[解析]
(1)D.细节理解题。根据第二段中的Arrowsmith and his students looked at data from a dozen seismometers (地震仪) across North Texas.Seismometers are used to detect earthquakes,but they are sensitive to just about everything that makes the ground vibrate,such as strong winds,ocean waves,construction and traffic.(Arrowsmith和他的学生研究了来自北德克萨斯州的12个地震仪的数据。地震检波器被用来探测地震,但它们对几乎所有引起地面震动的东西都很敏感,比如强风、海浪、建筑和交通。)可知,研究人员通过使用地震仪来获得德州的噪音数据。故选D。
(2)C.推理判断题。根据第三段中的The innovative idea of using seismometers to track urban noise gained popularity last March when Belgian seismologist Thomas Lecocq posted some of his urban noise data from Brussels on Twitter.Lecocq,of the Royal Observatory of Belgium,received such an enthusiastic response from scientists that he launched the group "Lockdown Seismology" online. (去年3月,比利时地震学家Thomas Lecocq在推特上发布了他从布鲁塞尔收集的一些城市噪音数据,这一用地震仪追踪城市噪音的创新想法开始流行起来。比利时皇家天文台的Lecocq收到了科学家们如此热情的回应,以至于他在网上成立了"封锁地震学"组织。)可知,Lecocq公布一些城市噪音数据的直接结果是许多地震学家被吸引了。故选C。
(3)A.词句猜测题。根据划线词所在句子That could be useful in places where there's a real seismic hazard,like San Francisco or Los Angeles("这在真正有地震hazard的地方可能是有用的,比如旧金山或洛杉矶)以及划线词后文where just knowing what that shallow structure is tells you a lot about how it would respond in a big earthquake.(在这些地方,只要知道浅层结构是什么,就能告诉你它在大地震中会如何反应。)可知,这在真正有地震风险的地方可能很有用,故划线词意思是"风险"。结合选项A.Risk.风险;B.Spot.地点;C.Assistance.援助;D.Report.报告。故选A。
(4)B.段落大意题。根据最后一段Arrowsmith hopes his findings will contribute to a growing list of creative ways in which researchers are using seismometers.In his course,Arrowsmith teaches students how seismic stations can help investigators solve crimes,like terrorist bombings,aid scientists in tracking nuclear tests or assist inspectors in investigating accidents,like chemical plant explosions.One potential application of his research is to better understand the shallow layers of Earth beneath cities. "That could be useful in places where there's a real seismic hazard,like San Francisco or Los Angeles," he said, "where just knowing what that shallow structure is tells you a lot about how it would respond in a big earthquake."(阿罗史密斯希望他的发现能对研究人员使用地震仪的创造性方法做出贡献。在他的课程中,阿罗史密斯教授学生地震站如何帮助调查人员解决犯罪,如恐怖主义爆炸,帮助科学家跟踪核试验或协助检查员调查事故,如化工厂爆炸。他的研究的﹣个潜在应用是更好地了解城市地下的浅层。"这在真正有地震危险的地方可能很有用,比如旧金山或洛杉矶,"他说,"在这些地方,只要知道浅层结构是什么,就能告诉你它在大地震中会如何反应。")可知,最后一段主要讲了关于地震仪的潜在应用。故选B。