1Solar photovoltaic thermal energy systems, or PVTs, generate both heat and electricity, but __until __ now they haven’t been very good 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 __ electricity __ but isn’t a very efficient way to gather heat.
2That’s a problem of __ economics _ . Good solar hot-water systems can harvest much more energy than a solar-electric system at a substantially lower __ 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.
3In a pair of studies, Joshua Pearce, an associate professor of materials science and engineering, has devised a __ 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.\"
4Most solar panels are made with crystalline silicon，but you can also make solar cells out of amorphous silicon, __ commonly __ known as thin-film silicon. They don’t create as much electricity, but they are lighter, flexible, and cheaper. And, because they __ require __ much less silicon, they have a greener footprint. Unfortunately，thin-film silicon solar cells are __ vulnerable __ to some bad-news physics in the form of the Staebler-Wronski effect.
5“That means that their efficiency __ drops __ when you expose them to light — pretty much the worst possible effect for a solar cell,” Pearce explains，which is one of the _ reasons __ thin- film solar panels make up only a small fraction of the market.
6However, Pearce and his team found a way to engineer around the
Staebler-Wronski effect by incorporating thin-film silicon in a new __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 __ point __ of water, they could make thicker cells that largely __ overcame __ the Staebler-Wronski effect. When they applied the thin-film silicon directly to a solar thermal energy __ collector __ , they also found that by baking the cell once a day，they __ boosted __ the solar cell’s electrical efficiency by over 10 percent. Why India Needs Its Dying Vultures
1The vultures in question may look ugly and threatening, but the sudden sharp __ decline __ in three species of India’s vultures is producing alarm rather than celebration, and it presents the world with a new kind of environmental __ problem __ The dramatic decline in vulture numbers is causing widespread disruption to people living in the same areas as the __ birds __ . It is also causing serious public health problems __across __ the Indian sub-continent.
2While their reputation and appearance may be unpleasant to many Indians，vultures have __ long __played a very important role in keeping towns and villages all over India clean. It is __because __they feed on dead cows. In India, cows are sacred animals and are __ traditionally __ left in the open when they die in their thousands upon thousands every year.
3The disappearance of the vultures has __ led to __ an explosion in the numbers of wild dogs feeding on the remains of these dead animals. There are fears that rabies may __ increase __ as a result. And this terrifying disease may ultimately affect humans in the region, since wild dogs are its main carriers. Rabies could also spread to other animal species, causing an even greater problem in the __ future __.
4The need for action is __ urgent __, so an emergency project has been launched to __ find __ a solution to this serious vulture problem. Scientists are trying to identify the disease causing the birds，deaths and, if possible, develop a cure.
5Large-scale vulture __deaths __ were first noticed at the end of the 1980s in India. A population survey at that time showed that the three species of vultures had declined __ by __ over 90 per cent. All three species are now listed as “critically endangered”. As most vultures lay only single eggs and __ take __ about five years to reach maturity, reversing their population decline will be a long and difficult exercise.
Giant Structures
1It is an impossible task to select the most amazing wonders of the modem world since every year more __ wonderful __ constructions appear. Here are three giant structures which are worthy of our _admiration __ although they may have been surpassed by some more recent wonders.
2The Petronas Twin Towers
The Petronas Towers were the tallest buildings in the world when they were completed in 1999. With a __ height __ 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 __ architect __ Cesar Pelli designed the skyscrapers.
Constructed of high-strength concrete, the building provides around 1，800 square metres of office space __on __ every floor. And it has a shopping centre and a concert hall at the base. Other __6features __ of this impressive building include double-decker lifts, and glass and steel sunshades.
3The MiUau Bridge
The Millau Bridge was opened in 2004 in the Tam Valley，in southern France. __ At __ the time it was built，it was the world’s highest bridge, __ reaching __ 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 __ 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 __most __ extreme seismic and climatic conditions. Besides, it is guaranteed for 120 years!
4The Itaipu Dam
The 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, __ which __ forms a natural border between Brazil and Paraguay. Started in 1975 and taking 16 years to complete, the construction was carried out as a joint project between the two _ countries __. 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 __ energy __ needs. In its
construction, the __ amount _ of iron and steel used was equivalent to over 300 Eiffel Towers. It is a __ truly __ amazing wonder of engineering.
Musical Robot Companion Enhances Listener Experience
音乐机器人伴侣提升音乐欣赏体验
Shimi是由佐治亚理工大学音乐技术中心研发的一款音乐伴侣。它可以根据听者的反馈推荐合乎节拍的歌曲、舞蹈；并且不断播放音乐。这款髙1英尺的机器人是由智能手机系统支持的，因此被标榜为“一个可以互动的音乐朋友”。
Gil Weinberg教授是该机器人的发明者，他解释说：“Shimi设计的宗旨是改变人们欣赏音乐、认识音乐的方式。”他将在今年6月27日在旧金山的谷歌I/O大会上展示这款机器人。一个由三个机器人组成的乐队将为来宾演奏，并伴随音乐起舞。而音乐是根据不同的运动形式编制的。
Shimi实际上是一个扩充基座，它的“大脑”由安卓手机控制。一旦连接上，机器人便从用户的移动装置获得传感和音乐生成能力。换言之，只要有应用程序，机器人便能使用。例如，通过手机的照相机和辨认脸型的软件，Shimi就能在房间周围跟踪到听众，然后安置好它的“耳朵”或扬声器，以确保输送最佳声音。另外一种识别特征是基于节奏和速度。如果用户打出某个（音乐）拍子，Shimi会对此进行分析，然后浏览手机的音乐库，并立即演奏最符合要求的音乐。一旦音乐响起来，Shimi就随韵律起舞。
“许多人认为机器人受到程序指令的限制，而Shiini给我们展示了机器人可以具有创造力和与人交互的能力。”音乐技术博士研究生Mason Bretan如是说。正在研发中的程序将使用户能沟通过摇头或摆手表示不同意，来提醒Shimi跳到下一首歌或增减音量。机器人还可根据用户对歌曲的选择推荐新音乐，并对音乐播放列表提供反馈。
Weinberg希望其他研发者会因此获得灵感，开发更多的应用程序，来扩展Shimi的创新和交互功能。他说：“我认为我们中心正在引领这场将更多机器人应用到家庭中去的变革。”
Weinberg正在通过获得佐治亚理工学院的独家授权来对Shimi进行商业推广。Weinberg希望到2013年的节日季消费者可购买到Shimi。Weinberg说：“如果机器人进入家庭，我们认为就应该是这种类型的机器人：小巧、令人愉快和有趣，它们能提高我们的生活质量，为更多智能服务型机器人进人我们的生活做好准备。 1. Which of the following is NOT true according to the first three paragraphs? B Shimi is the creator of the musical companion. 2. What does Shimi do if the user taps a beat?
D It selects a perfectly-matched song and plays it in sync with that beat. 3. Which of the following about Shimi is true? D Shimi can be creative and interactive. 4. What does the author want to tell us?
A The research center is developing a stronger and more versatile Shimi. 5. Which of the following is Weinberg’s assertion?
B human lives will be filled with more fun if Shimi is going to arrive in homes.
Researchers Discover Why Humans Began Walking Upright
研究人员发现人类开始直立行走的原因
我们大多数人每天都走路而且手里搬着东西。这样的活动看似太简单，大多数人没有疑问。但是一个国际研究者（包括乔治•华盛顿大学哥伦比亚艺术与科学学院的Richmond博士）团队已经发现了人类直立行走可能源于数百万年以前适应搬运稀有的、高质量的资源。这些来自美国、英国、日本和葡萄牙的研究者研究了当代黑猩猩争抢食物时的行为特征，试图对什么样的生态环境竟然导致大猿（一种我们与现存的黑猩猩一样的600万年前的祖先）直立行走作出解释。
“这些黑猩猩居住的生态环境和我们最早的祖先开始直立行走时是相同的，”
Richmond博士说。研究结果显示，当黑猩猩需要独占一种资源时，它们就从四肢行走转换为直立行走。由于直立行走可以解放它们的双手，这使得它们能搬更多的东西。久而久之，双足活动的强烈爆发可能导致了解剖学上的变化，因此这种变化也就成为自然选择的主题，在那种情况下，对食物或其他资源的争夺是十分激烈的。
有两项研究是在几内亚完成的。第一项研究是在京都大学博苏森林的一块天然空地——“室外实验室”进行的。研究者们允许森林里的黑猩猩能得到两种不同的坚果，一种叫油棕榈坚果，自然界随处可见，一种叫可乐果，自然环境中不常见。人们监控黑猩猩在下列三种情形下的行为：(a)只有油棕榈坚果；（b)只有少量的可乐果，大多数是油棕榈坚果;(c)大多数是可乐果，少数是油棕榈坚果。
当稀有的可乐果数量很少时，黑猩猩一次就会拿得多。同样，当大部分是可乐果时，黑猩猩对油棕榈坚果根本视而不见。黑猩猩认为可乐果才是珍贵的资源，并为得到可乐果激烈竞争。
处于这种激烈竞争的环境中，黑猩猩直立行走的频率增加了四倍。很显然，双足行走可以使它们拿走更多的稀有资源，而且，为了尽可能地一口气多拿，它们积极利用可用到的任何方法，甚至嘴巴。
第二项研究是在牛津布鲁克斯大学的Kimberley Hockings进行的。该研究历时14个月，主题是博苏的黑猩猩抢劫粮食，场景是它们不得不为稀有和不可预知的资源竞争。在这项研究中，黑猩猩35%的活动是直立行走。而这一次研究再一次证实了黑猩猩的直立行走与它们试图一次搬走尽可能多的东西有关。
1. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the first two paragraphs? A Many people question the simple human activities of walking and carrying items. 2. Dr. Richmond conducted the experiment with the purpose of finding B what made our ancestors walk upright.
3. Kyoto, University's study discovered that chimpanzees. C liked coula nuts better than oil palm nuts.
4. Why did the chimpanzees walk on two limbs during Kyoto University's experiment? D Because they wanted to carry more nuts with two free limbs. 5. What can we infer from the reading passage?
D Human walking on two legs developed as a means of survival.
Ants have big impact on environment as “ecosystem engineers”
埃克斯特大学所做的研究表明，蚂蚁作为“生态系统的工程师”和肉食动物的行为对当地的环境影响巨大。该研究发表在动物生态杂志上，它表明蚂蚁对当地的环境有两大显著影响。 第一， 通过筑巢而推动土壤或采集食物，蚂蚁影响土壤的营养水平。这可间接影响当地从腐生物到食物链高层的许多动物种群的数量。 第二， 他们不是的动物种类很多，包括那些被大量工蚁攻击的大猎物。 Dirk Sanders是该大学生态和保护中心所做的此项研究的作者，他说：“蚂蚁是搞笑的肉食动物，而且能大量繁殖。他们具有很强的领地意识，并且会竭尽全力的对抗其他肉食动物来保卫自己的领地。所有这些都意味着蚂蚁对周围环境的影响巨大。 “在该研究中，我们第一次对蚂蚁带来的影响程度及微妙程度进行研究。所得到的发现是：尽管是肉食动物，蚂蚁的出现能促使其他动物族群在数量和品种上的增长。并对当地的环境起到切实重要的作用，对大草原的食物链影响巨大。”Sanders说。 该研究在德国进行，它对花园的黑蚂蚁和一般的红蚂蚁在不同混合程度和不同密度下的影响力进行研究。黑蚂蚁和红蚂蚁在整个欧洲包括英国都能找到。研究发现，一个地区的蚂蚁密度小，而其他动物尤其是草食动物和腐生物的数量就会增加。如果蚂蚁的密度大，就不可能产生同样的影响，或者产生相反的影响，这表明，蚂蚁的掠食活动会抵消蚂蚁给环境带来的积极影响。 Dr Frank van Veen本是研究的另一名作者，他说：“我们的发现是：如果蚂蚁数量少，对其土壤的营养水平的影响会对动物族群产生积极影响。但是如果蚂蚁的数量增加，其捕食的影响会达到最大化，因此会抵消蚂蚁通过生态工程给环境带来的积极影。 蚂蚁是生态系统的重要组成部分，不仅因为它占有很大部分的生物量，而且因为其作为生物系统工程的角色。蚂蚁具有难以想象的多样性，但极易受人类的影响，这就使它的多样性有显著的减少。然而，科学家还不清楚人类对蚂蚁这种干扰如何破坏蚂蚁对生态系统的维护作用。蚂蚁通过变动物理的和化学的环境，通过对植物、微生物和其他土壤生物的影响而对生态环境起至关重要的作用。 1) Why are ants compared to ecosystem engineers? Because their activity affects the environment. 2) As predators, ants
prey on small as well as large animals. 3) Dir Sanders' study centered on how ants produce such a big impact on the environment. 4) What does paragraph 6 tell us?
Ants bring about a positive influence to an area when their population is small. 5) What still remains unclear about ants, according to the last paragraph? How do human activities affect ants' influence on a given ecosystem?
When Our Eyes Serve Our Stomach 我们的视觉服务于我们的胃口
我们的五官不仅仅让我们感知世界；还受大脑活动的影响。一项新研究发现：比起那些刚刚用过餐的人，饥饿的人能更清晰地看到与食品有关的词。
数十年以来，心理学家已经知道我们的心理活动直接影响到我们的视觉。例如，贫穷的孩子看到的硬币比实际的要大；饥饿的人看到的食物图片更明亮。法国的尼斯•索菲亚•安提波利斯大学试图调查这一现象：发生这种情况的时间是在大脑从眼睛接收到视觉信号的即时还是稍后些，这时高级思维活动已经介入了。
雷戴尔招募了健康指数正常的42位学生作为被试者。在测试的当天，每个学生被告知在中午到达实验室，这时距上一次的用餐时间有3〜4个小时。等他们到达实验室时，他们被告知实验时间有延迟。一半学生被告知十分钟后再回来;其余的给1个小时的时间先吃午饭。所以一半学生饿着肚子，另一半学生饱腹参加了此次实验。
实验的步骤如下：要求被试者看电脑屏幕。屏幕上的80个字以1/300秒的频率闪动。由于字体非常之小，被试者只能凭感觉捕捉到字形。1/4的字是与食物有关的。每闪动一个字，被试者回答字体的亮度并选择看到的是哪类词：一类是和食物有关的词，比如“蛋糕”；一类是中性词，比如“船”。由于每个词的闪动在瞬间完成，被试者根本看不清楚那个词是什么。
饥饿的人看到与食物有关的词更明亮，且能更好地辨认出与食物有关的词。由于每个词的闪动太快，其实那些被试者根本不会确切地看到什么，这就说明：他们只是感觉不同，根本没经过思考。雷戴尔给出了这样的解释。
雷戴尔说：“这就是重点所在。人类可以真正感知到自身的需要或者为之奋斗的目标。该实验使我了解这样的事实，即我们的大脑是受我们的动机和需要所支配的。”
练习：
1. What does the new study mentioned in Paragraph 1 find?
C Hungry people are more sensitive to food-related words than stomach-full people.
2. Why was there a delay on the day of the experiment?
B Because Radel wanted to create two groups of testees, hungry and non-hungry.
3. What does the writer want to tell us?
C Human brains can really be at the disposal of our motives and needs. 4. What did the results of the experiment indicate?
A 80 words flashed on the screen too fast for the participant to intentionally perceive.
5. What can we infer from the passage?
D Humans can perceive what they need without involving high-level thinking processes.
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