Listening Device Provides Landslide Early Warning

A device that provides early warning of a landslide by monitoring vibrations in soil is being tested by UK researchers. The device could save thousands of lives each year by warning when an area should be evacuated, the scientists say. Such natural disasters are common in countries that experience sudden, heavy rainfall, and can also be triggered by earthquakes and even water erosion.

Landslides start when a new particles of soil or rock within a slope start to move, but the early stages can be hard to spot. Following this initial movement, “slopes can become unstable in a matter of hours or minutes.,” says Nell Dixon at Loughborough University¹, UK. He says a warning system that monitors this movement “might be enough to evacuate a block of flats or clear a road, and save lives .”

The most common way to monitor a slope for signs of an imminent landslide is to watch for changes in its shape. Surveyors can do this by measuring a site directly, or sensors sunk into horeholes or fixed above ground can be used to monitor the shape of a slope. Slopes can, howcver, change shape without triggering a landslide, so either method is prone to causing false alarms. Now Dixon’s team has developed a device that listens for the vibrations caused when particles begin moving within a slope.

The device taktes the form of a steel pipe dropped into a borehole in a slope. The horeholeis filled in with gravel around the pipe to help transmit high-frequency vibrations generated by particles within the slope. These vibrations pass up the tube and are picked up by a sensor on the surface. Software analyses the vibration signal to determine whether a landslide may be imminent.

The device is currently being tested in a 6-metre-tall artificial clay embankment in Newcastle2, UK. Early results suggest it should provide fewer false positives than existing systems. Once it has been carefully and thoroughly tested, the device could be used to create a complete early-warning system for dangerous slopes.

“Locations with a significant risk of landslides could definitely benefit from a machine like this,” says Adam Poulter, an expert at the British Red Cross. “As long as it doesn’t cost too much.” But, Poulter adds that an early-warning system may not be enough on its own. “You need to have the human communication,” he says. “Making systems that get warnings to those who need them can be difficult.”

 

词汇:  

landslide/ ˈlændslaɪd / n. 山崩地滑；塌方

imminent /ɪmɪnənt /  adj. 即将发生的;迫切的，

vibration / vaɪˈbreɪʃn / n. 振动 

sensor / ˈsensə(r) / n. 传感器

evacuate / ɪ"vækjʊeɪt / vi. 疏散，撤走 

borehole / ˈbɔ:həul / n. 钻孔，井眼

rainfall / ˈreɪnfɔ:l / n. 降雨，降雨量 

gravel / ˈgrævl / n.  砾，砾石，砂砾

erosion / ɪ"rəʊʒn / n. 腐蚀，侵蚀 

embankment / ɪmˈbæŋkmənt /n. 堤岸

 

注释：

1.Loughbourough University：拉夫堡大学。该大学地处英格兰东部的拉夫堡市，始建于1909年的拉夫堡学院，1966年获得皇家特许正式成为综合性大学。
2.Newcastle：纽卡斯尔。英格兰东北部的一个自治区，位于利兹（Leeds）以北（the Tyne River）河畔。

Why do researchers develop a new device to monitor signs of landsides?

A:Because the new device can measure the site directly. B:Because the new device can be sunk into boreholes or fixed above ground. C:Because the common methods can cause false alarms. D:Because the common methods are useless.

Your cell phone holds secrets about you. Besides the names and (51) that you’ve programmed into it, traces of your DNA linger on the device, according to a new study.
DNA is genetic material that (52) in every cell. Like your fingerprint, your DNA is unique to you— (53) you have an identical twin. Scientists today routinely analyze DNA in blood, saliva, or hair left (54) at the scene of a crime. The results often help detectives identify (55) and their victims. Your cell phone can reveal more about you (56) you might think.
Meghan J. McFadden, a scientist at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, heard about a crime in which the suspect bled onto a cell phone and later dropped the (57) . This made her wonder whether traces of DNA lingered on cell phones—even when no blood was involved. (58) she and her colleague Margaret Wallace of the City University of New York analyzed the flip-open phones of 10 volunteers. They used swabs to collect (59) traces of the users from two parts of the phone: the outside, where the user holds it, and the (60) , which is placed at the user’s ear.
The scientists scrubbed the phones using a solution made mostly (61) alcohol. The aim of washing was to remove all detectable traces of DNA. The owners got their phones (62) for another week. Then the researchers collected the phones and repeated the swabbing of each phone once more.
The scientists discovered DNA that (63) to the phone’s speaker on each of the phones. Better samples were collected from the outside of each phone, but those swabs also picked up DNA that belonged to other people who had apparently also handled the phone. (64) , DNA showed up even in swabs that were taken immediately after the phones were scrubbed. That suggests that washing won’t remove all traces of evidence from a criminal’s device. So cell phones can now be added to the (65) of clues that can clinch a crime-scene investigation.

57（　）

A:device B:paper C:file D:document

Your cell phone holds secrets about you. Besides the names and (51) that you’ve programmed into it, traces of your DNA linger(逗留) on the device, according to a new study.
DNA is genetic(遗传的) material that (52) in every cell. Like your fingerprint, your DNA is unique to you (53) you have an identical twin. Scientists today routinely analyze DNA in blood, saliva(涎，唾液), or hair left (54) at the scene of a crime. The results often help detectives identify (55) and their victims. Your cell phone can reveal more about you (56) you might think.
Meghan J. McFadden, a scientist at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, heard about a crime in which the suspect bled onto a cell phone and later dropped the (57) This made her wonder whether traces of DNA lingered on cell phones -- even when no blood was involved. (58) she and colleague Margaret Wallace of the City University of New York analyzed the flip-open phones(翻盖手机) of 10 volunteers. They used swabs(药签) to collect (59) traces of the users from two parts of the phone: the outside, where the user holds it, and the (60) , which is placed at the user’s ear.
The scientists scrubbed(用力擦洗；擦净) the phones using a solution made mostly (61) alcohol. The aim of washing was to remove all detectable traces of DNA. The owners got their phones
(62) for another week. Then the researchers collected the phones and repeated the swabbing of each phone once more.
The scientists discovered DNA that (63) to the phone’s speaker on each of the phones. Better samples were collected from the outside of each phone, but those swabs also picked up DNA that belonged to other people who had apparently also handled the phone. (64) , DNA showed up even in swabs that were taken immediately after the phones were scrubbed. That suggests that washing won’t remove all traces of evidence from a criminal’s device. So cell phones can now be added to the (65) of clues that can clinch(确定，决定) a crime-scene investigation.

57（）

A:device B:paper C:file D:document

Your cell phone holds secrets about you. Besides the names and (51) that you’ve programmed into it, traces of your DNA linger (逗留) on the device, according to a new study.
DNA is genetic material that (52) in every cell. Like your fingerprint, your DNA is unique to you (53) you have an identical twin. Scientists today routinely analyze DNA in blood, saliva (唾液), or hair left (54) at the scene of a crime. The results often help detectives identify (55) and their victims. Your cell phone can reveal more about you (56) you might think.
Meghan J. McFadden, a scientist at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, heard about a crime in which the suspect bled onto a cell phone and later dropped the (57) . This made her wonder whether traces of DNA lingered on cell phones—even when no blood was involved (58) she and colleague Margaret Wallace of the City University of New York analyzed the flip-open phones of 10 volunteers. They used swabs (药签) to collect (59) traces of the users from two parts of the phone: the outside, where the user holds it, and the (60) , which is placed at the user’s ear.
The scientists scrubbed the phones using a solution made mostly (61) alcohol. The aim of washing was to remove all detectable traces of DNA. The owners got their phones (62) for another week. Then the researchers collected the phones and repeated the swabbing of each phone once more.
The scientists discovered DNA that (63) to the phone’s speaker on each of the phones. Better samples were collected from the outside of each phone, but those swabs also picked up DNA that belonged to other people who had apparently also handled the phone. (64) , DNA showed up even in swabs that were taken immediately after the phones were scrubbed (擦洗). That suggests that washing won’t remove all traces of evidence from a criminal’s device. So cell phones can now be added to the (65) of clues that can decide a crime-scene investigation.

A:device B:paper C:file D:document

Scientists can’t yet make an invisibility cloak like the one that Harry Potter uses. But, for the first time, they’ve constructed a simple cloaking device that makes itself and something placed inside it invisible to microwaves.
When a person "sees" an object, his or her eye senses many different waves of visible light as they bounce off the object. The eye and brain then work together to organize the sesensations and reconstruct the object’s original shape. So, to make an object invisible, scientists have to keep waves from bouncing off it. And they have to make sure the object casts no shadow. Otherwise, the absence of reflected light on one side would give the object away.
Invisibility isn’t possible yet with waves of light that the human eye can see. But it is now possible with microwaves. Like visible light, microwaves are a form of radiant energy. They are part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which also includes radio waves, infrared light, ultraviolet rays, X rays, and gamma rays. The wave lengths of microwaves are shorter than those of radio waves but longer than those of visible light.
The scientists’ new "invisibility device" is the size of a drink coaster and shaped like a ring. The ring is made of a special material with unusual ability. When microwaves strike the ring, very few bounce off it. Instead, they pass through the ring, which bends the waves all the way around until they reach the opposite side. The waves then return to their original paths.
To a detector set up to receive microwaves on the other side of the ring, it looks as if the waves never changed their paths as if there were no object in the way! So, the ring is effectively invisible.
When the researchers put a small copper loop inside the ring, it, too, is nearly invisible. However, the cloaking device and anything inside it do cast a pale shadow. And the device works only for microwaves, not for visible light or any kind of electromagnetic radiation. So, Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak doesn’t have any real competition yet.
Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak doesn’t have any real competition yet, because ______.

A:scientists have not found out how his cloak works B:the cloaking device is a total failure C:the cloaking device works only for microwaves D:the cloaking device works only for visible light

Your cell phone holds secrets about you. Besides the names and (51) that you’ve programmed into it, traces of your DNA linger on the device, according to a new study.
DNA is genetic material that (52) in every cell. Like your fingerprint, your DNA is unique to you (53) you have an identical twin. Scientists today routinely analyze DNA in blood, saliva, or hair left (54) at the scene of a crime. The results often help detectives identify (55) and their victims. Your cell phone can reveal more about you (56) you might think.
Meghan J. McFadden, a scientist at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, heard about a crime in which the suspect bled onto a cell phone and later dropped the (57) . This made her wonder whether traces of DNA lingered on cell phones even when no blood was involved. (58) she and colleague Margaret Wallace of the City University of New York analyzed the flip-open phones of 10 volunteers. They used swabs to collect (59) traces of the users from two parts of the phone: the outside, where the user holds it, and the (60) , which is placed at the user’s ear.
The scientists scrubbed the phones using a solution made mostly (61) alcohol. The aim of washing was to remove all detectable traces of DNA. The owners got their phones (62) for another week. Then the researchers collected the phones and repeated the swabbing of each phone once more.
The scientists discovered DNA that (63) to the phone’s speaker on each of the phones. Better samples were collected from the outside of each phone, but those swabs also picked up DNA that belonged to other people who had apparently also handled the phone. (64) , DNA showed up even in swabs that were taken immediately after the phones were scrubbed. That suggests that washing won’t remove all traces of evidence from a criminal’s device. So cell phones can now be added to the (65) of clues that can clinch a crime-scene investigation.

A:device B:paper C:file D:document

下面的短文有15处空白，请根据短文内容为每处空白确定1个最佳选项。

A:device B:paper C:file D:document

Your cell phone holds secrets about you. Besides the names and (51) that you’ve programmed into it, traces of your DNA linger (逗留) on the device, according to a new study.
DNA is genetic material that (52) in every cell. Like your fingerprint, your DNA is unique to you (53) you have an identical twin. Scientists today routinely analyze DNA in blood, saliva (唾液), or hair left (54) at the scene of a crime. The results often help detectives identify (55) and their victims. Your cell phone can reveal more about you (56) you might think.
Meghan J. McFadden, a scientist at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, heard about a crime in which the suspect bled onto a cell phone and later dropped the (57) . This made her wonder whether traces of DNA lingered on cell phones even when no blood was involved. (58) , she and colleague Margaret Wallace of the City University of New York analyzed the flip-open phones of 10 volunteers. They used swabs (药签) to collect (59) traces of the users from two parts of the phone: the outside, where the user holds it, and the (60) , which is placed at the user’s ear.
The scientists scrubbed the phones using a solution made mostly (61) alcohol. The aim of washing was to remove all detectable traces of DNA. The owners got their phones (62) for another week. Then the researchers collected the phones and repeated the swabbing of each phone once more.
The scientists discovered DNA that (63) to the phone’s speaker on each of the phones. Better samples were collected from the outside of each phone, but those swabs also picked up DNA that belonged to other people who had apparently also handled the phone. (64) , DNA showed up even in swabs that were taken immediately after the phones were scrubbed (擦洗). That suggests that washing won’t remove all traces of evidence from a criminal’s device. So cell phones can now be added to the (65) of clues that can decide a crime-scene investigation.

57（）

A:device B:paper C:file D:document

Your cell phone holds secrets about you. Besides the names and (51) that you’ve programmed into it, traces of your DNA linger (逗留) on the device, according to a new study.
DNA is genetic material that (52) in every cell. Like your fingerprint, your DNA is unique to you (53) you have an identical twin. Scientists today routinely analyze DNA in blood, saliva (唾液), or hair left (54) at the scene of a crime. The results often help detectives identify (55) and their victims. Your cell phone can reveal more about you (56) you might think.
Meghan J. McFadden, a scientist at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, heard about a crime in which the suspect bled onto a cell phone and later dropped the (57) . This made her wonder whether traces of DNA lingered on cell phones even when no blood was involved. (58) , she and colleague Margaret Wallace of the City University of New York analyzed the flip-open phones of 10 volunteers. They used swabs (药签) to collect (59) traces of the users from two parts of the phone: the outside, where the user holds it, and the (60) , which is placed at the user’s ear.
The scientists scrubbed the phones using a solution made mostly (61) alcohol. The aim of washing was to remove all detectable traces of DNA. The owners got their phones (62) for another week. Then the researchers collected the phones and repeated the swabbing of each phone once more.
The scientists discovered DNA that (63) to the phone’s speaker on each of the phones. Better samples were collected from the outside of each phone, but those swabs also picked up DNA that belonged to other people who had apparently also handled the phone. (64) , DNA showed up even in swabs that were taken immediately after the phones were scrubbed (擦洗). That suggests that washing won’t remove all traces of evidence from a criminal’s device. So cell phones can now be added to the (65) of clues that can decide a crime-scene investigation.

A:device B:paper C:file D:document