Question

【题目】 For thousands of years, humans have explored(探索) the Earth. Nowadays, we are exploring space. Astronomers (天文学家) are modern-day explorers. Now, many astronomers are looking for new planets and new places of humans to live in the future. But where do astronomers start looking?

First of all, astronomers look for a star. That’s because our own Earth moves around a star (the Sun). More importantly, it is the correct distance(距离) from the Sun for heat and light. So when astronomers have found the star, they look at the planets around it. In recent years, astronomers have found nearly 400 new planets with stars. However, many of these planets are either too near to the star or too far away.

However, if the planet is in a good position, astronomers look for three key things: water, air and rock. Water is important because all life needs water. Humans can drink it and they can also grow plants with water. And plants produce air for humans to breathe and food to eat. Rock on a planet is also important. That’s because there is often water under the rock.

After many years of scrutinizing, astronomers have found a planet that is similar to the Earth. It’s Gliese 581g and it’s near a star. The astronomers think it has water and rock and the average(平均的) temperature is between-310C and -120C. That’s cold，but not colder than Antarctica or Arctic Circle, for example, Gliese 581g is bigger than the Earth. A year on Gliese 581g is only 37 Earth days instead of 365. But astronomers do not think there are big differences and some them thing Gliese 581g will be a new Earth. However, Gliese 581g is twenty light years from the Earth.

【1】What do astronomers have to find first before starting to look for a new place for humans to have?

A. A new star.B. A new planet.C. Some heat.D. Some light.

【2】What does the rock on a planet tell us?

A. The star is a right position.

B. We may discover water under it.

C. The planet is too near to the Sun.

D. There can be air around the rock.

【3】What does the underlined word “scrutinizing” mean in the last paragraph?

A. discussingB. waitingC. lookingD. traveling

【4】What’s the main idea of the text?

A. Gliese 581g is already a new Earth.

B. There are planets similar to our Earth.

C. Water, air and rock are important.

D. Astronomers are looking for a new Earth.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】B

【3】C

【4】D

【解析】

文章大意：这是一篇科普知识类阅读，主要介绍了天文学家在寻找新的星球的过程和结果。

【1】细节理解题。题目问天文学家在找到适合人类居住的星球之前先必须找什么，根据First of all, astronomers look for a star.首先，天文学家找一颗行星，故答案选A。

【2】细节理解题。题目问一个星球上的岩石告诉我们什么，根据Rock on a planet is also important. That’s because there is often water under the rock. 一个星球上的岩石也重要，那是因为岩石下面经常有水，故答案选B。

【3】词义猜测题.根据上文Now, many astronomers are looking for new planets and new places of humans to live in the future. 现在，许多天文学家正在寻找新的星球和新的地方以供人类未来生活，判断本句句意为经过多年的观察（寻找），天文学家找到了一个与地球类似的星球,故答案选C。

【4】主旨大意题。根据Now, many astronomers are looking for new planets and new places of humans to live in the future. But where do astronomers start looking?现在，许多天文学家正在寻找新的星球和新的地方以供人类未来生活。但是从哪儿开始找呢？本文主要介绍了天文学家寻找新的星球供人类未来生活，即天文学家在寻找新的地球，故答案选D。