阅读理解。
Batteries can power anything from small sensors to large systems. While scientists are finding ways to
make them smaller but even more powerful, problems can arise when these batteries are much larger and
heavier than the devices themselves. University of Missouri(MU) researchers are developing a nuclear energy
source that is smaller, lighter and more efficient.
"To provide enough power, we need certain methods with high energy density (密度)", said Jae Kwon,
assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at MU. "The radioisotope (放射性同位素) battery
can provide power density that is much higher than chemical batteries."
Kwon and his research team have been working on building a small nuclear battery, presently the size and
thickness of a penny, intended to power various micro / nanoelectromechanreal systems (M/NEMS). Although
nuclear batteries can cause concerns, Kwon said they are safe.
"People hear the word 'nuclear' and think of something very dangerous," he said, "However, nuclear power
sources have already been safely powering a variety of devices, such as pace-makers, space satellites and
underwater systems."
His new idea is not only in the battery's size, but also in its semiconductor (半导体). Kwon's battery uses
a liquid semiconductor rather than a solid semiconductor.
"The key part of using a radioactive battery is that when you harvest the energy, part of the radiation energy
can damage the lattice structure (晶体结构) of the solid semiconductor," Kwon said, "By using a liquid semicon
ductor, we believe we can minimize that problem."
Together with J. David Robertson, chemistry professor and associate director of the MU Research Reactor,
Kwon is working to build and test the battery. In the future, they hope to increase the battery's power, shrink
its size and try with various other materials. Kwon said that battery could be thinner than the thickness of
human hair.
1. Which of the following is true of Jae Kwon? [ ]
A. He teaches chemistry at MU.
B. He developed a chemical battery.
C. He is working on a nuclear energy source.
D. He made a breakthrough in computer engineering.
2. Jae Kwon gave examples in Paragraph 4 _____. [ ]
A. to show chemical batteries are widely applied.
B. to introduce nuclear batteries can be safely used.
C. to describe a nuclear-powered system.
D. to introduce various energy sources.
3. Liquid semiconductor is used to _____. [ ]
A. get rid of the radioactive waste
B. test the power of nuclear batteries
C. decrease the size of nuclear batteries
D. reduce the damage to lattice structure
4. Liquid semiconductor is used to _____. [ ]
A. get rid of the radioactive waste
B. test the power of nuclear batteries
C. decrease the size of nuclear batteries
D. reduce the damage to lattice structure
5. The text is most probably a _____. [ ]
A. science news report
B. book review
C. newspaper ad
D. science fiction story
