职称英语复习第五部分补全短文附译文

第五部分补全短文
阅读下面的短文，每一篇文章中有5处填空，文章后面有6组文字，请根据文章的内容选择5组文字，将其分别放回文章原有的位置，以恢复文章的原貌。

第十一篇Virtual Driver
Driving involves sharp eyes and keen ears, analyzing with a brain, and coordination between hands, feet and brain. A man has sharp eyes and keen ears, analyzes through his brain, and maintains coordination between his hands and brains. He can control a fast-moving car with different parts of his body. 1 Apparently there isn’t anyone in the driver’s cab, but there is in fact a virtual driver1. This virtual driver has eyes, brains, hands and feet too. The minicameras on each side of the car are its eyes and are responsible for observing the road conditions ahead of it as well as the traffic to its left and right. If you open the boot, you can see the most important part of the automatic driving system: a built-in computer. 2 The brain is responsible for calculating the speeds objects surrounding the car are moving at2, analyzing their position on the road, choosing the right path, and giving orders to the wheel and the control system.
In comparison with the human brain, the virtual driver’s best advantage is that it reacts quickly. 3 However, it takes the world’s best racecar driver at least one second to react, and this doesn’t include the time he needs to take action.
With its rapid reaction and accurate control, the virtual driver can reduce the accident rate on expressways considerably. In this case, is it possible for us to let it have the wheel3 at any time and in any place? 4 With its limited ability to recognize things, the car can now only travel on expressways.
The intelligent car determines its direction by the clear lines that mark the lanes clearly and recognizes vehicles according to their regular shapes. 5 This being the case4, people still have high hopes about driverless cars, and think highly intelligent cars are what the cars of the future should be like5. 词汇：virtual /5vE:tjuEl/ adj.虚拟的built-in /5bilt5in/ adj.嵌入的coordination /kEu7C:di5neiFEn/ n.协调，配合racecar n.赛车cab /kAb/ n.驾驶室expressway /Ik5spresweI/ n.高速公路minicamera n.小型照相机driverless adj.无驾驶员的boot /bu:t/ n.（车身后部的）行李箱注释：
1. virtual driver：虚拟驾驶员
2. The brain is responsible for calculating the speeds objects surrounding the car are moving at：大脑负责计算汽车周围物体移动的速度。

The brain is responsible for calculating the speeds objects surrounding the car are moving at = The brain is responsible for calculating the speeds at which objects surrounding the car are moving
3. have the wheel：驾驶汽车
4. This being the case虽然情况是这样。

This being the case是独立主格结构。

5. highly intelligent cars arc what the cars of the future should be like：未来的汽车就应该是高度智能化的汽车。

练习：
A Experts say that we cannot do that just yet.
B In the near future, intelligent cars will be put into commercial operation.
C This is the brain of the car.
D But how does an intelligent car control itself?
E It completes the processing of the images sent by the cameras within 100 milliseconds.
F However, it cannot recognize moving people and bicycles on ordinary roads that have no clear markings on them.
答案与题解：
1. D “空1”前面三个句子讲的是真人驾驶员驾驶汽车时脑、眼、耳、手、脚并用，而且要协调配合。

“空1”之后话题转入虚拟驾驶员。

“空1”之后的第一句“ Apparently there isn’t anyone in the driver’s cab…”似乎来得有些突然，与前面句子接得很生硬。

所以，中间应该有个过渡句。

选项D就是连接上下文的过渡句。

2. C “空2”前面一句说，如果你打开车身后部的行李箱，你就能看到自动驾驶系统的昀重要的部件，嵌入式电脑。

“空2”后的句子中的The brain of the car自然是指前句的built-in computer，但接得太突然。

选项C的“This is the brain of the car”就把前后句子联系起来了。

This指代上一句的built-in computer。

后面句子的The brain of the car是重复选项C中的the brain of the car，显得很自然。

所以，C是答案。

3. E “空3”前面一句说，虚拟驾驶员昀大的优点是反应快。

“空3”后面一句说，越好的赛车手至少要1秒钟才能作出反应。

“至少要1秒钟”已经暗示，虚拟驾驶员反应速度要比真人驾驶员快。

一找，选项E果然说，虚拟驾驶员只需100毫秒就能作出反应。

选项E使上下文的意思完整，因此是答案。

4. A “空4”前面是一句问句，即“在这种情况下，是不是可以不分时间、不分地点都让虚拟驾驶员驾驶汽车? “空4”的句子应该回答这个问题：“让还是不让？”选项A回答了这个问题，因此是答案。

5. F “空5”前面一句说，“ The intelligent car determines its directi on by the clear lines that mark the lanes clearly and recognizes vehicles according to their regular shapes. (智能汽车按清晰标出的车道线决定向己的行车方向，靠车辆的常
规形状识别其他车辆。

)选项F的内容正好相反。

上一句说“recognizes”，还有“mark the lanes clearly”，而F说：“ cannot recognize”，又说“ no clear markings”。

从意思表达上和词汇重复上，都能判断出，F的句子应该出现在“空5”的位置上。

第十二篇Musical Training Can Improve Communication Skills
American scientists say musical training seems to improve communication skills and language retardation. They found that developing musical skills involves the same process in the brain as learning how to speak. The scientists believe that1 could help children with learning disabilities.
１. She says musical training involves putting together different kinds of information, such as hearing music, looking at musical notes, touching an instrument and watching other musicians. This process is not much different from learning how to speak. 2
She further explains musical training and learning to speak each make us think about what we are doing2. She says speech and music pass through a structure of the nervous system called the brain stem. 3 . Until recently, experts have thought the brain stem could not be developed or changed. But Professor Krauss and her team found that musical training can improve a person’s brain stem activity.
The study involved individuals with different levels of musical ability. They were asked to wear an electrical device that measures brain activity. The individuals wore the electrode while they watched a video of someone speaking and a person playing a musical instrument — the cello. 4 . The study found that the more years of training people had, the more sensitive they were to the sound and rhythm of the music3. Those who were involved in musical activities were the same people in whom the improvement of sensory events was the strongest. 5 She says using music to improve listening skills could mean they hear sentences and understand facial expressions better.
词汇：retardation / 7ri:tB:5deiFEn / n. 滞后rhythm / 5riWEm / n. 节奏cello / 5tFelEJ / n. 大提琴electrode / I5lektrEJd / n. 电极note / nEut / n.音符sensory / 5sensEri /adj. 知觉的，感官的注释：
1．scientists believe that could help children with learning disabilities：科学家发现，音乐训练、对学习上有障碍的儿童有帮助。

that是从句“that could help children with learning disabilities”中的主语。

that指代上一句的developing musical skills involves the same process in the brain as learning how to speak。

with learning disabilities是定语，修饰children。

2．musical training and learning to speak each make US think about what we are doing：音乐训练和学习说话这两者都使我们思考我们正在所做的事。

each指musical training和learning to speak中的任何一个。

句子的主语是musical training and learning to speak，所以，谓语动词是复数的。

3．the more years of training people had，the more sensitive they were to the sound and rhythm of the music：人们接受音乐训练的年份越长，其对音乐声音和节奏的敏感性也越高。

people是前半旬中的主语。

练习：
A Both involve different senses.
B Nina Kraus is a neurobiologist（神经生物学家）at Northwestern University in Illinois.
C Some disabled children attended the musical training Class.
D It shows the importance of musical training to children with learning disabilities.
E Professor Krauss says cellos have sound qualities similar to some of the sounds that are important with speech.
F The brain stem controls our ability to hear.
答案与题解：
1．B “空l”后面的句子的主语是代词she，说明“空l”的句子中有一个女性的名字。

选项B有Nina Kraus（Nin a“尼娜”是女性名字），句子的内容是介绍Nina Kraus，与后面句子的意思配得上。

B是答案。

2．A 本段的第二、三句说，音乐训练和学习这两件事没有什么很大的不同。

选项A的“Both involve different senses”解释了为什么这么说，因为两者都涉及不同的感官，也就是上文所列举的“hearing music”（耳听），“looking at musical notes／watching other musicians”（眼看），“touching an instrument”（手触）等。

3．F 在六个选项中，选项F的句子中出现特指的the brain stem，说明前文已出现过这个词语。

这是篇章写作中常用的词汇连接方式。

从意义上看，选项F的句子是解释上文提到的brain stem的功能。

上下文意思连贯，所以是答案。

4．E 同上面第三题的解释一样，选项E的句子中出现特指的the cellos，与上一句的cello相呼应，该句说明科学家为什么要选择大提琴作为音乐训练的乐器，上下文意思连贯，所以E是答案。

5．D 昀后一段介绍音乐训练的方法和结果，以及对学习的关联和影响。

选项D表达的意思是音乐训练的结果和对学习上有障碍的儿童所产生的正面影响，意思与其前后两句的意思完全配合，D是答案。

第十三篇Sleeping Giant
Right now, an eruption is brewing in Yellowstone National Park. Sometime during the next two hours, the park’s most famous geyser, Old Faithful, will begin gurgling boiling water and steam. 1
Old Faithful is not only a spectacular sight; it’s also a constant reminder that Yellowstone sits on one of the largest volcanoes in the world. If you’ve never heard of Yellowstone’s volcano, you’re not alone. 2 Yet it has erupted three times during the last 2 million years. And one of those eruptions spewed enough volcanic ash and other debris to blanket half the United States.
Yellowstone’s volcano is sometimes called a “supervolcano,” or extremely large and explosive caldera vo lcano. 3 This supervolcano formed over a hot spot, an extremely hot area in Earth’s mantle. John Valley, a volcano professor, said that as the crust moves across a hot spot, the hot spot melts a section of the plate moving over it, forming “one volcano aft er another.”
The Yellowstone hot spot melts thick continental crust, which may cause catastrophic eruptions. According to experts the eruptions that created each of the three calderas in and around Yellowstone National Park were larger than any other volcanic eruption in recorded history. The most recent eruption, which happened 640,000 years ago, produced at least 1,000 cubic kilometers of ash and debris, which blanketed most of the western half of the United States. 4
Geological evidence shows Yellowstone has blown its stack every 700,000 years or so1. “If nature were truly that regular and reliable, we would be due for another eruption soon,2” said Valley. “However, these processes are subject to variability, so we don’t really know when the next eruption will happen.”
5 It is the volcanic energy that powers the geysers and hot springs, creates the mountains and canyons, and generates the unique ecosystems that support Yellow tone’s diverse wildlife3. 词汇：brew /bru:/ n.酝酿crust /krQst/ n.地壳Yellowstone National Park黄石国家公园mantle /5mAntl/ n.地幔geyser /5^aizE/ n.间歇泉continental / / adj.大陆的gurgle /5^E:^l/ v.汩汩地流catastrophic /9kAtE`strCfIk/ adj.灾难的spew /spju:/ v.喷涌variability / / n.可变性caldera /kAl5diErE/ n.火山口洼地canyon /5kAnjEn/ n.峡谷注释：
1. every 700,000 years or so：每70万年左右
2. If nature were truly that regular and reliable, we would be due for another eruption soon：如果自然界真的如此有规律，如此可靠，那么，我们将很快面临另一次火山喷发。

这是一个虚拟句。

注意从句中的动词用了were，不是is 或was，主句中用了would be，不是will be。

3. It is the volcanic energy that powers the geysers and hot springs, creates the mountains and canyons, and generates the unique ecosystems that support Yellowstone’s diverse wildlife：这是一句用了it is …that结构的强调句。

被
强调的内容放在it is和that之间。

本句被强调的是the volcanic energy。

被强调前的句子是：The volcanic energy powers the geysers and hot springs, creates the mountains and canyons, and generates the unique ecosystems that support Yellowstone’s diverse wildlife.
练习：
A Three calderas make up more than a third of Yellowstone National Park.
B The first Yellowstone eruption, 2 million years ago, released more than double that amount of ash and debris.
C The volcano is so inconspicuous (不显眼的) that few people know it exists.
D Then, an enormous fountain will shoot high into the air.
E While the active geological processes at Yellowstone do pose some risk to the public, they also make it a unique treasure.
F Yellowstone National Park attracts the interest of geologists the world over.
答案与题解：
1. D 第一段第二句说，在随后的两个小时的某一时刻，间歇泉会涌出沸水和蒸汽。

后续句应该是选项D。

boiling water 变成fountain, shoot high into the air。

2. C 第二段第二句说，如果你不知道黄石公园的下面是火山，没有关系，很多人都不知道。

为什么会如此呢？C 道出了原因。

所以，C是答案。

3. A 第三段第一句说黄石公园的火山extremely large，所以有时候被称为supervolcano。

选项A的句子具体说明这个supervolcano大到什么程度，所以是答案。

4. B 在选项B的more than double that amount of ash and debris这个短语中，有关键词double that amount，说明前面句子一定有一个数字。

检查后.发现这个数字是“ 1,000 cubic kilometers of ash and debris”，可以断定，选项B 的句子就是要放回原位的句子。

5. E “空5”所在段的前面两段介绍了黄石公园火山以前喷发时的可怕情景。

“空5”所在段叙述火山能量带来的好处。

这是两种情景截然相反的描写，中间很可能有一句过渡句，把它们连接起来。

选项E就是过渡句，应该是本题的答
案。

第十四篇Robotic Highway Cones
A University of Nebraska professor has developed robotic cones and barrels. 1 They can even be programmed to move on their own1 at any particular part of the day, said Shane Farritor, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Nebraska.
For example, if workers arrived at 6 am, the cones could move from the side of the highway to block off the lane at that time.
2 “It just seems like a very good application for robots.” Farritor said. “The robotic cones would also he lp remove people from hazardous jobs on the highway putting barrels and cones into place,” Farritor said in a report on his creation.
3 The fund allowed Farritor to work on the project with graduate students2 at Nebraska and his assistant Steve Goddard. The robots are placed at the bottom of the cones and barrels and are small enough not to greatly change the appearance of the construction aides. “It would look exactly the same,” Farritor said. “Normally there’s a kind of rubbery, black base to them.
4 ”
Farritor has talked with officials from the Nebraska Department of Roads about how the robots would be most useful to what they3 might need.
The robots could come in handy4 following a slow-moving maintenance operation, like painting a stripe on a road or moving asphalt, where now the barrels have to be picked up and moved as the operation proceeds. “That way you don’t have to block off a 10-mile strip for the operation,5” Farritor said.
Whiles6 prototypes have been made, they are not in use anywhere. Farritor said he has applied for a patent and is considering what to do next. 5 He is also thinking about marketing the robots to roads departments and others across the country who7 may benefit from them.
词汇：cone /kEun/ n.圆锥体strip /strip/ n.条，带hazardous /5hAzEdEs/ adj.有危险的asphalt /5AsfAlt/ n.沥青aide /eid/ n.辅助用具prototype /5prEutEtaip/ n.原型rubbery /5rQbEri/ adj.类似橡胶的patent /5peitEnt/ n.专利权注释：
1. on their own：独立地，靠自己的力量
2. graduate students：研究生
3. they：指代officials。

4. come in handy：派得上用处
5. That way you don’t have to block off a 10-mile strip for the operation：可译为“采用了这种方法，施工时就不用封锁10英里的地带”。

6. While：虽然
7. who：指代roads departments and others。

练习：
A And they can return to the original place at the end of the day.
B He is thinking about starting a small business.
C Farritor was “Inventor of the Year” in 2003.
D Work on the idea began in 2002 using a National Academy of Sciences grant.
E We replace that with a robot.
F These robotic cones and barrels can move out of the way, or into place, from computer commands made miles away.
答案与题解：
1. F 第一段要恢复的句子的内容应该与robotic cones and barrels有关。

F句中的These robotic cones and barrels正好说明F句是第一句的后续句，these这个代词把第一、第二句连接起来。

第一、二句内容上是连贯的，证实第二句是第一句的后续句。

2. A 本段第一句有两处与A句在内容上相连。

第一句的at 6 am与A句的at the end of the day相对应；第二段第一句的move from the side of the highway与A句的return to the original place相连。

所以A句是第一句的后
续句。

3. D 本段的第二句有The fund。

fund之前用的是定冠词the，说明前面已有句子提到过fund或其他类似资助的词。

D句说的是grant，所以D句是答案。

4. E这一段说机器人安装在锥形路标和路障的底部.其原来外貌几乎没有什么改变。

原来的底部是黑色的，用类似橡胶的材料制成。

而E句的that指的是底部(base)，E句的意思是“用机器人置换底部”。

5. B 本段的第四句He is also thinking about …中的also是一个重要的线索，说明前面一定出现过he is thinking。

但是在前面两句中没有找到。

那么，本段中要恢复的句子一定是练习中的B句。

第十五篇The Arctic Ice Is Thawing
Father Christmas may have to move his “workshop1” from the North Pole because global warming is thawing t he ice beneath his feet and his reindeers feet as well. His “workshop” is in dire straits. The “platform” for the “workshop” is melting, said Stefan Norris of the World Wildlife Fund environmental group’s Arctic Program.
An eight-nation report by 250 scientists published recently predicted the Arctic Ocean could be ice-free in summer by 2100 because of a build-up of heat-trapping gases2 in the atmosphere, mainly from burning fossil fuels in cars or factories. The North Pole is getting more and more inhabitable to Father Christmas. 1 Young people learn that Father Christmas’ “workshop” produces millions of gifts delivered by him on a flying, reindeer-drawn sleigh. Hollywood movies like “The Polar Express3” tried to make viewers believe that Father Christmas lives at the North Pole. 2
The “Fortress of Solitude” is near the North Pole that could be under threat in a warmer world5. Alan Boldt, spokesman of the Danish Ministry of Science, suggested ways to rescue Father Christmas. 3 Another alternative, he argued, would be building some electrical facilities to ensure the ice stays on the North Pole for him. “This should be a subject for the Unit ed Nations,” he said. “Denmark could build windmills to provide Father Christmas with power.” Denmark says Father
C hristmas’s real home is Greenland, which will help, Denmark thinks, to strengthen its position in claiming the sovereignty over the Pole. 4
“Doesn’t he already speak Danish?” Boldt said frostily when asked if Father Christmas would be forced to learn Dani sh if Denmark won international recognition of its claim to the Pole. Last month’s Arctic report said the region is warming twice as fast as the rest of the globe, partly because dark ground or water, once uncovered, soaks up more heat than ice or snow. Finland has been most favored by Father Christmas and it has about 500,000 tourists a year to visit its Christmas center in Rovaniemi in Lapland6. 5 词汇: thaw /WC: / v.融化，解冻Nordic /5nC:dik / adj.北欧的reindeer /5reindiE / n.驯鹿rink /riNk / n.(溜冰)场dire /5daiE / adj.可怕的Danish /5deiniF / adj.丹麦的build-up / 5bildQp / n.增强，聚集Denmark /`dAnmB:k / n.丹麦sleigh /slei / n.雪撬sovereignty /5sCvrinti / n.主权Hollywood / 5hCliwud / n.好莱坞frostily adv.冷漠地Greenland /5^ri:nlEnd / n.格陵兰注释：
1. workshop：工场。

圣诞故事说，圣诞老人每年圣诞节向全世界儿童赠送礼物。

礼物数量何止千千万万。

于是，人们想象，圣诞老人住在北极，在冰块上一定拥有一个制造礼物的工场。

2. heat-trapping gases：捕捉热量的气体。

heat-trapping gases = greenhouse gases
3. The Polar Express：极地快车(好莱坞电影名)
4. Nordic nations：北欧国家。

北欧国家包括芬兰、瑞典、挪威、丹麦、冰岛等五图。

5. The “Fortress of Solitude” near the North Pole that could be under threat in a warmer world：“孤独要塞”靠近北极，在变暖的世界里可能处于危险之中。

that引导的定语从句修饰Fortress of Solitude。

6. Rovaniemi in Lapland：位于拉普兰地区的Rovaniemi (罗瓦涅米)。

Rovaniemi是芬兰拉普兰省首府，是一个充满北极风光的城市。

市内有圣诞公园(Christmas Park)。

每年圣诞节，热闹非凡。

Rovaniemi被称为圣诞之都。

练习：
A However, Nordic nations4 all reject it by claiming that their countries are his home.
B Therefore the North Pole is the most attractive place in the world.
C If Denmark’s claim were accepted internationally, it would have the legal right to search for oil and gas at the North Pole.
D One of them would be building a giant floating ice rink for the workshop if the Pole thaws.
E Maybe Father Christmas has already moved to Rovaniemi.
F He may have to move from the North Pole within our children’s lifetimes.
答案与题解：
1. F “空1”前面两个句子讲的是，受全球气候变暖的影响，北极的冰正在融化，估计到2100年夏天北极将成为无冰的世界。

北极越来越不适合圣诞老人居住了。

于是，读者或许会猜想，在这种情况下，圣诞老人该怎么办呢？选项F说，“He may have to move from the North Pole within our children’s lifetimes”，其意思与上文配合得天衣无缝，北极住不下去了，只能移居他处。

因此F是答案。

2. A “空2”前面一句说，好莱坞电影《极地快车》想让观众相信圣诞老人的故乡在北极。

下面该填什么呢？选项A 说，“However, Nordic nations all reject it by claiming that their countries are his home”，北欧国家不同意这种说法，都声称自己的国家才是圣诞老人的故乡。

意思和上文配得上，但意思正好相反。

所以，“空2”句子的句首用与前一句接起来。

A是答案。

3. D “空3”前面一句说，丹麦科学部发言人提出拯救圣诞老人的几个办法。

“空3”的内容应该涉及具体的拯救办法。

选项D符合这个要求。

D说其中一个办法是：如果北极的冰融化，就人工造个浮冰场地，上面可以承载圣诞老人的工场。

从上下文意思的连接上，从one of them（指代前一句的ways）的用词上，都可以确定，D是答案。

4. C 选项C的句子一开始就用“ Denmark’s claim”重复“空4”前面一句的“ claiming（to the sovereignty over the Pole）”，从词汇重复上，我们可以判断，填入“空4”的句子应该是选项C的句子。

我们再从意思上分析一下。

丹麦认为，圣
诞老人的故乡是格陵兰有助于加强丹麦声称自己拥有北极的主权的地位。

选项C说，如果丹麦的这一要求得到国际社会认可的话，它就拥有合法的权利去勘测北极的石油和天然气。

上下文意思是连贯的，所以C是答案。

5. E“空5”前面一句说，“Finland has been most favored by Father Christmas and it has about 500,000tourists a year to visit its Christmas center in Rovaniemi in Lapland”。

当看到选项E中重复出现Rovaniemi，就知道“空5”位置上应该是选项E的句子。

圣诞老人如此眷顾Rovaniemi，每年约有50万游客来参观Rovaniemi的圣诞中心。

E的句子说“Maybe Father Christmas has already moved to Rovaniemi（说不定圣诞老人已经移居罗瓦涅米了) ”，是对前一句“眷顾”的颇有风趣的总结，也与“空1”的句子“ He may have to move from the North Pole within our children’s lifetimes”遥相呼应。

选项E是本题的答案。

第五部分补全短文
第七篇智能汽车
开车需要目光锐利、耳朵灵敏、反应敏捷和手脑间的协作。

许多人类司机这些条件部具备，并可控制一辆急速行驶的汽车，但一辆智能车如何进行自控？
智能车中有一位虚拟驾驶员。

这位司机同样有“眼”，有“脑”，有“手”，有“脚”。

车两侧的微型摄像头就是他的眼，负责观察车前方的路况。

他们注意着车两侧的交通情况，车中也有高度自动化的驾驶系统。

这就是内置的电脑，也就是虚拟司机的大脑。

这个大脑计算出车近旁正在运动车辆的速度，并分析它们的位置。

基于这些信息，它为智能车选择昀佳路径，并给出指示以让手脚做出相应运动。

通过这样的方式，虚拟司机就对车辆实行了控制。

虚拟司机的昀大优点是什么？他的反应速度很快。

微型摄像头不断向“大脑”发送图像数据。

他完成图像处理的时间为100毫秒。

然而，世界上昀优秀的人类司机也至少需要1秒钟的反应时间。

当他作出行动时，又多得一秒。

虚拟司机的确很棒。

在高速公路上，他可大大减少事故发生率。

鉴于此，我们是否可以让他在任何时间任何地点都驾驶汽车呢？专家们警告说，我们现在还不能这样做。

智能车辨别事物的能力还很有限。

目前，这种车只能在高速公路上行驶。

第八篇生物钟
每一种生物都有控制它们行为的时钟，科学家们称之为生物钟。

生物钟告诉植物的花朵何时生长，何时开放；生物钟告诉昆虫何时离开防护卵袋，远远飞去；生物钟还告诉动物和人类何时进食、睡眠，何时苏醒。

外界的变化会影响某些动植物的生物钟。

例如，科学家昀近发现，有一种很小的动物，会随着白天日照时间的长短改变其毛发的颜色。

冬季日照时间短，它的毛变成白色。

夏季白天日照时间长，它的毛又变成棕灰色。

还有的生物，它们的生物钟受体内信号控制。

德国的科学家发现，鸟类体内的某种生物钟迫使它们每年做两次长距离迁移。

那些被迫不能迁移的鸟，当迁移时间到来时，会显得烦躁不安，而当这段时间过后，它们又恢复了平静。

科学家们指出，他们开始探索大脑内部的哪些部位存在生物钟。

一位美国的研究员，马丁·莫亥德（Martin Moorhead）曾指出，好像是人脑前部的一小群细胞控制着人体的行为。

这些细胞控制着人体睡眠、苏醒和觅食的时间。

另外，科学工作者推测，可能还有另外的生物钟细胞控制人体的其他行为。

目前，英亥德博士正在研究生物钟对人们工作方面的影响。

比如，如果经常改变工作时间，绝大多数人会感觉不适应。

要适应工作时间上的较大变动，可能需要相当长一段日子。

莫亥德博士说，工厂的领导应该对生物钟有进一步的了解，懂得生物钟对工人的影响，如此则会减少工作中的不适和事故，对提高生产大有禅益。

第九篇奇妙的网
蜘蛛网对蜘蛛来说不仅仅是家，它们还是奇妙的引虫入网的陷阱。

世界昀棒的织网者可能是Golden Orb Weaver的蜘蛛。

雌性的Orb Weaver可以织出很细的丝，连被捕的昆虫都看不见，但却是坚韧得可以将一只飞入网中的鸟缠住而不弄断。

那么蜘妹网为何有如此强的力度呢？有一种网丝有超强的弹力，叫做蜘蛛的避敌丝。

当雄性的蜘蛛准备编织蛛网的幅条和框架时，它就用腿从它腹部一个中空的喷嘴里勾出轻飘飘的丝线。

避敌丝不粘，因此蜘蛛可以沿着它来回活动编织，从而来编织网的标志性螺旋。

与某些种类的蜘蛛不同，它不用每天织新网，只要网不破，就能一直用下去，有时一用就两年。

柔软如丝的蛛丝的强度是相同重量的钢丝的五倍。

同时可以承受的力度是一种高强度的防弹衣的人工材料的三倍。

同时由于它有很强的抗张强度，即一种能够抵住被弄断的拉力，一根单线可以伸长至比原始长度长40%以上，然后重新弹回至原来的长度，还像新的一样。

没有一种人造纤维可以与它相媲美。

因此，生产者们强烈要求蛛丝也就不足为奇了。

在消费者这一方面，人们强烈要求的是高质量的运动服和永不脱丝的长补袜，试想一下降落伞的绳索和吊桥上的缆线。

如果有稳定的蛛丝的供应，它将是一个价值数十亿美元的产业，但问题是怎么样才能生产出稳定的蛛丝呢？试图以养蛛场收获蛛丝是行不通的，这种节肢动物有保护自己领地的意识，可能会吞掉它们的“邻居”。

现在，生物工艺公司“Nexia”的科学家们正在研制一种仿制Golden Orb避敌丝的人工丝。

第一步是：从蜘蛛身上抽取制丝的基因，然后，将这些基因植入山羊的卵细胞中。

由这些卵细胞发育生的雌山羊会在羊奶中分泌一种带丝的蛋白质。

“Nexia”公司总裁吉弗利·特纳说：“这些幼山羊不需我们的任何帮助就可以将制丝基因遗传过去。

”“Nexia”继续在完善它的制丝过程，但是他们希望这种人造蜘蛛丝能尽快地吸引顾客，就像真正的蛛丝抓住小虫子一样。

第十篇更少是更多
这听起来完全不对——在一块木头里面钻些洞让它更耐敲打。

但是这确实有效，因为击打产生的能量分散到了整块木头上，而不是集中于一个薄弱点。

这个发现应该导致更有效和更轻的包装材料的产生。

木匠们几个世纪以来都知道一些木头比另一些更结实，例如山核桃木被用做斧柄和轮辐，因为它可以承受振击而不会断裂。

例如白橡木容易损坏得多，尽管它的质地一样细密。

巴斯大学的Julian Vincent和他的研究小组都认为木头的内部结构能够解释这些不同。

许多树都有导管，这些导管通向树干上方，把水输到叶子。

在橡木里，这些管道很大，而且是呈窄带状，但是在山核桃木中这些管道小得多，而且分布更均匀。

研究者们认为这个布局能够将分散打击的能量作用到整块木头上，以此吸收较重的打击。

为了测试这个理论，他们在一块没有管道的云杉木上钻了一些0.65毫米的洞，发现它能够承受更大的打击。

只有当每平方厘米超过30个孔时，木头抵御敲打的表现才变差。

均匀的物质不太好抵御敲打，因为受到影响的只有一小部分物质。

来自打击的所有能量在折断材料时都集中在一两个地方，留下的散片常常没有受到破坏。

Vincent说，这些洞可以提供很多薄弱点，当它们破裂时一起吸收能量，而不是使能量聚在一个地方。

“你可以控制木头断裂的地方，它还可以吸收更多的能量，更安全。

”
研究人员相信，这个原则可用于任何一种材料，例如可用于制造更轻、保护力更强的包装物。

斯图加特的Max Plank 金属研究学院的Ulrike Wegst说，这一原则还可用在汽车的减震器、保护杠和军事车辆的装甲板等东西上，但是她强调说在设计材料时需要考虑力的方向。

她说：“负荷的方向是很关键的。

”
第十一篇中国帮助欧洲发展全球定位系统的竞争
中国要捐助欧洲国家正在开发的全新的全球卫星定位系统。

伽利略人造卫星系统将提供一个较美国军事机构使用的全球定位系统更为精确的民用系统。

中国将提供两亿三千万欧元（两亿五千九百万美元）的资金，并且协助技术、制造以及市场拓展的开发。

欧洲交通委员罗瑶拉·德·帕若索说：“中国将帮助伽利略（人造卫星）成为成长中的定位服务市场的主要世界基础设施。

”不久前，欧洲贸易委员会、欧洲航天局和中国科技部还宣称将建立一个新的中心来协助合作，中国—欧洲金球定位卫星系统技术培训和合作中心将设在北京大学。

中国具有一个非常有实力的卫星发射工业，有可能帮助发射伽利略卫星。

美国声称伽利略会在军事斗争中干扰美国的能力并削减全球定位系统的使用。

欧洲官员称这种说法无事实根据，并对美国所谓的伽利略（人造卫星）会对全球定位系统在商业上构成挑战的说法持反对意见。

伽利略（人造卫星）将精确到一米，而民用全球定位系统服务只精确到10米。

伽利略人造卫星群由27个运作卫星和3个储备卫星构成，并在地球表面23600千米的高度运行，卫星将与三个中等地球轨道并排在与赤道56度的倾斜角度上运行，并且可以覆盖全球。

这个系统将在2008年启动，整个项目将耗资约32亿欧元（36亿美元）。

欧洲贸易委员会说伽利略（人造卫星）昀初将被用于交通技术、科学研究、陆地管理和自然灾害监控等方面。

伽利略将提供两种信号：一种是标准民用信号，另一种是公共调控服务系统加密信号。

第二种信号是为抵抗地方交通堵塞而设计的，将被用于欧洲公安和军事事业。

欧洲贸易委员会官员说中国将无权使用公共调控服务系统。

第一个伽利略人造卫星将在2004年底发射。

这架卫星上的钟表将与20个地面感应站、2个指挥中心和15个上行站时间同步。

地面的接收器将利用卫星上的时间信号准确地计算出它们的方位。

“搜索救援”功能也会通过卫星群传递遇难信号。

第十二篇用纸袋还是塑料袋？
沿着切萨皮克海湾散步，你很有可能见到在河面上飘浮着的塑料袋。

自从这些现在随处可见的美国过度消费的象征在超市出现，塑料购物袋已经进入当地水道，然后顺着水流飘到海湾。

在海湾那里危害野生生物。

成堆的塑料袋——这些需要经过数百年才会分解的东西——出现在废渣埋填地，出现在城市街道上。

每年用几百万桶石油生产塑料袋，在环境方面也付出了代价。

走进安纳波利斯，你就会在百货商店和超市发现免费分发的塑料袋。

市议员Sam Shropshire已经提出了一项很有意义的建议——禁止零售商在马里兰州的首府分发塑料购物袋。

相反地，要求零售商提供用再生纸制作的纸袋和可重复使用的袋子。

巴尔的摩市也打算仿效。

然而，持反对意见的人认为，纸袋也同样有害，生产和运输纸袋要消能更多的资源，再利用它们比再利用塑料引起的污染还大。

不让安纳波利斯市民使用塑料袋的观点还远远没有被接受。

在用塑料袋还是用纸袋的这场争论中，两家各对一部分：用任何材料制成的一次性购物袋都是浪费的，取而代之的昀好的办法是到超市购物的顾客自备能重复使用的购物袋。

安纳波利斯市长正在调查如何向市民分发免费并能重复使用的购物袋。

不管其它的袋子是否被禁止，这是一项可继续推行的建议。

还有一个较为省钱的办法就是，鼓励零售商给能自备可重复使用的购物袋来超市购物的顾客以优惠。

连锁超市“食品巨人”的发言人说，他们超市已经作好了实行这一措施的准备。

主要经营家具的超大零售商场宜家在收款台对一次性购物袋收费，其他的超市如能仿效，这一策略必将更加行之有效。

全面禁止使用塑料购物袋会导致用另一种污染来代替塑料污染，这不是解决问题的根本办法。

第十三篇有关利用可再生能源的辩论。