Digital Technology Helps Us Get Closer To The Nature

【主题语境解读】本文属于“人与自然”范畴。主题群：宇宙探索。子主题：热爱与敬畏自然，与自然和谐共生。本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了科学家通过放置监听设备来倾听一些动植物的声音，让我们更接近动物和植物世界，让人类与自然界中不同的动植物交流的梦想能够实现。

Humans are getting away from the nature gradually because of the developing technology. But now Digital （数字的） 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 （装置） in these environments. Researchers have attached （连接） 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 （助听器）： 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.

跟踪练习：

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.

解题思路：

1.词语猜测题。根据后边的句子“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，在不久的将来，科学家们可能通过播放“健康的珊瑚礁”声音，让珊瑚在某些地区生长，这可能有助于我们造成的一些破坏能够恢复良好。healing意为“修复，治疗”，与repairing同义，故选C。

2.推理判断题。根据“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，数字技术为人类聆听周围生动的声音提供了一种新的方式。由此推知，数字技术让人类与自然界中不同的动植物交流的梦想正在实现，故选B。

3.主旨大意题。通读全文可知，文章介绍了科学家通过放置监听设备来倾听动植物的声音，让我们更接近动物和植物世界。选项C“引进一种技术来接近大自然”符合题意，故选C。

词语解读：

1. offer v. 提供（东西或机会）；供应；主动提出；奉献；自愿给予

第三人称单数： offers 现在分词： offering 过去式： offered 过去分词： offered

固定搭配：offer sth. （to sb.） （for sth.） / offer sb. sth.主动提出；自愿给予

offer to do主动提出做某事

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

He offered $4 000 for the car.他出价4 000美元买这辆汽车。

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东西，你应该问他们是否愿意拥有或使用。

The kids offered to do the dishes.孩子们主动要求洗盘子。

2. provide v. 提供；供应；给予

第三人称单数： provides 现在分词： providing 过去式： provided 过去分词： provided

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

We are here to provide the public with a service. 我们来这里为公众服务。

We are here to provide a service for the public.我们来这里为公众服务。

The report provides a framework for further research. 报告提供了进一步研究的原则。

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

第一年为学生以后的学习奠定坚实的理论基础。

（作者单位：山东省临沂市临沂第34中学）