A
Workers at an Indian start-up company are busy cutting metal into pieces and using them to make unusual devices. Company officials say these devices will capture smoke from diesel (柴油) generators and turn it into ink. Young engineers believe the technology will help to clean up the air in New Delhi, India’s capital. Its air quality is among the dirtiest in the world.
People often blame the millions of cars on the streets of New Delhi for the air pollution. But another big reason is the city’s diesel generators. Industries and buildings use the huge machines to light up homes and offices during power outages. These outages often strike in the summer months.
Arpit Dhupar is one of the three engineers who set up the start-up company Chakr Innovation. He says that pollution from cars and other vehicles gets all the media attention, but adds that “the silent polluters are the diesel generators”. Dhupar decided to find a way to fight air pollution three years ago. At the time, he saw a wall blackened by the smoke coming from a diesel generator. This sight led to the creation of Chakr Innovation. Dhupar had personally experienced the effect of the air pollution. He developed breathing problems while growing up in Delhi.
After over two years of research and development, Chakr Innovation has begun selling devices to capture pollution from diesel generators. To date, the devices have been set up in 50 places, including private businesses.
The technology involves cooling the air pollution in a “heat exchanger” where the dirty particles come together. These are then moved into another area that captures 70 to 90 percent of the particulate (微粒的) matter. The carbon is isolated from the emissions and turned into ink.
In recent years, there has been a lot of talk about improving Delhi’s air by reducing vehicular pollution and making stronger rules for vehicle manufacturers. But the same has not happened for diesel generators. There are efforts to punish businesses that dirty the air, but this often leads to them finding ways to get around the rules.
Tushar Mathur works at Chakr Innovation. He feels that turning smoke into ink is a useful solution. He calls the technology “a win-win between businesses and the environment”.
【文章大意】本文是一篇说明文, 通过介绍印度新德里的环境状况, 向我们介绍了把烟变成墨水的一种改善环境的解决方法。
1. What do we know about the devices from Paragraph 1?
A. They are made in a big company.
B. They are cut into pieces of metal.
C. They can turn dirty smoke into ink.
D. They will certainly clean up the dirty air.
【解析】选C。细节理解题。根据第一段第二句“Company officials say these devices will capture smoke from diesel generators and turn it into ink. ”可知, 它们可以把污浊的烟变成墨水。
2. The air pollution in New Delhi may be the most serious in .
A. March B. July
C. September D. December
【解析】选B。推理判断题。根据第二段可知, 在新德里除了车辆所产生的污染物外, 柴油发电机是空气污染的另一个重要的原因, 而最后一句说明夏天是停电的高峰期, 而柴油发电机显然是在停电期间使用最多, 可推断出夏季很可能是空气污染最严重的季节, 故选B项。
3. What caused Dhupar to found Chakr Innovation?
A. The determination to fight air pollution.
B. The development of breathing problems.
C. The media attention to vehicular pollution.
D. The sight of a wall blackened by smoke.
【解析】选D。细节理解题。根据第三段中的“At the time, he saw a wall blackened by the smoke coming from a diesel generator. This sight led to the creation of Chakr Innovation. ”可知, 一堵被烟熏黑的墙使Dhupar创立了Chakr Innovation, 故选D项。
4. When the device works, how are the dirty particles gathered together?
A. By cooling the polluted air.
B. By isolating the emissions.
C. By moving the dirty particles.
D. By capturing the particulate matter.
【解析】选A。细节理解题。根据第五段“The technology involves cooling the air pollution in a ’heat exchanger’ where the dirty particles come together. ”可知, 在一个“热交换器”里冷却空气污染物就能使脏颗粒聚集起来。
【知识拓展】长难句分析
There are efforts to punish businesses that dirty the air, but this often leads to them finding ways to get around the rules.
分析: 本句是but 连接的并列句, 前一个句子中含有动词不定式to punish. . . 作efforts的后置定语, 后面含有business的定语从句, 关系词that 在从句中充当主语, 后面一个并列句中含有lead to sb. doing sth. 导致某人做……。
翻译: 有一些惩罚污染空气的企业的尝试, 但这往往会导致他们想方设法绕过规定。
