Question

    Weather could power the next generation of smart windows. Researchers have created glass by harvesting energy from wind and precipitation(降水).The approach offers an alternative to other smart windows powered by batteries, solar panels, and even standard power outlets. “The creation represents a new kind of renewable energy source”, says Liming Dai, a nanomaterial engineer at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, who was not involved in the research.

Smart glass, which changes its characteristics to block out light or heat, has been around for decades. Common examples include glare-fighting rearview(后视) car mirrors and windows that change color for energy savings and privacy. But many are expensive, and people are still looking for eco-friendly ways to power the windows. Batteries and plug-in outlets aren’t apparently “green”, and built-in solar panels can cloud or hide parts of the glass.

In experiments, the glass produced up to 130 milliwatts per square meter, enough to power a pacemaker or a smart phone while it’s asleep, the team reported online last month in ACS Nano. This output might suit many applications, such as being a power source for home or office electronics, says co-developer and scientist Zhong Wang of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta Since their first project in 2012, a light-up sidewalk powered by footsteps, he and his colleagues have miniaturized their generators to create everything from self-cleaning keyboards to sensors for security systems.

But Wang and colleagues still have more work to do before this smart glass is ready for commercialization. Now, the glass has no way to store the energy it creates. To solve this problem, Dai says, transparent supercapacitors(超级电容器) could be placed into the glass without decreasing visibility.

For now, the team wants to improve the energy efficiency of their nanogenerators. These tiny power plants can convert about 60% of the mechanical energy that they encounter into electricity. “The output power is a constant goal,” Wang says. “Free energy surrounds us, and anything can happen if you take control of it."

1.What is unique about the smart glass?

A.It can protect privacy. B.It is more expensive.

C.It is powered by weather. D.It can block out light and heat.

2.What is the main idea of paragraph 3?

A.The research history of Zhong Wang.

B.The experimental process of Zhong Wang.

C.The research theory of Zhong Wang’s team.

D.The experimental findings of Zhong Wang's team.

3.What is the drawback of the smart glass?

A.It cannot suit the supercapacitors. B.It cannot keep its produced electricity.

C.It cannot power a smart phone. D.It cannot change its color according to weather.

4.Which of the following best explains “convert” underlined in the last paragraph?

A.Transform. B.Consume.

C.Waste. D.Reserve.

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.B

4.A

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了一种能供电的智能玻璃。该玻璃可以利用风力和降水产生电能，是一种绿色环保的能源产品，但该产品仍面临诸多问题，如电能储存问题。

1.

细节理解题。根据文章第一段“Weather could power the next generation of smart windows. Researchers have created glass by harvesting energy from wind and precipitation(降水).”可知，这种新型智能玻璃的独特之处在于它能利用风力和降水（即天气）获取能量。故选C。

2.

主旨大意题。根据第三段的内容尤其是该段首句“In experiments, the glass produced up to 130 milliwatts per square meter, enough to power a pacemaker or a smart phone while it’s asleep, the team reported online last month in ACS Nano.”可知，在实验中，玻璃每平方米产生高达130毫瓦的电能，足以为睡眠状态下心脏起搏器或智能手机供电，本段主要讲述了科学家Zhong Wang团队的实验成果。 故选D。

3.

细节理解题。根据文章第四段“Now, the glass has no way to store the energy it creates(现在，玻璃无法储存它产生的能量)”可知，这种新型玻璃的缺点是不能储存它所发的电。故选B。

4.

词义猜测题。根据“the team wants to improve the energy efficiency of their na-nogenerators(目前，该团队希望提高纳米发电机的能源效率。)”和“about 60% of the mechanical energy that they encounter into electricity.(大约60%的机械能转化为电能。)”可知，此处指这种发电机能把别的能量转化成电能。由此可以猜测，convert为“转化”之意。故选A。