EXERCISE 6
Glassisaremarkablesubstancemadefromthesimplestrawmaterials.Itcanbecolored or colorless, monochrome or polychrome, transparent, translucent, or opaque. It is
lightweightimpermeabletoliquids,readilycleanedandreused,durableyetfragile, and often verybeautifulGlass can bedecoratedinmultiple ways and its opticalproperties are exceptional.Inallitsmyriadforms-astableware,containers,inarchitectureanddesign– glass representsamajorachievementinthehistoryoftechnologicaldevelopments. Since theBronzeAge about 3,000B.C., glasshas been used formaking various kinds of objects.Itwasfirstmadefromamixtureofsilica,lineandanalkalisuchassodaorpotash, andthese remainedthebasicingredientsofglassuntilthedevelopmentofleadglassinthe seventeenthcentury. Whenheated,themixturebecomessoftandmalleableandcanbeformed byvarioustechniquesintoa vastarrayofshapesandsizes.Thehomogeneousmassthus formedbymeltingthencoolstocreate glass,butincontrasttomostmaterialsformedinthis way(metals,forinstance),glasslacksthe crystallinestructurenormallyassociatedwith solids,andinsteadretainstherandommolecular structureofaliquid.Ineffect,asmolten glasscools,itprogressivelystiffensuntilrigid,butdoesso withoutsettingupanetworkof interlocking crystals customarily associatedwiththat process. Thisis whyglassshattersso 7 easilywhendealtablow.Whyglassdeterioratesovertime,especiallywhenexposedto moisture, andwhyglasswaremust be slowlyreheated anduniformlycooled aftermanufacture to release internalstressesinduced byuneven cooling. Anotherunusualfeatureofglassisthemannerinwhichitsviscositychangesasit turnsfroma coldsubstanceintoahot,ductileliquid.Unlikemetalsthatflowor"freeze"at specific temperatures glass progressively softens as the temperature rises, going through varying stages of malleability until it flows like a thick syrup. Each stage of malleability allowsthe glassto bemanipulated into variousforms, bydifferent techniques, and ifsuddenly cooledtheobjectretainstheshapeachievedatthat point.Glassisthusamenabletoagreater number of heat-forming techniquesthan most other materials.
Question 1: Why does the author list the characteristics of glass in paragraph 1?
A. To demonstrate how glass evolved
B. To show the versatility of glass
C. To explain glassmakingtechnology
D. To explain the purpose of each component of glass
Question2:Theword“durable” inparagraph1is closestinmeaningto .
A. lasting
B.delicate
C. heavy
D. plain
Question 3: What does the author imply about the raw materials used to make glass? A.Theywerethesameforcenturies.
B. They areliquid.
C.Theyaretransparent.
D. They are very heavy.
Question 4:According to the passage, howis glassthat has cooled and become rigid different from most other rigid substances?
A. It has an interlocking crystal network.
B. It has an unusually low melting temperature.
C. It has varying physical properties.
D. It has a random molecular structure.
Question5:Theword “customarily” inparagraph2 could bestbereplacedby“ ”.
A. naturally
B.necessarily
C. usually
D. certainly
Question6:Thewords“exposedto”inparagraph2mostlikelymean .
A. hardened by
B. chilled with
C.subjectedto
D. deprived of
Question 7:Whatmust bedone to release the internalstressesthat build up inglass products during manufacture?
A. The glass must be reheated and evenly cooled.
B. The glass must be cooled quickly.
C. The glass must be kept moist until cooled.
D. The glass must be shaped to its desired form immediately Question8:Theword“induced”inparagraph2isclosestinmeaningto .
A. joined
B.missed
C.caused
D. lost
Question9:Theword “it” inparagraph3 refersto .
A.feature
B.glass
C.manner
D. viscosity
Question 10:According to thepassage,whycanglass bemore easilyshaped into specific forms than canmetals? A. It resistsbreaking when heated
B. It has better optical properties.
C. It retains heat while its viscositychanges.
D. It gradually becomessofter asitstemperature rises.