高强度还防火的新型仿生人工木材你见过吗？
Engineers have created a new wood that could change what buildings are made of and takes just a few hours to make. “This time-efficient strategy contrasts strikingly with the decades or hundreds of years needed to grow natural wood,” the team of scientists wrote in their paper. A natural material called lignin makes natural wood strong. Lignin binds small crystallites together in a web-like structure. The scientists replaced lignin with resol, a synthetic polymer. Resol also has a web-like structure and can bind crystallites together to create strength.
The crystallites can be changed based on which wood someone wants. They can change the color or other properties by adding or switching out the crystallites that the resol holds together. When the wood is pressed, it’s able to resist, just like natural wood. The scientists were inspired by natural wood, which is why they copied so many of its components. Other engineered wood, like the kind that’s often used to build outdoor porches or fences, is less strong. Those plastic-wood composites are favored because people don’t need to paint them.
This wood is more effective than those plastic-wood composites due to its strength, but also its ability to resist fire. “Further, in contrast to natural wood, they demonstrate corrosion resistance to humidity and acid,” the team wrote. This means the wood could likely resist extreme weather events, allowing for even more protection. “As a kind of engineering materials, this new family of woods is supposed to replace the natural wood when used in extreme environments,” the scientists wrote.
It also provides thermal insulation, keeping people warmer inside their homes but also making the wood usable for environments like manufacturing that might need that protection.
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1.What makes the new wood strong?
A Lignin.
B Crystallites.
C Resol.
D Polymer.
解析：选C。细节理解题。根据第一段第五、六句The scientists replaced lignin with resol, a synthetic polymer. Resol also has a web-like structure and can bind crystallites together to create strength.可知是resol使这种新木材更加强韧。故选C。
2.Which of the following is NOT true about the new wood?
A Its color can be changed by by adding or switching out the crystallites.
B It’s able to resist like natural wood without being pressed.
C It’s stronger than those plastic-wood composites.
D It’s more durable because it can resist fire.
解析：选B。细节理解题。根据第二段第三句When the wood is pressed, it’s able to resist, just like natural wood.可知这种新木头需要被压实才能像天然木材那样具有内应力。故选B。
3.Why can the new wood be used in extreme environments?
A It easily catches fire.
B It is an engineering material.
C It doesn’t need any protection.
D It can resist humidity and acid.
解析：选D。细节理解题。根据第三段第二、三句的“Further, in contrast to natural wood, they demonstrate corrosion resistance to humidity and acid,” the team wrote. This means the wood could likely resist extreme weather events可知这种新型木材能够抵抗潮湿和酸，具有耐蚀性，因此能在极端的环境中使用。故选D。
4.The underlined words“that protection” may refer to ______.
A the thermal insulation function
B the time-efficient strategy
C the web-like structure
D the corrosion resistance
解析：选A。词意指代题。根据最后一段的内容可知这种新型木材具有隔热功能，既能使屋内的人保暖，同时还可用于像制造业等需要这种保护功效的环境中。由此可知that protection即指代的是“隔热功能”。故选A。