题目内容
The use of computers has ___________ for more people to work from home. 电脑的使用使人们离开家工作成为可能。
made it possible
Scientists are worried that an asteroid(小行星) will possibly hit the earth in 2036. If scientists are right, planet earth is 24 years away from a major disaster.
Scientists have been monitoring the progress of a 390-metre-wide asteroid ever since it was discovered last June. They have announced that it could hit the earth, causing huge damage, in 2036.
NASA estimates that the impact from the asteroid named after Apophis and ancient Egyptian demon(魔鬼) would release more than 100,000 times the energy released in the nuclear explosion over Hiroshima. Thousands of square kilometers would be directly affected by the explosion. The whole planet would see the effects of the dust released into the atmosphere.
This is the worst possible scenario(情景) of any asteroid in recorded history.
Having more than 20 years’ warning of possible impact might seem plenty of time. But scientists insist that there is actually very little time left to decide.
Luckily, however, they aren’t short on ideas for deflecting the asteroid. The favored method is also probably the easiest—throwing a spacecraft at the asteroid to change its direction. The European Space Agency plans to test this in the next decade.
One idea that seems to have no support from astronomers is the use of explosive, although this sounds more likely to the public or Hollywood producer.
At present, scientists are trying to make a better estimate of how much time we have, through more observations.
In spring of next year, there will be another chance for radar observation of Apophis. This will help astronomers calculate the orbits of the asteroid more accurately.
If, at that stage, they can’t rule out an impact with the earth in 2036, the next chance to make better observations will not be until 2016, then 2029.
“If we wait until 2029 and the worst—case scenario turns out to be true, it would seem unlikely that we’d be able to do anything about 2036,” warns Prof Fitzsimmons.
1.What does the underlined word “deflecting” most probably mean?
A.making it smaller. |
B.observing it clearly enough. |
C.dividing into pieces. |
D.changing its direction. |
2.According to the scientists’ observation, _______.
A.the asteroid named Apophis will explode in 2036. |
B.the asteroid named Apophis might hit the earth in 2036. |
C.the asteroid named Apophis is 24 years old. |
D.there is plenty of time to decide the way we deal with the asteroid. |
3.What is the impact from Apophis if it hits the earth?
A.It will damage Hiroshima. |
B.Thousands of square kilometers would see the effects of the dust released into the atmosphere. |
C.It might be the worst damage caused by asteroids in recorded history. |
D.The whole planet would be directly affected by the explosion. |
4.It can be inferred from the text that _____.
A.Hollywood producers will explode Apophis to avoid its hit. |
B.There are only two chances for scientists to make better observations if they can’t grasp the chance next year. |
C.NASA plans to throw a spacecraft at Apophis to change its direction. |
D.It is supportive from astronauts that we explode the Apophis. |
完形填空:(共20小题;每小题1.5分,满分30分)
In history,a real cowboy was a simple farm worker on horseback.He spent a long time a day outdoors working with cows.The work was dirty,tiring and not very well paid.
People in the western states had to __36__ cattle at low cost and send them by railway to the eastern __37__.But someone had to __38__ the cattle and get them to the nearest railroad.This was the job of a cowboy.Sometimes the __39__ was more than a thousand kilometers away and it could take as __40__ as six months to move the cattle.The __41__ was long but the cattle were driven __42__ as not to lose __43__.Then they could be sold at a good price.
Most cowboys were young, __44__ men.A good horse _45__ their job of moving cattle much easier.A good cowboy __46__ cows and knew how to control them.At night,he __47__ to the cows to keep them calm.
In the late 1800s,America was changing from a nation of farm to one of __48__ and cities.The cowboy seemed __49__ compared with other Americans doing ordinary jobs.
Today,the __50__ of cowboys has __51__ greatly.One change is the use of trucks.The job is not so hard __52__ it used to be.And cowboys are better __53__ now.They are _54__ to be married.Some of them are farmers or teachers or truck drivers.Some work for big companies.
__55__ at night and on weekends,they become cowboys.These part-time cowboys increase the total production of meat,keeping the beef price low.
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