2024年12月英语四级考试在即，同学们要认真备考哦。今天为大伙带来的是2024年12月英语四级阅读理解模拟：超导材料，一块儿看看吧。
2024年12月英语四级阅读理解模拟：超导材料
The stone age, The Iron Age. Entire epochs havebeen named for materials. So what to call thedecades ahead? The choice will be tough. Welcometo the age of superstuff. Material science -- once theleast sexy technology – is bursting with new, practical discoveries led by superconducting ceramicsthat may revolutionize electronics. Butsuperconductors are just part of the picture: from house and cars to cook pots and artificialteeth, the world will someday be made of different stuff. Exotic plastics, glass and ceramics willshape the future just as surely as have genetic engineering and computer science.
The key to the new materials is researchers’ increasing ability to manipulate substances atthe molecular level. Ceramics, for example, have long been limited by their brittleness. Butby minimizing the microscopic imperfections that cause it, scientists are making far strongerceramics that still retain such qualities as hardness and heat resistance. Ford Motor Co. nowuses ceramic tools to cut steel. A firm called Kyocera has created a line of ceramic scissorsand knives that stay sharp for years and never rust or corrode.
A similar transformation has overtaken plastics. High-strength polymers now formbridges, ice-skating rinks and helicopter rotors. And one new plastic that generates electricitywhen vibrated or pushed is used in electric guitars, touch sensors for robot hands and karatejackets that automatically record each punch and chop. Even plastic litter, which oncethreatened to permanently blot the landscape, has proved amenable to molecular tinkering. Several manufacturers now make biodegradable forms; some plastic six-pack rings forexample, gradually decompose when exposed to sunlight. Researchers are developing ways tomake plastics as recyclable as metal or glass. Besides, composites – plastic reinforced withfibers of graphite or other compounds – made the round-the-world flight of the voyagerpossible and have even been proved in combat: a helmet saved an infantryman’s life bydeflecting two bullets in the Grenada invasion.
Some advanced materials are old standard with a new twist. The newest fiberoptic cablethat carry telephone calls cross-country are made of glass so transparent that a piece of 100 miles thick is clearer than a standard window pane.
But new materials have no impact until they are made into products. And that transitioncould prove difficult, for switching requires lengthy research and investment. It can be said afirmer handle on how to move to commercialization will determine the success or failure of acountry in the near future.
1. How many new materials are mentioned in this passage?
[A] Two
[B] Three
[C] Four
[D] Five
2. Why does the author mention genetic engineering and computer science?
[A] To compare them with the new materials.
[B] To show the significance of the new materials on the future world.
[C] To compare the new materials to them.
[D] To explain his view point.
3. Why is transition difficult?
[A] Because transition requires money and time.
[B] Because many manufacturers are unwilling to change their equipment.
[C] Because research on new materials is very difficult.
[D]Because it takes 10 years.
4. Where lies success of a country in the New Age of superstuff?
[A] It lies in research.
[B] It lies in investment.
[C] It lies in innovation.
[D] It lies in application.
Vocabulary
1. superstuff 超级材料
2. superconducting ceramic 超导陶瓷
3. exotic 神奇的
4. shape 塑造，成型
5. brittleness 脆性
6. polymer 聚合体
7. karate jacket 空手道外衣
8. touch sensor 触及传感器
9. each punch and chop 每个击、打
10. blot 玷污，损害风景的东西
11. tinker 修补，调整
12. amendable 服从于，遵循的
13. biodegradable 能生物递减分解的
14. six-pack rings 放六个罐子的环状物
15. decompose 分解
16. recyclable 可循环
17. infantryman 步兵
18. deflect 使偏斜，使转向
19. a new twist 一个新的看法，办法
难句译注
1. Material science – once the least sexy technology – is bursting with new, practicaldiscoveries led by superconducting ceramics that may revolutionize electronics.
【参考译文】材料科学，一度曾是最无吸引力的技术，正以崭新的 ，以超导陶瓷为首的种种实用性创造绽开新颜。这种超导陶瓷或许会使电子技术彻底改变。
2. Some advanced materials are old standard with a new twist. The newest fiberopticcables that carry telephone calls cross-country are made of glass so transparent that a pieceof 100 miles thick is clearer than a standard window pane.
【参考译文】有的高级材料是带有新办法的老标准。最新全国电话的光纤电缆由玻璃制成。这种玻璃透明度极高，一片100英里厚的玻璃比一块标准的窗框玻璃还要明确透明。
写作办法与文章大意
这是一篇介绍“超导材料”的论说文,使用一般到具体的分类写作手法。先指出将来年代的材料是超导，然后再提出三种超导材料，再逐一说明。
答案解析
1. B 三种超导材料。答案再第一段最后一句“神奇的塑料、玻璃和陶瓷”。下面各段具体讲这三种材料。第二段讲陶瓷：“新材料之重点在于研究工作者不断提升在分子水平上处置物质的能力。举陶瓷为例，因为它的脆性，长期来应用范围有限。但通过改变致使脆性的微小缺点，科学家制造出一种维持原有硬度和抗热性，但坚实得多的陶瓷”。第三段讲塑料。“类似的转折发生在塑料上，高强度的塑料建成了桥梁、溜冰场、直升机的叶轮。一种震动或推进就能发电的新型塑料用于电子吉他上，触及传感塑料用于机械手和空手道外衣上，它能自动记录每次击打。”后面议及塑料垃圾可以处置，或者制造可分解还原的塑料制品。塑料内加入其他化合物加大性能。第四段讲有的高级材料由新的改变，最新的光纤电缆由玻璃制成，透明度极高，100英里厚的一块其明确度比一块普通窗玻璃还高。
2. B 说明这种新材料对将来世界的意义。答案在第一段：“神奇的塑料、玻璃和陶瓷必然会象生物工程和计算机一样将改变世界。”A. 把它们和新材料相比较，这里不止是比较，而是说明三者都具同样有哪些用途--改变世界。 C. 把新材料比作它们。也不止是比喻比拟。 与A一样没说到核心电。D. 说明他的看法。太笼统。
3. A 转折需要钱和时间。见最后一段“可是新材料只有制成商品才有影响，而这个转折可能非常困难，由于转折需要长期的研究和投资。可以这么说，在不久的以后，更牢牢地学会怎么样把材料转变成产品将决定一个国家之成败。”B. 由于很多制造商不愿改变他们的设施。C. 由于新材料的研究很不简单。 D. 转折要华上十年时间。这三项文内没涉及。
4. D 在超级材料年代已过之成功在于应用。A. 在于研究。B. 在于投资。C. 在于改革。这三项都是应用的部分首要条件。其中A和B文内提到，C项文内未涉及。
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