The world’s largest transparent spherical neutrino (中微子) detector has officially begun operation in Jiangmen, Guangdong province. This major scientific project, known as the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), is built 700 meters below the surface. Its main purpose is to detect neutrinos produced by the nearby Taishan and Yangjiang nuclear power plants, located 53 kilometers away, and to measure their energy spectrum with record-breaking precision. The launch of JUNO represents an important advancement in the study of particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology.

Neutrinos are among the most mysterious particles in the universe. They are often referred to as “ghost particles” because they carry no electric charge and have nearly no mass, making them extremely difficult to detect. Despite these challenges, studying neutrinos is crucial to understanding some of the most fundamental questions about the nature of matter and the evolution of the universe. One of the key goals of JUNO is to determine the mass ordering of the three known types of neutrinos.

The detection technology used in JUNO is both advanced and innovative. At the heart of the observatory is a giant acrylic sphere filled with 20,000 tons of liquid scintillator (闪烁体) — a special fluid that emits faint flashes of light when neutrinos interact with it. This sphere is surrounded by 45,000 highly sensitive photomultiplier (光电倍增器) tubes that detect these tiny light signals. The entire facility is shielded by a deep underground layer of rock and a large water pool to block interference from other particles. This setup allows scientists to gather accurate data about the energy and types of neutrinos.

JUNO is not just a Chinese project — it is the result of extensive ___△___. More than 700 scientists and engineers from 74 institutions across 17 countries and regions have contributed to its construction. With an estimated operational lifetime of 30 years, JUNO is expected to greatly expand our knowledge of neutrinos and their role in the universe. It follows the success of China’s earlier Daya Bay Neutrino Experiment, which made significant discoveries about neutrino oscillations. Together, these projects demonstrate China’s growing contribution to global basic scientific research.

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1. 3. What’s the key element in the detection?（推理判断）

A    The nuclear power plants.

B    The liquid scintillator.

C    The deep rock layer.

D    The water pool.

2. 4. Which of the following phrases can be put in the “___△___”?（推理判断）

A    government funding

B    international cooperation

C    public participation

D    industrial support