Question

    Scientists say they have developed a system that uses machine learning to predict when and where lightning will strike. The research was led by engineers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Lightning is a strong burst of electricity in the atmosphere. It can strike between clouds or between a cloud and the ground. Since lightning carries an extremely powerful electrical charge, it can be destructive and deadly. It is difficult to know exactly how many people die of lightning-related causes. European researchers have estimated that between 6,000 and 24,000 people are killed by lightning worldwide each year. The strikes can also cause power failure, destroy property, damage electrical equipment and start forest fires.

For this reason, climate scientists have long sought to develop methods to predict and control lightning. The system tested in the experiments uses a combination of data from weather stations and machine learning methods. The researchers developed a prediction model that was trained to recognize weather conditions that were likely to cause lightning. The model was created with data collected over a 12-year period from 12 Swiss weather stations in cities and mountain areas. The data related to four main surface conditions: air pressure, air temperature, relative humidity (湿度) and wind speed. The atmospheric data was placed into a machine learning algorithm (计算程序), which compared it to records of lightning strikes. Researchers say the algorithm was then able to learn the conditions under which lightning happens.

“Once trained, the system made predictions that proved correct almost 80 percent of the time,” the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology said in a statement. “It can now be used anywhere.”

Amirhossein Mostajabi, a PhD student at the institute, said current systems for gathering such data are slow and complex and require costly collection equipment like radar or satellites. “Our method uses data that can be obtained from any weather station,” he said. “This will improve data collection in very remote areas not covered by radar and satellite or in places where communication systems have been cut,” he added.

The researchers plan to keep developing the technology in partnership with a European effort that aims to create a lightning protection system. Scientists working on the Paris-based project are experimenting with a laser technology that could someday control lightning activity. The idea is that powerful, ground-based lasers can be positioned in the sky to direct energy from lightning.

1.What does Paragraph 2 mainly focus on?

A.The cause of lightning. B.The forming process of lighnting.

C.The destruction of lightning. D.The difficulty to count the deaths.

2.Which is the correct order of how the system works?

① develop a prediction model.

② learn to recognize weather conditions.

③ collect related data.

④ input the data onto the computer.

⑤ make predictions.

A.①→②→③→④→⑤ B.③→④→①→②→⑤

C.①→②→④→③→⑤ D.③→①→②→⑤→④

3.What’s the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology’s attitude toward the system?

A.Satisfied. B.Doubtful.

C.Negative. D.Neutral.

4.The advantage of the new system for collecting data lies in its      .

A.accuracy B.efficiency

C.wide coverage D.reliability

5.What does the Paris-based project aim to do?

A.Identify lighting. B.Predict lighting.

C.Stop lighting. D.Control lighting.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.A

4.C

5.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。科学家们表示，他们已经开发出一种利用机器学习来预测闪电会在何时何地袭击的系统。闪电具有破坏力。巴黎项目的科学家们正在试验一种激光技术，这种技术有一天可以控制闪电的活动。

1.主旨大意题。根据第二段中Lightning is a strong burst of electricity in the atmosphere. It can strike between clouds or between a cloud and the ground. Since lightning carries an extremely powerful electrical charge, it can be destructive and deadly.可知，闪电是大气中的一种强烈的电爆发。它可以在云之间或云与地面之间撞击。由于闪电携带极强大的电荷，它具有破坏性和致命性。由此可知，第二段主要讲的是闪电的破坏力。故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段中The system tested in the experiments uses a combination of data from weather stations and machine learning methods. The researchers developed a prediction model that was trained to recognize weather conditions that were likely to cause lightning.可知，实验中测试的系统结合了气象站的数据和机器学习方法。研究人员开发了一个预测模型，经过训练可以识别可能导致闪电的天气状况。由此可知，系统工作的正确顺序是③→④→①→②→⑤。故选B。

3.推理判断题。根据第三段最后一句Researchers say the algorithm was then able to learn the conditions under which lightning happens.(研究人员表示，该算法能够了解闪电发生的条件)和第四段“Once trained, the system made predictions that proved correct almost 80 percent of the time,” the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology said in a statement. “It can now be used anywhere.”(“经过训练，该系统做出的预测几乎有80%是正确的，”瑞士联邦理工学院在一份声明中说。“它现在可以在任何地方使用。”)可推知，瑞士联邦理工学院对这个系统是“满意的”。故选A。

4.细节理解题。根据第五段中“This will improve data collection in very remote areas not covered by radar and satellite or in places where communication systems have been cut,” he added.可知，“这将改善雷达和卫星未覆盖的偏远地区或通信系统被切断的地区的数据收集，”他补充说。由此可知，新系统收集数据的优点在于覆盖面广。故选C。

5.推理判断题。根据最后一段中Scientists working on the Paris-based project are experimenting with a laser technology that could someday control lightning activity.可知，巴黎项目的科学家们正在试验一种激光技术，这种技术有一天可以控制闪电的活动。由此可知，这个巴黎项目的目标是“控制闪电”。故选D。