5.It took 100years,but finally,scientists proved Albert Einstein's theory that gravitational waves(引力波)exist.
The waves were predicted as part of Einstein's general theory of relativity nearly 100years ago.It was the theory of the physics behind the workings of our world and the universe.
The idea was that the waves are like waves in space,caused by some of the violent and energetic processes in the universe.For example,two black holes crashing into each other.
Now a group of scientists,including ones from Caltech,MIT and the LIGO Scientific,Collaboration finally found the gravitational waves.
David Reitze is the executive director of the LIGO observatory at Caltech.
"We have detected gravitational waves.We did it!"
What are these gravitational waves?
Well,imagine throwing a rock into a pond.When the rock hits the flat surface of the water,it creates waves.Space-time is like the surface of the water.So that means gravitational waves are like the waves moving out from where the rock hits the water.
It might be hard to understand,but those gravitational waves expand and contract space and time as they move through space.And when they get to the Earth,the waves pass through,and they contract and expand the planet as the waves go by.
It was Einstein who said these gravitational waves should be observable.
But these are not huge waves.They are very,very small,which is why it took so long to find them.You cannot see them with your eyes.They are smaller than the size of an atom.
How did the scientists find them?
They used a giant scientific tool called LIGO,which stands for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory.The billion-dollar LIGO project is two L-shaped observatories.One is in Louisiana and the other in Washington state.
For years,scientists have been watching two black holes in another faraway galaxy.The two were spinning around each other,moving closer and closer together.When they finally crashed into each other,it was with such power and force that gravitational waves rang throughout the universe,like a giant bell.
Those waves,traveling at the speed of light,finally reached the Earth,some l.3billion years later.They are the same waves that the scientists announced this past week.
So,what does this discovery mean?
Our understanding of the heavens changed dramatically.
32.What are gravitational waves about?A
A.About the workings of the universe.
B.About how black holes form.
C.About how the universe began.
D.About how the waves form on the surface of water.
33.The underlined sentence"two black holes crashing into each other"is used to expressB.
A.how the universe begins to exist
B.how gravitational waves form
C.how new black holes appear
D.how the earth is affected
34.Why are gravitational waves difficult to find?A
A.Because they are too small.
B.Because they are far away.
C.Because they seldom occur.
D.Because they have disappeared.
35.With the discovery of gravitational waves,we'llC.
A.create a new world
B.make full use of gravitational waves
C.understand the universe in a new way
D.avoid being hit by black holes.
分析 文章大意:本文主要介绍了科学家们对爱因斯坦"引力波"理论的研究.包括引力波的产生,引力波发现的意义和引力波的寻找过程.引力波的发现,让我们对天空的认识发生了巨大的变化.
解答 32.答案:A.细节理解题.根据第二段中It was the theory of the physics behind the workings of our world and the universe这是我们宇宙和宇宙运行背后的物理学理论.可知"引力波"是关于宇宙的运作.故选项A正确.
33.答案:B.细节理解题.根据本段caused by some of the violent and energetic processes in the universe由宇宙中一些暴力和充满活力的过程引起的.一句可知这个例子主要是介绍引力波形成的原因.故答案选B.
34.答案:A.细节理解题.根据文中They are very,very small,which is why it took so long to find them它们非常非常小,这就是为什么花了这么长时间才找到它们的原因.可知引力波很小.故答案A正确.
35.答案:C.细节理解题.根据最后一句Our understanding of the heavens changed dramatically我们对天空的认识发生了巨大的变化.可知我们将以全新视角理解这个世界.故答案C正确.
点评 阅读题型,要注重句子与句子之间、段落与段落之间逻辑关系以及对篇章的整体理解.根据所给问题选择正确选项完成试题.