GeneralEnglishAdmissionTestForNon-EnglishMajorPh.D.program(HarbinInstituteofTechnology)PartIReadingComprehension(40points)Passage1Questions1----5arebashedonthefollowingpassage.Theplanet’slastintactexpansesofforestareundersiege.Eightthousandyearsago,forestscoveredmorethan23millionsquaremiles,orabout40percentofEarth’slandsurface.Today,almosthalfofthoseforestshavefallentotheax,thechainsaw,thematchstick,orthebulldozer.AmapunveiledinMarchbytheWashington-basedWorldResourcesInstitutenotonlyshowsthelocationsofformerforests,butalsoassessestheconditionoftoday’sforestsworldwide.InstituteresearchersdevelopedthemapwiththehelpoftheWorldOnlyone-fifthoftheremainingforestsarestill“frontierforests,”definedasrelativelyundisturbednaturalforestslargeenoughtosupportalloftheirnativespecies.Frontierforestsofferanumberofbenefits:Theygenerateandmaintainbiodiversity,protectwatersheds,preventfloodingandsoilerosion,andstabilizeclimate.Manylargeareasthathavetraditionallybeenclassifiedasforestlanddon’tqualifyas“frontier”becauseofhumaninfluencessuchasfiresuppressionandapatchworkoflogging.“There’ssurprisinglylittleintactforestleft,”saysresearchassociateDirkBryant,theprincipalauthorofthereportthataccompaniesthenewmap.Inthereport,Bryant,DanielNielsen,andLauraTangleydividetheworldintofourgroups:76countriesthathavelostalloftheirfrontierforest;11nationsthatare“ontheedge”;28countrieswith“notmuchtime”;andonlyeight----includingCanada,Russia,andBrazil-----thatstillhavea“greatopportunity”tokeepmostoftheiroriginalforest.TheUnitedStatesisamongthenationssaidtoberunningoutoftime:Inthelower48states,saysBryant,“greatopportunity”tokeepmostoftheiroriginalforest.TheUnitedStatesisamongthenationssaidtoberunningoutoftime:Inthelower48states,saysBryant,“only1percentoftheforestthatwasoncethereasfrontierforestqualifiestoday.”Loggingposesthebiggestsinglethreattoremainingfrontierforests.“Ourresultssuggestthat70percentoffrontierforestsunderthreatarethreatenedbylogging,”saysBryant.Thepracticeofcuttingtimberalsocreatesroadsthatcauseerosionandopentheforesttohunting,mining,firewoodgathering,andlandclearingforfarms.Whatcanprotectfrontierforests?Theresearchersrecommendcombiningpreservationwithsustainablelandusepracticessuchastourismandselectivetimberextraction.“It’spossibletorestorefrontiers,”saysBryant,“butthecostandtimerequiredtodosowouldsuggestthatthesmartapproachistohusbandtheremainingfrontierforestbeforeit’sgone.”1.Whatisthemainideaofthepassage?A.ThepresentsituationoffrontierforestonEarth.B.Thehistoryofecology.C.Theforestmapinthepast.D.Beautifulforestsindifferentpartsoftheworld.2.Theword“unveiled”inparagraph2isclosestinmeaningto_.A.evaluatedB.decoratedC.designedD.madepublic3.Frontierforestshavewhichofthefollowingbenefits?A.Theykeepclimatestable.B.Theyenhancetimberindustry.C.Theyprovidepeoplewithuniquescenery.D.Theyareofvarioustypes.4.Thephrase“ontheedge”inParagraph5probablymeans________.AsurroundedbyfrontierforestBnearfrontierforestCabouttolosetheirfrontierforestDunderpressure5.Accordingtothepassage,roadscreatedbytimber-cuttingmakeitpossibleforpeopleto________.Atraveltootherplacesthroughtheshort–cutBexploitmoreforestlandCfinddirectionseasilyDprotectformerforestsPassage2Questions6----10arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Togetachocolateoutofaboxrequiresaconsiderableamountofunpacking:theboxhastobetakenoutofthepaperbaginwhichitarrivedthecellophanewrapperhastobetornoff,thelipopenedandremoved;thelidopenedandthepaperremoved;thechocolateitselfthenhastobeunwrappedfromitsownpieceofpaper.Butthisinsaneamountofwrappingisnotconfinedtoluxuries:itisnowbecomingincreasinglydifficulttobuyanythingthatisnotdoneupincellophane,polythene,orpaper.Thepackageitselfisofnointeresttotheshopper,whousuallythrowsitawayimmediately.UselesswrappingaccountsformuchoftherefuseputourbytheaverageLondonhouseholdeachweek.Sowhyisitdone?Someofit,likethecellophaneonmeat,isnecessary,butmostoftherestissimplycompetitiveselling.Thisisabsurd.Packagingisusingupscarceenergyandresourcesandmessinguptheenvironment.Littleresearchisbeingcarriedoutonthecostsofalternativetypesofpackaging.Justhowpossibleisit,forinstance,forlocalauthoritiestosalvagepaper,pulpit,andrecycleitasegg-boxes?Woulditbecheapertoplantanotherforest?Paperisthematerialmostusedforpackaging-----20millionpaperbagsareapparentlyusedinGreatBritaineachday-----butverylittleissalvaged.Amachinehasbeendevelopedthatpulpspaper,andthenprocessesitintopackaging,e.g.egg-boxesandcartons.Thiscouldbeeasilyadaptedforlocalauthorityuse.Itwouldmeanthatpeoplewouldhavetoseparatetheirrefuseintopaperandnon-paper,withadifferentdustbinforeach.Paperis,infact,probablythematerialthatcanbemosteasilyrecycled;andnow,withmassiveincreasesinpaperprices,thetimehascomeatwhichcollectionbylocalauthoritiescouldbeprofitable.Recyclingofthiskindisalreadyhappeningwithmilkbottles,whicharereturnedtothedairies,andithasbeenestimatedthatifallthemilkbottlesnecessaryweremadeofplastic,thenBritishdairieswouldbeproducingtheequivalentofenoughplastictubingtoencircletheeartheveryfiveorsixdays!Thetroublewithplasticisthatitdoesnotrot.Someenvironmentalistsarguethattheonlysolutiontotheproblemofevergrowingmoundsofplasticcontainersistodoawaywithplasticaltogetherintheshops,asuggestionunacceptabletomanymanufacturerswhosaythereisnoalternativetotheirhandyplasticpacks.Itisevidentthatmoreresearchisneededintotherecoveryandreuseofvariousmaterialsandintothecostofcollectingandrecyclingcontainersasopposedtoproducingnewones.Unnecessarypackaging,intendedtobeusedjustonce,andmakingthingslookbettersomorepeoplewillbuythem,isclearlybecomingincreasinglyabsurd.Butitisnotsomuchaquestionofdoingawaywithpackagingasresourcesforwhatis,afterall,arelativelyunimportantfunction.6.Thesentence“Thisinsaneamountofwrappingisnotconfinedtoluxuries”meansthat________.AnotenoughwrappingisusedforluxuriesBmorewrappingisusedforluxuriesthanforordinaryproductsCitisnotonlyforluxuryproductsthattoomuchwrappingisusedDthewrappingusedforluxuryproductsisunnecessary7.Thelocalauthoritiesare_________.AtheTownCouncilBthepoliceCthepapermanufacturersDthemostinfluentialcitizens8Ifpaperistoberecycled,________.AmoreforestswillhavetobeplantedBtheuseofpaperbagswillhavetoberestrictedCpeoplewillhavetousedifferentdustbinsfortheirrubbishDthelocalauthoritieswillhavetoreducethepriceofpaper9.Britishdairiesare________.AproducingenoughplastictubingtogoroundtheworldinlessthanaweekBgivinguptheuseofglassbottlesCincreasingtheproductionofplasticbottlesDreusingtheiroldglassbottles10.Theenvironmentaliststhinkthat________.AmoreplasticpackagingshouldbeusedBplasticisthemostconvenientformofpackagingCtoomuchplasticiswastedDshopsshouldstopusingplasticcontainersPassage3Questions11-----18arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Thetragicimpactofthemoderncityonthehumanbeinghaskilledhissenseofaesthetics,thematerialbenefitsofanaffluentsocietyhavedivertedhisattentionfromaesthetics,thematerialbenefitsofanaffluentsocietyhavedivertedhisattentionfromhiscityanditsculturalpotentialstotheproductsofscienceandtechnology:washingmachines,centralheating,automaticcookers,televisionsets,computersandfittedcarpets,Heis,atthemoment,drunkwithdemocracy,well-to-do,acardriver,andhasneverhaditsogood.Heisreluctanttowalk.Statisticsrevealthatthedistanceheispreparedtowalkfromhisparkingplacetohisshoppingcenterisveryshort.Astherearenoadequateoff-streetparkingfacilities,thecitiesarelitteredwithkerb-parkedcarsandparkingmetersrearthemselveseverywhere.Congestionhasbecomethepredominantfactorinhisenvironment,andstatisticssuggestthattwocarsperhouseholdsystemmaysoonmakemattersworse.Inthemeantime,insultisaddedtoinjuryby“l(fā)andvalue”.Thevalueoflandresultsfromitsuse:itsincomeanditsvalueincrease.“Puttinglandtoitshighestandbestuse”becomestheprincipaleconomicstandardinurbangrowth.Thisspeculativeapproachandthepressureofincreasingpopulationleadtothe“vertical”growthofcitieswiththeresultthatpeopleareforcedtoadjustthemselvestocongestioninordertomaintaintheserelativelyartificiallandvalues.Paradoxicallytheremedyforremovingcongestionistocreatenoreofit.Partialdecentralization,orrather,pseudo-decentralization,intheformoflargedevelopmentunitsawayfromthetraditionaltowncenters,onlyshiftsthediseaseroundtheanatomyofthetown,ifitisnotcombinedwithremodelingofthetown’stransportationsystem,itdoesnotcureit.Heretheengineeringsolutionsarestronglyaffectedbythenecessityforcomplicatedintersections,whichinturn,arefrustratedbytheextravagantcostofland.Itiswithinourpowertobuildbettercitiesandrevivethecivicprideoftheircitizens,butweshallhavetostopoperatingonthefringeoftheproblem.Weshallhavetoradicallytoreplanthemtoachievearationaldensitiesofpopulationwehavetoprovideinthemwhatcanbecalledminimum“psychologicalelbowroom”.Oneoftheingredientsofthiswillbepropertransportationplans.Thesewillhavetobeanintegralpartoftheoverallplanningprocesswhichinitselfisascientificprocesswherefactsareessential.Wemustcollect,inanorganizedmanner,allandcompleteinformationaboutthecityorthetown,ifwewanttoplaneffectively.Theprincipalunitinthisprocessis“IM”(oneman).Wemustnotforgetthatcitiesarebuiltbypeople,andthattheirformandshapeshouldbesubjecttothewillofthepeople.Scientificmethodsofdatacollectionandanalysiswillindicatetrends,buttheywillnotdirectaction.Scientificmethodsareonlyaninstrument.The“man-educated”man,thehuman,willhavetosetthetarget,andusingtheresultsobtainedbyscienceandhisownengineeringskill,takeuponhimselfthefinalshapingofhisenvironment.Hewillhavetousehishighmoralsenseofresponsibilitytothecommunityandtofuturegenerations.11.Themainconcernofthispassageiswith_______.AcitycultureBlandvalueincitiesCcitycongestionDdecentralization12.Itcanbeinferredfromthefirstparagraphthatpeopleinoldtimes_______.ApaidmoreattentiontomaterialbenefitsBhadastrongersenseofbeautyCweremoredesirousaboutthedevelopmentofscienceandtechnologyDenjoyedmorefreedomanddemocracy13.Thehighly-developedtechnologyhasmademan________.AincreasinglyindustriousBfreefrominconvenienceCexcessivelydependentonexternalaidsDabletosavehisphysicalstrength14Thedrasticincreaseoflandvalueinthecity________.AisthegoodresultofeconomicdevelopmentBoffersmoreopportunitiestolanddealersCisannoyinglyartificialandmeaninglessDfortunatelyleadstothe“vertical”growthofcities15.Theexpansionofbigcitiestothedistantsuburbanareasmay______.AsolvetheproblemofcitycongestionBresultintheremodelingofthetown’stransportationsystemCbringthesamecongestiontothesuburbanareasDneedlessinvestmentonland16themainpurposeoftheauthoristo_______..ApointoutaproblemandcriticizeitBadvocatethatallcitiesneedtobere-plannedandremodeledCpointoutthesignificanceofsolvingtheproblemDcriticizeaproblemandtrytofindasolutiontoit17theauthorsuggeststhattheremodelingofcitiesmust_______.AputprioritytothebenefitofthefuturegenerationsBbefocusedonpeopleratherthanoneconomy.CbeeconomicallyprofitabletolandownersDresorttoscientificmethods18whowillprobablyliketoreadarticlesofthiskind/AbusinessmenBeconomistsCurbanpeopleDruralpeoplePassage4Questions19----25arebasedonthefollowingpassage.ThetwoclawsofthematureAmericanlobsteraredecidedlydifferentfromeachother.Thecrusherclawisshortandstout:thecutterclawislongandslender.Suchbilateralasymmetry,inwhichtherightsideofthebodyis,inallotherrespects,amirrorimageoftheleftside,isnotunlikehandednessinhumans.Butwherethemajorityofhumansareright-handed,inlobstersthecrusherclawappearswithequalprobabilityoneithertherightorleftsideofthebody.Bilateralasymmetryoftheclawscomesaboutgradually.Inthejuvenilefourthandfifthstagesofdevelopment,thepairedclawsaresymmetricalandcutter-like.Asymmetrybeginstoappearinthejuvenilesixthstageofdevelopment,andthepairedclawsfurtherdivergetowardwell-definedcutterandcrusherclawsduringsucceedingstages.AnintriguingaspectofthisdevelopmentwasdiscoveredbyVictorEmmel.Hefoundthatifoneofthepairedclawsisremovedduringthefourthoffifthstage,theintactclawinvariablybecomesacrusher,whiletheregeneratedclawbecomesacutter.Removalofaclawduringalaterjuvenilestageorduringadulthood,whenasymmetryispresent,doesnotaltertheasymmetry,theintactandtheregeneratedclawsretaintheiroriginalstructures.Theseobservationsindicatethattheconditionstattriggerdifferentiationmustoperateinarandommannerwhenthepairedclawsareintactbutinanonrandommannerwhenoneoftheclawsislost.Onepossibleexplanationisthatdifferentialuseoftheclawsdeterminetheirasymmetry.Perhapstheclawthatisusedmorebecomesthecrusher.Thiswouldexplainwhy,whenoneoftheclawsismissingduringthefourthorfifthstage,theintactclawalwaysbecomesacrusher.Withtwointactclaws,initialuseofoneclawmightprompttheanimaltouseitmorethantheotherthroughoutthejuvenilefourthandfifthstages,causingittobecomeacrusher.Totestthishypothesis,researchersraisedlobstersinthejuvenilefourthandfifthstagesofdevelopmentinalaboratoryenvironmentinwhichthelobsterscouldmanipulateoysterchips.(Notcoincidentally,atthisstageofdevelopmentlobsterstypicallychangefromahabitatwheretheydriftpassivelytotheoceanfloorwheretheyhavetheopportunitytobemoreactivebyburrowinginthesubstratum.)Undertheseconditions,thelobstersdevelopedasymmetricslaws,halfwithcrusherclawsontheleft,andhalfwithcrusherclawsontheright.Incontrast,whenjuvenilelobsterswererearedinasmoothtankwithouttheoysterchips,themajoritydevelopedtwocutterclaws.Thisunusualconfigurationofsymmetricalcutterclawsdidnotchangewhenthelobstersweresubsequentlyplacedinamanipulatableenvironmentorwhentheylostandregeneratedoneorbothclaws.19thepassageisprimarilyconcernedwith______.AdrawingananalogybetweenasymmetryinlobstersandhandednessinhumansBdevelopingamethodforpredictingwhethercrusherclawsinlobsterswillappearontheleftorrightsideCexplainingdifferencesbetweenlobsters’crusherclawsandcutterclawsDdiscussingapossibleexplanationforthebilateralasymmetryinlobsters20eachofthefollowingstatementsaboutthedevelopmentofalobster’scrusherclawissupportedbyinformationinthepassageexcept________.AItcanbestoppedononesideandbeginontheotherafterthejuvenilesixthstage.BItoccursgraduallyoveranumberofstages.CItisinitiallyapparentinthejuvenilesixthstage.DItcanoccurevenwhenaprospectivecrusherclawisremovedinthejuvenilesixthstage.21whichofthefollowingexperimentalresults,ifobserved,wouldmostclearlycontradictthefindingsofVictorEmmel?A.Aleftcutter-likeclawisremovedinthefifthstageandacrusherclawdevelopsontherightside.B.Aleftcutter-likeclawisremovedinthesixthstageandacrusherclawdevelopsontherightside.C.Aleftcutter-likeclawsareremovedinthefifthstageandacrusherclawdevelopsontheliftside.D.Bothcutter-likeclawsareremovedinthefifthstageandacrusherclawdevelopsontheleftside.22Itcanbeinferredthatofthetwolaboratoryenvironmentsmentionedinthepassage,theonewithoystershipswasdesignedto_______.AprovethatthepresenceofoysterchipswasnotnecessaryforthedevelopmentofacrusherclawBprovethattherelativelengthoftimethatthelobsterswereexposedtotheoyster-chipenvironmenthadlittleimpactonthedevelopmentofacrusherclawCeliminatetheenvironmentasapossibleinfluenceinthedevelopmentofacrusherclawDsimulatetheconditionsthatlobstersencounterintheirnaturalenvironment23Itcanbeinferredfromthepassagethatonedifferencebetweenlobstersintheearlierstagesofdevelopmentandthoseinthejuvenilefourthandfifthstagesisthatlobstersintheearlystagesare________.AlikelytobelessactiveBlikelytobelesssymmetricalCmorelikelytoloseaclawDmorelikelytoregeneratealostclaw24whichofthefollowingconditionsdoesthepassagesuggestisapossiblecauseforthefailureofalobstertodevelopacrusherclaw?AthelossofaclawduringthethirdorearlierstageofdevelopmentBthelossofaclawduringthefourthorfifthstageofdevelopmentCthelossofaclawduringthesixthstageofdevelopmentDDevelopmentinanenvironmentshortofmaterialthatcanbemanipulated25theauthorregardstheideathatdifferentiationistriggeredrandomlywhenpairedclawsremainintactas________.AirrefutableconsideringtheauthoritativenatureofEmmel’sobservationsBlikelyinviewofpresentevidenceCcontradictorytoconventionalthinkingonlobster-clawdifferentiationDpurelyspeculativebecauseitisbasedonscatteredresearchandexperimentationPassage5Questions26----33arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Ithasalwaysbeendifficultforthephilosopherorscientisttofittimeintohisviewoftheuniverse.PriortoEinsteinianphysics.However,eventheEinsteinianformulationisnotperhapstotallyadequatetothejoboffittingtimeintotheproperrelationshipwiththeotherdimensions,astheyarecalled,ofspace.Theprimaryproblemarisesinrelationshiptothingswhichmightbegoingfasterthanthespeedoflight,orhaveotherstrangeproperties.ExaminationoftheLorenta-Fitzgeraldformulasyieldstheinterestingspeculationthatifsomethingdidactuallyexceedthespeedoflightitwouldhaveitsmassexpressedasanimaginarynumberandwouldseemtobegoingbackwardintime.Thebarriertoexceedingthespeedoflightistheapparentneedtohaveaninfinitequantityofmassmovedatexactlythespeedoflight.Ifthissituationcouldbeleapedoverinalargequantumjump----whichseemshighlyunlikelyformassesthatarelargeinnormalcircumstances-----thentheothersidemaybeachievable.Therehavebeen,infact,someobservationsofparticlechamberswhichhaveledsomescientiststospeculatethataparticlecalledthetachyonmayexistwiththetrans-lightpropertieswehavejustdiscussed.Onedifficultyofimaginingandcopingwiththesepotentialimplicationsofourmathematicalmodelspointsouttheimportanceofstudyingalternativemethodsofnotationforadvancedphysics.ProfessorZuckerkandl,inhisbook“SoundandSymbol”,hypothesizesthatitmightbebettertoexpresstherelationshipsfoundinquantummechanicsthroughtheuseofanotationderivedfrommusicalnotations.Tooversimplifygreatly,hearguesthatmusichasalwaysgiventimeaspecialrelationshiptootherfactorsorparametersordimensions.Therefore,itmightbeamoreusefullanguageinwhichtoexpresstherelationshipsinphysicswheretimeagainhasaspecialroletoplay,andcannotbetreatedasjustanotherdimension.Thepointofthis,oranyotheralternativetothecurrentmethodsofdescribingbasicphysicalprocesses,isthattimedoesnotappear-----eitherbycommonexperienceorsophisticatedscientificunderstanding----tobethesamesortofdimensionorparameterasphysicaldimensions,andisdeservingofcompletelyspecialtreatment,inasystemofnotationdesignedtoaccomplishthatgoal.Oneapproachwouldbetoconsidertimetobeafieldeffectgovernedbytheapplicationofenergytomass----thatistosay,bytheinteractionofdifferentformsofenergy,ifyouwishtokeepinmindtheequivalenceofmassandenergy.Themovementofanynormalsortofmassisboundtoproduceafieldeffectthatwecallpositivetime.Animaginarymasswouldproduceanegativetimefield.ThisisnotatvariancewithEinstein’stheories,sincethe“faster’agivemassmovesthemorethemoreenergywasappliedtoitandthegreaterwouldbethefieldeffect.ThetimeeffectspredictedbyEinsteinandthegreaterwouldbethefieldeffect.ThetimeeffectspredictedbyEinsteinandconfirmedbyexperienceare,itseems,consonantwiththisconcept.26the“sound”inthetitleofprofessorZukerkand1’sbookprobablyrefersto______.AthemusicofthespheresBmusicintheabstractCmusicalnotationDtheseeminglymusicalsoundsproducedbytachyons27Thepassagesupportstheinferencethat_______.A.Einstein’stheoryofrelativityiswrongBtheLorenta-FitzgeraldformulascontradictEinstein’stheoriesCtachyonsdonothavethesamesortofmassasanyotherparticlesDitisimpossibletotravelatpreciselythespeedoflight28.Thetoneofthepassageis________.AcriticalbuthopefulBhopefulbutsuspiciousCsuspiciousbutspeculativeDspeculativebuthopeful29thecentralideaofthepassagecanbebestdescribedaswhichofthefollowing?A.Irregularitiesintheoreticalphysicsnotationpermitintriguinghypothesesandindicatetheneedforrefinednotationoftimedimension.B.Newobservationsrequirethedevelopmentofnewtheoriesandnewmethodsofdescribingthetheories.C.Einsteinianphysicscanbemuchimprovedoninitstreatmentoftachyons.D.Zuckerkandl’stheoriesoftachyonformulationarepreferabletoEinstein’s.30Accordingtotheauthor,itistoosoonto_______.AadoptproposalssuchasZuckerkand1’sBplanfortimetravelCstudyparticlechambersfortachyontracesDattempttoimprovecurrentnotation31itcanbeinferredthattheauthorseesZuckerkand1asbelievingthatmathematicsisa_______.AlanguageBmusicalnotationCgreathindrancetofullunderstandingofphysicsDdifficultfieldofstudy32inthefirstsentence,theauthorrefersto“philosopher”aswellasto“scientist”because________.AhewantstoshowhisrespectforthemBphilosophersstudyallthingsintheworldCthestudyofthemethodsofanyfieldisbothaphilosophicalandscientificquestionDthenatureoftimeisabasicquestioninphilosophyaswellasphysics33whenthepassagesaysthe“particlecalledthetachyonmayexist”,thereadermayinferthat_________.AthetachyonwasnamedbeforeitexistedBtachyonsareimaginaryinexistenceaswellasmassCthetachyonwasprobablynamedwhenitsexistencewaspredictedbytheorybutitsexistencewasnotyetknown.Dmanyscientificideasmaynotexistinfact.Passage6Questions34-----40arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Theterm“remotesensing’’referstothetechniquesofmeasurementandinterpretationofphenomenafromadistance.Priortothemid-1960stheinterpretationoffilmimageswastheprimarymeansforremotesensingoftheearth’sgeologicfeatures.Withthedevelopmentoftheoptomechanicalscanner,scientistsbegantoconstructdigitalmultispectralimagesusingdatabeyondthesensitivityrangeofvisiblelightphotography.Theseimagesareconstructedbymechanicallyaligningpictorialrepresentationsofsuchphenomenaasthereflectionoflightwavesoutsidethevisiblespectrum,therefractionofradiowaves,andthedailychangesintemperatureinareasontheEarth’ssurface.Digitalmultispectralimaginghasnowbecomethebasictoolingeologicremotesensingfromsatellites.Theadvantageofdigitaloverphotographicimagingisevident:theresultingnumericaldataarepreciselyknown,anddigitaldataarenotsubjecttothevagariesofdifficult-to-controlchemicalprocessing.Withdigitalprocessing,itispossibletocombinealargenumberofspectralimages.Theacquisitionofthefirstmutispectraldigitaldadasetfromthemultispectralscanner(MSS)aboardthesatelliteLandsatin1972consequentlyattractedtheattentionoftheentiregeologiccommunity.LandsatMSSdataarenowbeingappliedtoavarietyofgeologicproblemsthataredifficulttosolvebyconventionalmethodsalone.Theseincludespecificproblemsinmineralandenergyresourceexplorationandthechartingofglaciersandshallowseas.Amorefundamentalapplicationofremotesensingistoaugmentconventionalmethodsforgeologicmappingoflargeareas.Regionalmapspresentcompositional,structural,andchronologicalinformationforreconstructinggeologicrevolution.Suchreconstructionshaveimportantpracticalapplicationsbecausetheconditionsunderwhichrockunitsandotherstructuralfeaturesareformedinfluencetheoccurrenceoforeandpetroleumdepositsandaffectthethicknessandintegrityofthegeologicmediainwhichthedepositsarefound.Geologicalmapsincorporatealarge,variedbodyofspecificfieldandlaboratorymeasurements,butthemapsmustbeinterpretativebecausefieldmeasurementsarealwayslimitedbyrockexposure,accessibility,andlaborresources.Withremote-sensingtechniques,itispossibletoobtainmuchgeologicinformationmoreefficientlythanitcanbeobtainedontheground.Thesetechniquesalsofacilitateoverallinterpretation.Sincedetailedgeologicmappingisgenerallyconductedinsmallareas,thecontinuityofregionalfeaturesthathadintermittentandvariableexp