New Earth-Size Planet Found
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东台市十一校联谊考试初三英语试卷 2008年3月注:考试完毕后第一卷由学生妥善保管,第二卷交监考老师。
第Ⅰ卷 客观题部分(选择题,共85分)一,听力(共25小题,第1-20题每题1分,第21-25题每题2分,计30分)A , 听下面几个句子,选出与所听句子意思相符的图画,并将其字母标号填入相应题号后的横线上。
每个句子读两遍。
A B C D 1, ______ 2, ______ 3, ______ 4, ________B,听下面的几段对话,根据你所听到的内容,从所给的A 、B 、C 三个选项中选出最佳选项。
每段对话读两遍。
听第1段对话,回答第5题。
( )5. Where does the dialogue probably happen?A. In the classroomB. In the hospitalC. In the factory听第2段对话,回答第6题。
( )6. How does the woman feel?A. AngryB. HappyC. Surprised听第3段对话,回答第7小题。
( )7.How does the woman go to work today?A. By carB. On footC. By bike听第4段对话,回答第8至9小题。
( )8. What does Jenny want to do this afternoon?A. To do some readingB. To see a movieC. To have a swim( )9.What time will they leave?A. 3:00p.m.B. 4:00p.m.C. 5:00p.m.听第5段对话,回答第10至11题。
( )10.Who is the girl looking for? A. Her classmateB. Her teacherC. Her mother()11. What colour is the hat? A. BlueB. WhiteC. Blue and white听第6段对话,回答第12至13题。
中职英语高考模拟试题及答案十年寒窗,盼前程似锦;百日苦战,誓金榜题名。
祝高考成功!下面是店铺为大家推荐的中职英语高考模拟试题,仅供大家参考!中职英语高考模拟试题第I卷第一部分听力(共两节,满分30分)第一节 (共5小题,每小题1.5分,满分7.5分)听下面5段对话。
每段对话后有一个小题,从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项,并标在试卷的相应位置。
听完每段对话后,你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。
每段对话仅读一遍。
1.Why don’t the speakers go to see a baseball game?A. It’s too crowded.B. There’s no game for today.C. They would like to go to the zoo.2. What are the speakers doing now?A. Listening to the radio.B. Having a class.C. Attending a concert.3. What’s the woman’s job?A. She is a saleswoman.B. She is a cleaner.C. She is a hotel clerk.4. What is the woman planning to do?A. Have a coffee.B. Do her hair.C. Go to the man’s home.5. What does the man think the weather will be like in April?A. cool.B. Hot.C. Cold.第二节 (共15小题,每小题1.5分,满分22.5分)听下面5段对话或独白。
每段对话或独白后有几个小题,从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项,并标在试卷的相应位置。
2022-2023高三上英语期末模拟试卷注意事项:1.答题前,考生先将自己的姓名、准考证号码填写清楚,将条形码准确粘贴在条形码区域内。
2.答题时请按要求用笔。
3.请按照题号顺序在答题卡各题目的答题区域内作答,超出答题区域书写的答案无效;在草稿纸、试卷上答题无效。
4.作图可先使用铅笔画出,确定后必须用黑色字迹的签字笔描黑。
5.保持卡面清洁,不要折暴、不要弄破、弄皱,不准使用涂改液、修正带、刮纸刀。
第一部分(共20小题,每小题1.5分,满分30分)1.Eggs, meat, vegetables and other foods can easily be poisoned by microorganisms such as ______.A.phenomena B.dilemma C.diploma D.bacteria2.I ____ about w hat you’ve said and I’ve decided to take your advice.A.thought B.have been thinkingC.was thinking D.had thought3.Visit the old man this afternoon?If you ________,make sure you wear sunscreens to protect your skin.A.must B.canC.may D.shall4.Our team is world-class and it was no surprise that we won by such a margin. A.low B.highC.wide D.narrow5.In the US, there are currently over 5,000 community schools _____, in addition to serving as educational institutions, function as community centers for the surrounding neighborhood.A.which B.whereC.whose D.as6.You never really understand a person________you consider things from his point of view.A.if B.onceC.as D.until7.-- I have heard Mr. Morgan will be here at 4:00 pm. next Thursday.-- No, he _______ at that time.A.was boarding B.would be boardingC.will be boarding D.is boarding8.The health of garden plants depends on the soil _____ --the proper balance of mineral pieces, organic matter, air and water.A.construction B.conservationC.corporation D.composition.9.My friend warned me ______ going to the East Coast because it was crowded with tourists.A.by B.against C.on D.for10.We were sad to learn that several students were by a car yesterday.A.hit out B.knocked overC.run across D.picked up11.I live in a town ______ runs a small and winding river.A.through which B.which C.in which D.where12.The teacher came into the classroom _______ by his students.A.following B.to be following C.followed D.having followed.13.Backward somewhat technologically ________ we are for the moment, we have confidence in our ability to catch up in time.A.although B.if C.as D.once14.Due to the country’s growing rate of urbanization, China’s migrant population_______ to be over 200 million by 2020.A.predicts B.is predicted C.will have been predicted D.will be predicted 15.Right now, lots of people search for products on the Internet but still buy them at stores. Internet shopping will really ____ when people are sure that it is safe.A.set up B.set off C.take off D.take up16.____regular training in nursing, she could hardly cope with the work at first. A.Not received B.Since receivingC.Having not received D.Not having received17.What surprised us most is that he doesn’t know ________ the differences between the two books lie.A.that B.what C.which D.where18.— You should have come to the party last Saturday evening. It was really fantastic. — But a friend an unexpected visit to me.A.paid B.had paid C.would pay D.has paid19.He couldn’t make his voice ______ above the noise of the traffic.A.to hear B.hearingC.heard D.hear20.Everyone in the village hoped that he would ______ after a few days’ treatment.A.pick up B.come up C.keep up D.make up第二部分阅读理解(满分40分)阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项。
比较八大行星的体积大小的英语作文英文回答:The eight planets in our solar system varysignificantly in size, each with its own unique characteristics. Here is a comparison of their volumes:1. Jupiter: With a volume of approximately 1.43 ×10^15 cubic kilometers, Jupiter is the undisputed largest planet in our solar system. Its immense size is over twice that of all the other planets combined.2. Saturn: Saturn, the second-largest planet, has a volume of approximately 8.27 × 10^14 cubic kilometers. Its iconic rings, composed of ice and dust particles, add toits overall size.3. Uranus: Uranus, the seventh-largest planet, has a volume of approximately 6.83 × 10^13 cubic kilometer s. Its tilted axis and unusual ring system set it apart from theother gas giants.4. Neptune: Neptune, the eighth-largest planet, has a volume of approximately 6.25 × 10^13 cubic kilometers. Its deep blue coloration and high-speed winds make it a fascinating subject of study.5. Earth: Our home planet, Earth, ranks fifth in terms of size with a volume of approximately 1.083 × 10^13 cubic kilometers. Its liquid water, breathable atmosphere, and diverse ecosystems make it unique among the planets.6. Venus: Venus, the second planet from the Sun, has a volume of approximately 9.38 × 10^12 cubic kilometers. Its dense atmosphere and high surface temperature make it inhospitable to life as we know it.7. Mars: Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun, has a volume of approximately 1.63 × 10^12 cubic kilometers. Its dusty, rocky surface and thin atmosphere have intrigued scientists for centuries.8. Mercury: Mercury, the smallest planet in our solar system, has a volume of approximately 6.08 × 10^11 cubic kilometers. Its proximity to the Sun and lack of atmosphere make it a challenging destination for exploration.中文回答:体积大小比较:1. 木星,约1.43 × 10^15 立方千米,是太阳系中最大的行星,其体积是所有其他行星总和的两倍以上。
像地球一样适合生存的英语A Planet Like Earth: The Search for a Habitable WorldThe quest to find a planet similar to Earth is one of the most exciting and challenging endeavors in modern science. With the vastness of the universe and the limitations of our current technology, discovering a planet that can support life as we know it involves both remarkable scientific advancements and hopeful aspirations.To be suitable for human life, a planet must meet several critical criteria. First and foremost, it should be located within the "habitable zone" of its star. This zone is the region where conditions are just right for liquid water to exist on the planet’s surface. Liquid water is essential for life as we understand it, making it a key factor in identifying potentially habitable worlds.Additionally, the planet must have a stable climate and a suitable atmosphere. The atmosphere should be thickenough to provide necessary gases like oxygen and nitrogen, while also protecting the surface from harmful radiation. A balance in atmospheric pressure is crucial to prevent extreme temperatures that could make the environment inhospitable.Another important aspect is the planet’s geological activity. Earth benefits from tectonic activity, which helps regulate the carbon cycle and maintain a stable climate. A planet with similar geological processes could have a more stable environment, making it a better candidate for life.The size and mass of the planet also play a significant role. It needs to be large enough to retain an atmosphere but not so massive that it causes extreme gravitational forces. An Earth-like planet should have a similar size and gravity to ensure that the conditions remain conducive to life.The search for such a planet has led to the discovery of several exoplanets that might fit these criteria.For instance, planets like Proxima Centauri b and Kepler-186f have been identified as potentially habitable based on their location within the habitable zone of their stars. However, further research and exploration are needed to confirm their suitability for life.The study of these planets also opens up new possibilities for understanding the potential for life elsewhere in the universe. It encourages the development of advanced technologies for space exploration and fosters international collaboration in the search for extraterrestrial life.In conclusion, finding a planet like Earth that can support life involves careful consideration of multiple factors, including its location in the habitable zone, atmospheric composition, geological activity, and physical characteristics. While the search continues, each discovery brings us closer to answering one of humanity’s most profound questions: are we alone in the universe? As our technology andunderstanding improve, we may one day find a new home among the stars.。
7B Unit6 Outdoor fun课后巩固练习卷一、单项选择(每小题1分,满分10分)1. Lady Gaga is famous_______ her beautiful voice.A as B. with C. for D. from2. -Bill, will you get me the dictionary on that shelf, please?-I'm afraid I can't_______ it, Daddy. It's too highA. findB. reachC. sellD. read3. -Where_______ Daniel_______ his books? -He_______ them in his bag last night.A does; put; puts B. did; put; put C. does; puts; puts D. did; put; puts4. Lu Ban_______ bamboo_______ kites.A. uses; makesB. used; to makeC. uses; to makeD. used; makes5. -Can we go swimming today? -No, _______.A. I don't think soB. I think soC. I'm afraid soD. I'm afraid not6. Your father_______ in the meeting g room just now.A. aren'tB. wasn'tC. weren'tD. didn't7. The girl was so_______ that she got the wonderful present from her father.A. excitedB. excitingC. exciteD. excitement8. We decide_______ some shopping this weekend.A did B. do C. doing D. to do9. The little boy walked _____ the field, ran ______ the forest and came to a nice house.A. cross; throughB. through; throughC. through; acrossD. across; through10. He _______ and _______ a sound but he was not afraid any more.A. heard; listened toB. listened to; heardC. listened; heardD. heard; listened二、完型(每小题1分,满分10分)Coffee 1 a part of people's 2 for thousands of years, and today it is still one of 3 drinks in the world. Many people in the world begin their busy day 4 a cup of coffee They have always said that a cup of coffee in the morning helps them 5 their day in the right way. So they say a cup of coffee is necessary for them in the morning.Do you know what in the coffee 6 our bodies active? It is caffeine. Caffeine may increasea person's mental and physical abilities. For example, two cups of coffee will make you breathe7 and augment(增加) badly heat. All this makes your heart beat faster, and doctors warn that this may be 8 dangerous.Caffeine is found in tea, coffee, chocolate and 9 foods. A little caffeine is probably not harmful, but 10 caffeine can make people nervous.1. A was B. has been C. has became D. became2. A. life B. live C. lives D. lifes3. A. the more important B. importanterC. the most importantD. important4. A. at B. in C. for D. with5. A. beginning B. began C. begin D. have begun6. A. make B. makes C. making D. whom7. A faster B. fast C. more quickly D. quickly8. A. a few B. a little C. little D. few9. A the other B. another C. some other D. any other10. A. too much B. much too C. too many D. many too三、阅读理解(每小题2分,满分20分)AEveryone knows that exercise is important. We all need to exercise. Doctors say it is good for us. It makes you strong and smart If you exercise every day, you can get good grades in the exam and do homework well.There are many ways to exercise. You can walk, run, swim, skate, or play ball games. But remember: Exercise enough, but not too much It's best to exercise thirty minutes each time. Many people go to special places to exercise. People call them "healthy centers". They have a lot of equipment there. The equipment will help exercise your arms, legs and other parts of your body. Exercise can be fun Friends can exercise together at a healthy center. Or, they can play sports together.1. Which of the following isn't the result of exercise?A. It can make us heavy. B It can make us do work Well.C. It can make us get good grades.D. It can make us strong and smart2. If you want to be healthy, you can't_______.A. walk or skateB. run and swimC. swim or play soccerD. watch TV all day3. It's best to exercise_______ each time. .A. twenty minutesB. forty minutesC. thirty minutesD. fifty minutes4. The underlined word "equipment" means_______ in Chinese.A.器材B.机器C.武器D.武装5. Which of the following is wrong?A. Friends can exercise together.B. We should exercise too much.C. We all need to exercise.D. Exercise can bring us fun.BWe have always been interested in the moon. 2000 years ago people already knew it moved around the earth and where it would be in the sky at different times of the year. At that time, everything about the moon was learned by watching it carefully in the sky.When scientists could use telescopes(望远镜) to study the moon more closely, their ideas began to change. They could see the moon was made of rocks. Most scientists thought moon rocks would be different from those on Earth. This was because they believed the moon had once been a planet(星球)that had been caught in the earth’s gravity(引力) millions of years earlier.In 1969 moon rocks were finally brought to the earth and studied. Much to their surprise, scientists found that, except for water, the moon and the earth were made of the same things. Once again new ideas were needed for this new information.After years of study, most scientists now think that the moon was once part of Earth. They believe very early in its history, maybe 4 million years ago, something about the size of Mars(火星)hit Earth. This sent billions of rocks into space around our planet. These rocks slowly joined together and after many years became the moon.In the future, even though our ideas about the moon may change again, we will still be interested in it.6. From the passage we know the moon was made of______.A. earthB. rocksC. water D metal7. When did people first bring the moon rocks to the earth?A. In 1969.B. In 1956.C. In 2006.D. In 1966.8. In the passage the writer wants to tell us ______.A. why people are interested in the moonB. how ideas about the moon have changed over timeC. where the moon came from in the pastD. that people have finally learned the truth about the moon.9. Before 1969 most scientists thought the moon was _______.A. part of the earth billions of years earlierB. older than the earthC. a planet caught by the earth’s gravityD. made of the same things as the earth10. From this passage we can learn that______.A. scientists in the past were not cleverB. the earth was once part of the moonC. we now know everything about the moonD. new information brings new ideas四、词汇检测(满分20分)A) 根据下列句子及所给汉语注释或通过上下文,写出空缺处各单词的正确形式。
2022-2023高三上英语期末模拟试卷注意事项1.考生要认真填写考场号和座位序号。
2.试题所有答案必须填涂或书写在答题卡上,在试卷上作答无效。
第一部分必须用2B 铅笔作答;第二部分必须用黑色字迹的签字笔作答。
3.考试结束后,考生须将试卷和答题卡放在桌面上,待监考员收回。
第一部分(共20小题,每小题1.5分,满分30分)1.The film Mei Lanfang, Li Ming plays the starring role,has again drawn the world’s attention to our traditional Chinese art.A.what B.that C.which D.where2.The country’s chief exports are coal, cars and cotton goods, cars_____ the most important of these.A.have been B.areC.being D.are being3.I feel I am as well-behaved and as careful as my deskmate, but _______ I always fall behind?A.how about B.how comeC.what if D.what for4.The creation can keep people away from their smart phones in a way similar to________ e﹣cigarettes have allowed people to quit smoking.A.that B.howC.which D.what5.—When did you get to know your girlfriend?—It was in 2015 ________ she was working as a volunteer in Africa.A.that B.whichC.when D.then6.Nowadays, more and more Chinese homes have the technology and equipment ______ to do online shopping.A.needed B.needingC.need D.to need7.________ well for my job interview, I really had butterflies in my stomach on my way to the company I had applied to.A.Having not prepared B.Not having preparedC.Not to have prepared D.To have not prepared8.Watching basketball games on TV at home is one thing, going to watch them________ live is quite another.A.perform B.performing C.to perform D.being performed9.Mr. Green was very famous when he lived there. There is ______ to be someone in this district who remembers him.A.content B.opposedC.bound D.restricted10.Video games can be a poor influence if ________ in the wrong hands.A.to leave B.leaving C.leave D.left11.Dad is used to smoking and drinking. There’s no chance _____ I’m able to talk him into .A.whether ; giving it up B.of whether; giving them upC.that; getting rid of them D.which; stopping it12.----- Hi, Mark. How was the musical evening?----- Excellent! Ales and Andy performed _________ and they won the firs prize. A.skillfully B.commonly C.willingly D.nervously13.—I think the paper is taking you a long time to write.—I ______ on it for almost a month now.A.worked B.was workingC.am working D.have been working14.—The new machines have arrived and are being tested in the workshop.—I’m glad we _____ them in the years ahead.A.will be operating B.have been operatingC.would be operating D.had been operating15.—Did your father enjoy seeing his old friends yesterday?—Yes, he did. They each other for ages.A.didn’t see B.wouldn’t seeC.haven’t seen D.hadn’t seen16.— Do you know anything about British history?—______________. I have no interest in it.A.Take it easy! B.Please don’t bother.C.It’s up to you. D.No. It’s beyond me.17.No matter how carefully you plan your finances, no one can _______ when the unexpected will happen.A.prove B.implyC.demand D.predict18.Due to the country’s growing rate of urbanization, China’s migrant population_______ to be over 200 million by 2020.A.predicts B.is predicted C.will have been predicted D.will be predicted 19.She then took the little key, and opened it, trembling, but could not at first see anything ________, because the windows were shut.A.plainly B.closely C.firmly D.frequently20.--It took me eight years to build up my business, and it almost killed me.--Well, you know what they say. .A.There is no smoke without fire B.No pains, no gainsC.All roads lead to Rome D.Practice makes perfect第二部分阅读理解(满分40分)阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项。
主题:the earth and the universe编写:莘庄中学AIn it’s 4.5 billion years, Earth has evolved from its hot, violent birth to the celebrated watery blue planet that stands out in pictured from space .But in a new book, two noted University of Washington astrobiologists say the planet already bas begun the log process of devolving into a burned-out cinder, eventually to be swallowed by the sun.By their reckoning, Earth’s “day in the sun” has reached 4:30 a.m., corresponding to its 4.5 billion-year age. By 5 a.m., the 1 billion-year reign of animals land plants will come to an end. At 8 a.m. the oceans will vaporize. At noon-after 12 billion year-the ever-expanding sun, transformed into a red gain, will engulf the planet, melting away any evidence it ever existed and sending molecules and atoms that once were Earth floating off into space.“The disappearance of our plane is still 7.5 billion years away, bu t people really should consider the fate of our world and have a realistic understanding of where we are going.” Sa id UW astrophysicist Donald Brownlee. “We live in a fabulous place at a fabulous time. It’s a healthy thing for people to realize what a treasure this is in space and time , and fully appreciate and protect their environment as much as possible.”The prosp ects of humans surviving by moving to some other habitable planet or moon aren’t good, Brownlee and Ward contend, because event if such a place were found, getting there would be a huge obstacle. Various probes sent into space could survive Earth’s demise, and just a few grams of material could arguably carry a DNA sample from every human, they say, but it’s not likely the human species itself will survive. Long before the planet’s final end, life will become quite challenging, and finally impossible, for humans.As the sun gets hotter and grows in size, it will envelop Mercury and Venus. It is possible it will stop just short of Earth, the authors say, but the conditions still would make this a most inhospitable planet. More likely, though, the sun will consume earth as well, severing all the chemical bonds between molecules and sending its individual atoms out into space, perhaps eventually to form new planes. That would leave Mars as the nearest planet to the sun, and on Mars the fading sun’s glow would be like that of Earth’s moon.That end is still some 7.5 billion years distant, but by then Earth will have faced a variety of “ends” along the way, the authors say. The dinosaur perished long ago. Still to come are the last elephant, the last tree, the last flower, the last glacier, the last snowflake, the last ocean, the last life.“it’s a healthy thing go think of the place of Earth among the other planets, and its place in the sun. The sun gave life and ultimately it will bring death.”Word Bank1. evolve v. 进展, 进化, 形成e.g. He has evolved a new theory after many years of research.Many Victorians were shocked by the notion that Man had evolved from lower forms of life.* evolution n. 进化, 发展, 演化theory of evolution 进化论2. reckon v. 计算, 认为, 估计e.g. We didn't reckon for such bad weather.Did you reckon in the cost of the taxi?3. contend v. 竞争, 争斗, 争论, 坚决主见e.g. A hundred schools of thought contend.Three armed groups were contending for power.4. perish v. 毁灭, 消逝, 腐烂e.g. We must plan our civilization or we must perish.Even the best quality rubber will perish with age.5. ultimately adv. 最终, 最终e.g. All wealth comes ultimately from human labor1. according to the new book, the life expectancy of the Earth is ___.A. 1 billion yearsB. 4.5 billion yearsC. 7.5 billion yearsD. 12 billion years2. It can be inferred from this passage that____.A. life is nothingB. the world is preciousC. man can never conquer natureD. the future of human species is gloomy3. The authors if the new book believe that the human species will___.A. disappear long before the disappearance of the EarthB. Survive in the universe even if the Earth disappearsC. Find a place to live after the disappearance of the EarthD. Be sent into space by various spacecrafts4. All of the following things would come to an end before the final end of the earth, except___.A. MarsB. animalsC. plantsD. oceans5.The authors of the new book intend to tell readers primarily that___.A. the Earth is nothing but one planet in the solar systemB. nothing can survive for everC. we should cherish our life and environment of EarthD. the sun gave life and ultimately it will bring death.key: D,B,A,A,CThe Kepler orbiting observatory was launched with a simple mission - to find other Earths. NASA describes it as 'a search for habitable planets.'And ____1____of its first 136 days of data has already begun - with scientists combing through scans of 150,000 stars, and evidence of 1,235 potential planets.Such information is fascinating in itself - but it also allows scientists to work out projections using statistical analysis.One analysis has ____2____that one-third of 'sun-like' stars - stars with the classification F, G or K - will have planets similar to Earth.Traub says, “About one-third of FGK stars are predicted to have at least one terrestrial, habitable-zone planet.”Traub used statistical analysis to 'predict' planets that had not been _____3__by Kepler, and whether they would be within the 'habitable zone'. Traub's analysis hints that there may be even more ____4_____'Earths' orbiting them than previously thought - and that this 'principle' would extend to stars not yet scanned by Kepler. MSome commenters felt that Traub's 'habitable zones' were too___5______, it included planets shrouded in icy clouds of carbon dioxide.The $600 million Kepler spacecraft, which was_____6______ in March 2009, is staring continuously at a patch of sky containing about 150,000 stars in the Cygnus constellation.The high-tech equipment analyses each stars' light every 30 minutes, ___7_____for telltale dips in brightness which may indicate a planet is ______8_____its path.Sophisticated sifting software is used to send the data to earth-bound scientists, who scour the results. As Kepler continues to scan, data - and analyses such as Traub's paper - will continue to become more____9_____.Word bank1. orbiting observatory n. 天文台, 气象台, 了望台2. projection n. 投影, 投射 ,规划, 放射3. terrestrial adj. 陆地的, 陆生的, 地球的4. shroud v. 用某物覆盖或遮挡某物5. telltale迹象6. scour v. 擦洗, 搜寻The Fermi ParadoxBack in 1950, the Nobel prize-winning physicist EnricoFermi was having lunch with friends. Conversation turned tothe___1___of extraterrestrial life. According to the popularstory, Fermi fell silent for a moment and then asked the simplebut profound question: “Where Is Everybody?”That question is now known as the Fermi Paradox. Aversion____2____ like this. There are a few hundred billionstars in the Milky Way Galaxy. Suppose even half those starshave planets.Then suppose only one or two of, say, ten planets per star is conducive to the formation of life, __3___is the case with our own solar system. Suppose life takes a billion years to get started, as happened on earth. __4_____the evolution of higher life forms takes another couple billion years, as it did here.None of that would matter. The Milky Way galaxy is around ten billion years old. Even with very conservative____5____, it should still be swarming with life–even intelligent life. The late Carl Sagan calculated that there should be something like a million advanced__6____ out there right now.So where are they? Tabloid stories aside, there’s no scientific evidence from any corner to suggest we aren’t alone in the Milky Way. But why not? The evidence should be__7___.That’s Fermi’s paradox. It has nothing to do with whether you believe in flying saucers or n ot. It’s a simple estimation: __8____what we know about our star, our planet, and how life evolved here, we can extrapolate to what __9____happens elsewhere. And yet: there’s no sign of alien civilizations.Something must have gone wrong in our thinking. But what? More next time.Word bank1. Paradox n. 悖论, 似非而是的论点, 自相冲突的话2. extraterrestrial adj. 地球(或其大气圈)外的, 行星际的3. swarming adj. 成群移动的, 挤满的4. extrapolate v. 推想, 推知key: JBHCI GDEALaunching people into space may make headlines but it does little useful science. So when George Bush redirected America's space agency, NASA, away from scientific research and towards a manned return to the moon in 2004, many scientists were disappointed. Now the agency has finally offered some small morsels of comfort in the form of four projects that could accompany efforts for a lunar return.The most exciting of these is the plan for a radio telescope that could be placed on the far side of the moon. Such a device would look back at the early universe to the time when large-scale structures such as galaxies and stars formed. A lunar-based radio telescope would be able to detect long wavelengths that cannot be sensed on Earth because they are absorbed by the outermost layers of the planet's atmosphere. Moreover by pointing the telescope away from the din of shorter-wavelength radio waves that are used for communication on Earth, astrophysicists would be able to see the early universe in unprecedented detail.Finding alien life might also be possible with such a telescope. It would be able to map the magnetic fields of stars and exoplanets (planets that circle stars outside the solar system). It is the magnetic field of the Earth that protects its inhabitants from being bombarded by high-energy particles from space that would otherwise leave the planet sterile. Detecting a magnetic field surrounding an Earth-like exoplanet would prove a promising sign for finding extraterrestrial life. The proposal, led by Joseph Lazio, of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, is to create an array of three arms arranged in a Y-shape, each of which would be 500 metres long and contain 16 antennae. Each arm would be made of a plastic film that could be rolled out onto the surface of the moon, either by robots or by astronauts.A second project, headed by Michael Collier, of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre, would examine how the solar wind—a stream of charged particles ejected from the sun—interacts with the tenuous lunar atmosphere close to the moon's surface. Such bombardment produces low-energy X-rays that would be detected on the surface of the moon. The third and fourth projects are similar both to each other and to earlier ventures dropped on the moon by the Apollo and the Soviet Luna missions in the late 1960s and 1970s. Some 35 years on, reflectors placed on the lunar surface are still used by scientists interested in geophysics and geodesy (for example, how the moon's gravitational field shifts over time). Most of the reflectors are clustered close to the lunar equator. The proposals, led by Stephen Merkowitz, also of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre, and Douglas Currie, of the University of Maryland, are to sprinkle some more sophisticated versions over more of the moon's surface.Such efforts may attract little attention compared with the launch of the space shuttle Endeavour this week. Nevertheless, when NASA argues that putting people into space inspires young people to study science, it is precisely these endeavours that it wishes to encourage.1. By “Launching people into space may make headlines but it does little useful science” (Line 1, paragraph 1), the author means _______.A. Launching people into space is very important.B. Newspaper only cares about whether humans can travel into space.C. Humans’ tr avel to outside space is against scientific rules.D. Lauching peple into space is not of great scientific value.2. The most distinctive feature of a lunar-based radio telescope mentioned in the second paragraph is that _______.A. it is able to capture long wavelengthsB. it possesses better functions than the telescopes on earthC. it can escape from the magnetic field of the EarthD. it can detect all galaxies in the universe3. How does the author feel about the four new moon plans?A. ObjectiveB. AffirmativeC. CarefreeD. Panicked4. Which of the following is NOT a feature of the last two projects discussed in the fourth paragraph?A. The two projects are of less importance than the other two.B. The two plans are of similarity with each other.C. The purpose of the plans is to add some equipment on the moon.D. These plans is a continuance of previous studies carried out decaded ago.5. To which of the following is the author likely to agree?A. The radio telescope will be able to find extraterrestrial life.B. The second project focuses on the interaction between solar wind and Earth atmosphere.C. Joseph Lazio’s proposal is part of the radio telescope project.D. The four projects are closely related to the recently launched space shuttle Endeavour.Word bankmorsel n. 小量;一点 antenna n. 天线lunar adj. 月的, 月亮的eject v. 驱除, 喷射galaxy n. 星系, 银河 tenuous adj. 纤细的wavelength n. [物][无]波长 geophysics n. 地球物理学bombard vt. 炮轰;轰击 geodesy n. 测地学sterile adj. 贫脊的, 不育的 gravitational adj. 重力的extraterrestrial adj. 地球外的sprinkle v. 洒, 喷撒array v. 天线阵题目分析1.D. 语义题。
New Earth-Size Planet Found
April 17, 2014
Not too big, not too small. Not too hot, not too cold. A newly discovered planet looks just
right for life as we know it, according to an international group of astronomers.
Orbiting a star about 500 light-years away, the planet called Kepler-186f is about the same size as
Earth. As this artist’s interpretation shows, it orbits its star at the right distance for liquid water
on the surface. That is an essential condition for life as we know it.
But it is not exactly like Earth, NASA planetary scientist Elisa Quintana said via Skype.
“It’s more of an Earth’s cousin. It’s not an Earth’s twin. It shares the same characteristics
as Earth, but their parent stars are very different," said Quintana.
Kepler-186f orbits a star that is smaller and cooler than our sun.
But, writing in the journal Science, the astronomers say the planet appears to be a closer relative
than most of the hundreds of others discovered so far.
Some are massive gas-covered giants with thick, crushing atmospheres. Others orbit too closely
to their stars and are too hot for life.
Two planets discovered last year are in the right orbit and might be good candidates for life,
Quintana says, but they are a bit bigger than Earth.
“For the first time, we can actually say we now have a planet that is both Earth-sized and orbits
in its star’s habitable zone," she said.
It may be the first time, but it probably is not the last, says Massachusetts Institute of Technology
astrophysicist Sara Seager. She spoke to VOA via Skype.
“We’ve been waiting decades to understand how common habitable planets might be, and it’s
looking like they’re really common. And this gives us excitement and motivation to take the next
step," said Seager.
The next step would be to look for traces of life in the atmospheres of these distant worlds. That
would take a more sophisticated space telescope. But budget cuts threaten that mission, says
University of California at Los Angeles astrophysicist Ben in this Skype interview.
“In principle, we could do this in the next couple decades. But in practice, because there’s no
money, it’s not gonna happen. It’s not gonna happen in my lifetime, for example," said
Zuckerman.
Leaving earthbound concerns behind, NASA’s Elisa Quintana believes that when the
next-generation space telescope is launched, it will find that we are not alone in the universe.
“I guess I’m an optimist. I think that life is definitely out there. Just looking at the abundance of
stars. I mean, hundreds of billions of stars. The likelihood that one of them might have some form
of life to me seems rather high. But everyone has their own opinion about that, I’m sure," she
said.
In the meantime, the search continues for other worlds where life may find a home.