科技英语基础阅读（第二版）

　　本书为“十三五”普通高等教育规划教材。本书分为8个单元，每单元设置一个主题，涉及计算机、机器人、能源、环境科学、材料工程、土木工程、通信、健康等多个领域，选材多来自于国外报刊、专业期刊和网络。每单元由四部分组成：*部分是导入，通过听力理解引出本单元，听力材料选自*的科技报道，如VOA等；第二部分是单元主体，由两篇阅读和相关练习构成。课后练习形式多样，分别针对各篇章和细节理解、科技词汇、语法及翻译设置任务；第三部分是与单元主题相关的英语视频讲座，旨在提高理解能力和科技口语听说能力；第四部分为词汇测试，巩固学生语言基石。每单元后面另附一则科学笑话。本书突出科技英语的特点，体现基础英语、科技英语和专业知识的三结合，语言现象丰富，可读性较强，有利于教学，便于自学。

　　王纪红，女，副教授，十几年一直从事大学英语教学与研究，熟悉教学情况。现为南京工程学院外国语学院大外部主任。授课对象为本科生，教授课程包括大学英语、英语视听说、科技文献阅读和英语写作入门。

Preface
Unit 1  Computers and Network 1
Part I  Listening for technology 1
Part II  Reading for exploration 2
Passage A  The New Old Thing 2
Passage B  Network Security 10
Part III  Watching for discussion 15
Part IV  Testing for consolidation 17
Unit 2  Automation and Robotics 19
Part I  Listening for technology 19
Part II  Reading for exploration 20
Passage A  The Function and ELS Issues of a Robot 20
Passage B  Dyson’s Robot Vacuum Has 360-Degree Camera, Tank Treads,
          Cyclone Suction 27
Part III  Watching for discussion 32
Part IV  Testing for consolidation 33
Unit 3  Energy 36
Part I  Listening for technology 36
Part II  Reading for exploration 37
Passage A  Capturing Value in Global Gas: Prepare Now for an Uncertain Future 37
Passage B  Fact or Fiction: Energy Can Neither Be Created Nor Destroyed？ 43
Part III  Watching for discussion 46
Part IV  Testing for consolidation 48
Unit 4  Environmental Science 50
Part I  Listening for technology 50
Part II  Reading for exploration 51
Passage A  What Do We Know about Wildfires and Climate Change 51
Passage B  Tropical Forests May Not Combat Climate Change 60
Part III  Watching for discussion 64
Part IV  Testing for consolidation 65
Unit 5  Materials Engineering 67
Part I  Listening for technology 67
Part II  Reading for exploration 68
Passage A  “Miracle Material” Graphene One Step Closer to Commercial Use 68
Passage B  Laser-Generated Surface Structures Create Extremely Water-
          Repellent Metals 75
Part III  Watching for discussion 79
Part IV  Testing for consolidation 80
Unit 6  Civil Engineering 82
Part I  Listening for technology 82
Part II  Reading for exploration 83
Passage A  The Business Case for Smart Building Technology 83
Passage B  Speedy Analysis of Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete 91
Part III  Watching for discussion 94
Part IV  Testing for consolidation 96
Unit 7  Communication Technology 98
Part I  Listening for technology 98
Part II  Reading for exploration 99
Passage A  Alexa, What Are You Doing with My Family's Personal Info? 99
Passage B  Wireless Companies Put up More “Stealth” Towers 106
Part III  Watching for discussion 110
Part IV  Testing for consolidation 111
Unit 8  Optimizing Health 113
Part I  Listening for technology 113
Part II  Reading for exploration 114
Passage A  The World Is Richer, Fatter, and Not Much Happier 114
Passage B  The Science of Sleep 122
Part III  Watching for discussion 127
Part IV  Testing for consolidation 129
Appendix  Reference Answer 131