Passage 2
Micro-chip research center created
A research center has been set up in this far-east country to develop advanced micro-chip production technology. The center, which will start out with about US$14million,will help the country develop its chip industry without always depending on imported technology.
The center will make use of its research skills and facilities to develop new technology for domestic chip plants. The advent of the center will possibly free the country from the situation that it is always buying almost-outdated technologies from other countries, said the country’s flagship chipmaker. Currently, chip plants in this country are in a passive situation because many foreign governments don’t allow them to import the most advanced technologies, fearing they will be used for military purposes. Moreover, the high licensing fees they have to pay to technology provider are also an important reason for their decision of self-reliance.
As mainstream chip production technology shifts from one generation to the next every three to five years, plants with new technology can make more powerful chips at lower costs, while plants with out-dated equipment, which often cost billions of dollars to build, will be marginalized by the maker.
More than 10 chip plants are being built, each costing millions of U.S. dollars. the majority of that money goes to overseas equipment vendors and technology owners- mainly from Japan and Singapore.
Should the new center play a major role in improving the situation in industry, the country admits the US$14million in vestment is still rather small. This country is developing comprehensive technologies. Most of the investment will be spent on setting alliances with technology and intellectual property owners.
练习：
The country says that the investment of US$14 million is big enough for developing that country’ chip industry.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
That country gives top priorities to developing chips for military purposes.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
Although the licensing fees are not very high, that far-east country cannot afford to pay.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
Many western countries ban the exporting of the most advanced chip-making technologies to that country to prevent them from being used for military purposes.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
Currently, almost all the flagship chipmakers in that country are owned by American investors.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
Mainstream chip production technology develop rapidly.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
More than 10 chip plants being built in that country are an example of self-reliance.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
答案及解析：
1．文章题目分析：
Micro-chip （芯片）research center created = Micro-chip research center (which has been) created
2. 把握文章结构：
A research center has been set up in this far-east country to develop advanced micro-chip production technology. The center, which will start out with about US$14million,will help the country develop its chip industry without always depending on imported technology.
The center will make use of its research skills and facilities to develop new technology for domestic chip plants. The advent of the center will possibly free the country from the situation that it is always buying almost-outdated technologies from other countries, said the country’s flagship chipmaker. Currently, chip plants in this country are in a passive situation because many foreign governments don’t allow them to import the most advanced technologies, fearing they will be used for military purposes. Moreover, the high licensing fees they have to pay to technology provider are also an important reason for their decision of self-reliance.
As mainstream chip production technology shifts from one generation to the next every three to five years, plants with new technology can make more powerful chips at lower costs, while plants with out-dated equipment, which often cost billions of dollars to build, will be marginalized by the maker.
More than 10 chip plants are being built, each costing millions of U.S. dollars. the majority of that money goes to overseas equipment vendors and technology owners- mainly from Japan and Singapore.
Should the new center play a major role in improving the situation in industry, the country admits the US$14million in vestment is still rather small. This country is developing comprehensive technologies. Most of the investment will be spent on setting alliances with technology and intellectual property owners.
文章结构：研究中心的建立。。—中心使用研究技能和设备。。。-- 拥有新技术的的工厂能以低成本生产出功能强大的芯片。。。--这个国家承认1。4亿的投资还相当小。。
提示：借助每段短首句的大意（核心句子结构）把握文章的逻辑发展，从而为问题答案的查找确认大致的方向，并确定文章的中心。
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