Microchip Research Center Created
A research center has been set up in this Far Eastern country to develop advanced micro-chip production technology. The center, which will start out with about US $14 million, will help the country develop its chip industry without always depending on imported technology.
The center will make use of its research skills and facilities to develop new technology for domestic chip plants. The advent of the center will possibly free the country from the situation that it is always buying almost-outdated technologies from other countries, said the countrys flagship chipmaker.1 Currently, chip plants in this country are in a passive situation because many foreign governments dont allow them to import the most advanced technologies, fearing they will be used for military purposes. Moreover, the high licensing fees they have to pay to technology providers are also an important reason for their decision of self-reliance2.
As mainstream chip production technology shifts from one generation to the next every three to five years3,plants with new technology can make more powerful chips at lower costs, while4 plants with outdated equipment, which often cost billions of dollars to build, will be marginalized by the maker.
More than 10 chip plants are being built, each costing millions of US dollars.5 The majority of that money goes to overseas equipment vendors and technology owners mainly from Japan and Singapore.
Should the new center play a major role in improving the situation in the industry,6 the country admits the US $14 million investment is still rather small. This country is developing comprehensive technologies. Most of the investment will be spent on setting alliances with technology and intellectual property7 owners.
词汇：
microchip微芯片 flagship 首位，最好
mainstream 主流 marginalize 忽视，边缘化
vendor 卖主
注释：
1.The advent of the center will possibly free the country from the situation that it is always buying almost-outdated technologies from other countries, said the countrys flagship chipmaker：这个国家名列首位的芯片制造公司说，芯片中心的成立可能使这个国家摆脱从他国购买即将淘汰的技术的困境。
free ... from ... ：把从解放出来
situation that = situation in which
said the countrys flagship chipmaker：把谁说的放在句末，是为了突出The advent ... other countries所表达的事实。注意放在句末时用的是倒装句：said the countrys flagship chipmaker。
2.self-reliance：自力更生
3.every three to five years：每隔3～5年
4.while：而
5.More than 10 chip plants are being built, each costing millions of US dollars：十几个芯片厂正在建设之中，每一个厂的造价都在几百万美元。
each costing millions of US dollars是独立分词结构，用作状语，进一步说明情况。
6.Should the new center play a major role in improving the situation in the industry：如果新建的芯片中心能在改善该国在芯片行业的形势中起重要作用
Shouldin the industry是虚拟条件句，也可写成If the new center should play a major role in improving the situation in the industry ...
7.intellectual property：知识产权
练习：
1.The country says that the investment of US $14 million is big enough for developing that countrys chip industry.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
2.That country gives top priorities to developing chips for military purposes.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
3.Although the licensing fees are not very high, that Far Eastern country cannot afford to pay.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
4.Many western countries ban the exporting of the most advanced chip-making technologies to that country to prevent them from being used for military purposes.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
5.Currently, almost all the flagship chipmakers in that country are owned by American investors.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
6.Mainstream chip production technology develop rapidly.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
7.More than 10 chip plants being built in that country are an example of self-reliance.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
答案与题解：
1.B 本题给出的信息是错误的。最后一段说到，如果新建的芯片中心能在改善该国在芯片行业的被动形势中起重要作用，该国认为：... the US $14 million investment is still rather small。
2.C 文章没有提供这方面的信息。
3.B 文章提到专利费较高，此句说较低，与原意不符。
4.A 本题给出的信息是正确的。第二段有这样一句话：Currently, chip plants in this country are in a passive situation because many foreign governments dont allow them to import the most advanced technologies, fearing they will be used for military purposes.这就是选A的依据。
5.C 文章没有提供这方面的信息。
6.A 选A的依据是第三段第一句：... mainstream chip production technology shifts from one generation to the next every three to five years ...
7.B 本题给出的信息是错误的。第四段第二句说明，这些芯片工厂的技术主要是从日本和新加坡进口的。
译文：微芯片研究中心成立
为了开发先进的微芯片生产技术，这个远东国家建立了一个研究中心，该中心启动资金为一千四百万美元，可以帮助该国开发自己的芯片工业，不必总是依赖于进口技术。
该中心将会应用自己的研究技术和设施，为本国芯片厂家开发新技术。这个国家名列首位的芯片制造公司说，芯片中心的成立可能使这个国家摆脱从他国购买即将淘汰的技术的困境。由于许多外国政府担心先进技术会被用于军事目的，不允许这个国家的芯片生产厂家进口前沿技术，所以这些生产厂家处于一种被动局面。另外，由于这些芯片生产厂家必须向技术提供者支付高额的许可费，这也构成了他们决定要自力更生的一个重要原因。
由于主流芯片生产技术每隔 3～5年就要进行更新换代，所以掌握了新技术的厂家就可以以较低的成本制造出较好的芯片，而那些耗费数十亿美元建立起的厂家，如果设备落后，也将会被生产商所淘汰。
几个芯片厂正在建立之中，每个厂的造价都在几百万美元，其中大部分资金都流向了海外设备商和技术所有者主要是日本和新加坡。
如果新建的芯片中心能在改变该国芯片行业的被动形势中起到重要作用，该国承认，一千四百万美元的投资仍是微不足道的。该国正在开发综合技术，大部分投资将用于与技术和知识产权所有者建立联盟。