训练4 体裁: 说明文 主题: 科普知识 难度: ★★★★★ 建议用时: 9 min 正确率: /4
新素材·水银温度计退场 ①Do you have an old mercury(水银) thermometer(体温计) in your medicine box at home? For over 100 years, these glass thermometers have been common in families because they are cheap and accurate(准确的). They help people check if they have a fever and are like helpful friends when we are sick.
②You may wonder how a mercury thermometer works. It has a little mercury inside a thin glass tube. Mercury expands when heated and contracts when cooled. Before use, you need to shake it hard to push the mercury back down below $35°\mathrm{C}$. When you put it under your arm or in your mouth, your body heat makes the mercury rise in the tube to show your temperature.
③However, a big change is coming. Starting from January 1, 2026, companies in China will stop producing these mercury thermometers. Soon, people will no longer be able to buy them in shops.
④There are several reasons for the stop of production. Mercury is highly toxic(有毒的). If the glass breaks—from shaking too hard, dropping or hitting hard surfaces—mercury comes out and turns into toxic gas(气体) quickly. Breathing it in can cause headaches and tiredness. Also, you should never touch mercury with your hands, as it can enter your body through the skin and cause health problems.
⑤What's more, using mercury thermometers usually takes about 10 minutes. They are also difficult to read because the mercury line is very thin, and it is hard for you to see it clearly. They
are not as convenient as other kinds of thermometers.
⑥Now, the old "health guards" are retiring while electronic(电子的) thermometers are becoming the new heroes. They are usually made of plastic and have a screen, which are safe and easy to use. They can take your temperature without touching you.
⑦In the future, we will have even better tools. We might use smart watches or other cool gadgets(小工具) to check our health. They will be smarter, faster, and safer. So, let's get ready to say goodbye to the old glass tubes.
1. 新趋势·创新设问 Which has the same meaning as the underlined word "expand" in Paragraph 2?
＞＞ 创新设问题解题策略见 P120 重点精讲
expand /ɪkˈspænd/ v. ①膨胀 ②拓展(业务) ③详述
A. ▶The air in a balloon will expand if you leave it under the hot sun.
B. ▶The robotics industry expands 图1 nowadays.
C. ▶I asked the question again and waited for her to expand.
D. ▶Could you expand on that point, please?
2. Why do we stop making mercury thermometers?
A. Because mercury thermometers are not very accurate.
B. Because the electronic thermometers are much cheaper.
C. Because it is a lot easier to make electronic thermometers.
D. Because mercury thermometers are dangerous when broken.
3. What should you do if a mercury thermometer breaks at home?
A. Pick up the glass pieces with your hands.
B. Open the window and leave the room quickly.
C. Use a bag to collect the mercury and store it.
D. Take a deep breath to calm yourself down.
4. 新趋势·篇章结构 What is the best structure of this passage?
＞＞ 篇章结构题解题策略见 P60 重点精讲
A. B.
C. D.

训练4 【语篇解读】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述水银体温计即将被淘汰,以及其被淘汰的原因、替代方案和对未来测温工具的展望。1. A 【解析】词义猜测题。根据“Mercury expands when heated and contracts when cooled.”可知,这里的“expand”指的是受热时膨胀的意思。选项A中“The air in a balloon will expand if you leave it under the hot sun.”里的“expand”也是指受热膨胀,与原文词义一致。故选A。2. D 【解析】细节理解题。根据“Mercury is highly toxic. If the glass breaks—from shaking too hard, dropping or hitting hard surfaces—mercury comes out and turns into toxic gas quickly.”可知,我们停止生产水银体温计是因为它们破碎后会释放有毒气体,存在危险。故选D。3. B 【解析】推理判断题。根据“If the glass breaks—from shaking too hard, dropping or hitting hard surfaces—mercury comes out and turns into toxic gas quickly. Breathing it in can cause headaches and tiredness.”可知,水银体温计破碎后会产生有毒气体,因此应开窗通风并迅速离开房间。故选B。4. C 【解析】篇章结构题。文章①②段是引入,介绍水银体温计的背景与原理;③④⑤段说明停产的消息与原因;⑥段介绍替代它的电子体温计;⑦段展望未来的测温工具。结构为“引入→停产及原因→替代方案→未来”。故选C。