Mya Le Thai is a scientist studying at the University of California. She recently discovered a process that may result in batteries that last forever. Thai said she had been frustrated that the batteries for her wireless devices degrade(退化). Over time, they fail to charge fully. She decided to do something about that problem.
At first, she and her team thought about inventing a new battery. But as they experimented, Thai discovered something that might permit lithium-ion batteries(锂电池) to last forever. Lithium-ion batteries power most wireless devices. Over time, the batteries lose the ability to hold a charge. One of the reasons lithium-ion batteries degrade is their use of nanowires(纳米线) to carry electricity. Nanowires are extremely thin. Nanowires are extremely efficient carriers of electricity, which makes them useful in batteries. But Thai said their thinness also makes them weak. “Nanowires break over time,” she said. “That’s why they lose capacity.”
But, Thai had a theory: The nanowires might last longer if covered with a gel(凝胶). She and the team tested her theory. The team tried many coverings for the wires. PMMA was one of them. The PMMA coated nanowires showed no evidence of damage. The results suggest that batteries could last forever, without losing charging ability. Thai hopes to continue her research to understand why this gel works so well and to see if any other gel could create better results.
Mya Le Thai told VOA she is enjoying the publicity about her discovery. She said she never expected her research to get media coverage. “It’s kind of cool,” she said. “I’m really glad people are showing interest in my work and not just in the work itself, but also in technology and energy.”
1.Why did Mya Le Thai make up her mind to settle the problem about her wireless devices degrade?
A.Because her wireless devices couldn’t work at all.
B.Because she discovered a new kind of battery.
C.Because the batteries for her wireless devices couldn’t last long.
D.Because she wanted to show her new research.
2.What prevents lithium-ion batteries from lasting forever?
A.PMMA. B.Nanowires.
C.Electricity. D.Power.
3.How can the scientist make the nanowires last longer?
A.By using a gel to cover them. B.By cutting them shorter.
C.By making them longer. D.By using a gel to make wire.
4.What kind of person is Mya Le Thai?
A.Generous and wise. B.Honest and wise.
C.Honest and hard-working. D.Modest and creative.
What are some of your favorite memories of the University?
In preparation for each fall’s 50th reunion members of the milestone class are asked to recall campus memories for an annual Memory Book.
Here’s a small selection of some memories from the Class of 1969.
Phyllis Jo Baunach
“…I cannot forget the endless hours studying, researching, and learning in the middle of the musty books in the stacks. We did everything by hand! But the joys of ideas coming to life and understanding thorny concepts are priceless.
Additionally, I cannot forget the joyful hours of Co-Kast rehearsals for student-written-and-directed plays, and the thrill of audiences’ responses to our efforts. Nor will I ever forget taking voice lessons at the Eastman School of Music. This course gave me confidence to try new musical approaches and to think on my feet.”
Paul Boehm
“…many sweet and lasting memories-five feet of deep snow, getting stranded on the Thruway, music at Hylie Morris’s Alley, and, of course, I met my wife of 48 years, Eller Blazer Boehm from the Class of 1972, when she was a freshman and I was a senior. As a five-year chemical engineering major, I had one elective to spare, and Ellen said, ‘How about oceanography?’ So, I enrolled in oceanography with Dr. Taro Takahashi (the famous climate scientist), which awakened my environmental juices, and changed my professional direction.”
Farel Vella McClure
“…I truly loved my four undergraduate years at the University of Rochester. In fact. I loved it so much that I stayed an extra year to get a master’s degree! I was very fortunate to have been totally immersed in student life on campus. My memories include campaigning and winning a seat on the student government during my freshman year. Other memories include the Susan B. Anthony banquet, and sleeping in the comfy chairs in the library. I was also privileged to be selected as a student representative on the design team for the new Wilson Commons. I. M. Pei, the famous architect who designed the Louvre Pyramid, was the architect for Wilson Commons. We even visited his offices in New York to see the ‘master’ at work.”
1.According to the passage, Paul Boehm .
A.married Ellen Blazer in 1972
B.disliked his major in university
C.became a famous climate scientist later
D.discovered his interest in environmental science
2.What does the underlined word “comfy” in the last paragraph mean?
A.Common. B.Column.
C.Combining. D.Comfortable.
3.The three people all talked about .
A.their beloved professors
B.their great friendship
C.their learning experiences
D.their beautiful campus
假定你是李华，你班将参加校话剧社团（drama club）举办的英语话剧表演大赛。请你给外教Alan写一封邮件，请他为你们设计一个剧本。内容包括：
1. 主题：学校生活；
2. 剧本词数：300左右；
3. 比赛时间：下周六。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处，每处错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
There is a library in our community. My brother and I went to the library every Saturday either do our homework or pick out whatever we want to read. We spend a couple of hour there and find lots of things to talk about afterwards. Saturday’s night is our family movie night and we usual select a DVD to watch. I have DVDs, books and magazines borrowing from our library. My brother enjoys listen to music so he often checks out records. The library has always been a community that values of reading and learning. It has also been a social center that we can connect with another children and find out activities that are going on.
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Earth Day is a yearly event celebrated on April 22. Various activities1.( hold ) worldwide to show support for environmental protection. Here is a brief history of2.event.
In the 1960s, Americans were becoming aware of the effects of pollution3.the environment. In 1969, Senator (参议员) Gaylord Nelson,4.( consider )one of the leaders of the modern environmental movement, developed the idea of Earth Day. His idea really raised5.(aware )about the environment. On April 22, 1970, over 20 million people turned up for the first Earth Day. They believed it was important6.( keep ) the planet safe.
In 1990, Earth Day went global, with 200 million people in over 140 nations 7.( participate ). In 2000, Earth Day focused on clean energy and involved hundreds of millions of people in 184 countries and 5000 environmental8.( group ). Activities ranged from a traveling to a gathering of hundreds of thousands of people at the National Mall in Washington, D. C. Today, the holiday is a global celebration9.is sometimes extended (延长) into Earth Week, a full seven days of events focusing on green living. In 2018, more than 1 billion people were involved in Earth Day activities, making it one of the10.(large)events in the world.
Nancy was out for a day hike in the mountains of Washington state in October when she first spotted a hiker in a red jacket heading north towards Canada without snowshoes. The hiker was named Katharina. She traveled from Munich（慕尼黑）and was________to hike the entire
2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail.
Katharina and Nancy spent several hours________while hiking side-by-side along the trail until they________. Nancy, however, could not stop________the German hiker, so she decided to check the daily________along the trail（路径）from her home in Salta, Washington.
Only a few days later, a________rolled in. Concerned for her new friend, Nancy posted on a local hiker's forum asking if anyone had_________a German hiker heading north. Someone reported they had run into her two days previously—but________had seen her since.
Nancy couldn't shake the feeling that Katharina was________, so she called rescue services and told them about the ________hiker. Since she knew that Katharina had________to hike 15 miles every day, she________how far along the trail the German hiker would likely be based on the weather and how much she was________.
Sure enough, Katharina had________down—to a pace of 7 miles per day. She was________wet and showing signs of frostbite. She was running out of food and her________had lost service. Katharina was prepared for the worst—________ then suddenly, a rescue helicopter spotted her red jacked based on Nancy's exact calculations. Katharina was________.
She was then________to stay with Nancy at her home, where the two have become "Wild" friends, and even though Katharina didn't________the trail, she gained something more important—a friendship she would treasure forever.
1.A.pleased B.determined C.excited D.grateful
2.A.chatting B.competing C.quarreling D.arguing
3.A.finished B.arrived C.parted D.rested
4.A.worrying about B.talking to C.fighting with D.searching for
5.A.news report B.weather forecast C.record D.walk
6.A.stranger B.hiker C.snowball D.storm
7.A.known B.met C.helped D.recognized
8.A.few B.many C.none D.neither
9.A.at work B.on leave C.under control D.in danger
10.A.missing B.strange C.special D.lonely
11.A.advised B.agreed C.planned D.failed
12.A.wondered B.guessed C.explained D.calculated
13.A.paying B.carrying C.eating D.traveling
14.A.calmed B.fell C.stepped D.slowed
15.A.nearly B.hardly C.totally D.slightly
16.A.mobile phone B.team mate C.radio D.car
17.A.so B.or C.for D.but
18.A.protected B.saved C.hurt D.frightened
19.A.allowed B.persuaded C.invited D.expected
20.A.complete B.see C.prefer D.experience
