一顆用于繪制建筑物熱量特征圖的新型英國衛星已經發射升空。發射這個航天器的目的是讓人們看到那些浪費能源并可以從更好的隔熱層中受益的住宅。

The relatively small spacecraft is called, appropriately, HotSat, and it'll act like a thermometer in the sky. Its infrared sensor, developed with funds from the UK and European space agencies, will see thermal variations across the surface of the Earth at the scale of individual houses.

這個航天器體積相對較小，人們給它起了一個恰當的名稱 ——  “熱衛星（HotSat）”，其作用就像一個天空中的溫度計。這個航天器的紅外傳感器是在英國航天局和歐洲航天局的資助下開發的，它將觀測地球表面的熱變化，能分辨出單個房屋的情況。

Satellite View, the London-based company that will operate HotSat, says its data will be sold to local authorities, agencies and charities to help them identify which properties are in most urgent need of retrofitting.

“熱衛星（HotSat）” 將由位于倫敦的公司 “Satellite View” 操控，該公司表示，衛星收集到的數據將出售給地方政府、相關機構以及慈善組織，以幫助他們確定哪些房屋最急需進行升級改造。

The UK has some of the most heat-inefficient housing stock in Europe, and if a substantial portion of these dwellings can be upgraded with better insulation, it could make a significant contribution to the country's quest for climate neutrality by 2050.

英國有歐洲范圍內隔熱效能最差的一些現有住房，如果這些住房中的一大部分能被升級改造，從而具有更好的隔熱性能，那么這將為英國力求到2050年實現氣候中立的目標作出巨大的貢獻。

詞匯表

thermometer 溫度計
infrared sensor 紅外感應器
thermal 熱的，熱量的
retrofitting 升級改造，改舊翻新
heat-inefficient 隔熱效能差的
stock 現有量
dwellings 住宅，住所
insulation 隔熱材料
quest 追求

閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題。

1. What will the infrared sensor on this new satellite be able to do?

2. How could data gathered from the satellite help local authorities, agencies and charities? 

3. What could help the heat efficiency of some of the houses in the UK? 

4. By which year does the UK aim to be climate neutral, according to the text?

答案

1. What will the infrared sensor on this new satellite be able to do?

The infrared sensor will see thermal variations across individual houses.

2. How could data gathered from the satellite help local authorities, agencies and charities?

The data will help local authorities, agencies and charities identify which properties are in most urgent need of retrofitting.

3. What could help the heat efficiency of some of the houses in the UK?

Upgrading homes with better insulation will help improve their heat efficiency. 

4. By which year does the UK aim to be climate neutral, according to the text?

The UK aims for climate neutrality by 2050.