BBC英语教学From obvious things like our phones, to London's new whispering black cab, to this experimental aircraft – battery power is taking off around the world. The problem is they still run out too quickly, so today the government's promised to invest millions improving the technology. Right now, Britain is a front-runner with battery research, like here at Warwick University where they're trying to solve the two biggest issues: making batteries weigh less and last longer.
从使用电池的手机到伦敦新款低噪声黑色出租车，再到这架处于试验阶段的飞机，电池技术在世界各地迅速发展。但现存的问题是电池在使用时很快就会没电，因此，英国政府现已承诺投资上百万英镑以改善这项技术。目前，英国是电池研究方面的领跑者，比如在华威大学的研究者们就正在尝试解决两大难题，那就是怎样才能把电池变得更轻巧、更耐用。
We’ve come a long way in terms of design, but for a hundred years we’ve been relying on vehicles with an internal combustion engine burning petrol or diesel. Several major car makers have already announced ambitious plans for electric cars, seen as a key way of tackling air pollution. And now the government is signalling the end of petrol and diesel engines in the UK with a ban on sales by 2040.
汽车的外观设计一直在不断地发展变化，但近百年来，我们一直依赖于装有内燃机、燃烧汽油或柴油的车辆。一些较大的汽车制造商已经宣布其开发电动汽车的宏伟计划，电动车被视为是应对空气污染的主要方式。而现在，英国政府已表示将在2040年前禁止汽油和柴油车辆的销售。
词汇
front-runner
领先者
vehicles
交通工具，车辆
internal combustion engine
内燃机
练习
请从以下词汇中选择适当的答案来完成句子。注意：你可能需要改变单词的时态来完成句子。
front-runner / vehicles / internal combustion engine
1. Environmental groups say it's time to get rid of all ______ for the benefit of health and quality of life.
2. A bathroom suite on wheels and a motorised garden shed are among the wacky ______ on show at a new exhibition at the National Motor Museum.
3. With all her skills and experience, she is clearly the ______ for the promotion.
答案
1. Environmental groups say it's time to get rid of all internal combustion engines for the benefit of health and quality of life.
2. A bathroom suite on wheels and a motorised garden shed are among the wacky vehicles on show at a new exhibition at the National Motor Museum.
3. With all her skills and experience, she is clearly the front-runner for the promotion.
