Question

【題目】 An increasing part of the world is becoming artificially lit. Artificial light is often seen as a sign of progress: the march of civilization shines a light in the dark; it takes back the night. But some scientists argue that unnaturally bright nights are bad not just for astronomers but also for nocturnal (夜間的) animals and even for human health.

Now research shows the night is getting even brighter. From 2012 to 2016 the earth’s artificially lit area expanded by about 2.2 percent a year, according to a study published last November in Science Advances. However, the measurement does not include light from most of the energy–efficient LED lamps that have been replacing sodium-vapor (鈉氣燈) technology in cities all over the world ,says Christopher Kyba, a postdoctoral researcher at the German Research Center for Geosciences in Potsdam.

The new data came from a NASA satellite instrument called the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIRS). It can measure long wavelengths of light, such as those produced by traditional yellow-and-orange sodium-vapor street lamps. But VIIRS cannot see the short-wavelength blue light produced by white LEDs. This light has been shown to disturb human sleep cycles and nocturnal animals’ behavior.

The team believes the ongoing switch to LEDs caused already bright countries such as Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the U.S. to register as having stable levels of lighting in the VIIRS data. In contrast, most nations in South America, Africa and Asia brightened, suggesting increases in the use of traditional lighting.

In 2016, a study showed that one third of the world’s population currently lives under skies too bright to see the Milky Way at night. Between 2012 and 2016 the median nation pumped out 15 percent more long-wavelength light as its GDP increased by 13 percent. Overall, counties' total light production correlated with their GDP.

【1】Which of the following can best describe artificial light?

A.Convenient but unnatural.B.Useful but energy-consuming.

C.Progressive but uncomfortable.D.Civilized but harmful.

【2】What can we know about the already bright countries?

A.Traditional lighting is not used in those countries.

B.LED lights are increasingly used in those countries.

C.Efforts to reduce harmful light work in those countries.

D.People do enjoy stable lighting in those countries.

【3】Why does the author mention “the median nation” in the last paragraph?

A.To show artificial light has an association with GDP.

B.To demonstrate GDP plays an important part in the median nation.

C.To stress the median nation was to blame for the light problem.

D.To suggest artificial light should be banned in the future.

【4】Where is the passage most probably taken from?

A.A biology textbook.B.A book review.

C.A science magazine.D.A science fiction.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】B

【3】A

【4】C

【解析】

這是一篇說明文。文章主要說明人造光的影響。

【1】推理判斷題。根據(jù)第一段“Artificial light is often seen as a sign of progress: the march of civilization shines a light in the dark; it takes back the night. But some scientists argue that unnaturally bright nights are bad not just for astronomers but also for nocturnal (夜間的) animals and even for human health.”人造光常常被看作是進步的標志:文明的前進在黑暗中閃耀著光芒；它讓夜晚重現(xiàn)。但是一些科學家認為自然明亮的夜晚不僅對天文學家也對夜間動物,甚至人類的健康造成傷害。由此可知，人造光雖文明但有害。故選D。

【2】細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第三段“But VIIRS cannot see the short-wavelength blue light produced by white LEDs.”（但VIIRS無法看到白色led產(chǎn)生的短波藍光。）及第四段“The team believes the ongoing switch to LEDs caused already bright countries such as Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the U. S. to register as having stable levels of lighting in the VIIRS data. ”（研究小組認為，持續(xù)使用led導致意大利、荷蘭、西班牙和美國等亮度較高的國家在VIIRS的數(shù)據(jù)中顯示出穩(wěn)定的照明水平。）由此可知，這些地方的照明量穩(wěn)定是因為這些地方正在使用LED燈替代別的燈具，而LED光是VIIRS測不出來的。故選B。

【3】推理判斷題。根據(jù)最后一段“Between 2012 and 2016 the median nation pumped out 15 percent more long-wavelength light as its GDP increased by 13 percent. Overall, countries’ total light production correlated with their GDP.”（從2012年到2016年，這個國家的長波長光的平均輸出量增加了15%，GDP增長了13%�？傮w而言，各國的光生產(chǎn)總量與其GDP相關）由此可知，作者在最后一段提到“the median nation”的目的是為了展示人造光與GDP有關。故選A。

【4】推理判斷題。根據(jù)上下文的行文特點,如“... according to a study published last November in Science Advances.” “... says Christopher Kyba, a postdoctoral researcher at the German Research Center for Geosciences in Potsdam. ”等綜合各方觀點的表述,可知本文是一篇來自科學雜志的報道。故選C。