Question

【題目】Why Mars (火星) is New Settlement

Is it possible to live on other planets? The United States government is taking a serious look at the moon and Mars as potential places for future human settlement. The moon could serve as a training ground for later journeys to Mars. Currently, with Mars becoming the eventual long-term goal, serious questions exist as to whether the dangers of the settlement on the moon are too extreme and unnecessary.

One major reason the settlement on the moon is too dangerous is the difference between the atmosphere environment of the moon and Mars. Atmosphere is important because it protects humans and all other life from a continuous attack of radiation (輻射) caused by sources such as the sun. This radiation is especially dangerous to humans because it increases the risk of cancer and can negatively change DNA. The fact that the moon has no atmosphere can cause great harm to human beings. Although Mars’ atmosphere is significantly thinner than Earth’s, at least it has one and would create some sort of protective barrier for humans.

Another important characteristic necessary for human settlement is natural resources like water, of which the moon is believed to have none. Mars, however, contains vast quantities of water ice, dry ice, and also snow. There is also sufficient evidence that water once existed at the surface of Mars and might return in the future if the planet warms. With increased technologies, the potential for settlers to remain on Mars by being increasingly self-sufficient makes Mars a much more attractive goal as the space settlement than the moon.

Future settlers will not only benefit from potential water on Mars; the planet is also rich in other natural resources such as oxygen, hydrogen, and minerals, which can be well used in productive ways. For example, hydrogen can be used as fuel, and it can be combined with nitrogen (氮?dú)?/span>) to form new materials necessary for human settlement. Due to these advantages,

Mars would be a more successful planet for exploration and settlement because it contains the basic resources necessary for humans to survive.

Since the environment of Mars is more similar to that of Earth and it contains resources necessary to help life exist, it should be the only option for any kind of long-term human settlement. The settlement on Mars would not only be a milestone in space but also an excellent chance for mankind to improve itself from past adventures on Earth and preserve and make the best use of the natural resources Mars has to offer.

【1】According to Paragraph 2, the atmosphere on Mars would .

A. change the DNA structure of humans

B. measure the harmful radiation from space

C. provide protection against dangerous effects

D. cause humans to be exposed to serious illnesses

【2】What can be inferred about water on Mars?

A. It is not present in a liquid state.

B. It doesn’t exist in large quantities.

C. It will bring potential dangers to settlers.

D. It can be easily changed into liquid forms.

【3】The author believes that .

A. exploration of Mars takes great risk

B. natural resources on Mars last forever

C. settlement on Mars is perfectly acceptable

D. Mars is more suitable for settlement than Earth

【4】Which of the following shows the development of ideas in the passage?

CP: Central Point P: Point Sp: Sub-point (次要點(diǎn)) C: Conclusion

A. B.

C. D.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】 C

【2】 A

【3】 C

【4】 B

【解析】

這是一篇說明文。介紹了火星為什么是人類的新定居點(diǎn)。

【1】細(xì)節(jié)理解題。由第二段“Although Mars’ atmosphere is significantly thinner than Earth’s, at least it has one and would create some sort of protective barrier for humans”可知，盡管火星的大氣層比地球的要稀薄得多，但至少火星有大氣，這會給人類創(chuàng)造某種保護(hù)屏障。所以根據(jù)第二段，火星的大氣保護(hù)人們免受輻射對人們的危害。故C選項(xiàng)正確。

【2】推理判斷題。由第三段“however, contains vast quantities of water ice, dry ice, and also snow.”可知，然而，火星上有大量的水冰、干冰和雪。所以判斷出，火星上的冰不以液態(tài)存在。故A選項(xiàng)正確。

【3】細(xì)節(jié)理解題。由全文尤其是第五段“Mars would be a more successful planet for exploration and settlement because it contains the basic resources necessary for humans to survive.”可知，全文都在介紹為什么火星是上人類的新定居點(diǎn)的因素，所以作者認(rèn)為火星對于探索和定居，是非常適合人類的星球，定居是完全可以接受的，因?yàn)樗�包含了人類生存所必需的基本資源。故C選項(xiàng)正確。

【4】推理判斷題。通讀全文可知，短文是圍繞這中心點(diǎn)“火星為什么是人類的新定居點(diǎn)”。中心論點(diǎn)包括兩個方面。第一，通過火星和月球的對比說明火星上能夠適應(yīng)人類定居。并通過兩個次要段落，次要點(diǎn)來支持論點(diǎn)。1.對比火星上和月球上的大氣來說明火星適應(yīng)人類定居。2.對比火星上和月球上的水來說明火星適應(yīng)人類定居。第二，通過火星上存在的資源來說明火影上能夠適應(yīng)人類定居。最后是總結(jié)段落。所以我們判斷出短文是按照B選項(xiàng)發(fā)展的。故B選項(xiàng)正確。