMs.41 Music is recorded onto CDs asA laser beamsB digital codesC musical notesD special sounds42 E-mail is mentioned in the third paragraph to showA the variety of digital communicationsB the development of new technologiesC the usefulness of digital codesD the relationship between communication and technology43 One of the differences between CD-RWs and CD-ROMs isA CD-ROMs can be used for longer timeB CD-ROMs cannot be rewritten onC CD-RWs hold more informationD CD-RWs are merely used for music recording44 CDs can last a long time ifA they are seldom usedB they play well and sound fineC their users take good care of themD they are developed with new technology45 It can be inferred from the passage thatA CD-ROMs are more expensive than other CDsB new technology for music recording is being developedC the author likes listening to musicD flppy disks are no longer in use答案：BCBCC第5部分，补全短文Do You Have a Sense of Humor?Humor and laughter are good for us. There is increasing evidence that they can heal us physically，mentally，emotionally，and spiritually. In fact，every system of the body responds to laughter in some positive，healing way. So how can we get more laughter into our lives?(46)Psychologist and author，Steve Wlison，has some answers.Many peoplebelieve that we are born with a sense of humor.They think，“either you've got it，or you don't”Dr.Wilson points out that this false.(47) The parts of brain and central nervous system that control laughing and smiling are mature at birth(48)(After all ，when a baby laughs，we don't rush over and say，“That kid has a great sense of humor!”)A sense of humor is something that you can develop over a lifetime.Sometimes people think that they don't have a good sense of humor because they are not good joke tellers.Dr.Wilson reminds us that telling jokes is only one of many ways to express humor.(49)Then we will make others laugh，too.A person who has a true sense of humor is willing and able to see the funny side of everyday life.One of the best definition of a sense of humor is“the ability to see the nonserious element in a situation.”Consider this sign from a sore window.“Any faulty merchandise will be cheerfully replanced with merchandise of equal quality.”The store manager probably placed the sign in the window to impress customers with the store's excellent service.(50)As Dr.Wilson says，“a good sense of humor means that you don't have to be funny;you just have to see what's funny.”A He advises us to lose our inhibitions(抑制)and try to laugh at ourselves.B Is it possible to develop a sense of humor?C However，that does not mean that infants have a sense of humor.D What is true，however，it that we are born with the capacity to laugh and smileE Everyone experiences this emotionF He had a serious purpose，but if you have a sense of humor，you will probably find the sign funny!答案：BDCAF第6部分：完形填空(第51~65题，每题1分，共15分)Citizen ScientistsUnderstanding how nature responds to climate change will require monitoring key life cycle1 events —flowering, the appearance of leaves, the first frog calls of the spring —all around the world. But ecologists can't be everywhere so they're turning to non-scientists, sometimes called citizen scientists, for help.Climate scientists are not present everywhere. Because there are so many places in the world and not enough scientists to observe all of them, they're asking for your help in observing signs of climate change across the world. The citizen scientist movement encourages ordinary people to observe a very specific research interest —birds, trees, flowers budding, etc. —and send their observations to a giant database to be observed by professional scientists. This helps a small number of scientists track a large amount of data that they would never be able to gather on their own. Much like citizen journalists helping large publications cover a hyper-local beat2, citizen scientists are ready for the conditions where they live. All that's needed to become one is a few minutes each day or each week to gather data and send it in.A group of scientists and educators launched an organization last year called the National Phenology4Network. “Phenology”is what scientists call the study of the timing of events in nature.One of the group's first efforts relies on scientists and non-scientists alike to collect data about plant flowering and leafing every year. The program, called Project Bud Burst, collects life cycle data on a variety of common plants from acrossthe United States. People participating in the project —which is open to everyone —record their observations on the Project Bud Burst website.“People don't have to be plant experts —they just have to look around and see what's in their neighborhood,”says Jennifer Schwartz, an education consultant with the project. “As we collect this data, we'll be able to make an estimate of how plants and communities of plants and animals will respond as the climate changes.”51 A everywhere B anywhere C somewhere D nowher52 A If B Although C When D Because53 A giving B showing C developing D observing54 A special B professional C skillful D ordinary55 A on B at C to D with56 A small B limited C smple D large57 A Very B Much C AsD Many58 A All B Any C Some D Most59 A send B print C answer D keep60 A known B featured C belonged D called61 A alike B like C unlike D likely62 A points B wonders C data D interests63 A common B suitable C open D strange64 A want B forget C mind D have65 A who B how C before D since ADDDC BDAAD ACCDB。
2014理工A阅读理解、完型填空、新增文章复习资料目录阅读理解+第三十四篇Batteries Built by Viruses+第三十五篇Putting Plants to Work （2013理工B真题）+第三十六篇Listening Device Provides Landslide Early Warning+第三十七篇"Don't Drink Alone" Gets New Meaning+第三十八篇"Life Form Found" on Saturn's Titan（2012真题）+第三十九篇Clone Farm+第四十篇Teaching Math, Teaching Anxiety（2012新增文章）+ 第四十一篇Too Little for Global Warming+ 第四十二篇Renewable Energy Sources+ 第四十三篇Forecasting Methods（2013理工A真题）+ 第四十四篇Defending the Theory of Evolution Still Seems Needed+ 第四十五篇Small But Wise （2012年真题）+ 第四十六篇Ants have Big Impact on Environment as "Ecosystem Engineers"（2012新增文章）+ 第四十七篇Listening to Birdsong+ 第四十八篇Researchers Discover Why Humans Began Walking Upright （2013教材新增）+ 第四十九篇U. S. Scientists Confirm Water on Mars+ 第五十篇Cell Phones Increase Traffic, Pedestrian Fatalities完型填空：+第十五篇（2012新增）"Liquefaction" Key to Much of Japanese Earthquake Damage+第十二篇（2012新增）Free Statins With Fast Food Could Neutralize Heart Risk*第十篇（2012新增）Chicken Soup for the Soul: Comfort Food Fights Loneliness+第十四篇Sharks Perform a Service for Earth's Waters2014年教材新增文章第二部分阅读判断*第八篇What Is a Dream?*第十篇The Biology of Music+第十一篇Bill Gates: Unleashing Your Creativity+第十四篇Stage Fright第四部分阅读理解*第二十九篇I’ll Be Bach第五部分补全短文第四篇The Bilingual Brain*第十篇How Deafness Makes It Easier to Hear+第十五篇 A Memory Drug?理工A复习说明：2014 阅读理解带加号，重点要求17篇，第34-50篇，较2013年增加了7篇文章（这7篇原来是2013理工B的文章）这里注意下，第35篇Putting Plants to Work（非2013新增文章）是2013年理工B的真题，2014年应该不会考到。
2014年职称英语理工类考试教材完形填空文章及译文（6）2014年职称英语考试时间为3月29日。
小编为您整理职称英语理工类教材中完形填空部分的文章及译文，希望对您有所助益。
Car Thieves Could Be Stopped RemotelySpeeding off1 in a stolen car, the thief thinks he has got a great catch2. But he is in a nasty3 surprise. The car is fitted with a remote immobilizer, and a radio signal from a control center miles away will ensure that once the thief switches the engine____1____ , he will not be able to start it again.For now, such devices____2____ only available for fleets of trucks4 and specialist vehicles used on construction sites. But remote immobilization technology could soon start to trickle down to ordinary cars5，and____3____ be available to ordinary cars in the UK____4____ two months. The idea goes like this. A control box fitted to the car incorporates6____5____ miniature cellphone, a microprocessor and memory, and a GPS7 satellite positioning receiver.____6____ the car is stolen, a coded cellphone signal will tell the u nit to block the vehicle’s engine management system and prevent the engine____7____ restarted.There are even plans for immobilizers____8____ shut down vehicles on the move8, though there are fears over the safety implications of such a system.In the UK, an array of9 technical fixes10 is already making____9____ harder for car thieves. “The pattern of vehicles crime has changed,” says Martyn Randall of Thatcham, a security research organization based in Berkshire11 that is funded in part____10____ the motor insurance industry.He says it would only take him a few minutes to____11____ a novice how to steal a car, using a bare minimum of tools12. But only if the car is more than 10 years old.Modern cars are a far tougher proposition13, as their engine management computer will not____12____ them to start unless they receive a unique ID code beamed out14 by the iginition key. In the UK, technologies like this____13____ achieve a 31 per cent drop in vehicle-related crime15 since 1997.But determined criminals are still managing to find other ways to steal cars. Often by getting hold of the owner’s keys in a burglary. In 2000, 12 per cent of vehicles stolen in the UK were taken by using the owner’s keys, which doubles the previous year’s figure.Remote-controlled immobilization system would____14____ a major new obstacle in the criminal’s way by making such thefts pointless. A group that includes Thatcham, the police, insurance companies and security technology firms have developed standards for a system that could go on the market sooner than the____15____ expects.词汇：immobilizer n.使车辆不能调动的装置cellphone n.移动电话，手机ignition n.点火trickle v.慢慢移动immobilization n.使车辆不能调动burglary n.夜窃行为;盗窃注释：1.speed off：超速驾驶2.catch：捕获物，猎获物3.nasty：very unpleasant or annoying使人不愉快的;烦人的4.fleets of trucks：卡车队。
2014年职称英语_国家指定教材_完形填空_所有文章中英文对照版 (3)完形填空文章_综合类_C级 (3)第一篇 A Life with Birds【有鸟陪伴的生活】 (3)第二篇 A Lucky Break【幸福的骨折】 (5)第三篇Global Warming 【全球变暖】 (6)第四篇 A Success Story【一个成功的故事】 (8)第五篇Traffic in Our Cities 【城市的交通】 (10)完形填空文章_综合类_B级 (12)第六篇Teaching and Learning【教与学】 (12)第七篇The Difference between Man and Computer 【人与电脑的区别】 (14)第八篇Look on The Bright Side 【看光明的一面】 (16)第九篇The First Bicycle【第一辆自行车】 (18)第十篇Working Mothers 【职业母亲】 (19)完形填空文章_综合类_A级 (21)第十一篇School Lunch【学校午餐】 (21)第十二篇 A Powerful Influence【强大的影响】 (23)第十三篇The Old Gate【古老之门】 (25)第十四篇Family History【家族史】 (27)第十五篇Helen and Martin【海伦和马丁】 (29)完形填空文章课后练习参考答案__综合类 (32)2014年职称英语_国家指定教材_完形填空_所有文章中英文对照版阅读下面的短文。
短文中有十五个空白，在文章的后面，每一个空白都列了四个备选答案。
请根据文章的内容选择合适的词或短语填在空白处。
完形填空文章_综合类_C级第一篇 A Life with Birds【有鸟陪伴的生活】For nearly 17 years David Cope has worked as one of the Tower of London's Yeoman Warders, ____1____ known to tourists as Beefeaters. David, 64, lives in a three-bedroomed flat right at the ___2_____ of the Byward Tower, one of the gatehouses. “____3____ our bedroom we have a marvellous view of Tower Bridge and the Thames. ”says David.The Tower of London is famous ___4____its ravens, the large black birds which have lived there for over three centuries. David was immediately fascinated by the birds and when he was ____5___ the post of Raven Master eight years ago he had no ____6____ i n accepting it. “The birds have now become my life and I'm always ____7___ of the fact that I am ___8____ a tradition. The legend says that if the ravens leave the Tower, England will fall to enemies, and it's my job to ____9____ sure this doesn't happen!”David ____10____about four hours a day to the care of the ravens. He has grown to love them and the ____11____ that he lives right next to them is ideal. “I can ____12____ a close eye on them all the time, and not just when I'm working.” ____13____, David's wife Mo was not ____14____ on the idea of life in the Tower, but she too will be sad to leave when he retires next year. “When we look out of our windows we see history ___15_____ around us, and we are taking it in and storing it up for our future memor ies. ”文章翻译：有鸟陪伴的生活作为伦敦塔的守卫者之一David Cope在那里工作了近17年，被游客们称为Beefeaters。
2014年职称英语理工类考试教材完形填空文章及译文（7）2014年职称英语考试时间为3月29日。
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An Intelligent CarDriving needs sharp eyes, keen ears, quick brain, and coordination between hands and the brain. Many human drivers have all ____1____ and can control a fast-moving car. But how does an intelligent car control itself?There is a virtual driver1 in the smart car. This virtual driver1 has “eyes”, “brains”, “hands” and “feet”, too. The minicameras ____2____ each side of the car are his “eyes”, which observ e the road conditions ahead of it. They watch the ____3____ to the car’s left and right. There is also a highly ____4____ driving system in the car. It is the built-in computer, which is the virtual driver’s “brain”. His “brain” calculates the speeds of ____5____ moving cars near it and analyzes their positions. Basing on this information2, it chooses the right ____6____ for the intelligent car, and gives ____7____ to the “hands” and “feet” to act accordingly. In this way, the virtual driver controls his car.What is the virsual driver’s best advantage3? He reacts ____8____. The minicameras are ____9____ images continuously to the “brain.” It ____10____ the processing of the images within 100 milliseconds. However. the world’s best driver ____11____ needs on e second to react. ____12____, when he takes action, he needs one more second.The virtual driver is really wonderful. He can reduce the accident ____13____ considerably on expressways. In this case, can we let him have the wheel4 at any time and in any place? Experts ____14____ that we cannot do that5 just yet6. His ability to recognize things is still ____15____. He can now only drive an intelligent car on expressways.词汇：coordination n.协调，协同virtual adj.虚拟的minicamera n.微型相机accordingly adv.相应地millisecond n.毫秒expressway n.高速公路注释：1.virtual driver：虚拟驾驶员2.Basing on this information：基于这些信息。
1 Better Control of TB Seen If a Faster Cure Is FoundThe World Health Organization1 estimates that about one-third of all people are infected with bacteria that cause tuberculosis . Most times, the infection remains inactive. But each year about eight million people develop active cases of TB, usually in their lungs. Two million people die of of it. The disease has increased with the spread of AIDS and drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis.Current treatments take at least six months. People have to take a combination of several antibiotic drugs daily. But many people stop as soon as they feel better. Doing that can lead to an infection that resists treatment. Public health experts agree that a faster-acting cure for tuberculosis would be more effective. Now a study estimates just how effective it might be. A professor of international health at Harvard University2 led the study. Joshua Salomon says a shorter treatment program would likely mean not just more patients cured. It would also mean fewer infectious patients who can pass on their infection to others.The researchers developed a mathematical model to examine the effects of a two-month treatment plan. They tested the model with current TB conditions in Southeast Asia. The scientists found that a two-month treatment could prevent about twenty percent of new cases. And it might prevent about twenty-five percent of TB deaths. The model shows that these reductions would take place between two thousand twelve and two thousand thirty. That is, if a faster cure is developed and in wide use by two thousand twelve.The World Health Organization reductions the DOTS3program in nineteen ninety. DOTS is Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course. Health workers watch tuberculosis patients take their daily pills to make sure they continue treatment.Earlier this year, an international partnership of organizations announced a plan to expand the DOTS program. The ten-year plan also aims to finance research into new TB drugs. The four most common drugs used now are more than forty years old. The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development4 says its long-term goal is a treatment that could work in as few as ten doses.1.找到速效治疗剂可以更好控制结核病世界卫生组织估计全球有大约三分之一的人感染了导致结核病的病菌。
Citizen ScientistsUnderstanding how nature responds to climate change will require monitoring key life cycle1events—flowering,the appearance of leaves,the first frog calls of the spring—all around the world.But ecologists can't be everywhere so they're turning to non-scientists,sometimes called citizen scientists,for help.Climate scientists are not present everywhere.Because there are so many places in the world and not enough scientists to observe all of them,they're asking for your help in observing signs of climate change across the world.The citizen scientist movement encourages ordinary people to observe a very specific research interest—birds,trees,flowers budding,etc.—and send their observations to a giant database to be observed by professional scientists.This helps a small number of scientists track a large amount of data that they would never be able to gather on their own.Much like citizen journalists helping large publications cover a hyper-local beat2,citizen scientists are ready for the conditions where theylive.All that's needed to become one is a few minutes each day or each week to gather data and send it in.A group of scientists and educators launched an organization last year calledthe National Phenology4Network.“Phenology”is what scientists call the study of the timing of events in nature.One of the group's first efforts relies on scientists and non-scientists alike to collect data about plant flowering and leafing every year.The program,called Project Bud Burst, collects life cycle data on a variety of common plants from across the United States.People participating in the project —which is open to everyone—record their observations on the Project Bud Burst website.“People don't have to be plant experts—they just have to look around and see what's in their neighborhood,”says Jennifer Schwartz,an education consultant with the project.“As we collect this data,we'll be able to make an estimate of how plants and communities of plants and animals will respond as the climate changes.”51A everywhere B anywhere C somewhere D nowher 52A If B Although C When D Because53A giving B showing C developing D observing54A special B professional C skillful D ordinary 55A on B at C to D with56A small B limited C smple D large57A Very B Much C As D Many58A All B Any C Some D Most59A send B print C answer D keep60A known B featured C belonged D called61A alike B like C unlike D likely62A points B wonders C data D interests 63A common B suitable C open D strange 64A want B forget C mind D have65A who B how C before D since。
2014职称英语理工类a级考试真题及答案2014职称英语理工类A级考试真题及答案Part I Reading Comprehension （30%）Directions: There are 20 incomplete sentences in this part. For each sentence there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.1. With the new Translation Manager, users can choose the method that best _______ them.A. suitsB. satisfiesC. identifiesD. favors2. The _______ in market conditions may result in a decline in consumer spending.A. shiftB. adjustC. alterD. change3. It is important for companies to _______ the needs of their customers in order to stay competitive.A. meetB. fulfillC. compromiseD. realize4. Technology has _______ a number of changes in the way we conduct business.A. designedB. triggeredC. causedD. resulted5. The company has _______ a new policy aimed at improving employee satisfaction.A. initiatedB. enactedC. regulatedD. maintainedPart II Vocabulary and Structure （30%）6. I never watch TV at weekends, _______ I often find many interesting programs.A. whichB. unlessC. thoughD. for7. The new smart phone is much lighter and _______ its predecessor.A. as thin asB. as thinner thanC. as thin thanD. thinner than8. The candidate was honest about his lack of experience, _______ impressed the interview panel.A. thatB. whichC. whoD. it9. The workshop is _______ attractiveness to young professionals looking for career advancement.A. ofB. towardsC. withD. for10. The company is known for its commitment _______ environmental protection.A. toB. onC. atD. inPart III Cloze Test （15%）Directions: In this part, there is a passage with 15 blanks. For each blank there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choosethe one that is most suitable and mark your answer by blackening the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.As a business expands, it often _______ itself faced with the dilemma of whether to hire more staff or invest in technology. One of the main _______ that can help a company decide this issue is the cost _______ involved. Hiring new employees can be _______ initially, especially if the company has to offer competitive salaries and benefits to attract top talent. On the other hand, technology can require significant _______ upfront, but may be more _______ in the long run as it can increase efficiency and productivity. Additionally, technology can often perform tasks that would require a human employee to work in less time and with fewer errors.Part IV Reading in Depth （15%）Directions: There are two passages in this part. Each passage is followed by five questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that you think bestcompletes the passage or answers the question. Then mark your choice on the Answer Sheet.Passage 1Computers have become an essential tool for most businesses in today’s digital age. They can perform complex calculations, store vast amounts of data, and connect to the internet for information retrieval. Given their importance, it is no wonder that companies invest heavily in the latest technology to stay competitive.11. What can computers do for businesses in today's digital age?A. Perform complex calculations.B. Store vast amounts of data.C. Connect to the internet for information retrieval.D. All of the above.12. Why do companies invest heavily in the latest technology?A. To perform complex calculations.B. To store vast amounts of data.C. To connect to the internet for information retrieval.D. To stay competitive.Passage 2The rise of e-commerce has revolutionized the way people shop. With just a few clicks, consumers can browse through a wide selection of products, compare prices, and place orders from the comfort of their own homes. This convenience has led to the rapid growth of online retailers and poses a challenge to traditional brick-and-mortar stores.13. How has e-commerce revolutionized the way people shop?A. By allowing consumers to browse through a wide selection of products.B. By allowing consumers to compare prices.C. By allowing consumers to place orders from the comfort of their own homes.D. All of the above.14. What challenge does e-commerce pose to traditional brick-and-mortar stores?A. Competition from online retailers.B. Decreased foot traffic in physical stores.C. Increased overhead costs.D. Lack of customer service.Part V Writing （10%）Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay entitled On the Importance of Lifelong Learning. You should write at least 150 words, and base your essay on the outline given below:1.学习的重要性2. 终身学习的意义3. 怎样持续学习答案：Part I Reading Comprehension1. A2. D3. A4. B5. APart II Vocabulary and Structure6. C7. D8. B9. A 10. APart III Cloze Testexpands, factors, implications, costly, investment, economicalPart IV Reading in Depth11. D 12. D 13. D 14. APart V WritingOn the Importance of Lifelong LearningLearning is a never-ending process that plays a crucial role in personal and professional development. Lifelong learning is essential in today’s rapidly changing world as it allows individuals to adapt to new challenges, acquire new skills, and stay relevant in their chosen fields. In order to continue learning throughout their lives, individuals can take advantage of various opportunities such as online courses, workshops, seminars, and self-study. By embracing lifelong learning, individuals can expand their knowledge, enhance their capabilities, and achieve their full potential.。
1 Captain Cook Arrow LegendIt was a great legend while it lasted，but DNA testing has (1) finally ended a two-century-old story of the Hawaiian arrow carved from the bone of British explorer Captain James Cook(2) who died in the Sandwich Islands’in 1779.―There is (3) no Cook in the Australian Museum，’’museum collection manager Jude Philip said not long ago in announcing the DNA evidence that the arrow w as not made of Cook’S bone.But that will not stop the museum from continuing to display the arrow in its(4) exhibition，―Uncovered：Treasures of the Australian Museum,‖ which(5) does include a feather cape presented to Cook by Hawaiian King Kalani’opu’u in 1778.Cook was one of Britain’s great explorers and is credited with(6) discovering the―Great South Land，"(7) now Australia, in 1 770.He was clubbed to death in the Sandwich Islands，now Hawaii。
The 1egend of Cook’s arrow began in 1824 (8) when Hawaiian King Kamehameha on his deathbed gave the arrow to William Adams，a London surgeon and rela tive of Cook’s wife，saying it was made of Cook’s bone after the fatal(9) fight with islanders.In the 1890s the arrow was given to the Australian Museum and the legend continued (10) until it came face=to-face with science.DNA testing by laboratories in Australia and New Zealand revealed the arrow was not made of Cook’s bone but was more (11) likely made of animal bone。
said Philp.However, Cook’s fans (12) refuse to give up hope that one Cook legend will prove true and that part of his remains will still be uncovered.as they say there is evidence not a11 of Cook’s body was(13) buried a t sea in 1 779.―On this occasion technology has won"，‖said Cliff Thornton president of the Captain Cook Society, in a (14) statement from Britain.―But I am (15) sure that one of these days…oday.’’2 Avalanche and Its SafetyAn avalanche is a sudden and rapid flow of snow, often mixed with air and water, down a mountainside. Avalanches are(1) among the biggest dangers in the mountains for both life and property.All avalanches are caused by an over-burden of material, typically snowpack, that is too massive and unstable for the slope (2)that supports it. Determining the critical load, the amount of over-burden which is (3)likely to cause an avalanche, (4) is a complex task involving the evaluation of a number of factors.Terrain slopes flatter than 25 degrees or steeper than 60 degrees typically have a low (5)risk of avalanche. Snow does not (6)gather significantly on steep slopes; also, does not (7)flow easily on flat Human-triggered avalanches have the greatest incidence when the snow's angle of rest is (8)between35 and 45 degrees; the critical angle, the angle at which the human incidence of avalanches is greatest, is 38 degrees. The rule of thumb is: A slope that is (9)flat enough to hold snow but steep enough to ski has the potential to generate an regardless of the angle. Additionally, avalanche risk increases with(10)use ; that is, the more a slope is disturbed by skiers, the more likely it is that an avalanche will occur.Due to the complexity of the subject, winter travelling in the backcountry is never 100% safe. Good avalanche safety is a continuous (11)process, including route selection and examination of the snowpack, weather (12)conditions , and human factors. Several well-known good habits can also(13) reduce the risk. If local authorities issue avalanche risk reports, they should be considered and all warnings should be paid (14)attention to. Never follow in the tracks of others without your own evaluations; snow conditions are almost certain to have changed since they were made. Observe the terrain and note obvious avalanche paths where plants are （15）missing or damaged. Avoid traveling below others who might trigger an avalanche.3 Giant StructuresIt is an impossible task to select the most amazing wonders of the modem world since every year more __1_wonderful_ constructions appear. Here are three giant structures which are worthy of our __2admiration__ although they may have been surpassed by some more recent wonders.The Petronas Twin TowersThe Petronas Towers were the tallest buildings in the world when they were completed in 1999. With a __3height__ of 452 metres, the tall twin towers, like two thin pencils, dominate the city of Kuala Lumpur. At the 41st floor, the towers are linked by a bridge, symbolizing a gateway to the city. The American__4architct__ Cesar Pelli designed the skyscrapers.Constructed of high-strength concrete, the building provides around 1，800 square metres of office space __5_on_ every floor. And it has a shopping centre and a concert hall at the base. Other __6_features_ of this impressive building include double-decker lifts, and glass and steel sunshades.The MiUau BridgeThe Millau Bridge was opened in 2004 in the Tam V alley，in southern France.__7at__ the time it was built，it was the world’s highest bridge, __8resching__ over 340m at the highest point. The bridge is described as one of the most amazingly beautiful bridges in the world. It was built to __9_relieve_ Millau's congestion problems. The congestion was then caused by traffic passing from Paris to Barcelona in Spain. The bridge was built to withstand the __10_most_ extreme seismic and climatic conditions. Besides, it is guaranteed for 120 years! The Itaipu DamThe Itaipu hydroelectric power plant is one of the largest constructions of its kind in the world. It consists of a series of dams across the River Parana, __11which__ forms a natural border between Brazil and Paraguay. Started in 1975 and taking16 years to complete, the construction was carried out as a joint project between the two __12countries__. The dam is well-known for both its electricity output and its size. In 1995 it produced 78% of Paraguay’s and 25% of Brazil’s__13_energy_ needs. In its construction, the __14amount__ of iron and steel used was equivalent to over 300 Eiffel Towers. It is a __15truly__ amazing wonder of engineering.4 Animal’s “Sixth Sense”A tsunami was triggered by an earthquake in the Indian Ocean in December, 2004. It killed tens of thousands of people in Asia and East Africa. Wild animals, （1）however, seem to have escaped that terrible tsunami. This phenomenon adds weight to notions that I they possess a ―sixth sense‖ for （2）disasters, experts said.Sri Lankan wildlife officials have said the giant waves that killed over 24,000 people along the Indian Ocean island’s coast clearly （3）missed wild beasts, with no dead animals found.―No elephants are dead, not （4）even dead rabbit. I think animals can （5）sense disaster. They have a sixth sense. They know when things are happening.‖H.D. Ratnayake, deputy director of Sri Lanka’s Wildlife Depar tment, said aboutone month after the tsunami attack. The （6）waves washed floodwaters up to 2miles inland at Y ala National Park in the ravaged southeast, Sri Lanka’s biggestwildlife （7）reserve and home to hundreds of wild elephants and severalleopards.―There has been a lot of （8）apparent evidence about dogs barking or birdsmigrating before volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. But it has not been proven,‖said Matthew van Lierop an animal behavior（9）specialist at Johannesburg Zoo.―There have bee n no （10）specific studies because you can’t really test it ina lab or field setting2,‖ he told Reuters. Other authorities concurred with this（11）assessment.―Wildlife seem to be able to pick up certain （12）phenomenon, especiallybirds… there are many reports of birds detecting impending disasters,‖ said CliveWalker, who has written several books on African wildlife.Animals （13）certainly rely on the known senses such as smell or hearingto avoid danger such as predators.The notion of an a nimal ―sixth sense‖-or （14）some other mythicalpower-is an enduring one3 which the evidence on Sri Lanka’s ravaged coast islikely to add to.The Romans saw owls （15）as omens of impending disaster and many ancientcultures viewed elephants as sacred animals endowed with special powers orattributes.5 Singing Alarms Could Save the BlindIf you cannot see, you may not be able to find your way out of a burningbuilding ---- and that could be fatal. A company in Leeds could change all that（1）with directional sound alarms capable if guiding you to the exit.Sound Alert, a company （2）run by the University of Leeds, is installingthe alarms in a residential home for （3）blind people in Sommerset and aresource centre for the blind in Cumbria.（4）The alarms produce a wide range offrequencies that enable the brain to determine where the （5）sound is comingfrom.Deborah Withington of Sound Alert says that the alarms use most of thefrequencies that can be （6）heard by humans. ―It’s a burst of white noise （7）that people say sounds like static on the radio,‖she says. ―Its life-saving potentialis great.‖She conducted an experiment in which people were filmed bythermal—imaging cameras trying to find their way out of a large （8）smoke-filled room. It （9）took them nearly four minutes to find the door （10）without a sound alarm, but only 15 seconds with one.Withington studies how the brain （11）processes sounds at the university.She says that the （12）source of a wide band of frequencies can be pinpointedmore easily than the source of a narrow band. Alarms（13）based on the sameconcept have already been installed on emergency vehicles.The alarms will also include rising or falling frequencies to indicatewhether people should go up （14）or down stairs. They were（15）developed withthe aid of a large grant from British Nuclear Fuels.6 Car Thieves could Be Stopped RemotelySpeeding off in a stolen car, the thief thinks he has got a great catch. Buthe is in a nasty surprise. The car is fitted with a remote immobilizer and a radiosignal from a control center miles away will ensure that once the thief switchesthe engine 1off , he will not be able to start it again.For now, such devices 2 are only available for fleets of trucks andspecialist vehicles used on construction sites. But remote immobilizationtechnology could soon start to trickle down to ordinary cars, and 3should beavailable to ordinary cars in the UK4in two months.The idea goes like this. A control box fitted to the carincorporates5aminiature cellphone, a microprocessor and memory, and a GPS satellitepositioning receiver. 6If the car is stolen, a coded cellphone signal will tell theunit to block the vehicle’s engine management system and prevent the engine7being restarted.There are even plans for immobilizers8that shut down vehicles on themove, though there are fears over the safety implications of such a system.In the UK. an array of technical fixes is already making9 life harder for carthieves. ―The pattern of vehicles crime has changed,‖ says Martyn Randall ofThatcham, a security research organization based in Berkshire that is funded inpart10 by the motor insurance industry.He says it would only take him a few minutes to11 teach a novice how tosteal a car, using a bare minimum of tools. But only if the car is more than 10years old.Modern cars are a far tougher proposition, as their engine managementcomputer will not 12allow them to start unless they receive a unique ID codebeamed out by the ignition key. In the UK, technologies like this 13 have helpedachieve a 31 per cent drop in vehicle-related crime since 1997.But determined criminals are still managing to find other ways to steal cars.Often by getting hold of the owner’s keys in a burglary. In 2000, 12 per cent ofvehicles stolen in the UK were taken using the owner’s keys double the previousyear’s figure.Remote-controlled immobilization system would 14put a major newobstacle in the criminal’s way by making such thefts pointless. A group thatincludes Thatcham, the police, insurance companies and security technology firmshave developed standards for a system that could goon the market sooner than the15customer expects.7 An intelligent carDriving needs sharp eyes, keen ears, quick brain, and coordination betweenhands and the brain. Many human drivers have all (1) these and can control afast-moving car. But how does an intelligent car control itself?There is a virtual driver in the smart car. This virtual driver has―eyes,‖―brains‖，―hands‖ and ―feet‖，too. The mini-cameras (2) on each side of thecar are his ―eyes,‖ which observe the road and conditions ahead of it. They watchthe (3) traffic to the car’s left and right. There is also a highly (4) automaticdriving system in the car. It is the built-in computer, which is the virtual driver’s―brain. ‖ His ―brain‖ calculates the speeds of (5) other moving cars near it andanalyzes their positions. Basing on this information, it chooses the right (6) pathfor the intelligent cars, and gives (7) instructions to the ―hands‖and ―feets‖to actaccordingly. In this way, the virtual driver controls his car.What is the virtual driver’s best advantage? He reacts(8)quickly. Themini-cameras are (9)sending i mages continuously to the ―brain‖. It (10)completes the processing of the images within 100 milliseconds. However, theworld’s best drier(11) at least needs one second to react. (12) Besides, when hetakes action, he needs one more second.The virtual driver is really wonderful. He can reduce the accident(13)rate considerably on expressway. In this case. Can we let him have the wheel atany time and in any place? Experts (14) warn that we cannot do that just yet. Hisability to recognize things is still(15) limited. He can now only drive anintelligent car on expressways.8 Why India Needs Its Dying VulturesThe vultures in question may look ugly and threatening, but the sudden sharp__1decline__ in three species of India’s vultur es is producing alarm rather thancelebration, and it presents the world with a new kind of environmental__2_problem_ The dramatic decline in vulture numbers is causing widespreaddisruption to people living in the same areas as the __3birds__ . It is also causingserious public health problems __4_across_ the Indian sub-continent.While their reputation and appearance may be unpleasant to many Indians，vultures have__5long__played a very important role in keeping towns and villages all overIndia clean. It is__6_because_they feed on dead cows. In India, cows are sacred animals and are__7_traditionall t_ left in the open when they die in their thousands uponthousands every year.The disappearance of the vultures has __8_led to_ an explosion in the numbers ofwild dogs feeding on the remains of these dead animals. There are fears that rabiesmay __9_increase_ as a result. And this terrifying disease may ultimately affecthumans in the region, since wild dogs are its main carriers. Rabies could alsospread to other animal species, causing an even greater problem in the__10_future_.The need for action is __11_urgent_, so an emergency project has been launchedto __12_find_ a solution to this serious vulture problem. Scientists are trying toidentify the disease causing the birds，deaths and, if possible, develop a cure.Large-scale vulture __13_deaths_ were first noticed at the end of the 1980s inIndia. A population survey at that time showed that the three species of vultureshad declined __14_by_ over 90 per cent. All three species are now listed as―critically endangered‖. As most vultures lay only single eggs and __15_take_about five years to reach maturity, reversing their population decline will be along and difficult exercise.9 Wonder WebsSpider webs are more than homes, and they are ingenious traps. And theworld’s best web spinner may be the Golden Orb Weaver spider. The female OrbWeaver spins a web of fibers thin enough to be invisible to insect prey, yet(1)tough enough to snare a flying bird without breaking.secret of the web’s strength? A type of super-resilient(2)silk calleddragline. When the female spider is ready to(3)weave the web’s spokes and frame,she uses her legs to draw the airy thread out through a hollow nozzle in her belly.Dragline is not sticky, so the spider can race back and forth along (4)it to spin theweb’s trademark spiral.Unlike some spiders that weave a new web every day, a Golden Orb Weaver(5)reuses her handiwork until it falls apart, sometimes not for two years. The silkythread is five times stronger than steel by weight and absorbs the force of animpact three times better than Kevlar, a high-strength human-made (6)materialused in bullet-proof vests. And thanks to its high tensile strength, or the ability toresist breaking under the pulling force called tension, a single strand can stretchup to 40 percent longer than its original(7)length and snap back as well as new.No human-made fiber even comes(8)close .It is no (9)wonder manufacturers are clamoring for spider silk. In theconsumer pipeline: High-performance fabrics for athletes and stockings that neverrun. Think parachute cords and suspension bridge cables. A steady (10)supply ofspider silk would be worth billions of dollars – but how to produce it? Harvestingsilk on spider farms does not (11)work because the territorial arthropods have atendency to devour their neighbors.Now, scientists at the biotechnology company Nexia are spinning artificialsilk modeled after Golden Orb dragline. The (12)first step: extract silk-makinggenes from the spiders. Next, implant the genes into egg cells. The nannygoats that grow from the eggs secrete dragline silk proteins in their (13)milk.―The young goats pass on the silk-making gene without(14)any help from us,‖but they hope artificial spider silk will soon be snagging customers (15)as fast asthe real thing snags bugs.10ChickenSoupfor the Soul：Comfort Food Fights LonelinessMashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, may be bad for your arteries．1 butaccording to a study in Psychological Science, they’re good for your heart and2emotions．The study focuses on ―comfort food‖ and how it m akes people feel．"For me3 personally,food has always played a big role in my family,‖on the study．The study came out of the research program of his co—author ShiraGabriel．It has 4looked at non-human things that may affect humanemotions．Some people reduce loneliness by bonding with their 5favorite TVshow, building virtual relationships with a pop song singer or looking at picturesof loved ones．Troisi and Gabriel wondered if comfort food could have the sameeffect6 by making people think of their nearest and dearest.In one experiment, in order to make7 participants feel lonely, theresearchers had them write for six minutes about a fight with someone close tothem．Others were given an emotionally neutral writing assignment. Then, somepeople in each 8group wrote about the experience of eating a comfort foodand others wrote about eating a new food．9 Finally,the researchers hadparticipants 10 complete questions about their levels of loneliness．Writing about a fight with a close person made people feel lonely．Butpeople who were generally 11secure in their relationships would feel less lonelyby writing about a comfort food"We have found that comfort foods areconsistently associated with those close to us．"says Troisi．"Thinking about orconsuming these foods later then serves as a reminder of those close others．"In12their essays on comfort food, many people wrote about the 13 experience ofeating food with family and friends.In another experiment,14eating chicken soup in the lab made peoplethink more about relationships, but only if they considered chicken soup to be acomfort food．This was a question they had been asked long before the experiment,along with many other questions, so they wouldn’t remember it.Throughout everyone’s daily lives they experience stress, oftenassociated with our 15connections with others," Troisi says．"Comfort food Canbe an easy remedy for loneliness．11Climate Change Poses Major Risks for Unprepared CitiesA new examination of urban policies has been 1carried out recently by Patricia Romero Lankao．She is a sociologist specializing in climate change and 2 urban development．She warns that many of th e world’s fast-growing urban areas，especially in developing countries．will likely suffer from the impacts of changing climate．Her work also concludes that most cities are failing to 3reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse4 gases．These gases are known to affect the atmosphere．‖Climate change is a deeply local issue and poses profound threats to the growing cities of the world,‖ says Romero Lankao. ‖But too few cities are developing effective strategies to 5protect their residents."Cities are 6 major sources of greenhouse gases．And urban populations are likely to be among those most severely affected by future climate change. Lankao’s findings highlight ways in which city-residents are particularly vulnerable, and suggest policy interventions that could offer immediate and longer-term 7 benefits．The locations and dense construction patterns of cities often place their populations at greater risk for natural disasters. Potential 8threats associated with climate include storm surges and prolonged hot weather. Storm surges can flood coastal areas and prolonged hot weather can heat 9 heavily paved cities more than surrounding areas．The impacts of such natural events can be more serious in an urban environment．For example，a prolonged heat wave can increase existing levels of air pollution，causing widespread health problems．Poorer neighborhoods that may 10lack basic facilities such as drinking water or a dependable network of roads，are especially vulnerable to natural disasters．Many residents in poorer countries live in substandard housing11 without access to reliable drinking water，roads and basic services.Local governments,12therefore,should take measures to protect their residents.‖Unfortunately，they tend to move towards rhetoric 13ratherthan meaningful responses, Romero Lankao writes, ‖ They don’t impose construction standards that could reduce heating and air conditioning needs. They don't emphasize mass transit and reduce 14automobile use. In fact, manylocal governments are taking a hands—off approach.‖ Thus, she urges themto change their 15 idle policies and to take strong steps to prevent the harmful effects of climate change on cities.12 Free Statins With Fast Food Could Neutralize Heart RiskFast food outlets could provide statin drugs free of 1charge so that customers can reduce the heart disease dangers of fatty food, researchers at Imperial College London 2suggest in a new study．Statins reduce the 3amount of unhea lthy ‖LDL‖ cholesterol in the blood.A wealth of trial data has proven them to be highly effective at lowering a person’s heart attack4risk .In a paper published in the American Journal of Cardiology，Dr Darrel Francis and colleagues calculate that the reduction in heart attack risk offered by a statin is 5enough to offset the increase in heart attack riskfrom 6eating a cheeseburger and drinking a milkshake．Dr Francis，from the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London，who is the senior author of the study, said:‖Statins don’t cut out a11 of the 7unhealthy effects of cheeseburgers and French fries．It’s better to avoid fatty food altogether．But we’ve worked out that in terms of your8possobility of having a heart attack. Taking a statin can reduce your risk to more or less thesame 9degree as a fast food meal increases it.‖―It’s ironic that people are free to take as many unhealthv condiments in fast food outlets as they 10like , but statins, which are beneficial to heart health, as easily as the unhealthy condiments that are 11provided free of charge．It would cost less than 5 pence per 12customer---not much different to a sachet of sugar.‖ Dr Francis said．When people engage in risky behaviours like driving or smoking, they’re encouraged to take13measures that lower their risk, 1ike14wearing a seatbelt or choosing with Taking a statin is a rational way of 15lowering some of the risks of eating a fatty meal．13 Better Solar Energy Systems: More Heat, More LightSolar photovoltaic thermal energy systems, or PVTs, generate both heat and electricity, but __1_until_ now they haven’t been very g ood at the heat-generating part compared to a stand-alone solar thermal collector. That’s because they operate at low temperatures to cool crystalline silicon solar cells, which lets the silicon generate more __2_electricity_ but isn’t a very efficient way to gather heat.That’s a problem of __3economics_. Good solar hot-water systems can harvest much more energy than a solar-electric system at a substantially lower __4_cost_. And it，s also a space problem：photovoltaic cells can take up all the space on the roof, leaving little room for thermal applications.In a pair of studies, Joshua Pearce, an associate professor of materials science and engineering, has devised a __5_solution_ in the form of a better PVT made with a different kind of silicon. His research collaborators are Kunal Girotra from ThinSilicon in California and Michael Pathak and Stephen Harrison from Queen’s University, Canada."Most solar panels are made with crystalline silicon，but you can also make solar cells out of amorphous silicon, __6_commonly_ known as thin-film silicon. They don’t create as much electricity, but they are lighter, flexible, and cheaper. And, because they __7require__ much less silicon, they have a greener footprint. Unfortunately，thin-film silicon solar cells are __8vulnerable__ to some bad-news physics in the form of the Staebler-Wronski effect.―That means that their efficiency __9drops__ when you expose them to light —pretty much the worst possible effect for a solar cell,‖ Pearce explains，which is one of the __10reasons__ thin- film solar panels make up only a small fraction of the market.However, Pearce and his team found a way to engineer around the Staebler-Wronski effect by incorporating thin-film silicon in a new __11_type_ of PVT. You don’t have to cool down thin-film silicon to make it work. In fact，Pearce’s group discovered that by heating it to solar-thermal operating temperatures，near the boiling __12point__ of water, they could make thicker cells that largely __13overcame__ the Staebler-Wronski effect. When they applied the thin-film silicon directly to a solar thermal energy __14collector__ , they also found that by baking the cell once a day，they __15boosted__ the solar cell’s electrical efficiency by over 10 percent. 14 Sharks Pe rform a Service for Earth’s WatersIt is hard to get people to think of sharks as anything but a deadly enemy1. They are thought to 1attack people frequently. But these fish2 perform a 2valuable service for earth's waters and for human beings. Yet business and sport fishing3 are threatening their3 existence.Some sharks are at risk of disappearing from 4 earth.Warm weather may influence both fish and shark activity. Many fish swim near coastal areas5because of their warm waters. Experts say sharks may follow the fish into the same areas, 6where people also swim. In fact, most sharks do not purposely charge at or bite humans. They are thought to mistake a person 7for a sea animal, such as a seal or sea lion. That is why people should not swim in the ocean when the sun goes down or comes up. Those are the 8times when sharks are looking for food. Experts also say that bright colors and shiny jewelry may cause sharks to attack.A shark has an extremely good sense of smell4. It can find small amounts of substances in water, such as blood, body liquids and 9chemicals produced by animals. These powerful 10senses help sharks find their food. Sharks eat fish, any 11other sharks, and plants that live in the ocean.Medical researchers want to learn more abo ut the shark’s body defense, and immune 12systems against disease. Researchers know that sharks 13recover quickly from injuries. They study the shark in hopes of finding a way to fight human disease.Sharks are important for the world’s 14oceans . They eat injured and diseased fish. Their hunting activities mean that the numbers of other fish in ocean waters do not become too 15great . This protects the plants and other forms of life that exist in the oceans.15 Liquefaction” Key to Much of Japanese Earthquake DamageThe massive subduction zone1 earthquake in Japan caused a significant level of soil"liquefaction"2 that has surprised researchers with its 1 widespread severity, a new analysis shows."We've seen localized3 examples of soil liquefaction as extreme as this before, but the distance and 2extend of damage in Japan were unusually severe," said Scott Ashford, a professor of geotechnical engineering4 at Oregon State University5. "Entire structures were tilted and sinking into the sediments," Ashford said. "The shifts in soil destroyed water, drain and gas pipelines6, crippling the utilities and infrastructure these communities need to 3function . We saw some places that sank as much as four feet."Some degree of soil liquefaction7 is common in almost any major earthquake. It's a phenomenon in which soils soaked with water, particularly recent sediments or sand, can lose much of their 4strength and flow during an earthquake. This can allow structures to shift or sink or 5collapse .But most earthquakes are much 6shorter than the recent event in Japan, Ashford said. The length of the Japanese earthquake, as much as five minutes, may force researchers to reconsider the extent of liquefaction damage possibly occurring in situations such as this8."With such a long-lasting earthquake, we saw 7how structures that might have been okay after 30 seconds just continued to sink and tilt as the shaking continued for several more minutes," he said. "And it was clear that younger sediments, and especially areas built on 8recently filled ground, are much more vulnerable."The data provided by analyzing the Japanese earthquake, researchers said, should make it possible to improve the understanding of this soil 9phenomenon and better prepare for it in the future. Ashford said it was critical for the team to collect the information quickly, 10before damage was removed in the recovery efforts9."There's no doubt that we'll learn things from what happened in Japan10 that11 will help us to reduce risks in other similar 11events ," Ashford said. "Future construction in some places may make more use of techniques known to reduce liquefaction, such as better compaction to make soils dense, or use of reinforcing stone columns."Ashford pointed out that northern California have younger soils vulnerable to liquefaction ---on the coast, near river deposits or in areas with filled ground. The "young" sediments, in geologic terms, may be those 12deposited within the past 10,000 years or more. In Oregon, for instance, that describes much of downtown Portland, the Portland International Airport and other cities.Anything 13near a river and old flood plains is a suspect12, and the Oregon Department of Transportation has already concluded that 1,100 bridges in the state are at risk from an earthquake. Fewer than 15 percent of them have been reinforced to 14prevent collapse. Japan has suffered tremendous losses in the March 11 earthquake, but Japanese construction 15standards helped prevent many buildings from collapse ---even as they tilted and sank into the ground.。
