科学家研制出可吞食“摄像头药丸”
科学家研制出可吞食“摄像头药丸”

Over the past several years, scientists have developed so-called “camera pills” that can be swallowed by patients and then send video from within their bodies. While such non-digestible pills could serve as an invaluable means of imaging, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are now looking into tiny electronic medical devices that not only could be swallowed but also partially digested.
The research project is being led by professors Christopher Bettinger and Jay Whitacre. Bettinger has been working on biodegradable(可生物降解的）electronics for medical use, while Whitacre has developed an inexpensive battery which is safe to eat.
“I had claimed my battery was so harmless that you could eat it," said Whitacre. “Chris came into my office and asked me whether I could really eat it. The answer is yes and the rest is history —my eatable battery and its need for low level power in a digestible form were a great match.”
The concept involves having simple electronic devices powered by the batteries. These devices would be folded down and put into a capsule and the capsule could be taken daily like regular medication, and the devices would stay within the patient’s digestive system for about 22 to 24 hours (just like food) although their functional lifetime would be one to two hours. Finally, the various components would either be digested or passed into the toilet—so no, nothing would be re-used.
This is a big step in history, and it opens up a lot of different applications in powered eatable electronics. The two scientists are now ready to take the next step. There is a big future in eatable devices because most patients are comfortable with swallowing a pill. The key is to make the materials safe, which the scientists have done.

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1.What kind of achievement have the two scientists made?

A They have invented a new kind of camera.

B They have made partly digestible devices.

C They have produced expensive medical devices.

D They have become millionaires by selling the cameras.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据文章第一段内容可知，这两个科学家使得这种设备可以被人体部分消化。故选B。

2.What do we know about the eatable electronic medical devices?

A The battery can be re-used.

B They are harmful to the human body.

C They would stay in the body for almost a day.

D They function 22 to 24 hours in the human body.

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据文章第四段第二句...the devices would stay within the patient’s digestive system for about 22 to 24 hours可知，这种设备将停留在患者的消化系统内22至24小时，也就是将近一天。故选C。

3.What’s the main idea of the passage?

A The advanced technology is amazing.

B Eatable electronic medical devices are coming.

C Two great scientists have made great contributions.

D Medical treatment in the United States is wonderful.

解析：选B。主旨大意题。文章主要介绍了两个科学家研制出了可食用的电子医疗设备，这将具有划时代的历史意义。故选B。

4.The purpose of the text is to ____.

A inform

B entertain

C educate

D advertise

解析：选A。推理判断题。阅读全文可知，文章主要介绍了两个科学家研制出了可食用的电子医疗设备，因此文章的意图就是告知读者这一信息。故选A。