Russian scientists have created a material that kills flu virus

俄羅斯科學家最近發現，一種新型材料可殺死流感病毒，他們希望能將這種材料用于制造口罩，幫助人們抵御流感病毒和新型冠狀病毒的侵襲。

題材 體裁 篇幅 建議用時健康 說明文303詞 6分鐘

難詞探意

1.coronavirus/k??r??n??va??s/n.冠狀病毒

2.deactivate/?di???kt?ve?t/v.使（儀器等）停止工作

Scientists hope a material which they say can kill bacteria and viruses could be used in face masks to help tackle the outbreak of the novelcoronavirus.

The material features nanosilver(納米銀),which has antibacterial properties,and was made using a process known as melt blowing.This makes polypropylene microfibers(聚乙烯超細纖維)with a diameter of one micron(微米),explained Alexander Zhanovich Medvedev,who worked on the project and leads a lab of the SBRAS(Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences).

Medvedev said in a statement that he and colleagues fitted their creation in the inner layer of a conventional three-layer medical mask.Researchers tested the mask against the influenza A virus.When the team compared the new material with that of regular masks,ten thousand times more viruses passed through the latter.

Lyakhov,chief researcher at the SBRAS,said that the material completelydeactivatesviruses.However,he added it's unclear exactly how it works,and this problem must be approached in separate research projects.The team believe the material could protect people against influenza A for up to 10 hours,compared to regular masks which need to be changed every one to two hours.The mask is reusable but would be more expensive than regular face masks.

Lyakhov said he spoke to infectious disease specialists who said that as the cloth kills the influenza A virus,“Then most likely other viruses that cause respiratory infections should be exposed to the same effect.”

Medvedev said the team had developed a production line so prototypes can be made for testing by specialists.Lyakhov is in close contact with partners in China,he said,and is willing to send samples there for testing.

Dr.Amesh Adalja,an expert,said most people don't know how to use the masks correctly in order to avoid catching infections.What's more,those rushing out to buy them could lead to supply shortages,meaning health care providers struggle to access them.

Reading Check

1.What does the underlined word“tackle”most probably mean?

A.Deal with.

B.Carry out.

C.Bring up.

D.Put forward.

2.What are the scientists uncertain about the material?

A.How to make the material.

B.How the material functions.

C.Where to find the material.

D.Whether the material really works.

3.Where is the text probably from?

A.A newspaper.

B.An education website.

C.A travel journal.

D.A textbook.

Language Study

Sentence for writing

The team believe the material could protect people against influenza A for up to 10 hours,compared to regular masks which need to be changed every one to two hours.研究小組人員認為，這種材料可以在長達10小時的時間內保護人們免受甲型流感的侵襲，而普通口罩則需要每一到兩小時更換一次。

【信息提取】compared to...是動詞-ed形式構成的短語作狀語，意為“與……相比”。

【句式仿寫】與書本相比，因特網使我們獲取知識更加容易了。