US girls take top science prizes

题材人物体裁记叙文文章词数 难度 建议用时372 ★★★ 7 分钟

难词探意

1.engineering /,endʒɪ'nɪərɪŋ/ n.工程；工程学

2.innovator /'ɪnəveɪtə(r)/ n.改革者；创新者

3.sponsor /'spɒnsə(r)/ v.赞助

4.structure/'strʌktʃə(r)/n.结构

5.improvement /ɪm'pruːvmənt/ n.改进

When it comes to US middle school science andengineering, girls rule.Girls took the top five prizes at the 2019 Broadcom MASTERS, a competition for middle school students across the country.

In first place was 14-year-old Alaina Gassler of West Grove, Pennsylvania.She designed a system to make driving safer by reducing blind spots—the areas that drivers cannot see outside their vehicle.Gassler developed the technology while in eighth grade.

“She, along with the entire Class of 2019, is taking the lead in their fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM),” said Paula Golden, president of the Broadcom Foundation.“These younginnovatorsgive every one of us hope for the future.”

Many schools across the country have increased classes in STEM subjects.The Broadcom MASTERS was open to students in grades 6, 7 and 8 across the country.In spring, around 80,000 students competed in about 300 science fairssponsoredby the society.Only ten percent of those students then go on to compete at the finals in Washington, D.C.

This year, all the major awards in the competition went to girls.The top prize winner, Alaina Gassler, says she got the idea for her project after seeing her mother struggle with blind spots in her family's car.Blind spots lead to many accidents—about 840,000 accidents a year nationwide.

Gassler's system helps drivers see “through” the A-frame pillar—the part of the vehicle, in the front, that joins the top and front window.The A-frame pillar is important for safety, and cannot beremoved.Gassler used a camera to help drivers look“through” thestructureto see what is blocked.The camera sends videos to a device that shows images on the other side of the pillar.The driver then can “see” what's in the blind spot.

Gassler said that when she heard her name called as the winner, “It was so unexpected.”

The young inventor won a $25,000 prize for her invention.She told Popular Mechanics she can makeimprovementson her device with that money.Gassler said she wants to improve the picture—making it easy to see in any weather, or time of day.She also told the magazine she hopes to sell her idea.

Reading Check

1.What can we infer from Paula Golden's words?

A.He places great hope on the contestants.

B.He inspires more students to take part.

C.He lays great emphasis on safe driving.

D.He calls on others to learn from Gassler.

2.Where did Gassler get the idea for her device?

A.From her own experience.

B.From the lessons at school.

C.From the many road accidents.

D.From her mother's driving experience.

3.What is the sixth paragraph mainly about?

A.What a blind spot is.

B.How Gassler's device functions.

C.How the A-frame pillar is formed.

D.Why the A-frame pillar can be removed.

Language Study

Sentence for writing

She, along with the entire Class of 2019, is taking the lead in their fields of science, technology,engineering and mathematics (STEM).

【信息提取】本句是一个简单句。 along with...意为“和……一起”，该短语在句中作状语。 含有along with的句子，谓语动词与它前面的主语在人称和数上保持一致。

【句式仿写】李白与其他著名诗人一起，在唐代创作了许多杰出的作品。