Naked Science 6 科學新發現





  It is said that diamonds are a girl's best friend, but there are more to these precious gems1 than their bling2 quality. Diamonds are four times harder than any other mineral3 found on Earth. Therefore, they are the hardest material on the planet. They conduct4 heat and even electricity. They are able to cut through metal and are nearly impossible to destroy. However, diamonds are not as everlasting as most people believe, but what if they could be?

  In National Geographic Channel's "Naked Science 6: Super Diamonds," scientists from around the world reveal the secrets of diamonds. They also explain how they are working on creating a super diamond. The super diamond would be stronger than any natural diamond and could be produced in any shape or size. Better yet, a super diamond could even be made to top the Hope Diamond. Valued at 250 million dollars, the Hope Diamond is the world's largest and most perfect natural diamond. In NGC's "Super Diamonds", you will get to see if scientists can really outdo Mother Nature5 and create a super hard, super valuable, and super sparkling super diamond.



  據說鑽石是女孩最好的朋友,但這種珍貴寶石所蘊含的不光是只有其閃耀的特質。鑽石的硬度是地球上任何其它礦物的四倍。也因此它們是這個星球上最堅硬的 物體。鑽石可以導熱,甚至能導電。它們可以切割金屬,也幾乎無法摧毀。然而鑽石並不像大家所認為的這般恆久遠,但如果它們真能這樣又如何呢?

  本月份在國家地理頻道的《科學新發現6:超級鑽石》當中,來自全球各地的科學家將揭露鑽石的秘密。他們還會解釋他們如何致力於製造一種超級鑽石。這種 超級鑽石將會比任何天然鑽石都還要堅硬,並可塑造成各種形狀及尺寸。更棒的是,科學家甚至可以製作出一顆比希望之鑽還要完美的超級鑽石。希望之鑽價值兩億 五千萬美元,是世界上最大也最完美的天然鑽石。在本月國家地理頻道的《科學新發現6:超級鑽石》中,您將得以發現科學家們是否真能超越大自然,創造出一顆 超級堅硬、超級貴重、超級耀眼奪目的超級鑽石。
Building Your Vocabulary 


1. precious a. 珍貴的,寶貴的
Ida captured the precious moment on video.
艾達用攝影機捕捉了這珍貴的一刻。
2. everlasting a. 永久的,永恆的
Parents' love for their children is everlasting.
父母對孩子們的愛是永恆不變的。
3. top vt. 優於,超過
Our profits have topped $1 billion this year.
我們今年的利潤超過十億元。
4. outdo vt. 勝過,超越;比……更成功(三態為:outdo, outdid, outdone。)
Will outdid all of his classmates in Math.
威爾的數學比他班上的同學都還強。
5. valuable a. 值錢的;有價值的
Time is valuable, so you shouldn't waste it.
時間很寶貴,所以你不該虛擲光陰。
6. sparkling a. 發光的,閃亮的
I was blinded by the sparkling snow.
潔白光耀的雪刺得我睜不開眼。
Phrases for Learning 


1. work on + 動名詞∕名詞  致力於……
The director is working on his new film.
那位導演正致力於拍攝他的新片。
2. be valued at...  價值……
Bob's gold watch is valued at $50,000.
鮑伯的金錶價值五萬塊。
參考字詞 


1. gem n. 寶石;寶玉
2. bling a. 金光閃閃的;珠光寶氣的(亦常寫為 bling bling)
3. mineral n. 礦物
4. conduct vt. 傳導(熱、電等)
5. Mother Nature n. 大自然
Tips In Use 


...there are more to these precious gems than their bling quality.
(……這種珍貴寶石所蘊含的不光是只有其閃耀的特質。)
there is more to + 名詞∕動名詞 + than...某物∕某事不光是只有……
There is more to learning English than memorizing words.
(學英文不光是只有背單字而已。)
此類的句型尚有一經典句構:
there is more to + 名詞∕動名詞 + than meets the eye  某物∕某事不光是表面看起來那麼單純
There is more to politics than meets the eye.
(政治不光是表面看起來那麼簡單,裡頭大有文章。)



Naked Science 6: Super Diamonds 科學新發現:超級鑽石



by Marcus Maurice
Diamonds are worth a lot of money, but super diamonds are priceless.
鑽石價值千金,但超級鑽石卻是無價之寶。



  In the early part of the 20th century, stories swirled about the "curse" of the Hope Diamond, a deep-blue 45.52-carat stone that was being sold by jeweler Pierre Cartier. It was rumored that the diamond had been stolen from the eye of a statue of an ancient Hindu goddess, so Cartier used this legend to add mystique and increase its value. He told his prospective buyer that a temple priestess had laid a curse on whoever owned the stone after it was taken and then rattled a long list of bad things that had happened to its previous owners, which included Indian royal families, Turkish sultans, and Marie Antoinette. The legend grew once The Washington Post picked up the story for a feature article in 1908.
  The Hope Diamond is considered to be one of the world's most fascinating diamonds because it's more than 100 times bigger than the average diamond ring. However, there has been no evidence of a curse, and it has been locked up in a secured glass case in the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington DC since the 1950s. Scientists have been studying this diamond in the hope that they can mimic the unusual properties that make up this super diamond.
  This month, National Geographic Channel's Naked Science 6: Super Diamonds goes deep into the history of this precious gem and sheds light on how scientists are working around the clock to change the future of diamonds. On three different continents, scientists are unlocking the secrets to diamonds and making discoveries. If the perfect diamond could be made in a lab cheaply and mass-produced, technology could be revolutionized. Since most diamonds have natural flaws that are unable to withstand extreme heat or pressure, scientists are racing to outdo Mother Nature and create the ultimate super diamond.

1. According to the article, what is true about the Hope Diamond?
(A) It was only displayed at a famous museum in the 1950s.
(B) A previous owner committed suicide with the diamond on.
(C) A jeweler promoted myths to make more money on the sale of it.
(D) It was once stolen by Marie Antoinette.

2. According to the article, what's the average size of a diamond ring?
(A) 4.5 carats.
(B) Less than half a carat.
(C) 450 carats.
(D) Approximately 1.5 carats.

3. Why are scientists studying the Hope Diamond?
(A) They want to know the secret to the curse.
(B) They hope to cut it into smaller pieces and sell them.
(C) They want to change its properties so that it can withstand extreme heat and pressure.
(D) They hope to copy it to improve technology.

4. According to the article, scientists want to _____ Mother Nature.
(A) explore
(B) isolate
(C) innovate
(D) better
單字小舖 


1. diamond n. 鑽石
2. swirl vi. 旋轉,打轉
3. carat n. 克拉(鑽石的重量單位)
4. jeweler n. 珠寶商
5. mystique n. 神秘;奧秘
6. priestess n. 女祭司
priest n. 祭司
7. rattle vt. 批哩啪拉地陳述
8. previous a. 先前的
9. sultan n. 蘇丹(回教國家統治者的稱號)
10. feature n.(報紙等的)特別報導
11. secured a. 安全的;牢固的
12. property n. 特性,屬性
13. precious a. 珍貴的
14. gem n. 寶石
15. continent n. 洲;大陸
16. unlock vt. 開啟
17. lab n. 實驗室(為 laboratory 的縮寫)
18. revolutionize vt. 徹底改革
19. flaw n. 缺點;瑕疵
20. ultimate a. 最終的,終極的
21. explore vt. 探索;探究
22. better vt. 超越,勝過
片語小舖 


1. pick up...  (無意中)獲得……
2. lock up...  把……鎖起來
3. commit suicide  自殺
精解字詞片語 


1. curse n. 詛咒,咒語
lay/put a curse on...  對……下咒
例: The witch put a curse on the house.
(巫婆對這間房子下咒。)

2. It is rumored + that 子句  謠傳……
= Rumor has it + that 子句
= Word has it + that 子句
例: It was rumored that the rock star got involved in drugs.
(謠傳那名搖滾歌手和毒品有所牽扯。)

3. prospective a. 可能的;有希望的
a prospective buyer  潛在的買家
a prospective client  潛在的客戶
例: All prospective employees will be interviewed by the boss.
(所有可能被錄取為員工的人將經由老闆面試。)

4. in the hope + that 子句  希望……
in hope/hopes of V-ing  抱著……的希望
例: The spy snuck into the building in the hope that he could find the stolen file.
(該間諜溜進那棟大樓希望能找到失竊的檔案。)
例:Donna wears heavy make-up in hopes of looking younger.
(多娜畫著濃妝,希望能看起來年輕一些。)

5. mimic vt. 模仿
三態為:mimic, mimicked, mimicked。
例: The actor is good at mimicking politicians.
(那位男演員很會模仿政治人物。)

6. make up...  組成……,構成……
例: Asians make up four percent of the US population.
(亞裔人士佔美國人口的百分之四。)

7. shed light on...  澄清……;闡明……
例: The new evidence shed light on who committed the murder.
(這項新證據明白指出是誰犯下該謀殺案。)

8. around the clock  日以繼夜地
例: Are you willing to work around the clock to finish this project on time?
(你願意日以繼夜工作來準時完成這項專案嗎?)

9. the secret to...  ……的秘密∕祕訣
例: The secrets to losing weight are eating right and exercising.
(減重的秘訣在於吃對食物和做運動。)

10. make a discovery/discoveries  有所發現
例: Researchers are always making fascinating discoveries.
(研究人員總有令人著迷的重大發現。)

11. mass-produce vt. 大量生產
例: The company decided to mass-produce this electric car.
(這家公司決定大量生產這種電動車。)

12. withstand vt. 抵擋;禁得起
三態為:
withstand, withstood, withstood。
例: The bridge couldn't withstand the flood waters and eventually collapsed.
(這座橋禁不住滾滾洪水,最後倒塌了。)

13. outdo vt. 勝過,超越
例: Why does Jenny always try to outdo me?
(為什麼珍妮總是想要勝過我?)

14. display vt. 陳列,展出
例: We displayed our science projects in the school library.
(我們的科展作品陳列在學校的圖書館。)

15. approximately adv. 大約
注意:
approximately 為修飾數量形容詞的副詞,之後接明確的數字。常見的此類副詞尚有:some, about, around, nearly, roughly 等。
例: The concert drew approximately 10,000 people.
(這場演唱會吸引了大約一萬人。)

16. isolate vt. 使孤立,使脫離
isolate A from B  將 A 與 B 隔離
例: The teacher isolated the troublesome student from the rest of the class.
(老師將問題學生跟班上其他人隔開。)

17. innovate vt. 創新;改革
例: Our company is innovating new products all the time.
(我們公司不斷創新產品。)
中文翻譯&標準答案 


  20 世紀初期,關於希望之鑽的詛咒流傳不斷,這顆 45.52 克拉的深藍鑽石是由珠寶商皮耶爾.卡帝亞所售出。謠傳希望之鑽是從一座古印度女神像的眼睛偷挖下來,因此卡帝亞利用這個傳說賦予鑽石神秘感並提高其價值。 他跟可能的買家說鑽石被盜後,一位寺廟的女祭司便對任何擁有它的人都下了咒語,卡帝亞又接著說了一長串前任物主發生過的不幸事件,包括印度皇室、土耳其的 蘇丹王和瑪莉.安東妮在內。這個傳說在 1908 年《華盛頓郵報》根據這個故事作出特別報導後,更加地廣為流傳。
  希望之鑽被視為世界上最吸引人的鑽石之一,因為它的尺寸比一般戒指上的鑽石大上 100 倍。然而,一直以來都沒有任何關於詛咒的證據,而鑽石自 1950 年代起就被鎖在一個安全的玻璃櫃裡,位於華盛頓特區的史密森尼自然歷史博物館中。科學家一直在研究希望之鑽,希望他們能模仿造就這顆超級鑽石的獨特性質。
  本月份國家地理頻道的《科學新發現:超級鑽石》深入探究這顆珍貴寶石的背後歷史,並進一步帶您了解科學家正如何日以繼夜努力來改變鑽石的未來。3 大洲的科學家正逐步解開鑽石的秘密,並有新的發現。如果此完美鑽石得以在實驗室裡便宜製造出來加以量產,那科技將會有重大的變革。因為大多數的鑽石仍有其 自然缺點,無法承受極度高溫及高壓,科學家正加緊腳步想超越大自然,製造出終極的超級鑽石。

1. 根據本文,關於希望之鑽何者正確?
(A) 它僅於 1950 年代在一座知名博物館展覽過。
(B) 一位前任物主身上戴著鑽石而自盡。
(C) 一名珠寶商藉由宣傳神秘事件來提高其銷售價格。
(D) 它曾被瑪莉.安東妮偷走。
題解: 根據文章第一段,20 世紀初期,關於希望之鑽的詛咒就流傳不斷,而卡帝亞利用這個傳說賦予鑽石神秘感並提高其價值,故選 (C)。

2. 根據本文,一般鑽戒的大小為何?
(A) 4.5 克拉。(B) 小於 0.5 克拉。
(C) 450 克拉。(D) 大約 1.5 克拉。
題解: 根據文章第一段,希望之鑽重 45.52 克拉,而第二段提到希望之鑽的尺寸比一般戒指上的鑽石大上 100 倍,可知一般鑽戒的尺寸小於 0.5 克拉,故 (B) 為正選。

3. 為什麼科學家在研究希望之鑽?
(A) 他們想要知道詛咒的秘密。
(B) 他們希望把它切割成小鑽,再銷售出去。
(C) 因為想改變它的特性,以便能承受極高溫和高壓。
(D) 他們希望能複製它以提升科技。
題解: 根據文章第二段,科學家一直研究希望之鑽,希望他們能模仿造就這顆超級鑽石的獨特性質。第三段則提到,如果此完美鑽石得以在實驗室裡便宜製造出來加以量產,那科技將會有重大的變革,可知 (D) 為正選。

4. 根據本文,科學家想要 _____ 大自然。
(A) 探索(B) 隔離
(C) 改革(D) 超越
題解: 根據文章第三段,科學家正加緊腳步超越大自然,製造出終極的超級鑽石,可知應選 (D)。
標準答案: 1. (C) 2. (B) 3. (D) 4. (D)



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