Using enzymes commonly found in living cells,a new type of fuel cell produces small amounts of electricity from sugar.If the technology is able to succeed in mass production,you may some day share your sweet drinks with your cell phone.
In fuel cells,chemical reactions generate electrical currents.The process usually relies on precious metals,such as platinum.In living cells,enzymes perform a similar job,breaking down sugars to obtain electrons and produce energy.
When researchers previously used enzymes in fuel cells,they had trouble keeping them active,says Shelley D.Minteer of St Louis University1.Whereas biological cells continually produce fresh enzymes,theres no mechanism in fuel cells to replace enzymes as they quickly degrade.
Minteer and Tamara Klotzbach,also of St Louis University,have now developed polymers that wrap around an enzyme and preserve it in a microscopic pocket.We tailor these pockets to provide the ideal microenvironment for the enzyme,Minteer says.The polymers keep the enzyme active for months instead of days.
In the new fuel Cell,tiny polymer bags of enzyme are embedded in a membrane that coats one of the electrodes.When glucose from a sugary liquid gets into a pocket,the enzyme oxidizes it,releasing electrons and protons.The electrons cross the membrane and enter a wire through which they travel to the other electrode,where they react with.oxygen in the atmosphere to produce water.The flow of electrons through the wire constitutes an electrical current that can generate power.
So far,the new fuel cells dont produce much power,but the fact that they work at all is exciting,says Paul Kenis,a chemical engineer at the University of Illinois2 at Urhana-Champaign3.Just getting it to work. Kenis says,is a major accomplishment.
Sugar-eating fuel cells could be an efficient way to make electricity.Sugar is easy to find. And the new fuel cells that run on it are biodegradable,so the technology wouldnt hurt the environment.The scientists are now trying to use different enzymes that will get more power from sugar.They predict that popular products may be using the new technology in as little as 3 years.
词汇:
enzyme/5enzaIm/n.酶 electrode/I5lektrEJd/n.电极platinum/5plAtinEm/n.铂,白金 membrane/5membrein/n.膜,薄膜
electron/I5lektrRn/n.电子 oxidize/5Cksi7daiz/v.氧化degrade/di5reid/v.降解 glucose/5lu:kEus/n.葡萄糖
polymer/5pClimE/n.聚合物 biodegradable/7baiEudi5reidEbl/adj.能进行生物降解的
microenvironment n.微环境 embed/im5bed/v.埋置,插入
proton/5prEutCn/n.质子
试题
1. According to the first paragraph,when can we share our sweet drinks with our cell phones?
A When enzymes can be commonly found in living ceils.
B When the technology of producing a new type of fuel cell appears.
C When the technology of a new type of fuel cell is suitable for mass production.
D When the technology of mass producing cell phones appears.
2. What trouble did Minteer and Klotzhach have in their research?
A They had trouble keeping enzymes in fuel cells active.
B They had trouble keeping biological cells active.
C They had trouble producing fresh enzymes.
D They had trouble finding mechanism for producing enzymes.
3. According to Paragraph 5,electrons are released
A when bags of enzyme are embedded in the new fuel cell.
B when glucose from a sugary liquid goes through the enzyme.
C when the enzyme oxidizes the glucose from a sugary liquid that goes through a pocket.
D when the enzyme oxidizes the sugary liquid that goes through a pocket.
4. What is exciting about the new fuel cells?
A Their limitless power generation capacity is amazing.
B Their limited power generation capacity is a good beginning.
C Their limited power generation capacity is the result of great efforts.
D Their limitless power generation capacity is a major accomplishment,
5. According to the last paragraph,what is NOT true of the new fuel cells?
A The new fuel cells run on sugar that is easy to find.
B The new fuel cells are environment friendly.
C The new fuel cells are biologically degradable,
D It will take some time before the new fuel cells can be used in popular products.
答案与题解:
1. C A和D明显不是正确答案。B不是正确选择,因为只有当这种新的燃料电池被大规模生产时,才有可能实现用甜饮料给手机提供电能。
2. A 文章第三段的第一句是问题的答案。
3. C 该段第二句When glucose from a sugary liquid penetrates a pocket,the enzyme oxidizes it,releasing electrons and proton中的it指代glucose,而不是a sugary liquid,因 此C是正确选择。
4. B 第六段的大意是,尽管这种新型燃料电池还不能产牛很多电能,但是,它能够产生电能的事实就已经是很大的成就了。因而激动人心。所以只有B是正确答案。
5. D 文章的最后一段指出了这种新型燃料电池的优点,即A、B、C所述内容。最后一句说,科学家预计,在不到三年的时间里这种新技术便可在大众的流行产品中使用。所以D是正确选择
考研英语阅读精选少女精神健康因早恋而受伤
考研英语阅读精选年薪六千英镑的浴缸试用员
2015年考研英语阅读理解二十篇专练七
考研英语阅读选读探秘余额宝
考研英语最新阅读芝加哥开放透明倾斜观景台
考研英语阅读精选南方离婚率低因为爱吃米
2015年考研英语阅读理解二十篇专练一
考研英语阅读精选面对面相拥睡眠最好
考研英语阅读精选Zara创始人的传奇人生
考研英语阅读篇章坐高铁去美国仅需二天
考研英语阅读理解之观点态度题
考研英语阅读坚持锻炼不容易
考研英语阅读过生日时想到的问题
考研英语阅读篇章常用外语思维让你更聪明
考研英语阅读篇章英男子二万五千美元打造香蕉车
考研英语阅读篇章二十几岁要明白的大事
考研英语阅读精选中国将立法禁止吃野味
考研英语阅读精选工作环境影响身体健康
考研英语阅读精选熟人帮忙推荐工作
2015年考研英语阅读理解二十篇专练十七
考研英语阅读全球欢迎的端午节
考研英语阅读篇章让工作轻松且高效
考研英语阅读精选舌尖二被指抄袭BBC纪录片
考研英语阅读篇章十二岁孩子谈大人该做什么
2015考研英语阅读的题型分析
考研英语阅读精选放松心情的方式
考研英语阅读精选互联网巨头激烈对抗
考研英语阅读篇章七个习惯成为准时达人
考研英语阅读精选韩国整形医院给整容者发手术证明
考研英语阅读精选男看长相女重金钱的婚恋
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |