Now research shows the night is getting even brighter. From 2012 to 2016 the earth’s artificially lit area expanded by about 2.2 percent a year, according to a study published last November in Science Advances. However, the measurement does not include light from most of the energy–efficient LED lamps that have been replacing sodium-vapor (钠气灯) technology in cities all over the world ,says Christopher Kyba, a postdoctoral researcher at the German Research Center for Geosciences in Potsdam.

The new data came from a NASA satellite instrument called the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIRS). It can measure long wavelengths of light, such as those produced by traditional yellow-and-orange sodium-vapor street lamps. But VIIRS cannot see the short-wavelength blue light produced by white LEDs. This light has been shown to disturb human sleep cycles and nocturnal animals’ behavior.

The team believes the ongoing switch to LEDs caused already bright countries such as Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the U.S. to register as having stable levels of lighting in the VIIRS data. In contrast, most nations in South America, Africa and Asia brightened, suggesting increases in the use of traditional lighting.

In 2016, a study showed that one third of the world’s population currently lives under skies too bright to see the Milky Way at night. Between 2012 and 2016 the median nation pumped out 15 percent more long-wavelength light as its GDP increased by 13 percent. Overall, counties' total light production correlated with their GDP.

【1】Which of the following can best describe artificial light?

A.Convenient but unnatural.B.Useful but energy-consuming.

C.Progressive but uncomfortable.D.Civilized but harmful.

【2】What can we know about the already bright countries?

A.Traditional lighting is not used in those countries.

B.LED lights are increasingly used in those countries.

C.Efforts to reduce harmful light work in those countries.

D.People do enjoy stable lighting in those countries.

【3】Why does the author mention “the median nation” in the last paragraph?

A.To show artificial light has an association with GDP.

B.To demonstrate GDP plays an important part in the median nation.

C.To stress the median nation was to blame for the light problem.

D.To suggest artificial light should be banned in the future.

【4】Where is the passage most probably taken from?

A.A biology textbook.B.A book review.

C.A science magazine.D.A science fiction.

【答案】

【1】D

【2】B

【3】A

【4】C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明人造光的影响。

【1】推理判断题。根据第一段“Artificial light is often seen as a sign of progress: the march of civilization shines a light in the dark; it takes back the night. But some scientists argue that unnaturally bright nights are bad not just for astronomers but also for nocturnal (夜间的) animals and even for human health.”人造光常常被看作是进步的标志:文明的前进在黑暗中闪耀着光芒；它让夜晚重现。但是一些科学家认为自然明亮的夜晚不仅对天文学家也对夜间动物,甚至人类的健康造成伤害。由此可知，人造光虽文明但有害。故选D。

【2】细节理解题。根据第三段“But VIIRS cannot see the short-wavelength blue light produced by white LEDs.”（但VIIRS无法看到白色led产生的短波蓝光。）及第四段“The team believes the ongoing switch to LEDs caused already bright countries such as Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the U. S. to register as having stable levels of lighting in the VIIRS data. ”（研究小组认为，持续使用led导致意大利、荷兰、西班牙和美国等亮度较高的国家在VIIRS的数据中显示出稳定的照明水平。）由此可知，这些地方的照明量稳定是因为这些地方正在使用LED灯替代别的灯具，而LED光是VIIRS测不出来的。故选B。

【3】推理判断题。根据最后一段“Between 2012 and 2016 the median nation pumped out 15 percent more long-wavelength light as its GDP increased by 13 percent. Overall, countries’ total light production correlated with their GDP.”（从2012年到2016年，这个国家的长波长光的平均输出量增加了15%，GDP增长了13%。总体而言，各国的光生产总量与其GDP相关）由此可知，作者在最后一段提到“the median nation”的目的是为了展示人造光与GDP有关。故选A。

【4】推理判断题。根据上下文的行文特点,如“... according to a study published last November in Science Advances.” “... says Christopher Kyba, a postdoctoral researcher at the German Research Center for Geosciences in Potsdam. ”等综合各方观点的表述,可知本文是一篇来自科学杂志的报道。故选C。