题目内容
--It’s said that Mr. Smith will soon retire.
--Really? Then who will _______?
A take his place B take place C takes place of him D takes the place
In a surprising discovery about where higher life can survive, scientists have found a shrimp —— like creature and a jellyfish swimming beneath an Antarctic ice sheet.
About 180 meters below the ice where no light can get through, scientists had thought nothing much more than a few microbes (微生物) could exist.
That’s why a NASA team was surprised when they lowered a video camera to get the first long look at the underbelly of an ice sheet in Antarctica. A curious shrimp – like creature came swimming by and then parked itself on the camera’s cable. Scientists also pulled up a tentacle (触须) they believe came from a jellyfish.
“We were operating on the presumption that nothing’s there.” Said NASA ice scientist Robert Bindschadler. “It was a shrimp you’d enjoy having on your plate.”
“We were just gaga (狂热的) over it,” he said of the 7.5cm long, orange creature starring in their two – minute video. Technically, it’s not a shrimp. It’s a Lyssianasid amphipod, which is distantly related to the shrimp.
The video is likely to inspire experts to rethink what they know about life in harsh environments. And it has scientists thinking that if shrimp – like creatures can live below 180 meters of Antarctic ice in freezing dark water, what about other cold places? What about Europa, a frozen moon of Jupiter?
Cynan Ellis – Evans, a scientist of the British Antarctic Survey called the finding fascinating. He said it was possible the creatures swam in from far away and don’t live there permanently.
But Kim, who is a co-author of the study, doubts it. “The site in West Antarctica is at least 19 km from open seas. Bindschadler drilled a 20 cm – wide hole and was looking at a tiny amount of water. That means it’s unlikely that two creatures swam from great distances and were captured randomly in that small of an area,” she said.
Yet scientist were puzzled at what the food source would be for these creatures. While some microbes can make their own food out of chemicals in the ocean, complex life like the shrimp can’t, Kim said.
“So how do they survive? That’s the key question.” Kim Sai.
“It’s pretty amazing when you find a huge puzzle like that on a planet where we thought we know everything.” Kim said.
【小题1】 What does the underlined word “harsh” probably mean?
A.cold | B.loud | C.cruel | D.ugly |
A.swam great distances to Antarctic | B.has always lived in the region |
C.gradually evolved from shrimps | D.has nothing in common with shrimps |
A.it marks NASA’S first Antarctic biological study |
B.it proves there is marine life in the Antarctic |
C.it could inspire further study of life in harsh environments |
D.it shows that Lyssianasid amphipod is closely related to shrimps |
A.Complex life usually lives on other forms of life. |
B.Scientists saw two creatures in the two – minute video. |
C.It is possible for creatures to live 180 meters below the ice though there is no light. |
D.Scientists captured the shrimp – like creature in a camera by drilling a hole through the ice. |
Inside the pleasingly fragrant cafe, So All May Eat(SAME) in downtown Denver ,t
he spirit of generosity is instantly noticeable: donation box stands in place of
a cash register customers here pay only what they can afford, no questions asked.
A risky business plan, perhaps, but SAME Café has done one unchangeable thing i
n the MileHigh City for six years: Open only at midday, the restaurant allows p
oor local customers who cannot pay to work as volunteers instead. They can act as
waitersandwaitresses,anddishwashers, or look after the buildings and equipment
for the cafe.It’s based on trust, and it’s working all right”, says co-owne
r Brad Birky, who started the caféin 2006. Previously volunteering at soup kitc
hens, the Birkys were dissatisfied with the often unhealthy meals they served t
here. “We wanted to offer quality food in a restaurant where every-one felt co
mfortable,regardless of their circumstances,” Birky says. SAME’s special lunc
h menu changs daily and most food materials are natural and grown by local farm
ers. The café now averages 65 to 70 customers (and eight volunteers) a day. And
the spirit of generosity behind the project appears to be spreading. In early
2007,one volunteer who hadcleared snow for his meals during the long winter sai
d goodbye to the Birkys.He said he was going to New Orleans to help with the hu
rricane clearing up,” says Birky.
1.What can we learn about the soup kitchens the Birkys previously worked for?
A.They refused to have volunteers. |
B.They offered low quality food. |
C.They provided customers with a good environment. |
D.They closed down because of poor management. |
2.According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A.The customers who cannot pay can work as volunteers instead. |
B.More volunteers will go to new Orleans for the hurricane cleanup. |
C.Many new cafes will be opened to offer free lunches in the town. |
D.The lunch menu has remained the same since the café was started. |
3.The author’s attitude towards running such a café is_______
A.unfavorable |
B.doubtful |
C.cautious |
D.approving |