South Korean researchers say they have developed a skin-like material that behaves like the skin of a chameleon(变色龙). It can change colors to look like its surroundings.

The team was led by Ko Seung-hwan, a mechanical engineering professor at Seoul National University. The team created the skin with a special liquid that turns colors in different temperatures. These changes are controlled by flexible heaters made of very small wires.

If you are in a desert, and you wear forest-colored clothing, you can easily be seen, Ko said. Changing colors and forms actively with your surroundings is central to the technology, Ko said.

The technology uses something called thermochromic liquid crystal and silver nanowire heaters. Thermochromic means heat causes the colors to change. Nanowires are just like normal electrical wires, but they are extremely small.

Ko and the team demonstrated this technology using a chameleon-shaped robot with color-seeking sensors(传感器). The skin tried to copy whatever colors the sensors “saw” around it. In a video, the robot walked on red, blue and green floors. It immediately changed color to look like its surroundings.

Ko explained how the material works. When the sensors find color information, they move that information to a very small processor. Then, the information goes to silver nanowire heaters. When the heaters reach a specified temperature, the thermochromic liquid crystal changes its color.

Though the skin is made of many layers(层), its total thickness is less than a hundred micrometers. In other words, it is thinner than a human hair. By adding more silver nanowire layers in simple shapes like lines or squares, the skin can create complex designs.

“The flexible skin can be developed as a wearable device and used for fashion,” Ko said. It can also be used in military clothing and to create designs on the outside of cars and buildings, he said.

The team’s research was published in the journal Nature Communications in August.

1.The colour-change of skin relies on_____according to the passage.

A the surroundings

B different temperatures

C flexible heaters

D the special liquid

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据第二段的These changes are controlled by flexible heaters made of very small wires.可知，这些变化是由微小电线制成的、可弯曲的加热器控制的。故选C。

2.Which of the following is TRUE about the new technology above?

A It can be widely used in the battlefield.

B The surroundings may influence the use of it.

C Its application involves the use of the new material.

D The key to it is the speed of changing colors and forms.

解析：选C。C 推理判断题。根据第四段的The technology uses something called thermochromic liquid crystal and silver nanowire heaters.可知，这项技术使用了一种叫做热致变色液晶和银纳米线加热器的东西。由此说明这项技术的运用涉及新材料的使用，故选C。

3.Which of the following is the right order? a. The skin with a special liquid changes its colour. b. The color information is found by the sensors. c. The processor deals with the information. d. The silver nanowire heaters get the information.

A a-b-c-d

B a-c-d-b

C c-b-d-a

D b-c-d-a

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。综合理解第五段：当传感器发现颜色信息时，它们会将这些信息转移到一个非常小的处理器中。然后，这些信息被传送到银纳米线加热器。当加热器达到规定温度时，热致变色液晶就会改变颜色。故选D。

4.What can we infer from the passage?

A The research results will be put into production soon.

B The new technology has a wide range of application prospects.

C Designers can choose thicker layers to better their designs.

D Technological innovation is the driving force of social progress.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。根据倒数第二段可知，这种柔韧的皮肤材料可以开发成一种可穿戴设备，运用于时尚行业。它还可以用于制造军装，以及用于设计汽车和建筑物的外观。由此说明这项新技术有着广泛的应用前景。故选B。