12.A newly discovered planet looks just right for life as we know it,according to an international group of astronomers.Orbiting a star about 500light-years away,the planet called Kepler-186f is about the same size as Earth.It orbits its star at the right distance for liquid water on the surface.That is a necessary condition for life as we know it.
But it is not exactly like Earth,NASA planetary scientist Elisa Quintana said."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 close 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."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 signs of life in the atmospheres of these distant worlds.That would take a more sophisticated (高端的;復(fù)雜的) space telescope.But budget cuts threaten that mission,says University of California at Los Angeles astrophysicist Ben Zuckerman."In principle,we could do this in the next few decades.But in practice,because there's no money,it's not gonna happen.It's not gonna happen in my lifetime,for example."
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.
63.What does the underlined word"That"(Paragraph 1)refer to?B
A.The right distance. B.Liquid water.
C.The right size. D.A star.
64.According to Elisa Quintana,Kepler-186fA.
A.is more of an Earth's cousin than an Earth's twin
B.has a lot in common with Earth,including their parent stars
C.is a lot bigger than Earth
D.is smaller and cooler than our sun
65.Ben Zuckerman and Elisa Quintana would probably agree thatC.
A.they can continue their research without worrying about money
B.it is the last time that they have discovered such a planet
C.a(chǎn) sophisticated space telescope plays an important role in their research
D.Earth is the only planet where we can find signs of life
66.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?D
A.Where there is water,there is life
B.A planet exactly like Earth found
C.Life discovered on Kepler-186f
D.New Earth-size planet found.
分析 文章內(nèi)容主要講述了一個(gè)國(guó)際科研組織的最新的發(fā)現(xiàn),在距離地球500光年的地方發(fā)現(xiàn)了一個(gè)名為Kepler-186f 的與地球各方面很相似的行星,以及對(duì)它的一些其它發(fā)現(xiàn)和研究.
解答 63.B 細(xì)節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文章第一段It orbits its star at the right distance for liquid water on the surface.That is a necessary condition for life as we know it.它表面的液態(tài)水的距離為它的恒星軌道,而生命的一個(gè)必要條件就是有水的存在,故B符合文意.
64.A 細(xì)節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容."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 與其說他們是雙胞胎不如說他們是堂兄妹的關(guān)系.Kepler-186f和地球特性相似,但是他們的恒星軌道不同,結(jié)合選項(xiàng),故選A
65.C 細(xì)節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容The next step would be to look for signs of life in the atmospheres of these distant worlds.That would take a more sophisticated (高端的;復(fù)雜的) space telescope,現(xiàn)在發(fā)現(xiàn)了和地球相似的Kepler-186f,接下來(lái)就需要透過高端的望遠(yuǎn)鏡來(lái)尋找生命跡象,這個(gè)觀點(diǎn)可能是二位科學(xué)家同意的,故選C
66.D 主旨大意題.根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容主要講述了一個(gè)國(guó)際科研組織的最新的發(fā)現(xiàn),在距離地球500光年的地方發(fā)現(xiàn)了一個(gè)名為Kepler-186f 的與地球各方面很相似的行星,以及對(duì)它的一些其它發(fā)現(xiàn)和研究.結(jié)合選項(xiàng),故選D
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