Digital Technology Helps Us Get Closer To The Nature

【主題語境解讀】本文屬于“人與自然”范疇。主題群：宇宙探索。子主題：熱愛與敬畏自然，與自然和諧共生。本文是一篇說明文，主要介紹了科學家通過放置監聽設備來傾聽一些動植物的聲音，讓我們更接近動物和植物世界，讓人類與自然界中不同的動植物交流的夢想能夠實現。

Humans are getting away from the nature gradually because of the developing technology. But now Digital （數字的） Technology is offering us an opportunity to listen to the sounds in the nature in powerful ways， making us get closer to the worlds of animals and plants.

All around the nature， there are sounds that we struggle to pick up and understand. Elephants， for example， communicate with each other using infrasound， a sound far below our human hearing range. Coral （珊瑚） in the ocean also communicates with each other through sound waves， with one purpose of attracting baby coral to areas where it can successfully grow. This is a shocking fact as coral doesn’t have any ears！

To pick up sounds humans are normally unable to hear， scientists have placed listening devices （裝置） in these environments. Researchers have attached （連接） tiny microphones to honeybees （蜜蜂） and turtles， and stuck listening posts that can receive different sound waves from coral reefs （礁） and trees. These devices are controlled by computers and networked with digital sensors and satellites. When interconnected， these digital devices work like a hearing aid （助聽器）： enabling humans to observe and record nature’s sounds beyond the limits of our own listening ability. After the sounds are recorded， AI is then able to determine their meanings.

With this technology， humans can not only understand the animals， but also communicate back to them. For example， a team of researchers in Germany decoded the honeybees’ behavior with AI. Then they taught tiny robots how to do the honeybee dance. Using these dancing machines， the scientists were able to order the honeybees to stop moving， and to communicate where to fly to collect a specific nectar. In addition to the possibility of speaking with animals， the research could also be used to create a form of healing for animals and plants. That’s to say， in the near future， scientists might be able to get coral to grow in certain areas by playing “healthy reef” sounds， which could help some of the damage we have caused to become healthy again.

Now， Digital Technology provides a new way for humans to listen to the lively sounds all around us. The dream of allowing humans to communicate with different animals and plants throughout the nature is being on its way.

跟蹤練習：

1. The word “healing” in Paragraph 4 probably means “_________”.

A. feeding

B. killing

C. repairing

D. designing

2. What can you infer from the last paragraph？

A. Scientists are likely to discover a new way of recording.

B. Humans will have better communication with the nature.

C. It’s possible for people to dance with the honeybee together.

D. Digital Technology can be used to communicate with anything.

3. What is the writer’s main purpose in writing this passage？

A. To discuss how to control listening devices.

B. To compare different ways for communication.

C. To introduce a technology to get closer to the nature.

D. To suggest how to improve people’s listening ability.

解題思路：

1.詞語猜測題。根據后邊的句子“That’s to say， in the near future， scientists might be able to get coral to grow in certain areas by playing ‘healthy reef’ sounds， which could help some of the damage we have caused to become healthy again.”可知，在不久的將來，科學家們可能通過播放“健康的珊瑚礁”聲音，讓珊瑚在某些地區生長，這可能有助于我們造成的一些破壞能夠恢復良好。healing意為“修復，治療”，與repairing同義，故選C。

2.推理判斷題。根據“Now， Digital Technology provides a new way for humans to listen to the lively sounds all around us. The dream of allowing humans to communicate with different animals and plants throughout the nature is being on its way.”可知，數字技術為人類聆聽周圍生動的聲音提供了一種新的方式。由此推知，數字技術讓人類與自然界中不同的動植物交流的夢想正在實現，故選B。

3.主旨大意題。通讀全文可知，文章介紹了科學家通過放置監聽設備來傾聽動植物的聲音，讓我們更接近動物和植物世界。選項C“引進一種技術來接近大自然”符合題意，故選C。

詞語解讀：

1. offer v. 提供（東西或機會）；供應；主動提出；奉獻；自愿給予

第三人稱單數： offers 現在分詞： offering 過去式： offered 過去分詞： offered

固定搭配：offer sth. （to sb.） （for sth.） / offer sb. sth.主動提出；自愿給予

offer to do主動提出做某事

Taylor offered him 500 dollars to do the work.泰勒愿出500美元雇他做這件工作。

He offered $4 000 for the car.他出價4 000美元買這輛汽車。

If you offer something to someone， you should ask them if they would like to have it or use it.

如果你向某人提供一些東西，你應該問他們是否愿意擁有或使用。

The kids offered to do the dishes.孩子們主動要求洗盤子。

2. provide v. 提供；供應；給予

第三人稱單數： provides 現在分詞： providing 過去式： provided 過去分詞： provided

固定搭配：provide sb. with sth. / provide sth. （for sb.） 為某人提供某物

We are here to provide the public with a service. 我們來這里為公眾服務。

We are here to provide a service for the public.我們來這里為公眾服務。

The report provides a framework for further research. 報告提供了進一步研究的原則。

The first year provides students with a sound theoretical basis for later study.

第一年為學生以后的學習奠定堅實的理論基礎。

（作者單位：山東省臨沂市臨沂第34中學）