1990年6月英语四级 - 阅读理解B

Computers may one day turn night into day—with good old, natural sunlight.
计算机可能有一天会把夜晚变成白天——有着古老的自然阳光。

Colossal computer-controlled mirrors, thousands of feet across, may one day orbit the earth, reflecting sunlight onto a darkened United States.
数千英尺宽的巨型计算机控制的镜子有一天可能绕地球运行，将阳光反射到黑暗的美国。

Some Scientists say that 16 of these mirrors, each about a half mile across, could aim their reflected light at one area on the earth that was about 200 miles by 300 miles. That much light would equal about 56 moons.
一些科学家说，其中16面镜子，每面大约半英里宽，可以将反射光对准地球上大约200英里乘300英里的区域。那么多的光相当于大约56个卫星。

The mirrors would be so high that they could catch the sun’s light as it was shining on the other side of the earth. The mirrors could orbit—thousands of miles high—at the same speed as the earth turns on its axis. That way, the mirrors would always be over the same spot.
镜子会很高，当太阳光照在地球的另一边时，它们可以捕捉到太阳光。这些镜子可以以与地球绕轴旋转相同的速度绕着数千英里高的轨道运行。这样，镜子就总是在同一个地方。

The aluminum-coated, plastic mirrors could be folded up and packed into a spaceship, according to the scientists. Once released a few hundred miles in space, the mirrors, powered by a solar-powered engine, could mark the rest of the trip into space on their own.
科学家们表示，涂铝的塑料镜子可以折叠起来装进宇宙飞船。进入太空中几百英里一旦释放，这些由太阳能发动机提供动力的镜子就可以独自完成剩余的太空之旅。

The scientists say that the computer-controlled mirrors could also be made to tilt slowly, so the reflected sunlight would sweep slowly along the surface of the earth. For example, as night fell, the mirrors could be tilted to light up Boston. Later on, as darkness spread slowly westward. Chicago, for example, then San Francisco could be lit up. The reflected sunlight would allow these cities to save up electricity. And in emergencies, such as power-failures, the mirrors could light up the affected area.
科学家们说，计算机控制的镜子也可以缓慢倾斜，所以反射的阳光会慢慢地沿着地球表面扫过。例如，当夜幕降临时，镜子可以倾斜以照亮波士顿。后来，黑暗慢慢向西蔓延。比如，芝加哥，然后点亮旧金山。反射的阳光可以让这些城市节省电力。在紧急情况下，比如停电，镜子可以照亮受影响的区域。

What no one knows yet is what effect this artificial daytime would have on plants, animals, and humans. Would it confuse some animals and harm plants that are used to regular day-night cycles? The scientists recommend that studies be done to find out what had effects there might be.
目前还没有人知道这种人造白天会对植物、动物和人类产生什么影响。它会混淆一些动物，伤害那些习惯于昼夜循环的植物吗？科学家们建议进行研究，找出可能存在的影响。