Every human being, no matter what he is doing, gives off body heat. The usual problem is how to dispose of it. But the designers of the Johnstown campus of the University of Pittsburgh set themselves the opposite problem-how to collect body heat. They have designed a collection system which utilizes not only body heat, but the heat given off by such objects as light bubs and refrigerators as well. The system works so well that no conventional fuel is needed to make the campus's six buildings comfortable.
Some parts of most modern buildings-theaters and offices as well as classrooms are more than amply heated by people and lights and sometimes must be air-conditioned even in winter. The technique of saving heat and redistributing it is called "heat recovery." A few modern buildings recover heat, but the University's system is the first to recover heat from some buildings and re-use it in others.
Along the way, pit has learned a great deal about some of its heat producers. The harder a student studies, the more heat his body gives off. (76) Male students emit more heat than female students, and the larger a student, the more heat he produces. It is tempting to conclude that the hottest prospect for the Johnstown campus would be a hardworking, overweight male genius.
1. Until recently, body heat has caused problems because it ______.
A. was difficult to collect
B. came in a variety of forms
C. was difficult to get rid of
D. tended to be absorbed by physical objects
2. Which of the following is true of the heating system of the Johnstown campus?
A. The heat is supplied by human bodies only.
B. The heat is supplied by both human bodies and other heat-emitting objects.
C. The heat is supplied by both human bodies and conventional fuel.
D. The heat is supplied by human bodies, other heat-emitting objects, and conventional fuel.
3.The phrase "even in winter" (in line 8) most nearly means ______.
A. if the winter is especially warm
B. during all of the year except the winter
C. in the winter as well as in other seasons
D. during the evenings in the winter
4. The phrase "heat recovery" refers to a ______.
A. method of concealing the source of heat
B. special form of air conditioning
C. supplementary hot water system
D. way of reclaiming and re-using heat
5. According to the passage which of the following would produce the LEAST amount of heat?
A. A fat female who studies hard.
B. A thin female who does not study.
C. A fat male who does not study.
D. A thin male who studies hard.
一、文章大意和总体结构分析
这篇文章,向我们介绍了一种全新的能量利用方式,收集人体热能用于供热。在大力提倡环保的当今社会,这种能源的回收再利用意义重大,这篇文章开阔了学生的视野。
文章的开头作者便提出身体热能这个人人皆知的概念,虽然我们知道身体会排除热量,但是却从未想过去利用这些热量。第二句作者便将读者带入一个全新的视角,即如何在生活中利用这些热量。匹兹堡大学的例子很好地证明了人体热量的利用价值。
接下来,作者比较详细地介绍了这种利用人体热量的系统,即热量回收再利用,并指出已经有一些大楼正在利用这种自然、环保的资源。
最后一段,作者向我们介绍了一项有趣的研究成果,即身体强壮、学习刻苦的男性会排放出更多的热量。
二、试题详解
1.C 答案是开头的第二句:The usual problem is how to dispose of it.Dispose of “处理解决”。
2.B 答案在第一段的第三句中。他们设计了一种收集系统,它不但利用身体的热,还收集由灯泡、冰箱等散发出来的热。有了这两种热能,作者指出在校园中已无需任何conventional fuel
3.C 第二段中说:大多数现代化的大楼有些部分-戏院、办公室以及教室是用人体和灯光的热来供热的,有时候甚至在冬天的空调也是由它们来供热。Even意为“甚至”。
4.D 回收再利用热能。此题考察学生对全文的总结能力,以及reclaim和re-use的词义。
5.B 最后一段倒数第二句说:男学生发出的热量比女生发出的热量多,学生体重越重产生的热量越多。学习刻苦的比学习不刻苦的产生的热量多。所以最瘦的女生产生的热量最少。
三、文章长难句分析
Male students emit more heat than female students, and the larger a student, the more heat he produces. 男学生散发的热量多于女学生,并且身体体积越大,产生的热量就越多。
Emit排放、散发。The more…, the more…,为固定句式,意为“越…,越…”。
四、核心词汇
no matter无论;gives off散发;conventional fuel常规燃料;heat recovery热能回收;a great
deal 大量;the more…, the more… 越…,越…