作者：李志宏,赵吉涛,李秋
出版社：中国人民大学出版社
格式: AZW3, DOCX, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, TXT
雅思周计划——阅读(学术类)试读：
前言
雅思阅读A类考试的三个突出特点：
第一，新旧结合。雅思阅读A类考试的3篇文章往往以新旧考题结合的模式出现，在每年的40多次考试中，有一半左右是2旧1新，其余的是1旧2新，也曾经偶尔出现过3篇都是旧题的情况。
第二，2大考点。“考点”就是考官的出题思路或设题陷阱，在雅思阅读A类考试中，考官常用的设置题目陷阱的方法主要有2个，即“2大考点”。
第三，10种题型。雅思阅读A类考试的题型总体分为3大类，即判断题、选择题和填空题，这3大类又具体分为10种不同的题型，每种题型都有各自的特点和不同的答题要求。
针对雅思阅读A类考试的上述三个特点，本书的内容和结构设置如下：
第一部分，基础段。本部分结合真题精确剖析了雅思阅读A类考试的“2大考点”和“10种题型”，帮助考生从根本上把握雅思阅读A类考试题目的设题陷阱和题型特点。
第二部分，强化段。8套真题全部来源于历次考试，是最权威的备考资料。在试题详解部分，结合每个题目重点讲解如何根据“关键词”对答案进行“快速定位”，然后准确选出或写出答案。
本书的独特之处：
第一，考点。基础段部分结合真题深入挖掘雅思阅读A类考试的“2大考点”所在；强化段部分对每个题目考点的分析一目了然。
第二，分段。“基础段”部分主要培训考生对“考点、题型以及答题方法”的掌握，“强化段”部分则加大题量，训练考生的答题速度和准确率。
第三，计划。本书为考生制订了科学的“三周备考计划”，帮助考生“有规划、高效率”地准备雅思考试。
本书使用要求：
需要说明的是，在本书的强化段部分，考生在完成Test 1~Test 8的时候，要完全按照考试的要求，在规定的时间内完成40道题目，并按规定填写答题卡。每次考试完成以后，再结合每套题目后面的试题详解（答案解析、重点词汇、参考译文和长难句“结构拆解”）对每套题加以透彻理解和消化，从而不断提高阅读能力，达到“快速定位、准确判断”的水平。
最后需要说明的是，在雅思阅读考试中，填写答题卡的时间是包含在60分钟的考试时间里面的，因此，要求考生在做每套题目之前先将该套题目后面的答题卡从书中撕下来，以方便边做题边填写答题卡，这样就可以避免最后完全来不及填写答题卡的情况出现了。编著者2013年1月第一部分基础段Day 1第一章 雅思阅读A类考试介绍
一、考试简介
雅思阅读A类考试的全称是Academic Reading，即学术类阅读，共有3篇文章，总题数是40个，文章长度和题数分配如下：
雅思阅读A类考试的时长是60分钟，每道题目平均1.5分钟，可见时间是很紧迫的。如果思路方法不正确，则很难顺利完成所有的题目。因此，掌握高效的方法并进行一定量的强化训练是非常必要的。
二、文章题材和体裁
雅思阅读A类考试的文章主要来自于报纸和杂志，内容广泛，既包括环境、能源、交通、文化、家庭、经济、人物和历史等社会方面的题材，也包括遗传、医学、动植物、地质、海洋和空间等科技方面的题材。体裁则一般以议论文和说明文为主。
三、考试难点
雅思阅读A类考试有以下两个难点：
1.文章长，阅读量大
雅思阅读A类考试文章的长度为每篇800~1000个单词，文章学术性强，其中有较多的生词，而且句子结构复杂。这些特点使很多考生觉得阅读文章时有很大的难度。
2.时间短，题型众多
雅思阅读A类考试的时长是60分钟，常考的题型有10种之多，有的题型要求考生概括文章或段落的大意，有的题型要求考生在原文中找到答案的出处。不同的题型有不同的解题方法，这一点意味着考生只有掌握相应的技巧方法并进行系统的演练，才能在规定的时间内准确完成所有的题目。
四、高分的“三大法宝”
1.较大的词汇量
词汇量是雅思阅读的基础，没有一定量的词汇，阅读是很难进行的。试想，一句话里面有30个单词，如果一半以上都不认识，想要理解整句话的意思是不可能的。所以一定要把Cambridge IELTS 1~8中出现的生词掌握好（见《雅思周计划——词汇》一书），这样基本上就不会存在词汇方面的问题了，剩下少量的超纲词汇则可以通过上下文猜出大致意思。所以，没有必要为真题以外的词汇犯难。
除了词汇量本身，我们尤其强调的是核心词汇的同义替换。比如说在题目中出现的是genetic（基因的）这个词，而文章中往往以DNA（脱氧核糖核酸）或biological（生物学的，有血亲关系的）等同义替换的形式出现。
2.句子“结构拆解”
雅思阅读A类考试难度大的原因在很大程度上是由于文章中有些句子较长（有的长达30~50个词），所以熟悉句子“结构拆解”的方法尤为重要。也就是说要能够在短时间内快速把一个“长句”拆解成“短句”，并从中提取出有用的信息。
雅思阅读A类考试文章中的长难句虽然多，但是类型相对较少，最主要的就是主从复合句（包括主语从句、表语从句、宾语从句、同位语从句、定语从句和状语从句6种）。本书试题详解部分对长难句采用的就是“结构拆解”法，从而对句子的宏观结构进行提炼，去枝叶留主干，找出其中的引导词，化长句为短句。这样就可以大大提高阅读的速度了。
3.精读和泛读相结合
雅思阅读A类考试文章的篇幅较长，后面还有40道题目需要完成，这就要求考生把精读和泛读相结合。需要特别强调的是，文章中的信息有主次之分，那些与考题相关的信息才是考生需要精读的内容。对于长难句中大量的插入同位语或短语以及放在名词后面或整个句子之后作修饰成分的分词或不定式，考生在考试时基本可以忽略不看。
五、评分标准
六、特别注意事项
1.良好的心理素质
良好的心理素质是在考场上正常发挥水平的重要保证。长期辛苦认真的备考之后，考生们有理由相信自己会在考场上取得满意的成绩，适当的自信也是提高阅读速度和答题正确率的关键因素之一。
2.时间掌控
合理的时间分配可以帮助考生在考场上最大限度地发挥出自己的水平，提高整体正确率。雅思阅读A类考试的时长是60分钟，但文章的难度是渐进的，做题的时间安排应该是：第一篇文章用15~17分钟，第二篇20分钟左右，最后留出23~25分钟完成第三篇。注意不要在一个题目停留太久。
最后在时间安排方面需要提醒考生注意的是，在雅思阅读考试中，填写答题卡的时间是包含在60分钟的考试时间里面的。在此建议考生，最好是一找到问题的答案就在答题卡上作答，或者分篇填写答案，即完成一篇之后就立即把答案填写在答题卡上，这样就可以避免最后完全来不及填写答题卡的情况出现了。
3.阅读顺序
雅思阅读考试主要考查考生的泛读能力、概括能力和在文章中定位答案细节的能力，所以总的做题原则是先浏览问题，然后再根据问题有的放矢地去文章中搜索答案，这样才能提高阅读的速度和答案的准确率。Day 2第二章 雅思阅读A类考试的2大考点
Cambridge IELTS 8共有160道A类阅读题目，这160道题目涵盖了近年来雅思阅读A类考试的“2大考点”，即同义替换和推理判断。本书首先要结合Cambridge IELTS 8中的题目系统讲解这“2大考点”的出题思路和答题方法。第一节 同义替换
一、考点介绍
同义替换是雅思阅读A类考试中的一个重要考点，各种题型中都会出现。在Cambridge IELTS 8的160道A类阅读题目中，绝大部分的题目都涉及了同义替换。
这种考点的出题思路就是题目和（或）选项中的关键词或词组在原文材料中往往以同义替换的形式出现。最常见的替换有两种：
一是同义词替换。这是雅思阅读A类考试中最常出现的，比如，题目中的关键词是survive，在原文中该词有可能被替换成avoid dying out。
二是词性的替换。比如，题目中的关键词是explain，在原文中该词有可能被替换成explanation。
同义替换在雅思考试中无处不在，《雅思周计划——词汇》一书专门收录了近年来雅思考试中经常出现的重点词汇及其同反义词，要求考生熟练掌握。
二、真题示例
Example 1（Cambridge IELTS 8 Test 1 READING PASSAGE 1 Questions 1 and 2）【真题回顾】
READING PASSAGE 1
A Chronicle of Timekeeping
Our conception of time depends on the way we measure it
A According to archaeological evidence,at least 5,000 years ago,and long before the advent of the Roman Empire,the Babylonians began to measure time,introducing calendars to co-ordinate communal activities,to plan the shipment of goods and,in particular,to regulate planting and harvesting.They based their calendars on three natural cycles:the solar day,marked by the successive periods of light and darkness as the earth rotates on its axis;the lunar month,following the phases of the moon as it orbits the earth;and the solar year,defined by the changing seasons that accompany our planet’s revolution around the sun.
B Before the invention of artificial light,the moon had greater social impact.And,for those living near the equator in particular,its waxing and waning was more conspicuous than the passing of the seasons.Hence,the calendars that were developed at the lower latitudes were influenced more by the lunar cycle than by the solar year.In more northern climes,however,where seasonal agriculture was practised,the solar year became more crucial.As the Roman Empire expanded northward,it organised its activity chart for the most part around the solar year.
C Centuries before the Roman Empire,the Egyptians had formulated a municipal calendar having 12 months of 30 days,with five days added to approximate the solar year.Each period of ten days was marked by the appearance of special groups of stars called decans.At the rise of the star Sirius just before sunrise,which occurred around the all-important annual flooding of the Nile,12 decans could be seen spanning the heavens.The cosmic significance the Egyptians placed in the 12 decans led them to develop a system in which each interval of darkness （and later,each interval of daylight）was divided into a dozen equal parts.These periods became known as temporal hours because their duration varied according to the changing length of days and nights with the passing of the seasons.Summer hours were long,winter ones short;only at the spring and autumn equinoxes were the hours of daylight and darkness equal.Temporal hours,which were first adopted by the Greeks and then the Romans,who disseminated them through Europe,remained in use for more than 2,500 years.
D In order to track temporal hours during the day,inventors created sundials,which indicate time by the length or direction of the sun’s shadow.The sundial’s counterpart,the water clock,was designed to measure temporal hours at night.One of the first water clocks was a basin with a small hole near the bottom through which the water dripped out.The falling water level denoted the passing hour as it dipped below hour lines inscribed on the inner surface.Although these devices performed satisfactorily around the Mediterranean,they could not always be depended on in the cloudy and often freezing weather of northern Europe.
Questions 1 and 2
Reading Passage 1 has four paragraphs,A-D.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter,A-D,in boxes 1 and 2 on your answer sheet.
1 a description of an early timekeeping invention affected by cold temperatures
2 an explanation of the importance of geography in the development of the calendar in farming communities【考点点拨】
1 a description of an early timekeeping invention affected by cold temperatures答案：D
关键词：early timekeeping invention、cold temperatures
定位句：根据关键词定位到D段倒数第三行：Although these devices performed satisfactorily around the Mediterranean,they could not always be depended on in the cloudy and often freezing weather of northern Europe.虽然这些装置在地中海周围地区非常好用，但是它们在多云并且经常是冰冻天气的欧洲北部却不能一直使用。
解析：定位句中的these devices指的就是题目中的early timekeeping invention，定位句中的freezing weather和题目中的cold temperatures是同义替换。定位句出现在D段，答案就是D。
考点：同义替换。freezing weather=cold temperatures。
2 an explanation of the importance of geography in the development of the calendar in farming communities答案：B
关键词：importance、geography、farming communities
定位句：根据关键词定位到B段第五行：In more northern climes,however,where seasonal agriculture was practised,the solar year became more crucial.然而，在从事季节性农业的更偏北的气候带，太阳年则变得更为重要。
解析：定位句中的northern climes（偏北的气候带）和题目中的geography（地理）是同义替换，定位句中的agriculture和题目中的farming是同义替换，定位句中的crucial和题目中的importance是同义替换。定位句出现在B段，答案就是B。
考点：同义替换：northern climes=geography；agriculture=farming；crucial=importance。
Example 2（Cambridge IELTS 8 Test 1 READING PASSAGE 2 Questions 20 and 21）【真题回顾】
READING PASSAGE 2
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL IN THE USA
A An accident that occurred in the skies over the Grand Canyon in 1956 resulted in the establishment of the Federal Aviation Administration （FAA）to regulate and oversee the operation of aircraft in the skies over the United States,which were becoming quite congested.The resulting structure of air traffic control has greatly increased the safety of flight in the United States,and similar air traffic control procedures are also in place over much of the rest of the world.
B Rudimentary air traffic control （ATC）existed well before the Grand Canyon disaster.As early as the 1920s,the earliest air traffic controllers manually guided aircraft in the vicinity of the airports,using lights and flags,while beacons and flashing lights were placed along cross-country routes to establish the earliest airways.However,this purely visual system was useless in bad weather,and,by the 1930s,radio communication was coming into use for ATC.The first region to have something approximating today’s ATC was New York City,with other major metropolitan areas following soon after.
Questions 20 and 21
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?
In boxes 20 and 21 on your answer sheet,write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
20 The FAA was created as a result of the introduction of the jet engine.
21 Air Traffic Control started after the Grand Canyon crash in 1956.【考点点拨】
20 The FAA was created as a result of the introduction of the jet engine.答案：FALSE
关键词：FAA、as a result of、jet engine
定位句：根据关键词定位到A段第一行：An accident that occurred in the skies over the Grand Canyon in 1956 resulted in the establishment of the Federal Aviation Administration （FAA）.1956年发生在（美国）大峡谷上空的一起事故促成了联邦航空管理局（FAA）的成立。
解析：题目说的是FAA …as a result of …jet engine，而定位句说的是accident …resulted in …FAA；题目和定位句对FAA出现原因的描述不一致，答案就是FALSE。
考点：同义替换。resulted in=as a result of。
21 Air Traffic Control started after the Grand Canyon crash in 1956.答案：FALSE
关键词：Air Traffic Control、after、Grand Canyon crash
定位句：根据关键词定位到B段第一行：Rudimentary air traffic control （ATC）existed well before the Grand Canyon disaster.早在大峡谷灾难发生之前，基本的航空交通管制（ATC）就已经存在了。
解析：题目中的关键词Air Traffic Control在定位句中重现，后面说的是before the Grand Canyon disaster，而题目说的是after the Grand Canyon crash。定位句中的disaster和题目中的crash是同义替换，题目和定位句所说的时间相反，答案就是FALSE。
考点：同义替换。disaster=crash。第二节 推理判断
一、考点介绍
推理判断是指根据阅读材料中的内容推断出题目要填写的内容或要选择的选项。大多数的推理判断只需要一般推理即可判断出答案，少数题目需要经过比较复杂的推理才能判断出答案。
二、真题示例
Example 1（Cambridge IELTS 8 Test 1 READING PASSAGE 2 Questions 24 and 25）【真题回顾】
READING PASSAGE 2
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL IN THE USA
E To meet this challenge,the following elements were put into effect.First,ATC extends over virtually the entire United States.In general,from 365m above the ground and higher,the entire country is blanketed by controlled airspace.In certain areas,mainly near airports,controlled airspace extends down to 215m above the ground,and,in the immediate vicinity of an airport,all the way down to the surface.Controlled airspace is that airspace in which FAA regulations apply.Elsewhere,in uncontrolled airspace,pilots are bound by fewer regulations.In this way,the recreational pilot who simply wishes to go flying for a while without all the restrictions imposed by the FAA has only to stay in uncontrolled airspace,below 365m,while the pilot who does want the protection afforded by ATC can easily enter the controlled airspace.
F The FAA then recognised two types of operating environments.In good meteo-rological conditions,flying would be permitted under Visual Flight Rules （VFR）,which suggests a strong reliance on visual cues to maintain an acceptable level of safety.Poor visibility necessitated a set of Instrumental Flight Rules （IFR）,under which the pilot relied on altitude and navigational information provided by the plane’s instrument panel to fly safely.On a clear day,a pilot in controlled airspace can choose a VFR or IFR flight plan,and the FAA regulations were devised in a way which accommodates both VFR and IFR operations in the same airspace.However,a pilot can only choose to fly IFR if they possess an instrument rating which is above and beyond the basic pilot’s license that must also be held.
G Controlled airspace is divided into several different types,designated by letters of the alphabet.Uncontrolled airspace is designated Class F,while controlled airspace below 5,490m above sea level and not in the vicinity of an airport is Class E.All airspace above 5,490m is designated Class A.The reason for the division of Class E and Class A airspace stems from the type of planes operating in them.Generally,Class E airspace is where one finds general aviation aircraft （few of which can climb above 5,490m anyway）,and commercial turboprop aircraft.Above 5,490m is the realm of the heavy jets,since jet engines operate more efficiently at higher altitudes.The difference between Class E and A airspace is that in Class A,all operations are IFR,and pilots must be instrument-rated,that is,skilled and licensed in aircraft instrumentation.This is because ATC control of the entire space is essential.Three other types of airspace,Classes D,C and B,govern the vicinity of airports.These correspond roughly to small municipal,medium-sized metropolitan and major metropolitan airports respectively,and encompass an increasingly rigorous set of regulations.For example,all a VFR pilot has to do to enter Class C airspace is establish two-way radio contact with ATC.No explicit permission from ATC to enter is needed,although the pilot must continue to obey all regulations governing VFR flight.To enter Class B airspace,such as on approach to a major metropolitan airport,an explicit ATC clearance is required.The private pilot who cruises without permission into this airspace risks losing their license.
Questions 24 and 25
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?
In boxes 24 and 25 on your answer sheet,write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
24 Class F airspace is airspace which is below 365m and not near airports.
25 All aircraft in Class E airspace must use IFR.【考点点拨】
24 Class F airspace is airspace which is below 365m and not near airports.答案：TRUE
关键词：Class F、365m、not near airports
定位句：根据关键词Class F定位到G段第二行：（1）Uncontrolled airspace is designated Class F.非管制空域被定为F级。
再根据关键词365m定位到E段第二行：（2）In general,from 365m above the ground and higher,the entire country is blanketed by controlled airspace.In certain areas,mainly near airports,controlled airspace extends down to 215m above the ground,and,in the immediate vicinity of an airport,all the way down to the surface.一般来说，在整个国家范围内，离地面365米以及更高的地方都是管制空域。在某些地区，主要是靠近机场的地区，管制空域向下延伸至距离地面215米以上的范围，而在紧邻机场的区域，管制空域包括地面及以上所有的区域。
解析：定位句（1）可以理解为“Class F=非管制空域”，根据定位句（2）可以推断出，“365米以下并且远离机场的领空=非管制空域”，把这两个定位句的意思相结合，就是“Class F=365米以下并且远离机场的领空”。题目说的就是“F级领空就是365米以下并且远离机场的领空”。题目和定位句意思相符，答案就是TRUE。
考点：推理判断。
25 All aircraft in Class E airspace must use IFR.答案：FALSE
关键词：all、Class E、IFR
定位句：根据关键词定位到G段第八行：The difference between Class E and A airspace is that in Class A,all operations are IFR.E级和A级之间的区别在于A级空域中所有的操作都遵循仪表飞行规则（IFR）。
解析：定位句说A级空域中的所有飞行都必须遵循IFR，而E级在这一点上和A级不同，可见，E级空域的所有飞机并不是都必须遵循IFR。题目和定位句意思不相符，答案就是FALSE。
考点：推理判断。
Example 2（Cambridge IELTS 8 Test 4 READING PASSAGE 3 Questions 37-40）【真题回顾】
READING PASSAGE 3
Collecting Ant Specimens
Many ants are small and forage primarily in the layer of leaves and other debris on the ground.Collecting these species by hand can be difficult.One of the most successful ways to collect them is to gather the leaf litter in which they are foraging and extract the ants from it.This is most commonly done by placing leaf litter on a screen over a large funnel,often under some heat.As the leaf litter dries from above,ants （and other animals）move downward and eventually fall out the bottom and are collected in alcohol placed below the funnel.This method works especially well in rain forests and marshy areas.A method of improving the catch when using a funnel is to sift the leaf litter through a coarse screen before placing it above the funnel.This will concentrate the litter and remove larger leaves and twigs.It will also allow more litter to be sampled when using a limited number of funnels.
Questions 37-40
Label the diagram below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 37-40 on your answer sheet.
One method of collecting ants【考点点拨】
One method of collecting ants答案：37 heat
38 leaf litter
39 screen
40 alcohol
关键词：funnel
定位句：根据图示中的关键词定位到第四行：This is most commonly done by placing leaf litter on a screen over a large funnel,often under some heat.As the leaf litter dries from above,ants （and other animals）move downward and eventually fall out the bottom and are collected in alcohol placed below the funnel.最常见的做法是把落叶放在一个大漏斗上面的一个筛子上，通常在它们的上方进行加热。随着上面的叶子渐渐变干，蚂蚁（以及其他的动物）就会向下移动，并最终从漏斗底部漏出，这样就被收集到了置于漏斗下方的酒精中。
解析：题目中的关键词funnel（漏斗）在定位句中两次重现。定位句说的是placing leaf litter on a screen over a large funnel,often under some heat，可见漏斗上面的东西就是a screen，第39题空格前给出了a，该题的答案就是screen；而screen上面放的东西是leaf litter，第38题的答案就是leaf litter；树叶、筛子和漏斗都是under some heat，第37题空格前给出了some，该题的答案就是heat；定位句后面又说alcohol placed below the funnel，可见，放在漏斗下面的东西就是alcohol，第40题的答案就是alcohol。
考点：推理判断。Day 3-5第三章 雅思阅读A类考试的10种题型
为了从各个方面测试考生们的实际语言交流技巧，雅思阅读A类考试的题型具有多样化的特点。经常考到的题型有10种，这10种题型又可以分为3大类:判断题、选择题和填空题。
Cambridge IELTS 8共有160道A类阅读题目，涵盖了上述10种题型中的9种，各题型的题数见下表：
下面结合真题系统讲解这10种题型的特点、答题步骤和注意事项。第一节 判断题
一、题型介绍
判断题的出题方式是给出若干个题目（陈述句），要求考生根据文章所给的信息对每个题目作出判断。如果题目内容与文章内容一致，则选TRUE /YES；如果题目内容与文章内容相抵触，则选FALSE /NO；如果题目内容在文章中并没有提及，则选NOT GIVEN。判断题是雅思阅读A类考试中难度较大的一种题型。在Cambridge IELTS 8的160道A类阅读题目中，有39道是判断题，占近1/4的比例。所以，考生应特别重视这种题型。
二、答题步骤（1）画出题目中的关键词，然后根据关键词最好先定位到文章中的一个段落，也就是把题目中的关键词与文章各段落的小标题或每段的第一句话相对照。先把题目定位到文章中的一个段落，这将大大加快解题的速度，并提高答案的准确率。（2）快速阅读该段落。即根据题目中的关键词，在该段落中找出与题目相关的句子。也就是说，确定一个段落后，答案在该段落中的具体位置可能是未知的，所以，需要从头到尾快速阅读该段落，找出该段落中与题目相关的一句或几句话（通常是一句话）。（3）仔细阅读这一句或几句话，再结合题目，确定正确答案。
三、注意事项（1）判断题绝对不能只凭自己的感觉、常识或背景知识来做题，而是一定要回到文章中寻找对应的信息，也就是要把思路严格限制在文章所给的范围之内。（2）判断题基本是按照题目关键词（或其同义词）在文章中出现的顺序来出题的，了解这一点，考生就能根据题目中的关键词在文章中快速进行定位，从而节省时间。（3）在解答判断题时，对文章以及题目中出现的副词、动词和名词要特别加以注意。尤其是副词在程度高低、范围大小、局部和整体、经常和偶尔等方面的区别往往是解题的关键。下表列出了文章和题目中使用的表示不同范围、频率和可能性的词汇，这时，答案就是FALSE或NO。（4）要注意题目要求回答的是什么。同是判断题，有的要求考生回答TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN，有的要求考生回答YES/NO/NOT GIVEN，必须按照要求填写。
四、真题示例
Example 1（Cambridge IELTS 8 Test 3 READING PASSAGE 1 Questions 11-13）【真题回顾】
READING PASSAGE 1
Striking Back at Lightning with Lasers
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 $50,000 to $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 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 information
NO if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
试读结束[说明：试读内容隐藏了图片]