.
The journey to the moon had been the first step toward future exploration(探险) in space. The distance between the Moon and Earth is very short indeed when compared with the distances between Earth and the other planets. Mars, the nearest planet to Earth is millions of miles away. Traveling to the planets will be man’s next aim. Such travels will be more challenging than the trip to the moon and certainly more adventurous.
Recently, two American spaceships, Vikings 1 and 2, landed on Mars trying to discover whether that planet has any life on it. So far the signs of life on Mars has neither confirmed(确认) nor ruled out. Russians have discovered that the surface of Venus(金星) is so hot that it is almost certain that there is no life there. Also the atmosphere of Venus is extremely dense(稠) and the pressure is nearly a hundred times greater than that of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Scientists believe man may find planets which have the same conditions as those we have on Earth , but man should realize Earth will be his only home for a long time and begin to love and care for it.
63. According to the passage, traveling to the planets will be ________.
A.  much easier and even more interesting  B.  far more exciting and dangerous
C.  man’s final aim                    D.  man’s first step
64. Which of the following is Not true?
A.  Mars is nearer to the earth than the moon.
B.  The moon is much nearer to the earth than Mars.
C.  Of all the planets, Mars is the nearest to the earth.
D.  All the planets are much farther to the earth.
65. From the passage, we can guess_____.
A.  there is life on Mars       
B.  there is no life on Mars
C.  the atmosphere of Mars is not so dense as that of Venus
D.  scientists will have little hope to find the answers
66. Man can live on under the conditions of _______.
A.  much too hot surface                   B.  the same pressure as we get on earth
C.  normal atmosphere as we have on earth     D.  both B and C

NASA’s Mars detector (探测器), Opportunity, succeeded in finding signs that water once existed on the planet. Opportunity landed on Mars in January. Scientists now believe that the planet could once have supported life.
This discovery was chosen by Science, one of the world’s leading magazines, as the most important scientific achievement of 2004 last Friday.
“This little, wheeled, one-armed box went around another planet and has done something no human has ever managed,” according to Science. “It has discovered another place in the universe where life could once have existed.”
“Although we still can’t say that life could have existed in this environment, it is now certain that there was water on Mars,” said Steve Squyres, one of the scientists working on the Mars mission. The evidence comes from pictures and chemical readings taken by Opportunity. It includes marks on rocks like those caused by flowing water on Earth and salty chemicals like those found in dried-out sea-beds. Scientists said the new evidence proved beyond doubt that water has existed on Mars. But it is still unknown whether the water on Mars was like an ocean or justice.
While Opportunity has not found any signs of life, the presence of water means life is possible. “In everything we know about life on Earth, there is no example without liquid water,” Squyres said. “So water is important for the search for life on Mars.”
Researchers agree that a future mission (任务) should bring back physical samples (样品). But some scientists worry about the risk that this could introduce dangerous foreign creatures to Earth. “The problem here is how to get the samples back,” Squyres replied. “I think it is our responsibility to limit any risk.”
【小题1】________ prove that water existed on Mars.

The earth is the only planet that scientists are certain has life .What does the earth have that the other planets don’t ? For one thing , the earth has just the right temperature . As the third planet from the sun , the earth seems to be just the right distance away . The planets that are closer to the sun are so hot that their surfaces bake in the sun . The farthest planets are cold balls .
When the earth developed— which scientists believe may have happened about billions of years ago , many gases covered the earth . The gases caused the earth to be hot . But something wonderful happened . The temperature was just right for thick clouds to form . It rained very hard for a very long time . This gave the earth its oceans . Water made it possible for plants to grow . The plants created oxygen in the atmosphere . Oxygen is the gas that humans and animals breathe .
Only one other planet in the solar system seems to be something like the earth . That planet is Mars . Mars is smaller than the earth , and it is quite a bit cooler . But it is not too cold for humans . On some days , the temperatures are as cold as a winter day in the northern United States . If you wore a special spacesuit , you could walk around on Mars . You would have to bring your own air to breathe , though . The air on Mars is too thin to breathe . Mars has the largest volcano in the solar system . It is sixteen miles high . The highest volcano on the earth is five miles high . The most unexpected sight on Mars is dried-up river beds . Scientists believe that Mars was once much wetter that it is now . Does this mean there could have been living things on Mars ? Scientists are not sure , but there has been no sign so far .
【小题1】It is the       on the earth that makes life possible .

NASA’s Mars detector (探测器), Opportunity, succeeded in finding signs that water once existed on the planet. Opportunity landed on Mars in January. Scientists now believe that the planet could once have supported life.

This discovery was chosen by Science, one of the world’s leading magazines, as the most important scientific achievement of 2004 last Friday.

“This little, wheeled, one-armed box went around another planet and has done something no human has ever managed,” according to Science. “It has discovered another place in the universe where life could once have existed.”

“Although we still can’t say that life could have existed in this environment, it is now certain that there was water on Mars,” said Steve Squyres, one of the scientists working on the Mars mission. The evidence comes from pictures and chemical readings taken by Opportunity. It includes marks on rocks like those caused by flowing water on Earth and salty chemicals like those found in dried-out sea-beds. Scientists said the new evidence proved beyond doubt that water has existed on Mars. But it is still unknown whether the water on Mars was like an ocean or just ice.

While Opportunity has not found any signs of life, the presence of water means life is possible. “In everything we know about life on Earth, there is no example without liquid water,” Squyres said. “So water is important for the search for life on Mars.”

Researchers agree that a future mission (任务) should bring back physical samples (样品). But some scientists worry about the risk that this could introduce dangerous foreign creatures to Earth. “The problem here is how to get the samples back,” Squyres replied. “I think it is our responsibility to limit any risk.”

1.________ prove that water existed on Mars.

2.Which of the following is TURE according to the text?

3.How did scientists draw the conclusion that there was water on Mars?

4.It can be inferred that, if the creatures from Mars came to Earth, ________.

第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分, 满分40分）
A
While all my classmates seem to be crazy about a one-way ticket to Mars (火星), I’d rather say Mars is totally unsuitable for human existence. People won’t have enough food supplies there, and the terrible environment would make it impossible for them to live a long life. Besides, the journey won’t be safe. Can anyone explain to me just why people go to Mars, never to return?
Steve Minear, UK
Here are things you can think of: the desire to explore a foreign and unique environment, the excitement of being the first humans to open up a new world, the expectation of fame and glory…For scientists there is another reason. Their observations and research will probably lead to great scientific achievements
Donal Trollop, Canada
There are too many people on the earth. I think that some time before the end of the century, there will be a human colony on Mars. It will happen when people realize that two-way trips to the red planet Mars are unnecessary. Most of the danger of space flight is in the launches (发射) and landings. Cutting the trip home would therefore reduce the danger of accidents, save a lot of money, and open the way to building an everlasting human settlement in another world.
Enough supplies can be sent on ahead. And every two years more supplies and more people will be sent to the new colony. Mars has all the material for a colony to produce or make everything it needs, and Mars is far more pleasant than the other planets in the outer space.
Paul Davies, USA
56．The main purpose of Steve Minear’s wring is ___________.
A．to report his classmates’ discussion     B．to invite an answer to his question
C．to explain the natural state of Mars    D．to show his agreement on going to Mars
57．Which of the following best states Donal Trollop’ idea?
A．There is a plan to send humans to Mars.
B．There are many reasons for going to Mars
C．Scientists become famous by doing research on Mars.
D．It is possible to build an Earth-like environment on Mars.
58．Paul Davies points out that _______.
A．humans need only a one-way ticket to Mars
B．two-way trips to Mars will be made safe soon.
C．it is easy to reduce the danger and cost of flights to Mars
D．It is cheap to build an everlasting human settlement on Mars
59．What does Paul Davies think of human existence on Mars?
A．Humans will have to bring all they need from the earth.
B．Humans will find Mars totally unsuitable for living.
C．Humans can produce everything they need.
D．Humans can live longer in the colony on Mars.