Question

【题目】For centuries, humans have wondered whether there is life on Mars. Why is Mars losing its air? Last week, the question was answered.

“The answer, is blowing in the wind,” said Michael Meyer. He is the lead scientist for Mars Exploration Program.

It turns out solar winds from the sun are slowly stripping( 除掉) away Mars' air. That is what scientists explained at a press conference.

Bruce Jakosky is the principal investigator on the MAVEN team. It is a spacecraft that collects information from Mars as it circles around the planet.

Today, Mars has a thin atmosphere. It is cold and dry. ______

"When we look at ancient Mars, we see a different type of surface. One that had valleys that looked like they were carved by water, lakes that were standing for a long period of time. We see an environment that was much more able to support liquid water."

Recently scientists found a kind of liquid water that flows with salt down a mountain area of the planet. But, it is not always there. Scientists already knew that ice exists on Mars. So why is it important to find liquid water?

"It means that we have a resource. And when we're looking at sending humans to Mars, water is one of the key things that we need to have. Not only for the astronauts to drink, but also to make oxygen and fuel."

Sending humans to Mars will be in the 2030s. Those chosen might fly any number of space vehicles still in development.

Human beings are developing rockets and spacecraft to get people to Mars. Scientists want to know how the human body reacts to being in space for long period of time.

Whether there is life on Mars remains unanswered. But some scientists think there might be some kind of microbial life on the planet. Finding life on another planet would change the way we view the whole universe.

【1】What was the surface of ancient Mars like?

A. It had thin air.B. It was dry.

C. It had valleys that looked like they were carved by water.D. It had no water.

【2】Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The surface of the Mars is different from it used to be.

B. Scientists have known whether there is life on Mars.

C. People can not send humans to Mars forever.

D. There is not any atmosphere on Mars.

【3】What does the underlined word "Those" in the text refer to?

A. ScientistsB. RocketsC. AstronautsD. Vehicles

【4】Which of the following is the best for“______”in Paragraph 5?

A. But it used to be much different.B. It was the same case in the past.

C. It's always like this.D. It will be different in the future.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】A

【3】C

【4】A

【解析】

本文主要说明了几个世纪以来人们对火星的探索历程。

【1】细节理解题。根据"When we look at ancient Mars, we see a different type of surface. One that had valleys that looked like they were carved by water。“当我们看到古火星时，我们看到的是不同类型的表面。一个山谷，看起来像是由水雕刻而成的，有着很长一段时间的湖泊。结合选项故选C。

【2】细节理解题。根据Today, Mars has a thin atmosphere. It is cold and dry. 以及"When we look at ancient Mars, we see a different type of surface.可知现在的火星表面和过去是不同的，故A正确。根据Whether there is life on Mars remains unanswered.可知我们仍然不知道火星上是否有生命，故B错误；根据Human beings are developing rockets and spacecraft to get people to Mars. 人类正在研制火箭和宇宙飞船，把人们带到火星上。所以有一天人类是有可能去火星的，故C错误；根据第一段Today, Mars has a thin atmosphere. It is cold and dry.可知火星上是有大气层的，又冷又干燥，故D错误。故选A。

【3】词义猜测题。根据Sending humans to Mars will be in the 2030s. Those chosen might fly any number of space vehicles still in development. 可知这里的those指的是被选中驾驶宇宙飞船的人，即宇航员，故选C。

【4】根据横线前后的句子Today, Mars has a thin atmosphere. It is cold and dry.说的是火星现在的表面，而后文说"When we look at ancient Mars, we see a different type of surface.可知过去火星的表面和现在是不同的，所以此处是对上文的转折。故选A。