How do people traditionally manufacture (制造) things? They usually start with a sheet of metal, wood or other material and cut, drill (钻) and shave it to create a desired shape. Sometimes, they use a mold (模具) made of metal or sand, pour liquid plastic or metal into it and let it cool to create a solid part.
Now, a completely different method is gaining popularity.
On Oct. 9, 2013, London Science Museum kicked off its new exhibition, 3-D: Printing the Future, with over 600 3-D printed objects on display, including space probes (探测器), toy dolls and even human organs – basically any product you can think of, reported Live Science.
You might find it hard to believe that an object can actually be “printed out” like a picture. But it is not that hard to understand how it works. Just as a traditional printer sprays (喷洒) ink onto paper line by line, modern 3-D printers spread material onto a surface layer by layer, from the bottom to the top, gradually building up a shape.
Instead of ink, the materials the 3-D printer uses are mainly plastic, resin (树脂) and certain metals. The thinner each layer is – from a millimeter to less than the width of a hair – the smoother and finer the object will be. And objects always come out in one piece, sparing you the trouble of putting different parts together afterward.
For example, 10 years ago a desktop 3-D printer might have cost ￡20,000 (200,000 yuan), while now it costs only about ￡1,000, according to the BBC. In fact, 3-D printers have been around for some time, but until recently they hadn’t been very popular since few people could afford them. Last year, though, saw a big decrease in the price of 3-D printers.
However, as 3-D printing technology becomes more commonplace, it may trigger certain problems. One of them is piracy (盗版). “Once you can download a coffee maker, or print out a new set of kitchen utensils (餐具) on your personal 3-D printer, who will visit a retail (零售的) store again?” an expert on 3-D printing told Forbes News.
Even more frightening, the world’s first 3-D printed gun was successfully fired in the US in May of this year, which means that 3-D printing could potentially give more people access to weapons.
1.According to the article, in the future, 3-D printing technology will probably ______.
A. change the way people make products
B. be applied as widely in our daily lives as computers
C. forbid many countries to make purchases of weapons
D. take the place of normal printers and save lots of energy
2.What was the big event that happened in the 3-D printing industry last year?
A. Over 600 3-D printed objects were on display in an exhibition.
B. 3-D printing technology came to be used in various fields.
C. The world’s first 3-D printed gun was successfully made.
D. The 3-D printer became more affordable for consumers.
3.What is the author’s attitude toward 3-D printing technology?
A. Amused. B. Objective.
C. Supportive. D. Negative.
Tom was a middle-aged leather trader whose repeated failure made him a depressed man, often complaining that others had been playing tricks on him. One day he told his wife he was so ____ with the city that he had to leave.
So his family moved to ____ city. It was in the evening of a weekend when Tom and his wife were busy ____ up their new home____ the light suddenly went out . So they had to ____ work. Tom was regretful to have forgotten bringing along candles and had to wait____ in a low mood. Just then he heard slight hesitant knocks on his door that sounded clear in the____ night.
“Who’s it?” he wondered, since Tom had no____ in this new city. And this was the moment he especially disliked being disturbed . ____, he went unwillingly to the door and opened it impatiently. At the door was a little girl, shyly asking,” Sir, do you have ____? I’m your new neighbor.” “No,”answered Tom in anger and shut the door violently. “What a nuisance!” he complained over it with his wife. “No sooner had we settled down____ the neighbor came to____ things.” After a while, the door was knocked___. He opened it and found the same girl outside. But this time she was holding two candles, saying, “My grandma told me the new neighbor might need candles. She ____ me here to give you these.” Tom was very ____ by what he saw. When he became fully aware, he said , “Thank you and your____ . God bless you!”
At that moment he suddenly realized what caused his ____ in life. It was his ____ and harshness (刻薄) with other people. The person who had cheated him in life was ____ nobody else but himself, for he had fallen for his unsympathetic____ .
1.A. inspired B. satisfied C. disappointed D. encouraged
2.A. the other B. other C. every D. another
3.A. looking B. tuning C. cleaning D. ending
4.A. where B. that C. why D. when
5.A. continue B. start C. quit D. change
6.A. helplessly B. happily C. patiently D. hopefully
7.A. quiet B. dark C. noisy D. crowded
8.A. acquaintance B. stranger C. consultant D. adolescent
9.A. So B. Though C. However D. In case
10.A. lights B. candles C. tricks D. failures
11.A. when B. that C. while D. than
12.A. lend B. sell C. purchase D. borrow
13.A. suddenly B. again C. too D. constantly
14.A. suggested B. forbade C. sent D. forced
15.A. frightened B. pleased C. puzzled D. surprised
16.A. grandma B. mother C. father D. brother
17.A. failure B. success C. dissatisfaction D. determination
18.A. apology B. coldness C. responsibility D. concept
19.A. in reality B. in particular C. in all D. in general
20.A. brain B. mind C. thought D. idea
---It’s a long time since I saw Marry.
--- _________ her this afternoon?
A. Why not to B. Why not visit her
C. Why not visiting D. Why don’t visit
—Why are you crying? Today is your birthday!
—_______. I am so excited with so many friends surrounding me.
A. None of your business B. Don’t mention it
C. Just can’t help it D. That’s all right
--- Haven’t seen you for ages! Where have you been ?
--- I went to Ningxia and _______ there for one year, teaching as a volunteer.
A. stayed B. stay
C. had stayed D. am staying
When _________ our national flag _______, we feel our hearts full of pride and strength.
A. watch; rising B. watching ; raising
C. watching ; being raised D. watch; to rise
