A villa (别墅) designed to resist earthquakes with “self-healing” cracks in its walls, thanks to nanotechnology (纳米技术) applications with self-healing polymers (聚合物), is to be built on a Greek mountainside. The villa’s walls will include special particles that turn into a liquid when squeezed (压榨) under pressure, flow into cracks, and then harden to form a solid material.

The NanoManufacturing Institute (NMI), based in Leeds University, will play a key role in an EU project to construct the home by December 2010. The project, called “Intelligent Safe and Secure Buildings” (ISSB) is funded under the EU’s Sixth Framework program. This potentially life-saving scheme is led by German building manufacturer Knauf. The villa will be built in Amphilochia, in western Greece, where Knauf currently runs a manufacturing plant. If the experiment is successful, more tremor-resistant（防震）homes could be built in earthquake zones across the globe. NMI chief executive Professor Terry Wilkins said, “What we’re trying to achieve here is very exciting. We’re looking to use polymers in much tougher situations than ever before on a larger scale.” Monitors contained in the villa’s walls will be able to collect vast amounts of data about the building over time. Wireless sensors will record any stresses and vibrations, as well as temperature, humidity and gas levels.

The walls are to be built from new load-bearing steel frames and high-strength gypsum（石膏）board. Prof Wilkins said, “If there are any problems, the intelligent sensor network will be able to alert residents immediately so they have time to escape.” If whole groups of houses are so constructed, we could use a larger network of sensors to get even more information. “If the house falls down, we have got hand-held devices that can be used over the rubble to pick out where the embedded（嵌入的）sensors are hidden to get some information about how the villa collapsed.” Also, we can get information about anyone who may be around, so it potentially becomes a tool for rescue.

66. The aim of the passage is to ________.

A. report a piece of interesting news                   B. promote tremor-resistant homes

C. inform us of the nanotechnology development D. tell us about a tremor-resistant home

67. The villa can resist earthquakes because _______.

A. it will be built on a special place

B. the cracks in its walls can be healed by the polymers

C. the special particles can make its walls stronger

D. the intelligent sensor network can tell people where there is a crack

68. If the tremor-resistant home falls down, _______.

A. rescue work can be done more quickly and accurately

B. the intelligent sensor network will stop working

C. no one can be hurt in the earthquake

D. a warning signal will be given to other residents

69. What Prof Wilkins said suggests that _______.

A. he is doubtful about the project

B. he thinks the tremor-resistant home is perfectly designed

C. he is confident in the tremor-resistant home

D. the tremor-resistant home still needs to be tested in a real situation

70. It can be inferred from the passage that tremor-resistant home _______.

A. is still being tried out                                          B. is already under construction

C. has been in wide use                                     D. will be put into wide use soon

C

A villa (别墅) designed to resist earthquakes with “self-healing” cracks in its walls, thanks to nanotechnology (纳米技术) applications with self-healing polymers (聚合物), is to be built on a Greek mountainside. The villa’s walls will include special particles that turn into a liquid when squeezed (压榨) under pressure, flow into cracks, and then harden to form a solid material.

The NanoManufacturing Institute (NMI), based in Leeds University, will play a key role in an EU project to construct the home by December 2010. The project, called “Intelligent Safe and Secure Buildings” (ISSB) is funded under the EU’s Sixth Framework program. This potentially life-saving scheme is led by German building manufacturer Knauf. The villa will be built in Amphilochia, in western Greece, where Knauf currently runs a manufacturing plant. If the experiment is successful, more tremor-resistant（防震）homes could be built in earthquake zones across the globe. NMI chief executive Professor Terry Wilkins said, “What we’re trying to achieve here is very exciting. We’re looking to use polymers in much tougher situations than ever before on a larger scale.” Monitors contained in the villa’s walls will be able to collect vast amounts of data about the building over time. Wireless sensors will record any stresses and vibrations, as well as temperature, humidity and gas levels.

The walls are to be built from new load-bearing steel frames and high-strength gypsum（石膏）board. Prof Wilkins said, “If there are any problems, the intelligent sensor network will be able to alert residents immediately so they have time to escape.” If whole groups of houses are so constructed, we could use a larger network of sensors to get even more information. “If the house falls down, we have got hand-held devices that can be used over the rubble to pick out where the embedded（嵌入的）sensors are hidden to get some information about how the villa collapsed.” Also, we can get information about anyone who may be around, so it potentially becomes a tool for rescue.

66. The aim of the passage is to ________.

A. report a piece of interesting news                   B. promote tremor-resistant homes

C. inform us of the nanotechnology development D. tell us about a tremor-resistant home

67. The villa can resist earthquakes because _______.

A. it will be built on a special place

B. the cracks in its walls can be healed by the polymers

C. the special particles can make its walls stronger

D. the intelligent sensor network can tell people where there is a crack

68. If the tremor-resistant home falls down, _______.

A. rescue work can be done more quickly and accurately

B. the intelligent sensor network will stop working

C. no one can be hurt in the earthquake

D. a warning signal will be given to other residents

69. What Prof Wilkins said suggests that _______.

A. he is doubtful about the project

B. he thinks the tremor-resistant home is perfectly designed

C. he is confident in the tremor-resistant home

D. the tremor-resistant home still needs to be tested in a real situation

70. It can be inferred from the passage that tremor-resistant home _______.

A. is still being tried out                                          B. is already under construction

C. has been in wide use                                     D. will be put into wide use soon

A Tour City ------- Pompeii

Every year thousands of tourists visit Pompeii (庞贝，意大利那不勒斯附近一座古城) , Italy. They see the sights that Pompeii is famous for ------ its stadium (运动场) and theatre, its shops and restaurants. The tourists do not, however, see Pompeii’s people. They do not see them because Pompeii has no people. No one has lived in Pompeii for almost 2000 years.

    Once, Pompeii was a busy city of 22,000 people. It lay at the foot of Mount Vesuvius (维苏威火山) , a grass-covered volcano (火山). Mount Vesuvius had not erupted (爆发) for centuries, so the people of Pompeii felt safe. But they were not.

   In August of AD 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted. The entire top of the mountain exploded, and a huge black cloud rose into the air. Soon stones and hot ash began to fall on Pompeii. When the eruption ended two days later, Pompeii was buried (埋藏) under 20 feet of stones and ashes. Almost all ot its people were dead.

  For centuries, Pompeii lay buried under stone and ash. Then, in the year 1861, an Italian scientist named Ginseppe began to uncover (发现) Pompeii. Slowly, carefully, Ginseppe and his men dug. The city looked almost the same as it had looked in AD 79. There were streets and fountains, houses and shops. There was a stadium with 20, 000 seats. Perhaps the most important of all, there were everyday objects, which tell us a great deal about the people who lived in Pompeii. Many glasses and jars had some dark blue colour in the bottom, so we know that the people of Pompeii liked wine. They liked bread, too; metal bread pans were in even bakery (面包房). In one bakery there were 81 round, flat loaves of bread ------- a type of bread that is still sold in Italy today. Tiny boxes filled with a dark, shiny powder tell us that women liked to wear eye-makeup (眼部化装品) .

  Ginseppe has died, but his work continues. One-fourth has not been uncovered yet. Scientists are still digging, still making discoveries that draw the tourists to Pompeii.

16．Why do large numbers of people come to Pompeii each year?

A.     To visit the volcano.                                    

B.       To shop and eat there.

C.      To watch sports and plays.                            

D. To see how Pompeiians lived

17.Why had so many Pompeiians remained by volcanic Mount Vesuvius?

A.The city nearby offered all kinds of fun.         

B The area produced the finest wine in Italy.

C Few people expected the volcano erupt again.

D The mountain was beautiful and covered with grass

18.Why did the city uncovered look almost the same as it had looked in AD 79?

A.Because Ginseppe and his men dug it slowly and carefully.

B Because the city was buried alive and remained untouched.

C Because scientists successfully rebuilt the city with everyday objects.

D Because nobody had lived in the city ever since the volcano erupted.

19.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “ exploded” in the third paragraph?

A.爆炸                    B.震动                         C.倒塌                         D.开裂

20.What do we know about the Pompeiians who lived 2000 years ago?

A  They lived more or less the same as Italians now do.

B They liked women wearing all kings of makeup.

C They enjoyed a lazy life with drinking and eating.

D They went back to Pompeii after the eruption in AD 79.

A Tour City ------- Pompeii

Every year thousands of tourists visit Pompeii (庞贝，意大利那不勒斯附近一座古城) , Italy. They see the sights that Pompeii is famous for ------ its stadium (运动场) and theatre, its shops and restaurants. The tourists do not, however, see Pompeii’s people. They do not see them because Pompeii has no people. No one has lived in Pompeii for almost 2000 years.

    Once, Pompeii was a busy city of 22,000 people. It lay at the foot of Mount Vesuvius (维苏威火山) , a grass-covered volcano (火山). Mount Vesuvius had not erupted (爆发) for centuries, so the people of Pompeii felt safe. But they were not.

   In August of AD 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted. The entire top of the mountain exploded, and a huge black cloud rose into the air. Soon stones and hot ash began to fall on Pompeii. When the eruption ended two days later, Pompeii was buried (埋藏) under 20 feet of stones and ashes. Almost all ot its people were dead.

  For centuries, Pompeii lay buried under stone and ash. Then, in the year 1861, an Italian scientist named Ginseppe began to uncover (发现) Pompeii. Slowly, carefully, Ginseppe and his men dug. The city looked almost the same as it had looked in AD 79. There were streets and fountains, houses and shops. There was a stadium with 20, 000 seats. Perhaps the most important of all, there were everyday objects, which tell us a great deal about the people who lived in Pompeii. Many glasses and jars had some dark blue colour in the bottom, so we know that the people of Pompeii liked wine. They liked bread, too; metal bread pans were in even bakery (面包房). In one bakery there were 81 round, flat loaves of bread ------- a type of bread that is still sold in Italy today. Tiny boxes filled with a dark, shiny powder tell us that women liked to wear eye-makeup (眼部化装品) .

  Ginseppe has died, but his work continues. One-fourth has not been uncovered yet. Scientists are still digging, still making discoveries that draw the tourists to Pompeii.

16．Why do large numbers of people come to Pompeii each year?

A.     To visit the volcano.                                    

B.       To shop and eat there.

C.      To watch sports and plays.                            

D. To see how Pompeiians lived

17.Why had so many Pompeiians remained by volcanic Mount Vesuvius?

A.The city nearby offered all kinds of fun.         

B The area produced the finest wine in Italy.

C Few people expected the volcano erupt again.

D The mountain was beautiful and covered with grass

18.Why did the city uncovered look almost the same as it had looked in AD 79?

A.Because Ginseppe and his men dug it slowly and carefully.

B Because the city was buried alive and remained untouched.

C Because scientists successfully rebuilt the city with everyday objects.

D Because nobody had lived in the city ever since the volcano erupted.

19.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “ exploded” in the third paragraph?

A.爆炸                    B.震动                         C.倒塌                         D.开裂

20.What do we know about the Pompeiians who lived 2000 years ago?

A  They lived more or less the same as Italians now do.

B They liked women wearing all kings of makeup.

C They enjoyed a lazy life with drinking and eating.

D They went back to Pompeii after the eruption in AD 79.

A Tour City ------- Pompeii

Every year thousands of tourists visit Pompeii (庞贝，意大利那不勒斯附近一座古城) , Italy. They see the sights that Pompeii is famous for ------ its stadium (运动场) and theatre, its shops and restaurants. The tourists do not, however, see Pompeii’s people. They do not see them because Pompeii has no people. No one has lived in Pompeii for almost 2000 years.

    Once, Pompeii was a busy city of 22,000 people. It lay at the foot of Mount Vesuvius (维苏威火山) , a grass-covered volcano (火山). Mount Vesuvius had not erupted (爆发) for centuries, so the people of Pompeii felt safe. But they were not.

   In August of AD 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted. The entire top of the mountain exploded, and a huge black cloud rose into the air. Soon stones and hot ash began to fall on Pompeii. When the eruption ended two days later, Pompeii was buried (埋藏) under 20 feet of stones and ashes. Almost all ot its people were dead.

  For centuries, Pompeii lay buried under stone and ash. Then, in the year 1861, an Italian scientist named Ginseppe began to uncover (发现) Pompeii. Slowly, carefully, Ginseppe and his men dug. The city looked almost the same as it had looked in AD 79. There were streets and fountains, houses and shops. There was a stadium with 20, 000 seats. Perhaps the most important of all, there were everyday objects, which tell us a great deal about the people who lived in Pompeii. Many glasses and jars had some dark blue colour in the bottom, so we know that the people of Pompeii liked wine. They liked bread, too; metal bread pans were in even bakery (面包房). In one bakery there were 81 round, flat loaves of bread ------- a type of bread that is still sold in Italy today. Tiny boxes filled with a dark, shiny powder tell us that women liked to wear eye-makeup (眼部化装品) .

  Ginseppe has died, but his work continues. One-fourth has not been uncovered yet. Scientists are still digging, still making discoveries that draw the tourists to Pompeii.

16．Why do large numbers of people come to Pompeii each year?

A.     To visit the volcano.                                    

B.       To shop and eat there.

C.      To watch sports and plays.                            

D. To see how Pompeiians lived

17.Why had so many Pompeiians remained by volcanic Mount Vesuvius?

A.The city nearby offered all kinds of fun.         

B The area produced the finest wine in Italy.

C Few people expected the volcano erupt again.

D The mountain was beautiful and covered with grass

18.Why did the city uncovered look almost the same as it had looked in AD 79?

A.Because Ginseppe and his men dug it slowly and carefully.

B Because the city was buried alive and remained untouched.

C Because scientists successfully rebuilt the city with everyday objects.

D Because nobody had lived in the city ever since the volcano erupted.

19.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “ exploded” in the third paragraph?

A.爆炸                    B.震动                         C.倒塌                         D.开裂

20.What do we know about the Pompeiians who lived 2000 years ago?

A  They lived more or less the same as Italians now do.

B They liked women wearing all kings of makeup.

C They enjoyed a lazy life with drinking and eating.

D They went back to Pompeii after the eruption in AD 79.