Asignificant breakthrough has recently occurred in the race to produce clean energy. Scientists at a laboratory in the United States were able to create a fusion reaction that produced more energy than was required to make it. Experts around the world agree that this incredible development proves that fusion power can one day be a practical energy option.
Fusion power is a type of nuclear energy source like fission power, which is currently a common source of energy across the globe. While fission power involves splittinga large atom to produce energy, fusion power creates energy by combining smaller atoms together. It makes energy the same way the Sun and stars do. One important thing to note is that fusion power doesn’t create harmful long-term radioactive waste and is unlikely to cause dangerous power plant meltdownslike fission power. That’s why fusion power has beendescribed asthe “holy grail” of sustainable energy.
Despite this critical development, there are still many obstacles to get overbefore fusion power becomes a reality. For one thing, the energy produced in the above- mentionedexperiment was just enough to boil a few water kettles. It is incredibly difficult to sustain a fusion reaction.
Temperatures need to be higher than the Sun’s center, and the pressure should also be greater than the Earth’s atmosphere before atoms will merge, not to mentionthe costs of building and maintaining all the highly-technical equipment. Still, many in the scientific communityare optimistic aboutwhat the future of fusion power holds.
1. What can we learn about the experiment that realized fusion power?
(A) It was not recognized by the scientific field.
(B) It tried to split apart two atoms to produce energy.
(C) It has achieved something that has never happened before
(D) It produced energy that can be put into commercial usesoon.
2. Why is fusion power considered a better option than fission power?
(A) Fission power is more difficult to generate .
(B) Fusion power is less likely to cause a power plant disaster.
(C) Fission power plants need more energy to operate properly.
(D) Fusion power requires a lot less energy to produce than fission power.
3. Which of the following is NOT a current challenge regarding fusion power?
(A) The necessary equipment is expensive and difficult to maintain.
(B) The pressure required in the process should be extremely high.
(C) Temperatures need to get very hot for it to work.
Everyone is expecting doctors to make a breakthrough in cancer treatment.
大家都希望醫生能在癌症治療上有所突破。
多益藍色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
laboratory
[ˋlæbrə͵torɪ]
n. 實驗室（ 常簡稱為 lab）
=
lab
The great scientist spent most of his life in his small laboratory.
這位偉大的科學家大半輩子都待在他的小實驗室裡。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
option
[ˋɑpʃən]
n. 選擇
=
choice
=
alternative
Because of the rising flood waters, we had no option but to evacuate our home and head for higher ground.
由於洪水水位持續升高，我們除了離開家園前往地勢較高之處以外別無選擇。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
split
[splɪt]
vi. 分開
.vt. 劈開；分裂
n. 裂口；意見分歧
The cake was split into two parts.
這塊蛋糕被切成兩塊。
My girlfriend split up with me because she thought I didn’t really love her.
我女友和我分手了，因為她覺得我並沒有真心愛她。
The sharp edges of the packaging created a large split in the plastic bag.
這個包裝的邊邊尖銳，把塑膠袋劃破了好大一個裂口。
The issue of nuclear power has caused a split in the government.
核能議題在政府內部造成意見分歧。
Let me have a banana split.
給我一份香蕉聖代。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
long-term
[ˋlɔŋ͵tɝm]
adj. 長期的
高中 Level 1
●
sustainable
[səˋstenəb!]
a. 可維持的；可持續的
Experts doubted that the rapid increase in the stock market was sustainable and warned values would likely decline soon.
專家懷疑股市快速上漲是否能維持，並警告股價可能很快會下跌。
Solar and wind power are two examples of sustainable energy resources that have become more common over the years.
太陽能和風能是兩個這幾年來越見普遍的永續能源例子。
高中 Level 5
●
sustain
[səˋsten]
vt. 維持（生命）
=
suffer
=
maintain
=
undergo
Thomas has to work very hard in order to sustain his family.
為了維持家計，湯瑪斯得非常努力工作。
The shelf collapsed because it couldn’t sustain the weight that had been put on it.
這個櫃子倒塌，因為它支撐不住放在它上面的重量。
The company sustained a great loss due to the bad investment.
公司由於該項失敗的投資案蒙受很大的損失。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
critical
[ˋkrɪtɪk!]
a. 危急的；批評的；重要的，關鍵的
=
dangerous
=
risky
The patient is still in criticalcondition.
病人的情況仍然危急。
Most environmentalists arecritical of building a dam in that area.
大多數環保人士都對在那個地區建造水壩一事嚴加批評。
Interest is a critical factor in learning a language.
興趣是學習語言的一個關鍵因素。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
obstacle
[ˋɑbstək!]
n. 障礙；障礙物 （常與介詞 to 並用）
=
barrier
Paul's stubbornness is an obstacle to his growth.
保羅的固執是阻礙他成長的絆腳石。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
atmosphere
[ˋætməs͵fɪr]
n. 大氣；空氣；氛圍
=
feeling
=
mood
The satellite is fixed at a point just outside the Earth’s atmosphere.
那枚衛星被安置在地球大氣層外的某個定點上。
Mildew easily forms in my room because of the damp atmosphere.
因為空氣很潮溼，我的房間很容易長黴。
I like the warm and pleasant atmosphere in that coffee shop.
我喜歡那家咖啡廳溫暖又愉快的氣氛。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
merge
[mɝdʒ]
vi. & vt. （使）合併
=
combine
The scientist merged two existing theories and added some new ideas to come up with his new model.
這名科學家融合兩個現有理論，並加入新想法來完成他的新模型。
The two banks merged in order to become more competitive in their industry.
這兩家銀行合併以便在該行業裡更具競爭力。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
equipment
[ɪˋkwɪpmənt]
n. 裝備（集合名詞，不可數）
This camera is the most important piece of equipment I have.
這臺相機是目前我擁有最重要的一項配備。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
community
[kəˋmjunətɪ]
n. 社區；界，共同利益團體、社會
The medical community is sparing no effort to promote human health.
醫學界正不遺餘力提升人類的健康。
高中 Level 4
●
meltdown
[ˋmɛlt͵daʊn]
n. （核電廠燃料）熔毀
●
above-mentioned
[əˋbʌvˋmɛnʃənd]
adj. 上述的
●
kettle
[ˋkɛt!]
n. （煮開水用的）水壺
=
teapot
Is the kettle boiling, darling? Would you please take a look?
親愛的，水壺的水煮開了嗎？你能看一下嗎？
You call him a fatty, but you’re not exactly slim yourself. That’s like the pot calling the kettle black.
你叫他小胖，但你自己也沒多瘦。那不過是五十步笑百步。
●
generate
[ˋdʒɛnə͵ret]
vt. 產生（光、電、熱）；造成，引起
The dam generates electricity for the local community.
該座水壩發電供當地社區使用。
Tourism generates more income for the seaside resort.
旅遊業為濱海勝地帶來較多的收入。
多益藍色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
explosion
[ɪkˋsploʒən]
n. 爆炸；（感情、笑聲等的）爆發
The men made preparations for the explosion of the dynamite.
這些人正準備引爆炸藥。
The speaker’s controversial comments prompted an explosion of anger from the crowd.
這名講者具爭議性的言論引發眾怒。
高中 Level 4
Practical Phrases
●
describe A as B
將A描述為B
= depict A as B
●
get over...
從……恢復過來 / 復元
= recover from...
It took me a long time to get over the shock.
我花了很長的時間才從驚嚇中回復過來。
●
For one thing, S + V
首先／一方面⋯⋯
You should think twice before you accept the job. For one thing, the pay is not ideal. For another, the commute is long.
你在接受那份工作前最好再想想。一方面，薪水不是很理想。另一方面，通勤時間很長。
●
not to mention sth
更不用說某事物
Daphne is good at playing the guitar and the violin, not to mention the piano.
達芙妮擅長演奏吉他和小提琴，鋼琴就更不用說了。
●
be optimistic about...
對……表示樂觀
Investors are still relativelyoptimistic aboutthe company’s prospects.
投資人對該公司的前景仍舊相當樂觀。
●
the holy grail
終極目標
●
commercial use
商業用途
●
be described as...
被描述成／形容為⋯⋯
Jenny is described as a kind and warm girl.
珍妮被描述成一個善良又溫暖的女孩。
