Helping wheelchair users enjoy the sea

四川 蔣建平

希臘的數(shù)百個海灘現(xiàn)在為坐輪椅的人提供了一種能夠讓他們自己下水的方式。

主題語境：科技創(chuàng)新 篇幅：347詞 建議用時：7分鐘

1Hundreds of beaches in Greece now offer a new way for people in wheelchairs to get into the water by themselves.It's called Seatrac.

2Most beaches don't have special walkways to allow disabled visitors to move around easily,or to get in and out of the sea safely.Seatrac is a system that was designed to solve this problem.Seatrac is basically a chair on a moving ramp(活動坡道) that can smoothly carry a disabled person into the sea.Once in the sea,the person can either remain in the chair, enjoying the water, or go for a swim.The Seatrac system can help anyone who has a hard time walking, including older people and pregnant women.

3The chair is operated by remote control.When the person is ready to get out of the water, the Seatrac system brings the chair back to the top of the ramp.It's even possible to take a shower in the Seatrac chair after going for a swim.

4Seatrac was invented and developed in Greece.The idea for it came when one of the inventors,Ignatios Fotiou,was talking with a friend who used a wheelchair.The friend said he enjoyed the sea,but didn't like having to be carried into the ocean as if he were“a sack of potatoes”.Mr Fotiou realized that there must be a way to make it easier for wheelchair users to get into the water.Mr Fotiou worked with his partner and a professor at a Greek university to design the system.In time,they formed a company called TOBEA to build and sell the system.

5The company worked hard to make the system simple to put in place and easy to run.A wooden walkway allows wheelchair users to reach the Seatrac chair.The system is solar powered.It doesn't require outside power, and can continue to run even if the electricity goes out.The Seatrac system can easily be packed up and stored when swimming season ends.This summer, the Seatrac system was used at over 220 beaches in Greece, Cyprus,Italy,and Latvia.

Reading Check

Detail1.Why was Seatrac invented?

A.To provide a comfortable seating option for beach goers.

B.To increase the number of wheelchair users on the beach.

C.To solve the problem of disabled people's accessing the water.

D.To create a solar-powered remote control for a chair.

Detail2.How does the Seatrac system work?

A.It uses electricity from the beach to operate the chair.

B.It allows wheelchair users to take a shower at the beach.

C.It provides a wooden walkway for wheelchair users to reach the water.

D.It smoothly carries the disabled into the sea and brings them back to shore.

Gist3.What does paragraph 4 mainly talk about?

A.The tourism in Greece.B.The history of Greece.

C.How Seatrac is used.D.Why Seatrac was invented.

Detail4.Where has Seatrac been used?

A.In most coastal countries.

B.In Greece and its neighboring countries.

C.In all European countries.

D.In countries with a high number of wheelchair users.

Language Study

Ⅰ.日積月累

designv.設計

solvev.解決

basicallyadv.基本上

smoothlyadv.平穩(wěn)地；順暢地

operatev.操作

either...or...要么……，要么……

remote control 遙控器

be ready to 準備

as if 仿佛；好像

pack up 打包

Ⅱ.語法填空

Seatrac is a system from Greece that allows wheelchair users 1.________(access) the beach and enjoy the sea 2.________(independent).3.________(develop) by Ignatios Fotiou and his team, Seatrac 4.________(be) a chair on a moving ramp, operated by remote control.This helps deal with the challenge faced by 5.________(disable) visitors who struggle with beach accessibility.

The users simply sit in the Seatrac chair, 6.________smoothly carries them into the water.7.________enjoying the sea, the system safely brings them back to shore.After swim, users can also shower in the Seatrac chair.Designed with 8.________(simple),Seatrac has a wooden walkway for wheelchair access and operates on solar power.

Seatrac has been successfully carried out on over 220 beaches 9.________Greece,Cyprus, Italy, and Latvia.This system not only enhances accessibility for wheelchair users but also 10.________(benefit) older individuals and pregnant women who face mobility issues.