7第六篇 Microchip Research Center Created A research center has been set up in this Far Eastern country to develop advanced microchip production technology. The center, which will start out with about US $14 million, will help the country develop its chip industry without always depending on imported technology. The center will make use of its research skills and facilities to develop new technology for domestic chip plants. The advent of the center will possibly free the country from the situation that it is always buying almost-outdated technologies from other countries, said the countrys flagship chipmaker.1 Currently, chip plants in this country are in a passive situation because many foreign governments dont allow them to import the most advanced technologies, fearing they will be used for military purposes. Moreover, the high licensing fees they have to pay to technology providers are also an important reason for their decision of self-reliance2. As mainstream chip production technology shifts from one generation to the next every three to five years3, plants with new technology can make more powerful chips at lower costs, while4 plants with outdated equipment, which often cost billions of dollars to build, will be marginalized by the maker. More than 10 chip plants are being built, each costing millions of US dollars.5 The majority of that money goes to overseas equipment vendors and technology owners mainly from Japan and Singapore. Should the new center play a major role in improving the situation in the industry,6 the country admits the US $14 million investment is still rather small. This country is developing comprehensive technologies. Most of the investment will be spent on set第六篇微芯片研究中心成立為了開(kāi)發(fā)先進(jìn)的微芯片生產(chǎn)技術(shù)，這個(gè)遠(yuǎn)東國(guó)家建立了一個(gè)研究中心，該中心啟動(dòng)資金為一千四百萬(wàn)美元，可以幫助該國(guó)開(kāi)發(fā)自己的芯片工業(yè)，不必總是依賴(lài)于進(jìn)口技術(shù)。該中心將會(huì)應(yīng)用自己的研究技術(shù)和設(shè)施，為本國(guó)芯片廠家開(kāi)發(fā)新技術(shù)。這個(gè)國(guó)家名列首位的芯片制造公司說(shuō)，芯片中心的成立可能使這個(gè)國(guó)家擺脫從他國(guó)購(gòu)買(mǎi)即將淘汰的技術(shù)的困境。由于許多外國(guó)政府擔(dān)心先進(jìn)技術(shù)會(huì)被用于軍事目的，不允許這個(gè)國(guó)家的芯片生產(chǎn)廠家進(jìn)口前沿技術(shù)，所以這些生產(chǎn)廠家處于一種被動(dòng)局面。另外，由于這些芯片生產(chǎn)廠家必須向技術(shù)提供者支付高額的許可費(fèi)，這也構(gòu)成了他們決定要自力更生的一個(gè)重要原因。由于主流芯片生產(chǎn)技術(shù)每隔 35年就要進(jìn)行更新?lián)Q代，所以掌握了新技術(shù)的廠家就可以以較低的成本制造出較好的芯片，而那些耗費(fèi)數(shù)十億美元建立起的廠家，如果設(shè)備落后，也將會(huì)被生產(chǎn)商所淘汰。幾個(gè)芯片廠正在建立之中，每個(gè)廠的造價(jià)都在幾百萬(wàn)美元，其中大部分資金都流向了海外設(shè)備商和技術(shù)所有者主要是日本和新加坡。如果新建的芯片中心能在改變?cè)搰?guó)芯片行業(yè)的被動(dòng)形勢(shì)中起到重要作用，該國(guó)承認(rèn)，一千四百萬(wàn)美元的投資仍是微不足道的。該國(guó)正在開(kāi)發(fā)綜合技術(shù)，大部分投資將用于與技術(shù)和知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)所有者建立聯(lián)盟。第一篇 Inventor of LED When Nick Holonyak set out to create a new kind of visible lighting using semiconductor alloys, his colleagues thought he was unrealistic. Today, his discovery of light-emitting diodes, or1 LEDs, are used in everything from DVDs to alarm clocks to airports. Dozens of his students have continued his work, developing lighting used in traffic lights and other everyday technology. On April 23, 2004, Holonyak received the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize at a ceremony in Washington. This marks the 10th year that the Lemelson-MIT Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has given the award to prominent inventors. “Any time you get an award, big or little2, its always a surprise.” Holonyak said. Holonyak, 75, was a student of John Bardeen, an inventor of the transistor, in the early 1950s. After graduate school3, Holonyak worked at Bell Labs. He later went to General Electric4, where he invented a switch now widely used in house dimmer switches5. Later, Holonyak started looking into how semiconductors could be used to generate light. But while his colleagues were looking at how to generate invisible light, he wanted to generate visible light. The LEDs he invented in 1962 now last about 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, and are more environmentally friendly and cost effective. Holonyak, now a professor of electrical and computer engineering and physics at the University of Illinois, said he suspected that LEDs would become as commonplace as they are today, but didnt realize how many uses they would have. “You dont know in the beginning. You think youre doing something important, you think its worth doing, but you really cant tell what the big payoff is going to be, and when, and how. You just dont know.” he said. The Lemelson-MIT Program also recognized Edith Flanigen, 75, with the $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Lifetime Achievement Award for her work on a new generation of “molecular sieves,” that can separate molecules by size. 第十篇The Biology of MusicHumans use music as a powerful way to communicate. It may also play an important role in love. But what is music, and how does it work its magic? Science does not yet have all the answers.What are two things that make humans different from animals? One is language, and the other is music. It is true that some animals can sing (and many birds sing better than a lot of people). However, the songs of animals, such as birds and whales, are very limited. It is also true that humans, not animals, have developed musical instruments. 1Music is strange stuff. It is clearly different from language. However, people can use music to communicate things especially their emotions. When music is combined with speech in a song, it is a very powerful form of communication. But, biologically speaking, what is music?If music is truly different from speech, then we should process music and language in different parts of the brain. The scientific evidence suggests that this is true.Sometimes people who suffer brain damage lose their ability to process language. However, they dont automatically lose their musical abilities. For example, Vissarion Shebalin, a Russian composer，had a stroke in 1953. It injured the left side of his brain. He could no longer speak or understand speech. He could, however, still compose music until his death ten years later. On the other hand，sometimes strokes cause people to lose their musical ability, but they can still speak and understand speech. This shows that the brain processes music and language separately.By studying the physical effects of music on the body，scientists have also learned a lot about how music influences the emotions. But why does music have such a strong effect on us? That is a harder question to answer. Geoffrey Miller, a researcher at University College, London, thinks that music and love have a strong connection. Music requires special talent, practice, and physical ability. Thats why it may be a way of showing your fitness to be someones mate. For example, singing in tune or playing a musical instrument requires fine muscular control. You also need a good memory to remember the notes. And playing or singing those notes correctly suggests that your hearing is in excellent condition. Finally, when a man sings to the woman he loves (or vice versa)， it may be a way of showing off.However, Millers theory still doesnt explain why certain combinations of sounds influence our emotions so deeply. For scientists，this is clearly an area that needs further research.第十篇音樂(lè)生物學(xué)人們把音樂(lè)作為一種高效的交流方式，在愛(ài)情中它也可能會(huì)起到重要的作用。但是音樂(lè)是什么？它又是如何起到神奇的效果？科學(xué)界還沒(méi)有給出答案。哪兩項(xiàng)事物使得人類(lèi)不同于動(dòng)物？一個(gè)是語(yǔ)言，另一個(gè)是音樂(lè)。當(dāng)然一些動(dòng)物會(huì)唱歌 (并且許多鳥(niǎo)唱得比很多人都好聽(tīng)) ，但是，動(dòng)物的歌聲是有限的，比如鳥(niǎo)類(lèi)和鯨魚(yú)。同樣，是人類(lèi)而不是動(dòng)物開(kāi)發(fā)出了樂(lè)器。音樂(lè)是個(gè)奇怪的東西，它與語(yǔ)言有明顯的不同。但是，人們能夠用音樂(lè)去傳達(dá)尤其是情感。當(dāng)音樂(lè)與歌曲中的語(yǔ)言結(jié)合在一起的時(shí)候，它就是一種強(qiáng)有力的表達(dá)方式。但是，從生物學(xué)來(lái)講，音樂(lè)是什么？如果音樂(lè)與語(yǔ)言真的不同，那么我們應(yīng)該在大腦的不同區(qū)域內(nèi)對(duì)音樂(lè)和語(yǔ)言進(jìn)行加工處理，科學(xué)證據(jù)也證實(shí)了這一點(diǎn)。有時(shí)，受過(guò)腦損傷的人會(huì)喪失他們處理語(yǔ)言的能力。但是，他們不會(huì)自動(dòng)地丟失音樂(lè)才能。比如，維沙翁舍巴林，一位蘇聯(lián)作曲家，在1953 年得了中風(fēng)。他的大腦的左半邊受到損害，他再也不能說(shuō)話(huà)或是理解別人的話(huà)，但是他仍然能夠譜曲，直到十年后他離開(kāi)人世。另一方面，中風(fēng)有時(shí)會(huì)使人們喪失音樂(lè)能力，但是他們?nèi)匀荒軌蛘f(shuō)話(huà)也能聽(tīng)懂別人的話(huà)。這就說(shuō)明大腦是分別加了處理音樂(lè)和語(yǔ)言的。通過(guò)研究音樂(lè)在人身體上的物理效應(yīng)，科學(xué)家也了解到許多關(guān)于音樂(lè)是如何影響情感的。但是，為什么音樂(lè)對(duì)我們有如此強(qiáng)烈的影響？這是一個(gè)更難回答的問(wèn)題。倫敦大學(xué)學(xué)院的研究員杰弗里米勒認(rèn)為音樂(lè)和愛(ài)有緊密的關(guān)，音樂(lè)需要特殊才能、練習(xí)和體能。這也許是一種方式讓你展示你適合做某人的伴侶。比如，按調(diào)唱歌或者彈奏樂(lè)器需要有很好的肌肉控制力。你也需要有好的記憶力來(lái)記住音符。能正確地演奏或者唱出這些音符也證明你的聽(tīng)力也非常好。所以，當(dāng)一個(gè)男人唱給他心愛(ài)的女人時(shí)(反之亦然) 音樂(lè)就可能成為一種展示的方式。然而，米勒的理論仍然不能解釋為什么聲音的特定結(jié)合可以深深地影響我們的情感。對(duì)于科學(xué)家來(lái)說(shuō)，這顯然是一個(gè)需要深入研究的領(lǐng)域。*第二十二篇 Real World RobotsWhen you think of a robot, do you envision a shiny, metallic device having the same general shape as a human being, performing humanlike functions, and responding to your questions in a monotone voice accentuated by high-pitched tones and beeps? This is the way many of us imagine a robot, but in the real world, a robot is not humanoid at all. Instead a robot often is a voiceless, box-shaped machine that efficiently carries out repetitive or dangerous functions usually performed by humans. Todays robot is more than an automatic machine that performs one task again and again. A modern robot is programmed with varying degrees of artificial intelligencethat is, a robot contains a computer program that tells it how to perform tasks associated with human intelligence, such as reasoning, drawing conclusions, and learning from past experience.A robot does not possess a human shape for the simple reason that a two-legged robot has great difficulty remaining balanced. A robot does, however, move from place to place on wheels and axles that roll and rotate. A robot even has limbs that swivel and move in combination with joints and motors. To find its way in its surroundings1, a robot utilizes various built-in sensors. Antennae attached to the robots base detect anything they bump into. If the robot starts to teeter as it moves on an incline, a gyroscope or a pendulum inside it senses the vertical differential. To determine its distance from an object and how quickly it will reach the object，the robot bounces beams of laser light and ultrasonic sound waves off obstructions in its path2. These and other sensors constantly feed information to the computer, which then analyzes the information and corrects or adjusts the robots actions. As science and technology advance, the robot too will progress in its functions and use of artificial-intelligence programs.*第九篇 Lightening StrikesThree years ago a bolt of lightning all but destroyed Lyn Millers house in Aberdeenwith her two children inside. “There was a huge rainstorm,” she says, recalling the terrifying experience. “My brother and I were outside desperately working to stop floodwater from coming in the house. Suddenly I was thrown to the ground by an enormous bang. _1_When I picked myself up, the roof and the entire upper storey of the house had been demolished. The door was blocked by rubble, but we forced our way in and found the children, thankfully unharmed. Later I was told to be struck by lightning is a chance in a million.” In fact, its calculated at one chance in 600,000. Even so, Dr Mark Keys of AER Technology, an organisation that monitors the effects of lightning, thinks you should be sensible. “I wouldnt go out in a stormbut then Im quite a careful person.” He advises anyone who is unlucky enough to be caught in a storm to get down on the ground and curl up into a ball, making yourself as small as possible.Lightning is one of natures most awesome displays of sheer power. _2_No wonder the ancient Greeks thought it was Zeus, father of the gods, throwing thunderbolts around in anger. 250 years ago, Benjamin Franklin, the American scientist and statesman，proved that lightning is a form of electricity, but scientists still lack a complete understanding of how it works._3_ Occasionally there are warning signs.Positive electrical charges streaming upwards from trees or church spires may glow and make a buzzing noise, and peoples hair can stand on end. And if you fear lightning, youll be glad to know that a company in America has manufactured a hand-held lightning detector which can detect it up to 70 kms away, sound a warning tone and monitor the storms approach.Nancy Wilder was playing golf at a club in Surrey when she was hit by a bolt of lightning. Mrs Wilders heart stopped beating, but she was resuscitated and, after a few days in hospital, where she was treated for bums to her head, hands and feet, she was pronounced fit again. Since that time，she has been a strictly fair weather golfer1. _4_ In fact, a golf course is one of the most dangerous places to be during a thunderstorm.The best place to be is inside a car!The largest number of people to be struck by lightning at one time was in September 1995 when 17 players on a football pitch were hit simultaneously. The most extraordinary aspect of the strike was the fact that 11 of the victimsseven adults and four childrenhad burn patterns of tiny holes at 3 centimetre intervals on each toe and around the soles of their feet.Harold Deal, a retired electrician from South Carolina, USA, was struck by lightning 26 years ago. He was apparently unhurt, but it later emerged that the strike had damaged the part of the brain which controls the sensation of temperature. Since then the freezing South Carolina winters havent bothered Harold, since he is completely unable to feel the cold._5_Since then the freezing South Carolina winters havent bothered Harold, since he is completely unable to feel the cold.Animals are victims of lightning too2Hundreds of cows and sheep are killed every year, largely because they go under trees. In East Anglia in 1918, 504 sheep were killed instantaneously by the same bolt of lightning that hit the ground and travelled through the entire flock. Lightning is also responsible for starting more than 10,000 forest fires each year world-wide.ting alliances with technology and intellectual property7 owners. 第六篇 How We Form First Impression 1 We all have first impression of someone we just met. But why? Why do we form an opinion about someone without really knowing anything about him or her aside perhaps from a few remarks or readily observable traits. 2 The answer is related to how your brain allows you to be aware of the world. Your brain is so sensitive in picking up facial traits, even very minor difference in how a persons eyes, ears, nose, or mouth are placed in relation to each other makes you see him or her as different1. In fact, your brain continuously processes incoming sensory information the sights and sounds of your world. These incoming “signals” are compared against2 a host of “memories” stored in the brain areas called the cortex system to determine what these new signals “mean.” 3 If you see someone you know and like at school3, your brain says “familiar and safe.” If you see someone new, it says, “new potentially threatening.” Then your brain starts to match features of this stranger with other “known” memories. The height, weight, dress, ethnicity, gestures, and tone of voice are all matched up. The more unfamiliar the characteristics, the more your brain may say. “This is new. I dont like this person.” Or else, “Im intrigued.” Or your brain may perceive a new face but familiar clothes, ethnicity, gestures like your other friends; so your brain says: “I like this person.” But these preliminary “impressions” can be dead wrong4. 4 When we stereotype people, we use a less mature form of thinking (not unlike the immature thinking of a very young child) that makes simplistic and categorical impressions of others. Rather than learn about the depth and breadth of people their history, interest, values, strengths, and true character we categorize them as jocks , geeks , or freaks. 5 However, if we resist initial stereotypical impressions, we have a chance to be aware of what a person is truly like. If we spend time with a person, hear about his or her life, hopes, dreams, and become aware of the persons character, we use a different, more mature style of thinking and the most complex areas of our cortex, which allow us to be humane. 第七篇 Moderate Earthquake Strikes England A moderate earthquake struck parts of southeast England on 28 April 2007, toppling chimneys from houses and rousing residents from their beds. Several thousand people were left without power1 in Kent County2. One woman suffered minor head and neck injuries. “It felt as if the whole house was being slid across like a fun-fair ride,3” said the woman. The British Geological Survey said the 4.3-magnitude quake4 struck at 8:19 a. m. and was centered under the English Channel5, about 8.5 miles south of Dover6 and near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel7. Witnesses said cracks appeared in walls and chimneys collapsed across the county. Residents said the tremor had lasted for about 10 to 15 seconds. “I was lying in bed and it felt as if someone had just got up from bed next to me,” said Hendrick van Eck, 27, of Canterbury8 about 60 miles southeast of London. “I then heard the sound of cracking, and it was getting heavier and heavier9. It felt as if someone was at the end of my bed hopping up and down.” There are thousands of moderate quakes on this scale around the world each year, but they are rare in Britain. The April 28 quake was the strongest in Britain since 2002 when a 4.8-magnitude quake struck the central England city of Birmingham10. The countrys strongest earthquake took place in the North Sea in 1931, measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale11. British Geological Survey scientist Roger Musson said the quake took place on 28 April in an area that had seen several of the biggest earthquakes ever to strike Britain, including one in 1580 that caused damage in London and was felt in France.12 Musson predicted that it was only a matter of time13 before another earthquake struck this part of England. However, people should not be scared too much by this prediction. Musson said, as the modern earthquake warning system of Britain should be able to detect a forthcoming quake and announce it several hours before it takes place. This would allow time for people to evacuate and reduce damage to the minimum. 第八篇What Is a Dream?For centuries, people have wondered about the strange things that they dream about. Some psychologists say that this nighttime activity of the mind has no special meaning. Others，however， think that dreams are an important part of our lives. In fact, many experts believe that dreams can tell us about a persons mind and emotions.Before modern times, many people thought that dreams contained messages from God. It was only in the twentieth century that people started to study dreams in a scientific way.The Austrian psychologist, Sigmund Freud1，was probably the first person to study dreams scientifically. In his famous book, The interpretation of Dreams (1900), Freud wrote that dreams are an expression of a persons wishes. He believed that dreams allow people to express the feelings, thoughts, and fears that they are afraid to express in real life.The Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung2 was once a student of Freuds. Jung，however，had a different idea about dreams. Jung believed that the purpose of a dream was to communicate a message to the dreamer. He thought people could learn more about themselves by thinking about their dreams. For example, people who dream about falling may learn that they have too high an opinion of themselves. On the other hand, people who dream about being heroes may learn that they think too little of themselves.Modern-day psychologists continue to develop theories about dreams. For example, psychologist William Domhoff from the University of California, Santa Cruz，believes that dreams are tightly linked to a persons daily life, thoughts, and behavior. A criminal, for example, might dream about crime.Domhoff believes that there is a connection between dreams and age. His research shows that children do not dream as much as adults. According to Domhoff, dreaming is a mental skill that needs time to develop.He has also found a link between dreams and gender. His studies show that the dreams of men and women are different. For example, the people in mens dreams are often other men, and the dreams often involve fighting. This is not true of womens dreams.3 Domhoff found this gender difference in the dreams of people from 11 cultures around the world, including both modern and traditional ones.Can dreams help us understand ourselves? Psychologists continue to try to answer this question in different ways. However, one thing they agr