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Escola Naval2025Dia 1Questao 24InglêsInterpretação de textoMediaWind-powered cargo ships with sail-like 'wings' could reduce fuel use by 30%
[1] A cargo ship with a difference is set to dock at the Polish port of Gdynia early next week.
[2] The Pyxis Ocean, a bulk carrier that is 229 meters long and 32 meters wide, looks like any other dry cargo vessel — but with a big difference: it is fitted with two large, rigid sails known as WindWings.
[3] These 37.5-meter-tall wings use wind power to help propel the vessel and in doing so reduce the amount of fuel it uses in an effort to cut carbon — shipping accounts for nearly 3% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.
[4] The ship set sail from Shanghai, China, on Aug. 1, with around 20 crew onboard, and the voyage took it to Paranagua, Brazil, in September before it set sail for the Spanish island of Tenerife, and then on to Poland. The wings were folded down when the ship docked at ports on the journey.
[5] The WindWings were added to the six-year-old vessel with the aim of cutting fuel use by about 20% on the voyage, according to Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill Ocean Transportation, which chartered the Pyxis Ocean.
Net zero goals
[6] Cargill's calculations suggest that WindWings could contribute to around a 30% reduction in fossil fuel consumption when three wings are installed on a new ship — but if that vessel is powered with a biofuel, that figure could go up to 50%, Dieleman said.
[7] In July, the maritime industry agreed to reduce emissions to net zero "by or around" 2050, but given the size and complexity of the sector, issues such as a lack of green fuels could cause delays.
[8] "Wind is not going to get us to zero — unless we're all willing to switch off the engines and go back in time... But what we're trying to do here with this specific technology is somehow combine the best of both worlds, still have reliability [with an engine], but reduce significantly the fuel usage," Dieleman told CNBC by video call.
[9] Biofuels such as green methanol and green ammonia are more costly than fossil fuels, and it's not simply a case of switching one for another: methanol has about half the energy density of hydrocarbons so need larger tanks, for example.
[10] "If you can reduce the volume [of fuel] you have another gain, [in] that you don't have to put your ship all full of tanks instead of cargo capacity," Dieleman said.
[11] "I do get very excited with the combination of wind plus the new fuels, because new fuels [are] three, four times more expensive, then [by adding wind power] your payback is probably going to be two, three years instead of 10 years," he added. This might encourage more ship owners to participate in schemes like this, because they are potentially more financially rewarding and less risky, Dieleman said.
[12] Cargill has ordered five methanol-powered bulk carrier vessels, the first of which was ordered in 2022, before the WindWings were tested at sea. Once the wings' performance has been evaluated, Cargill hopes to work with the shipyard building the new vessels to add WindWings to their design.
[13] The WindWings are not suitable for all vessels: it wouldn't be possible to install them on a cargo ship that carries large containers that are many layers tall, for example. Bulk carriers like the Pyxis Ocean store their goods — such as grain — inside their cavities, below deck.
[14] The WindWings were developed by Cargill with naval architect Bar Technologies, and produced by Yara Marine Technologies, while the Pyxis Ocean is owned by Mitsubishi Corporation.
[15] "This is a prime example, I think, of where people come together, and really genuinely [are] willing to make a difference, taking some risk. We have an owner that is letting us cut big holes in the ship — that is not what every owner in the world is willing to do," Dieleman said.
(Adapted from https://www.cnbc.com)
Glossary
- "Net zero" refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas that is produced and the amount that is removed from the atmosphere.
Which option is correct according to text I?
- A)Jan Dieleman recommends that shipping companies should switch off the engines of ships and go back in time in order to obtain net zero emissions.
- B)The present use of biofuels alone only brings advantages to shipping companies.
- C)Although new fuels are more expensive and may have lower energy density, ships that use them together with wind power may be more financially rewarding.
- D)The fossil fuel industry is a promising activity which has been attracting ship owners in spite of the financial risks involved.
- E)Cargill intends to buy ships of all kinds and add WindWings to them.
Escola Naval2025Dia 1Questao 25InglêsInterpretação de textoMediaWind-powered cargo ships with sail-like 'wings' could reduce fuel use by 30%
[1] A cargo ship with a difference is set to dock at the Polish port of Gdynia early next week.
[2] The Pyxis Ocean, a bulk carrier that is 229 meters long and 32 meters wide, looks like any other dry cargo vessel — but with a big difference: it is fitted with two large, rigid sails known as WindWings.
[3] These 37.5-meter-tall wings use wind power to help propel the vessel and in doing so reduce the amount of fuel it uses in an effort to cut carbon — shipping accounts for nearly 3% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.
[4] The ship set sail from Shanghai, China, on Aug. 1, with around 20 crew onboard, and the voyage took it to Paranagua, Brazil, in September before it set sail for the Spanish island of Tenerife, and then on to Poland. The wings were folded down when the ship docked at ports on the journey.
[5] The WindWings were added to the six-year-old vessel with the aim of cutting fuel use by about 20% on the voyage, according to Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill Ocean Transportation, which chartered the Pyxis Ocean.
Net zero goals
[6] Cargill's calculations suggest that WindWings could contribute to around a 30% reduction in fossil fuel consumption when three wings are installed on a new ship — but if that vessel is powered with a biofuel, that figure could go up to 50%, Dieleman said.
[7] In July, the maritime industry agreed to reduce emissions to net zero "by or around" 2050, but given the size and complexity of the sector, issues such as a lack of green fuels could cause delays.
[8] "Wind is not going to get us to zero — unless we're all willing to switch off the engines and go back in time... But what we're trying to do here with this specific technology is somehow combine the best of both worlds, still have reliability [with an engine], but reduce significantly the fuel usage," Dieleman told CNBC by video call.
[9] Biofuels such as green methanol and green ammonia are more costly than fossil fuels, and it's not simply a case of switching one for another: methanol has about half the energy density of hydrocarbons so need larger tanks, for example.
[10] "If you can reduce the volume [of fuel] you have another gain, [in] that you don't have to put your ship all full of tanks instead of cargo capacity," Dieleman said.
[11] "I do get very excited with the combination of wind plus the new fuels, because new fuels [are] three, four times more expensive, then [by adding wind power] your payback is probably going to be two, three years instead of 10 years," he added. This might encourage more ship owners to participate in schemes like this, because they are potentially more financially rewarding and less risky, Dieleman said.
[12] Cargill has ordered five methanol-powered bulk carrier vessels, the first of which was ordered in 2022, before the WindWings were tested at sea. Once the wings' performance has been evaluated, Cargill hopes to work with the shipyard building the new vessels to add WindWings to their design.
[13] The WindWings are not suitable for all vessels: it wouldn't be possible to install them on a cargo ship that carries large containers that are many layers tall, for example. Bulk carriers like the Pyxis Ocean store their goods — such as grain — inside their cavities, below deck.
[14] The WindWings were developed by Cargill with naval architect Bar Technologies, and produced by Yara Marine Technologies, while the Pyxis Ocean is owned by Mitsubishi Corporation.
[15] "This is a prime example, I think, of where people come together, and really genuinely [are] willing to make a difference, taking some risk. We have an owner that is letting us cut big holes in the ship — that is not what every owner in the world is willing to do," Dieleman said.
(Adapted from https://www.cnbc.com)
Glossary
- "Net zero" refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas that is produced and the amount that is removed from the atmosphere.
The word "so" in the sentence "These 37.5-meter-tall wings use wind power to help propel the vessel and in doing so reduce [...]" (paragraph 3) refers to:
- A)"is 229 meters long and 32 meters wide" (paragraph 2).
- B)"use wind power to help propel the vessel" (paragraph 3).
- C)"looks like any other dry cargo vessel" (paragraph 2).
- D)"reduce the amount of fuel it uses in an effort to cut carbon" (paragraph 3).
- E)"accounts for nearly 3% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions" (paragraph 3).
Escola Naval2025Dia 1Questao 27InglêsInterpretação de textoMediaWind-powered cargo ships with sail-like 'wings' could reduce fuel use by 30%
[1] A cargo ship with a difference is set to dock at the Polish port of Gdynia early next week.
[2] The Pyxis Ocean, a bulk carrier that is 229 meters long and 32 meters wide, looks like any other dry cargo vessel — but with a big difference: it is fitted with two large, rigid sails known as WindWings.
[3] These 37.5-meter-tall wings use wind power to help propel the vessel and in doing so reduce the amount of fuel it uses in an effort to cut carbon — shipping accounts for nearly 3% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.
[4] The ship set sail from Shanghai, China, on Aug. 1, with around 20 crew onboard, and the voyage took it to Paranagua, Brazil, in September before it set sail for the Spanish island of Tenerife, and then on to Poland. The wings were folded down when the ship docked at ports on the journey.
[5] The WindWings were added to the six-year-old vessel with the aim of cutting fuel use by about 20% on the voyage, according to Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill Ocean Transportation, which chartered the Pyxis Ocean.
Net zero goals
[6] Cargill's calculations suggest that WindWings could contribute to around a 30% reduction in fossil fuel consumption when three wings are installed on a new ship — but if that vessel is powered with a biofuel, that figure could go up to 50%, Dieleman said.
[7] In July, the maritime industry agreed to reduce emissions to net zero "by or around" 2050, but given the size and complexity of the sector, issues such as a lack of green fuels could cause delays.
[8] "Wind is not going to get us to zero — unless we're all willing to switch off the engines and go back in time... But what we're trying to do here with this specific technology is somehow combine the best of both worlds, still have reliability [with an engine], but reduce significantly the fuel usage," Dieleman told CNBC by video call.
[9] Biofuels such as green methanol and green ammonia are more costly than fossil fuels, and it's not simply a case of switching one for another: methanol has about half the energy density of hydrocarbons so need larger tanks, for example.
[10] "If you can reduce the volume [of fuel] you have another gain, [in] that you don't have to put your ship all full of tanks instead of cargo capacity," Dieleman said.
[11] "I do get very excited with the combination of wind plus the new fuels, because new fuels [are] three, four times more expensive, then [by adding wind power] your payback is probably going to be two, three years instead of 10 years," he added. This might encourage more ship owners to participate in schemes like this, because they are potentially more financially rewarding and less risky, Dieleman said.
[12] Cargill has ordered five methanol-powered bulk carrier vessels, the first of which was ordered in 2022, before the WindWings were tested at sea. Once the wings' performance has been evaluated, Cargill hopes to work with the shipyard building the new vessels to add WindWings to their design.
[13] The WindWings are not suitable for all vessels: it wouldn't be possible to install them on a cargo ship that carries large containers that are many layers tall, for example. Bulk carriers like the Pyxis Ocean store their goods — such as grain — inside their cavities, below deck.
[14] The WindWings were developed by Cargill with naval architect Bar Technologies, and produced by Yara Marine Technologies, while the Pyxis Ocean is owned by Mitsubishi Corporation.
[15] "This is a prime example, I think, of where people come together, and really genuinely [are] willing to make a difference, taking some risk. We have an owner that is letting us cut big holes in the ship — that is not what every owner in the world is willing to do," Dieleman said.
(Adapted from https://www.cnbc.com)
Glossary
- "Net zero" refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas that is produced and the amount that is removed from the atmosphere.
According to text I:
- A)the Pyxis Ocean is a brand new ship which was fitted with two WindWings with the purpose of consuming approximately 20% less fuel.
- B)the Pyxis Ocean is an old ship which was fitted with three WindWings with the purpose of consuming approximately 20% less fuel.
- C)the greenhouse gas emissions in the world are heavily caused by the shipping industry.
- D)ships that have three WindWings and use biofuel may consume 50% less in fuel.
- E)ships that have three WindWings and use biofuel will consume up to 30% less in fuel.
Escola Naval2025Dia 1Questao 28InglêsInterpretação de textoMediaWhy We're Spending So Much Money
[1] My credit card seldom leaves my wallet anymore. But that doesn't matter. In the two weeks before I wrote this story, I spent more than \$4,000 on my card without laying eyes on it.
[2] Each of these transactions was made online, where my card number is stored by Uber or Walmart or Google Chrome. That's probably why I didn't feel embarrassed when I spent \$333 on groceries for a weekend with friends, or \$48.34 on a pizza through Uber Eats, or even \$1,533 for an Airbnb. Without having to type in my card number, the pain of the purchase was softened.
[3] Frictionless transactions are common in today's economy — you can wave your cell near a cash register, press "buy" on Amazon without really knowing which credit card you're charging, and send money to a stranger via your phone without having met them in person.
[4] There are, of course, some reasons why people are spending a lot of money right now. But there's one additional factor that has changed since the beginning of the pandemic: people are more accustomed to using financial technology to pay for things, which eliminates barriers that might have once slowed their spending. "Convenience makes it much easier to enjoy the process of shopping, removing the additional difficulties of buying things," says Yuqian Xu, a professor at UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School who has studied frictionless payment methods. Research shows that the more frictionless the payment method, the more money people spend.
[5] Paying with a mobile phone is faster than using a credit card — it takes an average of 29 seconds versus 40, according to Xu, the UNC professor. That speed and convenience accelerates spending, Xu and her colleagues found in a July 2023 study that tracked spending after the launch of Alipay, a mobile payment service. It indicated that credit card transaction amounts increased by 9.4% once people could use a mobile device, while the frequency of transactions increased by 10.7%.
[6] The result is a cycle of tech adoption that has loosened customers' wallets. Once consumers started using mobile payments, they became more comfortable with making credit-card payments on their computers, and started moving more money digitally. And once they were comfortable spending money digitally, they started spending more money overall.
[7] Economists refer to the way people organize and spend their money as mental accounting. Humans are often irrational with the way they choose to spend and save money — splurging with a \$100 bill found on the sidewalk while saving every penny of their salary, for instance.
[8] Mental accounting is a big reason people spend more with frictionless payments. Consumers think of new apps like Apple Pay as a separate budget category that enables new spending, says Michael Gelman, a finance professor at the University of Delaware. In an experiment, Gelman tracked the behavior of consumers who had received a random credit card in the mail. While those consumers' spending behavior on their old credit cards remained the same, they started to splurge on their new one, dropping 26% more than people who had not received a new card. "Once you open a new budget category, you manage it separately," he says. "It can have an effect on total consumption: you consume more because you have the opportunity."
[9] But many American consumers are spending beyond their means. Household debt reached a record \$17.5 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2023, and has increased by \$3.4 trillion since the end of 2019, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Credit card debt has "passed a milestone," says Michele Raneri, head of U.S. research and consulting at TransUnion.
[10] That's partly because people have a hard time keeping track of all the places they're spending money, credit counselors say. The rise of digital payment systems like Apple Pay "creates this scattered universe of different payment options that can lead to overspending and financial instability," says Bruce McClary, senior vice president at the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
(Adapted from https://time.com)
According to text II:
- A)the use of mobile phones for online shopping leads to people feeling more comfortable and, consequently, more conscious of their payments.
- B)nowadays there are no more barriers that prevent people from spending all their money.
- C)the use of mobile devices for buying things online has led to an increase in people's spending money.
- D)the technologies used in frictionless transactions allow people to video message strangers whenever they ask for money.
- E)the convenience of mobile payments has made it easier for people to save money.
Escola Naval2025Dia 1Questao 29InglêsInterpretação de textoMediaWhy We're Spending So Much Money
[1] My credit card seldom leaves my wallet anymore. But that doesn't matter. In the two weeks before I wrote this story, I spent more than \$4,000 on my card without laying eyes on it.
[2] Each of these transactions was made online, where my card number is stored by Uber or Walmart or Google Chrome. That's probably why I didn't feel embarrassed when I spent \$333 on groceries for a weekend with friends, or \$48.34 on a pizza through Uber Eats, or even \$1,533 for an Airbnb. Without having to type in my card number, the pain of the purchase was softened.
[3] Frictionless transactions are common in today's economy — you can wave your cell near a cash register, press "buy" on Amazon without really knowing which credit card you're charging, and send money to a stranger via your phone without having met them in person.
[4] There are, of course, some reasons why people are spending a lot of money right now. But there's one additional factor that has changed since the beginning of the pandemic: people are more accustomed to using financial technology to pay for things, which eliminates barriers that might have once slowed their spending. "Convenience makes it much easier to enjoy the process of shopping, removing the additional difficulties of buying things," says Yuqian Xu, a professor at UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School who has studied frictionless payment methods. Research shows that the more frictionless the payment method, the more money people spend.
[5] Paying with a mobile phone is faster than using a credit card — it takes an average of 29 seconds versus 40, according to Xu, the UNC professor. That speed and convenience accelerates spending, Xu and her colleagues found in a July 2023 study that tracked spending after the launch of Alipay, a mobile payment service. It indicated that credit card transaction amounts increased by 9.4% once people could use a mobile device, while the frequency of transactions increased by 10.7%.
[6] The result is a cycle of tech adoption that has loosened customers' wallets. Once consumers started using mobile payments, they became more comfortable with making credit-card payments on their computers, and started moving more money digitally. And once they were comfortable spending money digitally, they started spending more money overall.
[7] Economists refer to the way people organize and spend their money as mental accounting. Humans are often irrational with the way they choose to spend and save money — splurging with a \$100 bill found on the sidewalk while saving every penny of their salary, for instance.
[8] Mental accounting is a big reason people spend more with frictionless payments. Consumers think of new apps like Apple Pay as a separate budget category that enables new spending, says Michael Gelman, a finance professor at the University of Delaware. In an experiment, Gelman tracked the behavior of consumers who had received a random credit card in the mail. While those consumers' spending behavior on their old credit cards remained the same, they started to splurge on their new one, dropping 26% more than people who had not received a new card. "Once you open a new budget category, you manage it separately," he says. "It can have an effect on total consumption: you consume more because you have the opportunity."
[9] But many American consumers are spending beyond their means. Household debt reached a record \$17.5 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2023, and has increased by \$3.4 trillion since the end of 2019, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Credit card debt has "passed a milestone," says Michele Raneri, head of U.S. research and consulting at TransUnion.
[10] That's partly because people have a hard time keeping track of all the places they're spending money, credit counselors say. The rise of digital payment systems like Apple Pay "creates this scattered universe of different payment options that can lead to overspending and financial instability," says Bruce McClary, senior vice president at the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
(Adapted from https://time.com)
Because of their mental accounting, the general public often associates frictionless payments with:
- A)American consumers' behavior.
- B)buying less.
- C)throwing away their old credit cards.
- D)a separate budget category.
- E)saving more money.
Escola Naval2024Dia 1Questao 23InglêsInterpretação de textoMediaTEXT I
Robo-penguin: how artificial birds are relaying the secrets of ocean currents
[1] If it looks like a penguin and swims like a penguin - but it's actually a robot - then it must be the latest advance in marine sensory equipment.
[2] The Quadroin is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV): a 3D-printed self-propelled machine designed to mimic a penguin in order to measure the properties of oceanic eddies.
[3] It was developed by Burkard Baschek while head of Germany's Institute of Coastal Ocean Dynamics at the Helmholtz Centre Hereon after he watched more than $20,000 of his equipment sink to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
[4] Eddies are small ocean currents that other research methods have struggled to capture. They influence all the animals and plants in the seas as well as the Earth's climate, driving roughly 50% of all phytoplankton production. The base of the marine food chain, phytoplankton and other marine plants such as kelp and algal plankton also produce up to 70% of atmospheric oxygen.
[5] Despite their significance, eddies are poorly understood within the scientific community because they are small; some are just 10 metres across, and they have an average lifespan of 12 hours, posing a huge challenge for ocean observations. Few detailed measurements even exist.
[6] Baschek first developed a device with about 20 sensors attached to a rope, to be towed behind a ship to measure key oceanographic variables in the eddies - such as temperature, salinity, pressure, chlorophyll and oxygen. But the rope would catch on rocks, fishing nets or containers - sending all the data to the seabed.
[7] "The only way to avoid such underwater dangers was to develop a device which can do these measurements without being tied to a rope," says Baschek.
[8] The solution came from Rudolf Bannasch and his team at the Berlin-based company EvoLogics, which specialises in bionics based on natural evolution. Bannasch knew exactly what Baschek needed: a penguin.
[9] "Penguins provide a shape with optimal aerodynamic characteristics," says Bannasch. His studies in wireless underwater navigation and communication systems suggest that penguins are 20% to 30% more aerodynamic than anything designed in a laboratory, ideal for the high-speed measurements Baschek sought.
[10] In April, the first Quadroin prototype - the name derives from "quadro", after the four propellers that move the AUV, and "penguin" - had its maiden voyage in a lake near Berlin. It has a maximum speed of eight knots (9.2 mph) and uses the same sensors that used to be towed on a rope. The Quadroin, however, can float freely through the water, avoiding obstructions, to depths of 150 metres.
[11] One element in the study of eddies that has worried scientists is that they need to be measured in multiple locations simultaneously. Bannasch and his colleagues are working to create two more artificial penguins that would swim in unison and communicate with each other.
[12] "We developed the first singing underwater modems so that the Quadroins will be able to send and receive chirping signals similar to those of dolphins," says Bannasch.
[13] As for losing them to the bottom of the ocean, the artificial penguins have a final trick that also mimics their real-life counterparts: if the electronics fail and the sensors go dark, they float.
(Adapted from: https://www.theguardian.com)
The word "such" in the sentence "The only way to avoid such underwater dangers (...)" (paragraph 7) refers to:
- A)measuring key oceanographic variables in the eddies.
- B)temperature, salinity, pressure, chlorophyll and oxygen.
- C)the rope being caught on rocks, fishing nets or containers.
- D)the effect of eddies on sensors.
- E)the effect of eddies on ships.
Escola Naval2024Dia 1Questao 24InglêsInterpretação de textoMediaTEXT I
Robo-penguin: how artificial birds are relaying the secrets of ocean currents
[1] If it looks like a penguin and swims like a penguin - but it's actually a robot - then it must be the latest advance in marine sensory equipment.
[2] The Quadroin is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV): a 3D-printed self-propelled machine designed to mimic a penguin in order to measure the properties of oceanic eddies.
[3] It was developed by Burkard Baschek while head of Germany's Institute of Coastal Ocean Dynamics at the Helmholtz Centre Hereon after he watched more than $20,000 of his equipment sink to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
[4] Eddies are small ocean currents that other research methods have struggled to capture. They influence all the animals and plants in the seas as well as the Earth's climate, driving roughly 50% of all phytoplankton production. The base of the marine food chain, phytoplankton and other marine plants such as kelp and algal plankton also produce up to 70% of atmospheric oxygen.
[5] Despite their significance, eddies are poorly understood within the scientific community because they are small; some are just 10 metres across, and they have an average lifespan of 12 hours, posing a huge challenge for ocean observations. Few detailed measurements even exist.
[6] Baschek first developed a device with about 20 sensors attached to a rope, to be towed behind a ship to measure key oceanographic variables in the eddies - such as temperature, salinity, pressure, chlorophyll and oxygen. But the rope would catch on rocks, fishing nets or containers - sending all the data to the seabed.
[7] "The only way to avoid such underwater dangers was to develop a device which can do these measurements without being tied to a rope," says Baschek.
[8] The solution came from Rudolf Bannasch and his team at the Berlin-based company EvoLogics, which specialises in bionics based on natural evolution. Bannasch knew exactly what Baschek needed: a penguin.
[9] "Penguins provide a shape with optimal aerodynamic characteristics," says Bannasch. His studies in wireless underwater navigation and communication systems suggest that penguins are 20% to 30% more aerodynamic than anything designed in a laboratory, ideal for the high-speed measurements Baschek sought.
[10] In April, the first Quadroin prototype - the name derives from "quadro", after the four propellers that move the AUV, and "penguin" - had its maiden voyage in a lake near Berlin. It has a maximum speed of eight knots (9.2 mph) and uses the same sensors that used to be towed on a rope. The Quadroin, however, can float freely through the water, avoiding obstructions, to depths of 150 metres.
[11] One element in the study of eddies that has worried scientists is that they need to be measured in multiple locations simultaneously. Bannasch and his colleagues are working to create two more artificial penguins that would swim in unison and communicate with each other.
[12] "We developed the first singing underwater modems so that the Quadroins will be able to send and receive chirping signals similar to those of dolphins," says Bannasch.
[13] As for losing them to the bottom of the ocean, the artificial penguins have a final trick that also mimics their real-life counterparts: if the electronics fail and the sensors go dark, they float.
(Adapted from: https://www.theguardian.com)
Bannasch knew that Baschek needed a penguin because:
- A)Baschek was having difficulty in finding the right animals for his research.
- B)Bashek needed to make high-speed measurements.
- C)Bashek needed to find animals that could travel at a high speed.
- D)Bannasch had some experience in creating wireless underwater creatures.
- E)Bannasch discovered that penguins can untie a rope.
Escola Naval2024Dia 1Questao 25InglêsInterpretação de textoFacilTEXT I
Robo-penguin: how artificial birds are relaying the secrets of ocean currents
[1] If it looks like a penguin and swims like a penguin - but it's actually a robot - then it must be the latest advance in marine sensory equipment.
[2] The Quadroin is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV): a 3D-printed self-propelled machine designed to mimic a penguin in order to measure the properties of oceanic eddies.
[3] It was developed by Burkard Baschek while head of Germany's Institute of Coastal Ocean Dynamics at the Helmholtz Centre Hereon after he watched more than $20,000 of his equipment sink to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
[4] Eddies are small ocean currents that other research methods have struggled to capture. They influence all the animals and plants in the seas as well as the Earth's climate, driving roughly 50% of all phytoplankton production. The base of the marine food chain, phytoplankton and other marine plants such as kelp and algal plankton also produce up to 70% of atmospheric oxygen.
[5] Despite their significance, eddies are poorly understood within the scientific community because they are small; some are just 10 metres across, and they have an average lifespan of 12 hours, posing a huge challenge for ocean observations. Few detailed measurements even exist.
[6] Baschek first developed a device with about 20 sensors attached to a rope, to be towed behind a ship to measure key oceanographic variables in the eddies - such as temperature, salinity, pressure, chlorophyll and oxygen. But the rope would catch on rocks, fishing nets or containers - sending all the data to the seabed.
[7] "The only way to avoid such underwater dangers was to develop a device which can do these measurements without being tied to a rope," says Baschek.
[8] The solution came from Rudolf Bannasch and his team at the Berlin-based company EvoLogics, which specialises in bionics based on natural evolution. Bannasch knew exactly what Baschek needed: a penguin.
[9] "Penguins provide a shape with optimal aerodynamic characteristics," says Bannasch. His studies in wireless underwater navigation and communication systems suggest that penguins are 20% to 30% more aerodynamic than anything designed in a laboratory, ideal for the high-speed measurements Baschek sought.
[10] In April, the first Quadroin prototype - the name derives from "quadro", after the four propellers that move the AUV, and "penguin" - had its maiden voyage in a lake near Berlin. It has a maximum speed of eight knots (9.2 mph) and uses the same sensors that used to be towed on a rope. The Quadroin, however, can float freely through the water, avoiding obstructions, to depths of 150 metres.
[11] One element in the study of eddies that has worried scientists is that they need to be measured in multiple locations simultaneously. Bannasch and his colleagues are working to create two more artificial penguins that would swim in unison and communicate with each other.
[12] "We developed the first singing underwater modems so that the Quadroins will be able to send and receive chirping signals similar to those of dolphins," says Bannasch.
[13] As for losing them to the bottom of the ocean, the artificial penguins have a final trick that also mimics their real-life counterparts: if the electronics fail and the sensors go dark, they float.
(Adapted from: https://www.theguardian.com)
The text describes eddies as currents that:
- A)can be easily measured.
- B)have large sizes.
- C)can be easily observed.
- D)generally last longer than one day.
- E)usually last less than one day.
Escola Naval2024Dia 1Questao 26InglêsInterpretação de textoFacilTEXT I
Robo-penguin: how artificial birds are relaying the secrets of ocean currents
[1] If it looks like a penguin and swims like a penguin - but it's actually a robot - then it must be the latest advance in marine sensory equipment.
[2] The Quadroin is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV): a 3D-printed self-propelled machine designed to mimic a penguin in order to measure the properties of oceanic eddies.
[3] It was developed by Burkard Baschek while head of Germany's Institute of Coastal Ocean Dynamics at the Helmholtz Centre Hereon after he watched more than $20,000 of his equipment sink to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
[4] Eddies are small ocean currents that other research methods have struggled to capture. They influence all the animals and plants in the seas as well as the Earth's climate, driving roughly 50% of all phytoplankton production. The base of the marine food chain, phytoplankton and other marine plants such as kelp and algal plankton also produce up to 70% of atmospheric oxygen.
[5] Despite their significance, eddies are poorly understood within the scientific community because they are small; some are just 10 metres across, and they have an average lifespan of 12 hours, posing a huge challenge for ocean observations. Few detailed measurements even exist.
[6] Baschek first developed a device with about 20 sensors attached to a rope, to be towed behind a ship to measure key oceanographic variables in the eddies - such as temperature, salinity, pressure, chlorophyll and oxygen. But the rope would catch on rocks, fishing nets or containers - sending all the data to the seabed.
[7] "The only way to avoid such underwater dangers was to develop a device which can do these measurements without being tied to a rope," says Baschek.
[8] The solution came from Rudolf Bannasch and his team at the Berlin-based company EvoLogics, which specialises in bionics based on natural evolution. Bannasch knew exactly what Baschek needed: a penguin.
[9] "Penguins provide a shape with optimal aerodynamic characteristics," says Bannasch. His studies in wireless underwater navigation and communication systems suggest that penguins are 20% to 30% more aerodynamic than anything designed in a laboratory, ideal for the high-speed measurements Baschek sought.
[10] In April, the first Quadroin prototype - the name derives from "quadro", after the four propellers that move the AUV, and "penguin" - had its maiden voyage in a lake near Berlin. It has a maximum speed of eight knots (9.2 mph) and uses the same sensors that used to be towed on a rope. The Quadroin, however, can float freely through the water, avoiding obstructions, to depths of 150 metres.
[11] One element in the study of eddies that has worried scientists is that they need to be measured in multiple locations simultaneously. Bannasch and his colleagues are working to create two more artificial penguins that would swim in unison and communicate with each other.
[12] "We developed the first singing underwater modems so that the Quadroins will be able to send and receive chirping signals similar to those of dolphins," says Bannasch.
[13] As for losing them to the bottom of the ocean, the artificial penguins have a final trick that also mimics their real-life counterparts: if the electronics fail and the sensors go dark, they float.
(Adapted from: https://www.theguardian.com)
According to the text:
- A)it has always been easy to study eddies.
- B)it has always been difficult to study eddies.
- C)penguins have traditionally been used in the study of oceanic eddies.
- D)penguins have the capacity of measuring oceanic eddies.
- E)researchers have lost much equipment to the bottom of the ocean while they watched penguins.
Escola Naval2024Dia 1Questao 27InglêsInterpretação de textoMediaTEXT II
Welcome to the 'plastisphere': the synthetic ecosystem evolving at sea
[1] Plastic bottles dominate waste in the ocean, with an estimated 1m of them reaching the sea every minute. The biggest culprit is polyethylene terephthalate (Pet) bottles.
[2] Last month, a study found two bacteria capable of breaking down Pet - or, as the headlines put it, "eating plastic". Known as Thioclava sp. BHET1 and Bacillus sp. BHET2, the bacteria were isolated in a laboratory - but they were discovered in the ocean.
[3] The bacteria are the latest example of new organisms that appear to be growing in a unique environment: the vast amounts of plastic at sea.
[4] Like the atmosphere, magnetosphere and hydrosphere, the plastisphere is a region. But it is also an ecosystem, like the Siberian steppe or coral reefs - a plasticised marine environment. The best-known concentration of seaborne plastic waste is the Great Pacific garbage patch, a sort of plastic soup spread over an area roughly twice the size of France, but plastic is everywhere.
[5] First described in a 2013 study to refer to a collective of plastic-colonising organisms, including bacteria and fungi, the term has since expanded. It now loosely encompasses larger organisms, from crabs to jellyfish, which float across oceans on marine plastics. The term was coined by Linda Amaral-Zettler, a marine microbiologist at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research.
[6] Although the term may be recent, the phenomenon is not. "The plastisphere has been around for as long as plastic has existed," Amaral-Zettler says.
[7] What is new is our understanding of just how complex an ecosystem the world of plastic can be. In the plastisphere there are organisms that photosynthesise; there are predators and prey; symbionts and parasites, allowing for "a full range of interactions possible, as in other ecosystems", says Amaral-Zettler.
[8] Another unique feature of the plastisphere is that humans invented it. Every other ecosystem has evolved over millions of years. The meaning of that is not yet clear. Wright believes "it's more an issue of scale" because unlike most naturally occurring materials, plastic is highly durable and persistent, allowing the growth and spread of attached organisms over a massive area.
[9] There are also concerns about plastic-colonising organisms that can travel around the world. Amaral-Zettler's 2013 study discovered Vibrio, a type of bacteria known to contain several species of pathogens, including some associated with gastroenteritis.
[10] For the scientists, the plastisphere's presence is a less obvious concern than its potential health dangers. Most plastic ends up in landfill, but nearly a third of it ends up in the sea. The majority sinks, but a lot does not, becoming a home for all sorts of microbes that might not otherwise have a home.
[11] "At the moment that's still very much an active area of research," Wright says. There are two main fields of investigation: potential pathogens in the plastisphere, and the potential for some microbes to biodegrade hydrocarbons, such as the plastic-eaters identified last month.
[12] Those are not unique to the ocean. In 2016, scientists in Japan discovered Ideonella sakaiensis, a species of bacteria at a rubbish tip that had evolved an enzyme that enabled it to eat plastic.
[13] But another study in the same year found that, compared with bacteria in the surrounding waters, those in the plastisphere possessed an enriched collection of genes, suggesting that they had adapted for a "surface-attached lifestyle".
[14] Could the plastisphere evolve in such a way that bacteria would essentially eat it, or at least help us identify ways to break down our plastic waste? "I'd definitely agree that [microbes on] plastics are going to be the key place to look in the fight against plastic," says Wright.
(Adapted from: https://www.theguardian.com)
Decide if the statements below are true (T) or false (F) according to the text. Then, choose the option that contains the right sequence.
( ) The plastisphere is one more ecosystem in our world and it is similar to all other ecosystems that exist.
( ) The atmosphere, the magnetosphere and the hydrosphere gave origin to the plastisphere.
( ) In addition to bacteria and fungi, some animals can travel to many countries on marine plastics.
( ) The bacteria in the plastisphere can be characterized as a group of bacteria that have not become adapted to living on the surface.
( ) Wright believes that we can combat plastic pollution if we do research on microbes that eat or decompose plastic waste.
- A)(T) (F) (T) (T) (F)
- B)(F) (T) (F) (T) (T)
- C)(T) (T) (T) (F) (F)
- D)(F) (F) (T) (F) (T)
- E)(F) (F) (F) (T) (T)
Escola Naval2023Dia 1Questao 24InglêsInterpretação de textoFacilRead the text below and answer questions 23, 24 and 25.
What It's Like to Live in the Jungle for a Month
December 10, 2018
Lesley de Souza (Keller Science Action Center)
Our team of Field Museum scientists - experts on fish, plants, amphibians, mammals, and more - traveled to Colombia to join regional and national scientists for a month, with the goal of going deep into the rainforest and documenting as much wildlife as possible. We've done several trips like this, called rapid inventories, in the Amazon basin, but this one felt especially important. We were exploring an area that no scientists had entered for over sixty years because of guerrillas.
Now we're able to venture into this region, but it is also exposed to threats. Deforestation is moving into this area at an alarming rate. With a focused mission, we explore the beautiful landscape and its many diverse critters while working and learning from the people who live there.
But getting into the rainforest - it's no easy feat! After taking a commercial airliner from Chicago, we made our way into the jungle by bush plane, upriver by boat, and lastly, on our own two feet. To get to one campsite, we hiked for a mile in a flooded creek, balancing on floating logs.
Each campsite is a little different, but it's always important to set up a kitchen and dining area! Typical meals include fish, rice, beans, plantains, and oatmeal - repeat, repeat, repeat. A definite bonus of fieldwork life? Brewing fresh hot chocolate from local cacao in the jungle. Plus, lots of coffee keeps us going for long days (and late nights) of collecting and recording data.
You realize what a force nature is - especially during rainy season in the Amazon. That's why I prefer sleeping off the ground in a hammock. At one particular site, I woke up with water below me. The river had risen so much that it flooded the forest. But I also love the breeze being suspended in the air. I'm convinced you sleep better with the swaying...
Of course, we're here to work. That means finding, measuring, photographing, identifying, and in some cases, collecting specimens. I focus on Neotropical fish species, and I learn A LOT from talking to local people about fishes. It is an important part of their diet and the economy. Because they're fishermen themselves, they have firsthand knowledge of things like fish behavior, where and when to find them, and how to catch them. It's such important information when trying to understand the landscape, people, and fishes for conservation.
At the end of each day, we have seen, collected and photographed so many specimens. But there is still more work to do at night - which means working by candlelight or putting on our headlamps. Some groups stay up until one in the morning, like the botany team pressing plants. The reptile & amphibian and fish teams go out for their night survey, and the mammal team sets up mist nets to catch bats! It's activity around the clock for a rapid inventory team.
At the end of the day, we may be exhausted, but it really is a privilege to set foot in these natural areas and learn from the local people and scientists. On this trip alone, we documented 750 species of plants and 686 species of vertebrates! And we estimate there are more than double these numbers in the area. The more we know about what lives in rich natural areas like the Amazon rainforest, the easier it is for us to work together to protect the landscapes where they live and the people who depend on them.
(Adapted from https://www.fieldmuseum.org/blog)
The author does research on:
- A)amphibians.
- B)fish.
- C)mammals.
- D)plants.
- E)reptiles.
Escola Naval2023Dia 1Questao 25InglêsInterpretação de textoMediaRead the text below and answer questions 23, 24 and 25.
What It's Like to Live in the Jungle for a Month
December 10, 2018
Lesley de Souza (Keller Science Action Center)
Our team of Field Museum scientists - experts on fish, plants, amphibians, mammals, and more - traveled to Colombia to join regional and national scientists for a month, with the goal of going deep into the rainforest and documenting as much wildlife as possible. We've done several trips like this, called rapid inventories, in the Amazon basin, but this one felt especially important. We were exploring an area that no scientists had entered for over sixty years because of guerrillas.
Now we're able to venture into this region, but it is also exposed to threats. Deforestation is moving into this area at an alarming rate. With a focused mission, we explore the beautiful landscape and its many diverse critters while working and learning from the people who live there.
But getting into the rainforest - it's no easy feat! After taking a commercial airliner from Chicago, we made our way into the jungle by bush plane, upriver by boat, and lastly, on our own two feet. To get to one campsite, we hiked for a mile in a flooded creek, balancing on floating logs.
Each campsite is a little different, but it's always important to set up a kitchen and dining area! Typical meals include fish, rice, beans, plantains, and oatmeal - repeat, repeat, repeat. A definite bonus of fieldwork life? Brewing fresh hot chocolate from local cacao in the jungle. Plus, lots of coffee keeps us going for long days (and late nights) of collecting and recording data.
You realize what a force nature is - especially during rainy season in the Amazon. That's why I prefer sleeping off the ground in a hammock. At one particular site, I woke up with water below me. The river had risen so much that it flooded the forest. But I also love the breeze being suspended in the air. I'm convinced you sleep better with the swaying...
Of course, we're here to work. That means finding, measuring, photographing, identifying, and in some cases, collecting specimens. I focus on Neotropical fish species, and I learn A LOT from talking to local people about fishes. It is an important part of their diet and the economy. Because they're fishermen themselves, they have firsthand knowledge of things like fish behavior, where and when to find them, and how to catch them. It's such important information when trying to understand the landscape, people, and fishes for conservation.
At the end of each day, we have seen, collected and photographed so many specimens. But there is still more work to do at night - which means working by candlelight or putting on our headlamps. Some groups stay up until one in the morning, like the botany team pressing plants. The reptile & amphibian and fish teams go out for their night survey, and the mammal team sets up mist nets to catch bats! It's activity around the clock for a rapid inventory team.
At the end of the day, we may be exhausted, but it really is a privilege to set foot in these natural areas and learn from the local people and scientists. On this trip alone, we documented 750 species of plants and 686 species of vertebrates! And we estimate there are more than double these numbers in the area. The more we know about what lives in rich natural areas like the Amazon rainforest, the easier it is for us to work together to protect the landscapes where they live and the people who depend on them.
(Adapted from https://www.fieldmuseum.org/blog)
Decide if the statements below are true (T) or false (F) according to the text. Then choose the option that contains the correct sequence.
( ) The text is about a leisure trip.
( ) They spent more than twenty days in Colombia.
( ) Their journey into the forest was hard.
( ) In the forest, the author sleeps better on the ground.
( ) They documented less than six hundred species of animals during the trip.
- A)(T) (F) (F) (T) (F)
- B)(F) (T) (T) (T) (T)
- C)(T) (F) (T) (T) (F)
- D)(F) (T) (T) (F) (F)
- E)(T) (T) (F) (F) (T)