新发明助力聋人顺利沟通

四川 高 玉

主题语境：人与社会 篇幅：332词 建议用时：6分钟

A PhD student at Tsinghua University who created a sensation five years ago through his innovative scientific research that allows deaf-mute people to speak normally,has continued with his work in Chongqing.

Tao Luqi, who was born in Weihai,Shandong Province, in 1990, is deputy director of the Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Energy Internet and Intelligent Equipment and a research fellow at Chongqing University's School of Electrical Engineering. In 2017, under the guidance of his doctoral tutor Ren Tianling, a professor of microelectronics at Tsinghua University, Tao used a new material—graphene(石墨烯)—to produce an intelligent artificial throat, a smart wearable device that enables people with speaking disabilities to communicate normally.

The device, which contains laser-induced graphene, has sound-sensing abilities. It can detect weak vibrations and can produce sounds in a wide spectrum （声谱）, from 100 Hz to 40 kHz using thermoacoustic（热声） effects.

“Although the deaf-mute people can't speak, their throats can vibrate,” Tao said. “If I put a device made of graphene into the throat of such a person, it can detect the vibrations and make sounds using electrical signals.” Tao said the device can record and encode whispers, screams and coughs at different frequencies and intensities and arrange them in groups. When the device detects the sounds in a particular group, it will reproduce the words, phrases or sentences. “But the deaf-mute people need to classify their own language sounds into groups and memorize them, just like typing keys on a keyboard,” Tao said.

Since he was given a research fellowship at Chongqing University in October 2018,Tao has been studying graphene devices that can sense various environmental information, such as temperature and humidity and converts the information into electrical signals. The results have promising potential for application in the health and medical fields. “We are planning to study combining artificial intelligence and sensors in the future,” Tao said. “We believe tiny mechanical sensors can do a big thing.”

Reading Check

1. What do we know about Tao Luqi?

A. He is a doctoral tutor and professor.

B. He is a researcher and vice-director.

C. He invented a smart wearable device alone.

D. He is a PhD student at Chongqing University.

2. Which of the following statements is RIGHT about the smart wearable device?

A. It has soundproof abilities.

B. It can produce thermoacoustic effects.

C. It can make the deaf-mute people's throat vibrate.

D. It allows people with speaking disabilities to communicate normally.

3. What does the underlined word “fellowship” in paragraph 5 refer to?

A. An award of money.

B. A feeling of friendship.

C. An organized group of people.

D. The position of being a senior member.

4. What is Tao's attitude to studying graphene devices in the future?

A. Skeptical.

B. Critical.

C. Optimistic.

D. Indifferent.

Language Study

Ⅰ. Difficult sentence in the text

Since he was given a research fellowship at Chongqing University in October 2018,Tao has been studying graphene devices that can sense various environmental information, such as temperature and humidity and converts the information into electrical signals. 自2018年10月获得重庆大学的研究生奖学金以来，陶一直在研究石墨烯设备，这些设备可以感知各种环境信息，如温度和湿度，并将这些信息转换为电信号。

【点石成金】本句是一个主从复合句。 Since he was given a research fellowship...是时间状语从句，Tao has been studying graphene devices...是主句，that can sense...是限制性定语从句，关系代词that指代先行词graphene devices，在从句中作主语。

Ⅱ. Text-centered chunks

continue with sth 继续做某事

under the guidance of 在……的指导下

enable sb to do sth 使某人有能力做某事