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Explorer of the Extreme Deep

Oceans cover more than two-thirds of our planet． Yet，just a small fraction of the undcrwaler world has been uxplored． Now，Scientists at the Woods Hole1 Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Massachusetts are building an underwater vehicle hat will carry explorers as deep as 6,500 meters (21,320 feet)．The new machine，known as a manned submersible or human-operated vehicle (HOV)，will replace another one named Alvin2 which bas an amazing record of discovery，playing a key role in various important and famous undersea expeditions．Alvin has been operating for 40 years but can go down only 4,500 meters (14,784 feet)．It’s about time for an upgrade，WHOI researchers say．

Alvin was launched in 1964．Since then，Alvin has worked between 200 and 250 days a year，says Daniel Fornari，a marine geologist and director of the Deep Ocean Exploration Institute at WHOI．During its lifetime，Alvin has carried some 12,000 people on a total of more than 3,000 dives． A newer，better versions of Alvin is bound to reveal even more surprises ahout a world that is still full of mysteries，Fornari says．It might also make the job of exploration a little easier．“We take so much for granted on land,” Fornari says．“We can walk around and see with our eyes how big things are． We can see colors，special arrangements．”

Size-wise，the new HOV will be similar to Alvin．It’ll be about 37 feet long．The setting area inside will be a small sphere，about 8 feet wide，like Alvin，it’ll carry a pilot and two passengers．It will be just as maneuverable．In most other ways，it will give passengers more opportunities to enjoy the view，for one thing．Alvin has only three windows，the new vehicle will have five，with more overlap so that the passengers and the pilot can see the same thing．

Alvin can go up and down at a rate of 30 meters every second，and its maximum speed is 2 knots (about 2．3 miles per hour)，while the new vehicle will be able to ascend and descend at 44 meters per second．It’ll reach speeds of 3 knots，or 3．5 miles per hour．

词汇：

fraction/5frAkFEn/n．一部分 dive/daiv/v．＆ n．潜水；跳水

underwater/5QndE5wC:tE(r)/adj． bound/baund /adj．受约束的，一定的

水下的；adv．在水下

sphere/sfiE(r)/n．球体；范围 manned/5mAnd/adj．载人的

maneuverable/mE5nu:vErEbl/adj． undersea/5QndEsi:/ adj．海底的

机动的，可调动的 submersible/sQb5mE:sEbl/n．潜艇；潜水器

overlap /5EuvE5lAp/v．＆ n．重叠 upgrade/5Qp^reid/n．升级

ascend/E5send/ v．上升 geologist/dVi5ClEdVist/n．地质学家

注释：

1． Woods Hole：美国马萨诸塞州的一个渔村，但同时拥有许多重要研究机构，如：the Marine Biological Laboratory，the Sea Education Association以及the Woods Hole Oceanographic lnstitution。

2． Alvin：世界上第一个深海潜水器，它最有名的深海探测包括1986年对泰坦尼克号残骸的测量工作。

练习：

1． What is Alvin?

A A research institute．

B A transporting vehicle．

C A submersible．

D A scientist．

2． Which of the following statements is NOT a fact about Alvin?

A h can carry explorers as deep as 6,500 meters．

B It has played a key role in various important undersea expeditions

C It was launched in the sixties of the twentieth century．

D It has been used for more than 40 years．

3． “．．．a world that is still full of mysteries” refers to

A the earth．

B out space．

C the ocean．

D Mars．

4． In what aspects are the new HOV and Alvin similar?

A Size．

B Speed．

C Capacity．

D Shape．

5． In what aspects are the new HOV and Alvin different?

A Offering better views．

B Speed．

C Size．

D Both A and B．

答案与题解：

1． C 短文第一段的第四、第五句提供了答案

2． A 文章第一段从第三句开始说，科学家正在研制一艘可将研究人员带到6 500米深处的潜水装置，而它将替代Alvin，因为Alvin只能潜到4 500米深处。A不是事实，所以是正确选择。

3． C 本文讨论探索海底世界的潜水装置，所以“充满神秘色彩的世界”指的就是海洋。

4． D 第三段的头三个句子告诉我们，HOV和Alvin在体积上和容量上相似。所以D是正确选择。

5． D 第三段最后两句告诉我们，Alvin只有三个窗户，而HOV有五个。最后一段告诉我们，两艘潜水装置的上下活动速度和行进速度有所差别。所以D是正确选择。