Question

    Whether paired with a bottle of nice red wine or a burger, cheese can be a delicious treat. But it is not perhaps, the ideal material to use in printing — unless you are a team of nutritional scientists. One group of researchers used 3D printing to create a cheese. And the cheese could provide a valuable insight for engineers who are still developing materials for 3D printing.

A team from the school of food and nutritional sciences at University College Cork (UCC) conducted a series of tests evaluating the 3D-printed cheese. 3D printing materials need to be fluid (液态) enough to flow but also capable of setting into a definite shape or structure.

After melting the cheese at 75°C (167°F) for 12 minutes, the UCC team then ran it through a modified commercial 3D printer. The machine, which usually prints with plastic, was fitted with a syringe (注射器) to allow it to print with the melted cheese.

The UCC team used several techniques to examine the effects of the 3D printing process on their cheese. They compared the 3D-printed results to processed cheese that had been melted and then cooled, as well as another sample that was left untouched. Cheese that was 3D printed was 45% to 49% softer than the processed cheese, the researchers said. They also discovered that 3D-printed cheese was a little darker in colour and more fluid when melted, though it melted at about the same temperature as processed cheese.

Dr Kelly and his colleagues are now testing other types of dairy products which can be 3D-printed. Dr Kelly said, “We are using mixtures of milk proteins at present to build a product, perhaps a high-protein snack, and designing recipes which might work best for a 3D printer. ”

1.What problems are the engineers facing in 3D printing a cheese?

A.They don't have proper material.

B.They can't find a bottle of nice red wine or a burger.

C.They can't make the cheese very delicious.

D.They know much less than nutritional scientists.

2.How did the researchers use the 3D printer to make cheese?

A.They raised the temperature to 75°C.

B.They added a syringe to the printer.

C.They bought some cheese to paint it.

D.They evaluated the 3D-printed cheese.

3.What is the advantage of the 3D-printed cheese?

A.It melts more easily. B.It tastes more delicious.

C.It costs less money. D.It is much softer.

4.What will Dr Kelly and his colleagues do next according to the last paragraph?

A.Publish a report on their research.

B.Invent a new 3D printer.

C.3D print more milk food.

D.Make more cheese with their machine.

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.D

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了使用3D打印技术来打印奶酪，研究发现奶酪可以用作3D打印的材料，研究者们现在正在测试其他类型的可以3D打印的乳制品。

1.推理判断题。根据第二段中“3D printing materials need to be fluid (液态) enough to flow but also capable of setting into a definite shape or structure.”可知，3D打印材料得是液态足以流动的，也得能够成为特定形状和结构才行，意在表明在打印奶酪时，工程师们面对的问题是找不到合适的材料，A项切合题意。故选A项。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段中“The machine, which usually prints with plastic, was fitted with a syringe (注射器) to allow it to print with the melted cheese.”可知，这个机器通常使用塑料打印，现在安装了注射器使得它可以用融化的奶酪打印，B项符合题意。故选B项。

3.细节理解题。根据第四段中“Cheese that was 3D printed was 45% to 49% softer than the processed cheese.”可知，3D打印的奶酪比加工过的奶酪软45%到49%，这说明3D打印奶酪的优点是更柔软，D项切题。故选D项。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段中“We are using mixtures of milk proteins at present to build a product, perhaps a high-protein snack.”可知，研究者们目前在使用乳蛋白混合物制造新产品，可能是高蛋白零食，结合本段语境可知，Kelly和她的同事接下来要做的事是3D打印乳制品食物，C项符合题意。故选C项。