剑桥雅思阅读理解解析含翻译

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READING PASSAGE 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13 which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.

Striking Back at Lightning With Lasers

Seldom is the weather more dramatic than when thunderstorms strike. Their electrical fury inflicts death or

serious injury on around 500 people each year in the United States alone. As the clouds roll in, a leisurely round of

golf can become a terrifying dice with death - out in the open, a lone golfer may be a lightning bolt's most inviting

target. And there is damage to property too. Lightning damage costs American power companies more than $$100

million a year.

But researchers in the United States and Japan are planning to hit back. Already in laboratory trials they have

tested strategies for neutralising the power of thunderstorms, and this winter they will brave real storms, equipped

with an armoury of lasers that they will be pointing towards the heavens to discharge thunderclouds before lightning

can strike.

The idea of forcing storm clouds to discharge their lightning on command is not new. In the early 1960s,

researchers tried firing rockets trailing wires into thunderclouds to set up an easy discharge path for the huge electric

charges that these clouds generate. The technique survives to this day at a test site in Florida run by the University of

Florida, with support from the Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI), based in California. EPRI, which is funded by

power companies, is looking at ways to protect the United States' power grid from lightning strikes. 'We can cause

the lightning to strike where we want it to using rockets, ' says Ralph Bernstein, manager of lightning projects at EPRI.

The rocket site is providing precise measurements of lightning voltages and allowing engineers to check how

electrical equipment bears up.

Bad behaviour

But while rockets are fine for research, they cannot provide the protection from lightning strikes that everyone is

looking for. The rockets cost around $$1, 200 each, can only be fired at a limited frequency and their failure rate is

about 40 per cent. And even when they do trigger lightning, things still do not always go according to plan. 'Lightning

is not perfectly well behaved, ' says Bernstein. 'Occasionally, it will take a branch and go someplace it wasn't

supposed to go. '

And anyway, who would want to fire streams of rockets in a populated area? 'What goes up must come down, '

points out Jean-Claude Diels of the University of New Mexico. Diels is leading a project, which is backed by EPRI, to

try to use lasers to discharge lightning safely - and safety is a basic requirement since no one wants to put themselves

or their expensive equipment at risk. With around $$500, 000 invested so far, a promising system is just emerging from

the laboratory.

The idea began some 20 years ago, when high-powered lasers were revealing their ability to extract electrons

out of atoms and create ions. If a laser could generate a line of ionisation in the air all the way up to a storm cloud,

this conducting path could be used to guide lightning to Earth, before the electric field becomes strong enough to

break down the air in an uncontrollable surge. To stop the laser itself being struck, it would not be pointed straight at

the clouds. Instead it would be directed at a mirror, and from there into the sky. The mirror would be protected by

placing lightning conductors close by. Ideally, the cloud-zapper (gun)would be cheap enough to be installed around all

key power installations, and portable enough to be taken to international sporting events to beam up at brewing

storm clouds.

A stumbling block

However, there is still a big stumbling block. The laser is no nifty portable: it's a monster that takes up a whole

room. Diels is trying to cut down the size and says that a laser around the size of a small table is in the offing. He

plans to test this more manageable system on live thunderclouds next summer.

Bernstein says that Diels's system is attracting lots of interest from the power companies. But they have not yet

come up with the $$5 million that EPRI says will be needed to develop a commercial system, by making the lasers yet

smaller and cheaper. 'I cannot say I have money yet, but I'm working on it, ' says Bernstein. He reckons that the

forthcoming field tests will be the turning point - and he's hoping for good news. Bernstein predicts 'an avalanche of

interest and support' if all goes well. He expects to see cloud-zappers eventually costing 100, 000 each.

Other scientists could also benefit. With a lightning 'switch' at their fingertips, materials scientists could find out

what happens when mighty currents meet matter. Diels also hopes to see the birth of 'interactive meteorology' - not

just forecasting the weather but controlling it. 'If we could discharge clouds, we might affect the weather, ' he says.

And perhaps, says Diels, we'll be able to confront some other meteorological menaces. 'We think we could

prevent hail by inducing lightning, ' he says. Thunder, the shock wave that comes from a lightning flash, is thought to

be the trigger for the torrential rain that is typical of storms. A laser thunder factory could shake the moisture out of

clouds, perhaps preventing the formation of the giant hailstones that threaten crops. With luck, as the storm clouds

gather this winter, laser-toting researchers could, for the first time, strike back.

Questions 1-3

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter in boxes 1-3 on your answer sheet.

1 The main topic discussed in the text is

A

the damage caused to US golf courses and golf players by lightning strikes.

B

the effect of lightning on power supplies in the US and in Japan.

C

a variety of methods used in trying to control lightning strikes.

D

a laser technique used in trying to control lightning strikes.

2 According to the text, every year lightning

A

does considerable damage to buildings during thunderstorms.

B

kills or injures mainly golfers in the United States.

C

kills or injures around 500 people throughout the world.

D

damages more than 100 American power companies.

3 Researchers at the University of Florida and at the University of New Mexico

A

receive funds from the same source.

B

are using the same techniques.

C

are employed by commercial companies.

D

are in opposition to each other.

Questions 4-6

Complete the sentences below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 4-6 on your answer sheet.

4

EPRI receives financial support from

…………………………

.

5 The advantage of the technique being developed by Diels is that it can be used

………………

.

6 The main difficulty associated with using the laser equipment is related to its

………………

.

Questions 7-10

Complete the summary using the list of words, A-I, below.

Write the correct letter, A-I, in boxes 7-10 on your answer sheet.

In this method, a laser is used to create a line of ionisation by removing electrons from

7

…………………………

. This laser is then directed at 8

…………………………

in order to control electrical

charges, a method which is less dangerous than using 9

…………………………

. As a protection for the lasers, the

beams are aimed

firstly at 10………………………….

A

cloud-zappers

B

atoms

C

storm clouds

D

mirrors

E

technique

F

ions

G

rockets

H

conductors

I

thunder

Questions 11-13

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 11-13 on your answer sheet write

YES

if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer

NO

if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer

NOT GIVEN

if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

11

Power companies have given Diels enough money to develop his laser.

12

Obtaining money to improve the lasers will depend on tests in real storms.

13

Weather forecasters are intensely interested in Diels's system.

READING PASSAGE 1

篇章结构

体裁

说明文

主题

用激光回击闪电

结构

第

1

段：闪电带来的危害

第

2

段：科 研人员正在研究回击闪电的方法

第

3

段：先前的闪电回击术介绍

第

段：火箭回击术的缺陷

第

5

段：更安全的激光回击术

第

6

段：激 光回击术的技术原理

7

段：激光回击术的缺陷

第

8

段：通过实地实验改进激光回击术

第

9

段：激 光回击术对其他学科也有益处

< /p>

第

10

段：激光回击术的其他用途

解题地图

难度系数：★★★

解题顺序：按题目顺序解答即可

友情提示：烤鸭们注意：本文中的

SUMMARY

题目顺序有改变，解题要小心；

MULTIPLE CHOICE

的第三题

是个亮点， 爱浮想联翩的烤鸭们可能会糊掉。

必背词汇

1. inflict

v.

造成

The strikes inflicted serious damage on the economy.

罢工给经济造成了重大损失。

2. inviting adj.

吸引人的

The log fire looked warm and inviting.

篝火看上去温暖而诱人。

3. property n.

财产；属性

The hotel is not responsible for any loss or damage to guests

’

personal property.

酒店不承担宾客的任何个人财产的丢失或损坏。

a herb with healing properties

具有治疗效果的草药

physical/chemical properties

物理特性

/

化学特性

4. fund

v.

资助，投资

The project is jointly funded by several local companies.

这个项目 得到了当地几家公司的联合资助。

government-funded research

政府资助的研究

5. back v.

支持，帮助

The scheme has been backed by several major companies in the region.

这个项目得到了该地区几家大公司的支持。

Some suspected that the rebellion was backed and financed by the US.

有人怀疑这次叛乱是由美国主使并资助的。

6. discharge

v.

放电；排出

Both forms are readily gasified by electrical discharge without leaving any tangible residue.

两种形态都易被放电气化而不剩任何可触察的残余。

7. emerge

v.

出现，浮现

The sun emerged from behind the clouds.

太阳从云朵中探出头来。

Eventually the truth emerged.

真相最终浮出水面。

8. reveal v.

展现，显示；揭示，泄露

He may be prosecuted for revealing secrets about the security agency.

他可能会因为泄露国安局机密而遭检控。

He revealed that he had been in prison twice before.

他透露说他曾经坐过两次牢。

9. generate v.

使产生

The program would generate a lot of new jobs.

这项计划会创造很多新职位。

Tourism generates income for local communities.

旅游业给当地社区带来了收入。

10. surge n.

涌流：猛增

a surge of excitement

一阵兴奋

a surge of refugees into the country

涌入该国的难民潮

a surge in food costs

食品价格猛涨

11. install v.

安装

They've installed the new computer network at last.

他们最终安装了新的计算机网络。

Security cameras have been installed in the city centre.

市中心安装了安全摄像头。

12. nifty adj.

灵便的

a nifty little gadget for squeezing oranges

一个榨橘子汁用的灵便小工具

13. in the offing

即将发生的

Big changes were in the offing.

剧变即将发生。

认知词汇

dramatic

adj.

激动人心的

fury

n.

狂 怒，狂暴

(

本文中指雷暴电流

)

leisurely

adv.

轻松地

dice with death

拿性命开玩笑

neutralize

v.

中和

brave

v.

勇敢地面对

armoury

n.

军械库

on command

按指令

power grid

电力网

precise

adj.

精确的

voltages

n.

电压

frequency

n.

频率

failure rate

失败率

trigger

v.

激发，触发

branch

n.

岔路

populated

adj.

人口密集的

extract

v.

提取

atom

n.

原子

ion

n.

离子

ionization

n.

离子化

electric field

电场

conductor

n.

导体

sporting event

体育项目

stumbling block

绊脚石

monster

n.

庞然大物

manageable

adj.

易管理的

yet

adv.

尚未；还没有

come up with

准备好；提供

reckon

v.

料想，预计

forthcoming

adj.

即将来临的

field test

实地测试

turning point

转折点

an avalanche of

似雪片般的

current

n.

电流

matter

n.

物质

interactive meteorology

互动气象学

confront

v.

面临，对抗

menace

n.

威胁

hail

n.

冰雹

torrential rain

暴雨

moisture

n.

水汽

giant hailstone

大冰雹

佳句赏析

1. If a laser could generate a line of ionisation in the air all the way up to a storm could, this conducting path

could be used to guide lightning to Earth, before the electric field becomes strong enough to break down the air in an

uncontrollable surge.

?

参考译文：如果激光器能够生成一条直达暴雨云的离子线，就可以在闪电电场增强为一股无法 控制的涌

流并击破空气之前，用这条传导通道把电荷引导到地面上来。

< br>

?

语言点：状语从句——条件状语从句

条件状语从句的连接词主要有：

if, unless

，

as/so long as

，

on condition that

< br>等。此处为

if

引导的条件状语从

句。

例句：

Just imagine how horrible the world would be if humans are the only creature in the world.

想一想，如果人类是这世界上唯一的生物，这世界会变得多可怕。

Some animal species are under threat if they stay in their natural habitat.

如果留在自然栖息地，某些动物物种会面临威胁。

If

引导 的条件句有真实条件句和非真实条件句两种。非真实条件句可以表示：

(1)

同 现在事实相反的假设：从句

(

一般过去时

)+

主句

(should/would+

动词原形

)

(2)

与过去事实相反的假设：从句

(

过去完成时

)+

主句

(sho uld/would have+

过去分词

)

(3)

对 将来的假设：从句

(

一般过去时

)+< /p>

主句

(should+

动词原形