Question

In the dry Namib Desert on the west coast of Africa, one type of beetle has found a special way of surviving. When the morning arrives, the Namib Beetle collects water drops on its bumpy(起伏不平的) back, then lets the water roll down into its mouth, allowing it to drink in an area without flowing water.

Shreerang Chhatre wants to use what nature has developed to help the world’s poor. Chhatre is an engineer at MIT who works on fog harvesting, the equipment that, like the beetle, attracts water drops. This way, poor villagers could collect clean water near their homes, instead of spending hours carrying water from distant wells or rivers.

Access to water is a serious global issue. According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF, nearly 900 million people worldwide live without safe drinking water. The burden of finding and transporting water falls heavily on women and children. “As a middle-class person, I think it’s terrible that the poor have to spend hours a day walking just to obtain a basic necessity,” Chhatre says.

A fog-harvesting machine consists of a fence-like mesh panel(网状面板), which attracts drops, connected to containers into which water falls. Chhatre has improved the materials used in these machines. He is continuing his work at MIT Sloan and the Legaturn Center in order to develop a workable business plan for applying fog-harvesting machines.

Interest in fog harvesting dates back to the 1990s, and has increased since new research on the Namib Beetle became famous in 2001. A few technologists saw potential in the concept for people. One Canadian charitable organization, FogQuest, has tested projects in Chile and Guatemala.

But fog harvesting remains in its childhood, technologically and commercially, as Chhatre readily recognizes. “It still faces some open problems,” he says. “But it’s a work in progress.” After all, the water that fills our rivers and lakes comes from air.

1.Which of the following is TRUE of Shreerang Chhatre?

A. He is an African engineer.

B. He is researching on the Namib Beetle.

C. He has made the first fog-harvesting machines to use.

D. He is trying to put fog-harvesting machines to use.

2.Why is Namib Beetle mentioned in the passage?

A. To describe the severe conditions in Namib Desert.

B. To introduce the diversity of species in Namib Desert.

C. To inform how animal nature can be used to benefit people.

D. To raise the awareness of accessing clean drinking water in poor areas.

3.The underlined word “it” in the last paragraph refers to _________.

A. UNICEF    B. the beetle

C. fog harvesting    D. a Canadian charitable organization

4.The author’s main purpose in writing the text is to ________.

A. stress the importance of saving water

B. show the Namib Beetle’s special way of surviving

C. introduce a new machine for collecting water from air

D. inform people of the serious water problem in Africa

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.C

4.C

【解析】本文通过介绍纳米甲虫来向人们警示获取水资源是全球性问题，同时介绍美国将进行采雾技术来获取水资源。号召我们节约水资源。

1.细节理解题，根据Chhatre is an engineer at MIT who works on fog harvesting, the equipment that, like the beetle, attracts water drops.意思是Chhatre是麻省理工学院的一名工程师，从事雾收集工作，这种设备就像甲虫一样吸引水滴。故选D。

2.细节理解题，根据文中的“Interest in fog harvesting dates back to the 1990s, and has increased since new research on the Namib Beetle became famous in 2001. ”意思是人们对“雾霾”的兴趣可以追溯到上世纪90年代，自2001年关于“纳米比甲虫”的新研究开始以来，人们对雾霾的兴趣有所增加。以及“Shreerang Chhatre wants to use what nature has developed to help the world’s poor.”意思是史瑞尔昂·查哈特想利用自然发展的东西来帮助世界上的穷人根据以上，故选C。

3.推理判断题，根据上下文理解，But fog harvesting remains in its childhood, technologically and commercially, as Chhatre readily recognizes. “It still faces some open problems,”意思是但是，正如Chhatre容易认识到的，在技术上和商业上，雾的收获仍然存在问题。故选C。

4.主旨大意题，根据文章第二段Shreerang Chhatre wants to use what nature has developed to help the world’s poor. Chhatre is an engineer at MIT who works on fog harvesting, the equipment that, like the beetle, attracts water drops意思是史瑞尔昂·查哈特想利用自然发展的东西来帮助世界上的穷人。Chhatre是麻省理工学院的一名工程师，从事雾收集工作，这种设备就像甲虫一样吸引水滴。以及文章整体大意，故选C。