Question

    A new device works like a solar panel，except that it doesn’t harvest energy from the sun. It absorbs energy from the cold night sky.

A prototype(原型)of the device produced enough electricity at night to power a small light bulb. A bigger version might one day light rooms or charge phones. It also could power  electronics in remote or low-resource areas that lack electricity.

The device makes use of the temperature difference between Earth and outer space. It then uses that difference to create electricity. As long as one side of it is cooler than the other，the generator can produce electricity. The cooler side faces the sky and is attached to an  aluminum plate. That plate is sealed beneath a transparent cover and surrounded with insulation(隔热材料) to keep out heat. The bottom of the generator is attached to an exposed aluminum plate. That plate is warmed by the local air. At night，the top plate can get a couple of degrees Celsius cooler than the bottom of the generator.

Researchers tested a 20-centimeter prototype one clear December night in Stanford，California. The generator produced up to about 25 milliwatts of power per square meter of device. That was enough power to light a small light-emitting diode，or LED bulb. Further improvements might increase its production to at least 500 milliwatts per square meter. To do that，the system might need more insulation around the cool top plate.

The device also could help power remote weather stations or other environmental devices，says Aaswath Raman. He is a materials scientist who worked on the device at the University of California，Los Angeles. This may be useful in polar regions that don’t see sunlight for months at a time，Raman says. “If you have some low-power load and you need to power it through three months of darkness，this might be a way. ”

1.What can we know about the new device?

A.It gains energy from the sun. B.It’s been widely used in life.

C.It is cooler than a solar panel. D.It’ll be popular in special areas.

2.What does the author mainly talk about in Paragraph 3?

A.Application fields of the device.

B.The developing process of the device.

C.The working principle of the device.

D.Significant effects of the device.

3.How can the device produce more electricity?

A.By putting more insulation around the top plate.

B.By using it in extremely cold and clear nights.

C.By attaching the bottom plate to a warm plate.

D.By covering the top plate with a transparent lid.

4.What could be a suitable title for the text?

A.A Device Using the Cold Night Sky to Produce Electricity

B.A Device Bringing New Hope for Those in the Cold Night

C.The Difference Between a Solar Panel and a New Device

D.The Temperature Difference Between Earth and Outer Space

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.A

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章介绍了一项最新的科研发明——反太阳能电池板，它可以从寒冷的夜空中收集能量，然后通过利用地表和远处空间的温差来产生电能。目前的研究成果是它可以成功为一只小灯泡提供电能。

1.

推理判断题。根据第二段的最后一句“It also could power electronics in remote or low-resource areas that lack electricity.”和最后一段的最后两句“If you have some low-power load and you need to power it through three months of darkness，this might be a way.”可知，这种装置在一些偏远地区或缺电的地区帮助发电；另外，在极地地区数月不见阳光，这种装置可以帮助发电照明。由此可推知，这个新设备在会在一些特殊地区受欢迎。故选D项。

2.

主旨大意题。根据第三段The device makes use of the temperature difference between Earth and outer space. It then uses that difference to create electricity. As long as one side of it is cooler than the other，the generator can produce electricity. The cooler side faces the sky and is attached to an aluminum plate. That plate is sealed beneath a transparent cover and surrounded with insulation(隔热材料) to keep out heat. The bottom of the generator is attached to an exposed aluminum plate. That plate is warmed by the local air. At night，the top plate can get a couple of degrees Celsius cooler than the bottom of the generator.该装置利用地球和外层空间的温差。然后它利用这种差异来发电。只要它的一边比另一边冷，发电机就能发电。较冷的一面面朝天空，与一块铝板相连。那块板被密封在一个透明的盖子下面，周围有保温材料来阻挡热量。发电机的底部连接在一块暴露的铝板上。那个盘子被当地的空气加热了。晚上，顶板的温度比发电机底部的温度低几摄氏度。由此可推知第三段主要讲了这个设备发电的主要工作原理。故选C项。

3.

细节理解题。根据第四段中“To do that，the system might need more insulation around the cool top plate”可知，此处To do that是指前一句“让这装置产生更多的电量”。因此，该装置系统需要在上面的金属板四周安装更多的隔热材料才可以产生更多的电能。故选A项。

4.

主旨大意题。文章第一段“A new device works like a solar panel，except that it doesn’t harvest energy from the sun. It absorbs energy from the cold night sky.”一种新的装置像太阳能电池板一样工作，只是它不从太阳获取能量。它从寒冷的夜空吸收能量。点明了文章主题，结合全文内容可知，文章主要介绍了一项最新的科研发明，这种科技可以从寒冷的夜空中收集能量，然后通过利用地表和远处空间的温差来产生电能。所以短文的最佳标题为“利用寒冷的夜空发电的装置”。故选A项。