Before the end of the year, employees at Ubiquitous Energy, a company in Redwood City, Calif, will gather in a window-lined conference room to stare toward the future. That’s because their new glass windows will offer more than an amazing view of the North California landscape. They will also be able to power the company’s lights, computers and air conditioners.
Several years in the making, Ubiquitous’ energy-producing glass is a remarkable technological achievement. Its power lies in the layers of organic polymers (聚合物) between sheets of glass. As light enters the window,the flow of electrons between the polymer layers creates an electric current, which is then collected by tiny wires in the glass.
“It’s sort of like a transparent computer display run in reverse (反过来),” says Veeral Hardev, director of business development at Ubiquitous Energy. “Instead of electricity being shuttled to different points in a display to light them up, light is producing electricity to be shuttled out of different points in the window.”
Right now the windows produce about a third as much electricity from a given amount of sunlight as the typical solar cells used in roof panels (板).These windows, about half as transparent as ordinary glass, don’t work as well as transparent ones. Hardev says the company is likely to improve the transparency significantly. As for the lower output of electricity, he notes that windows can cover a much greater surface area than a roof, so numerous windows will produce a surprisingly larger amount of electricity than the production from a rooftop full of higher-efficiency solar panels. “You could do both.” says Hardev. “But you’ll get more from the windows. The biggest challenge, he adds, is increasing the windows from less than two square feet currently to about 50 square feet.”
1.What makes the new glass windows special?
A.They can offer an amazing view.
B.They are controlled by computers.
C.They can power the conference room.
D.They can help stare toward the future.
2.What is Hardev trying to explain in Paragraph 3?
A.The source of light.
B.The significance of different points.
C.The similarity of computer and glass.
D.The working principle of energy-producing glass.
3.What can affect power production according to the passage?
A.The transparency of the glass.
B.The quality of the rooftop.
C.The height of the solar panels.
D.The thickness of the glass.
4.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A.Windows: A New Challenge of Technology
B.Windows: No Longer Just for Letting in the Light
C.Power: A Pressing Problem in the Near Future
D.Power: Not Enough from Rooftop Solar Panels
We all know that regular exercise is good for us. In recent years we’ve been told to aim to walk 10,000 steps a day to remain healthy, although other advice to do three 10-minute walks a day is thought to be even more effective. But the latest piece of research might put a spring in your step if you’re someone who walks at a fast pace. That’s because, according to scientists, the speed at which people walk in their 40s is a sign of how much their brains, as well as their bodies, are ageing.
The BBC’s Philippa Roxby writes that tests on 1,000 people from New Zealand born in the 1970s found that slower walkers tended to show signs of “accelerated ageing”. Their lungs, teeth and immune systems were in worse shape than those who walked faster. And to add insult to injury, the study found not only did slower walkers’ bodies age more quickly, their faces looked older and they had smaller brains. Professor Terrie, lead author of the study, told the BBC: “It found that a slow walk is a problem sign decades before old age.”
This might be seen as a wake-up call for people with a slower pace who might feel it’s time to work out and get fitter. But it might be too late; researchers say they were able to predict the walking speed of 45-year-olds using the results of intelligence, language and motor skills tests from when they were aged three. They also suggest that even in early life, there are signs showing which people will go on to have a healthier life.
So, what’s the point of knowing that a slower walking pace might mean a smaller brain? Well, researchers say measuring walking speed at a younger age, and understanding what this might mean, could be a way of testing treatments to slow human ageing. This might help us make lifestyle changes while we’re still young and healthy. Any steps we can take to prolong a good mental and physical state is a no brainer!
1.What is the text mainly about?
A.Walking and health. B.Slow walking and ageing.
C.The way of slowing ageing. D.The standard walking pace.
2.What does the latest research show?
A.Walking 10,000 steps a day helps keep fit.
B.A slower walker is healthier than a faster walker.
C.Slower walkers are easy to have slower brains.
D.Ageing signs of slow walkers arise earlier than fast walkers.
3.What does the underlined words “wake-up call” refer to in paragraph 3?
A.Challenge. B.Potential.
C.Reminder. D.Solution.
4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.Testing walking speed before old age makes sense.
B.It’s important to keep fit both physically and mentally.
C.Walking pace is connected with health and ageing.
D.Walking speed at a young age determines one’s longevity.
Fresh off the biggest win of her short gymnastics career, 16-year-old Morgan Hurd and her coach, SIava Glazunov, landed at Philadelphia International Airport, headed to baggage claim and prepared for the hour-long drive home to Middletown, Delaware. It was a dull drill they’d performed hundreds of times before.
She is that gymnast who competes wearing glasses. She is so petite (娇小) that she looks tiny standing next to other gymnasts.
“No one is born perfect,” Hurd says. “You will have imperfections. I hope more people see me and try to do sports or gymnastics with glasses. Nothing should stop you from doing something you are passionate about.”
Hurd was 11 months old when her mom, Sherri, adopted her from Wenzhou, China, and brought her to Middletown. When Morgan was 3, Sherri began signing her up for various sports—gymnastics, soccer, T-ball, dance. Because of her size, most sports were tough. But at gymnastics class, being tiny and flexible was a gift. By the fifth grade, her talent had outgrown her classes, so Sherri brought her to First State.
“She stood out from the start,” Glazounov says. “She exhibited that desire. She loves to impress and she wanted it always. No one ever had to tell her to work hard.”
A single mom, Sherri worked as a dental hygienist for 30 years until retiring and taking a job for Discover Bank that allowed her to work from home, support her daughter’s home-schooling and help her daughter’s gymnastics career.
“Who would have known when I went to get that little girl in China what was going to happen,” Sherri says. “This is our life now, but that is what I want for her, a life that is as fulfilling and happy as possible.”
1.What makes Morgan Hurd different from other athletes?
A.She is a poor child who has a single mother.
B.She is an orphan who was adopted from China.
C.She is the gymnast who competed wearing glasses.
D.She is an athlete who first won the champion at 16.
2.Why did Sherri take a job for Discover Bank?
A.She enjoyed working at home.
B.She didn’t like the previous one.
C.She needed a thorough career change.
D.She could give her full support to Morgan.
3.Which of the following best describes Morgan Hurd?
A.Tiny and perfect. B.Talented and Outstanding.
C.Flexible but incapable. D.Passionate but proud.
4.In which column of a website can you most probably read this text?
A.Culture. B.Sports.
C.Travel. D.Job.
Activities to Get You Outdoors While Traveling
Many of us would enjoy getting outside and escaping our day to day with some fresh air while traveling. But where do you start? Try out a few of these activities and you’re sure to find a new outdoor hobby to help you enjoy nature on your next holiday.
Horseback Riding
Many people may shy away from this, excusing lack of experience with horses, but most operators have horses for riders of any experience including none if they meet the physical requirements. Horses can take you greater distances in a shorter time, covering areas that would be difficult or inaccessible otherwise.
Fly-Fishing
For an excuse to stand in a river enjoying the sounds, smells and scenery of some of the most beautiful places, try fly-fishing. Fishing is a perfect activity to enjoy with children, grandparents or whoever. With enough practice, you may even catch a delicious big fish.
Cycling + Mountain Biking
On the path or the road, spending time on a bike allows you to slow down and leisurely take in the scenery around you. Mountain biking can give you the biggest excitement, while road cycling may offer a more peaceful and calming experience. Travel with your bike or rent one at your travelling places, and your possibilities for exploration have already increased.
Rock Climbing
For a more physical and challenging experience outdoors, try your hand at rock climbing. You can get a feel for climbing in a gym, but its real rewards lie in putting those skills to use outside. Many popular travel places have great climbing within a day trip distance.
1.Who can take a horseback ride?
A.Anybody who wants to take a horse ride.
B.Travelers without experience of horse riding.
C.Those who have the basic physical conditions.
D.The explorers who like to travel in dangerous places.
2.Which activity is fittest for all the families?
A.Fly-Fishing. B.Rock Climbing.
C.Horseback Riding. D.Cycling + Mountain Biking.
3.What do mountain biking and road cycling have in common?
A.Allowing travelers to fully enjoy the scenery.
B.Slowing down the travel to have an enough rest.
C.Getting the travelers to have the biggest excitement.
D.Offering a more peaceful and comfortable experience.
假如你是李华，正在参与“未来学校”话题的讨论。请根据以下表格的内容，给校报写一篇文章，描述你心目中的学校。
注意：1.文中不得透露个人姓名、班级或学校名称；
2.词数100左右；
3.标题给出，不计入总词汇。
Future schools | |
Students | All ages from anywhere |
Courses | More courses to choose from Offered on the Internet |
Buildings and equipment | Modern Run by computer Easy to use |
Ways of learning | At school or at home Choose teachers |
Activities | Many different kinds |
School life | Richer and more interesting |
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
请根据上下文内容，将文中划线部分译成汉语或者英语。
Man has been interested in robots and 1. robots exist for quite some time. Scientists are always inventing new and better robots, which will play an important role in our future lives.
First, 2. smart robots will help us with the housework. They will take over jobs such as preparing meals, washing dishes, and sweeping the floor, so that we will have more free time to have fun.
Second, robots will help us with our work. 3. They will help us to do all the heavy and dangerous work, and help out in hospitals, schools and offices.
Third, 4.机器人将是我们的朋友. Whenever we feel sad, lonely or upset, we can have a chat with a robot. Robots will not only be good listeners but also 5. 会给我们提供建议.
In conclusion, robots will be more and more intelligent and will benefit us in many ways.
