Question

5．We might not be alone in the universe．Actually，it may be confirmed as a very crowded place by new computer models developed to help identify habitable planets．
Estimates of places where life can exist have been based on the possibility of them having surface water．But software recently developed by the Aberdeen University allows researchers to identify planets with underground water kept liquid by heat from planets．
Water is fundamental for life and planets too close to the sun lose water to the atmosphere through evaporation．On the other hand，planets located in distant reaches from their star have their surface water locked away as ice．
Sean McMahon，who is carrying out the work，explained："Traditionally people have said that if a planet is in this Goldilocks zone-not too hot and not too cold-then it can have liquid water on its surface and be habitable．"
But this concept might change when considering that planets can receive two sources of heat-heat direct from the star and heat generated deep inside the planet．
It is easy to observe it in our own planet．As you go down through the crust  of the Earth，the temperature gets higher and higher．Even when the surface is frozen，water can exist below ground．
There could be immense quantities of water in fact-full of primitive life．
Professor John Parnell，also from Aberdeen University said："There is a significant habitat for microorganisms below the surface of the Earth，extending down several kilometers"．
"And some believe that the majority of life on Earth could even reside in this deep biosphere．"
So the Aberdeen team are developing models to predict which distant planets might harbor underground reservoirs of liquid water with the possibility of alien life．
28．What is considered as the symbol of life existence traditionally？D
A．Solid water on its surface．
B．Solid water below ground．
C．Liquid water below ground．
D．Liquid water on its surface．
29．Why did John Parnell mention the fact about Earth？B
A．To prove that there is majority of life on Earth．
B．To prove that life may also exist in other planets．
C．To prove that there is primitive life down through Earth．
D．To prove that there is a habitat for microorganisms below Earth．
30．What theory is the Aberdeen team's study based on？D
A．Planets can lose water through evaporation．
B．Planets can receive heat direct from the star．
C．Planets can have their surface water locked away as ice．
D．Planets can receive heat generated deep inside the planet．
31．What can we know about the computer models？A
A．They will help identify planets where there is life．
B．They will help researchers find Goldilocks zones．
C．They have helped find some significant discoveries．
D．They have already located some habitats for life．

Answer 1

分析 本文章主要报道虽然到目前为止地球是唯一公认的存在生命的星球，但科学研究等显示其它生命体也有存在的可能．

解答 28．D 细节题：根据Water is fundamental for life and planets too close to the sun lose water to the atmosphere through evaporation．在星球表面有水和大气的笼罩是生命体存在的基本要素，结合选项，故选D．
29．B 细节题：根据Professor John Parnell，also from Aberdeen University said："There is a significant habitat for microorganisms below the surface of the Earth，extending down several kilometres"．"And some believe that the majority of life on Earth could even reside in this deep biosphere．"可知John Parnel提到地球的这个事实是为了证明在其他星球可能会存在生命．故选B．
30．D 细节题：根据But this concept might change when considering that planets can receive two sources of heat-heat direct from the star and heat generated deep inside the planet．星体可以接收二种形式的热量．一种是来自星星的热量另一种是星球内部产生的热能．而Aberdeen团队就是以此理论为研究基础的，结合选项，故选D．
31．A 推理题：根据We might not be alone in the universe．Actually，it may be confirmed as a very crowded place by new computer models developed to help identify habitable planets新的电脑模型可以帮助鉴定，某一星球上是否存在生命体，结合选项，故选A．

点评 本文是一个科教类阅读理解，题目涉及多道细节理解题，做题时结合原文和题目有针对性的找出相关语句进行仔细分析，结合选项选出正确答案．推理判断题也是要在抓住关键句子的基础上合理的分析才能得出正确答案，切忌胡乱猜测，一定要做到有理有据．