16.A newly discovered planet looks just right for life as we know it,according to an international group of astronomers.Orbiting a star about 500light-years away,the planet called Kepler-186f is about the same size as Earth.It orbits its star at the right distance for liquid water on the surface.That is a necessary condition for life as we know it.
But it is not exactly like Earth,NASA planetary scientist Elisa Quintana said."It's more of an Earth's cousin.It's not an Earth's twin.It shares the same characteristics as Earth,but their parent stars are very different,"said Quintana.
Kepler-186f orbits a star that is smaller and cooler than our sun.But,writing in the journal Science,the astronomers say the planet appears to be a closer relative than most of the hundreds of others discovered so far.Some are massive gas-covered giants with thick,crushing atmospheres.Others orbit too close to their stars and are too hot for life.
Two planets discovered last year are in the right orbit and might be good candidates for life,Quintana says,but they are a bit bigger than Earth."For the first time,we can actually say we now have a planet that is both Earth-sized and orbits in its star's habitable zone,"she said.
It may be the first time,but it probably is not the last,says Massachusetts Institute of Technology astrophysicist Sara Seager."We've been waiting decades to understand how common habitable planets might be,and it's looking like they're really common.And this gives us excitement and motivation to take the next step,"said Seager.
The next step would be to look for signs of life in the atmospheres of these distant worlds.That would take a more sophisticated (高端的;复杂的) space telescope.But budget cuts threaten that mission,says University of California at Los Angeles astrophysicist Ben Zuckerman."In principle,we could do this in the next few decades.But in practice,because there's no money,it's not gonna happen.It's not gonna happen in my lifetime,for example."
Leaving earthbound concerns behind,NASA's Elisa Quintana believes that when the next-generation space telescope is launched,it will find that we are not alone in the universe.
63.What does the underlined word"That"(Paragraph 1)refer to?B
A.The right distance. B.Liquid water.
C.The right size. D.A star.
64.According to Elisa Quintana,Kepler-186fA.
A.is more of an Earth's cousin than an Earth's twin
B.has a lot in common with Earth,including their parent stars
C.is a lot bigger than Earth
D.is smaller and cooler than our sun
65.Ben Zuckerman and Elisa Quintana would probably agree thatC.
A.they can continue their research without worrying about money
B.it is the last time that they have discovered such a planet
C.a sophisticated space telescope plays an important role in their research
D.Earth is the only planet where we can find signs of life
66.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?D
A.Where there is water,there is life
B.A planet exactly like Earth found
C.Life discovered on Kepler-186f
D.New Earth-size planet found.
分析 文章内容主要讲述了一个国际科研组织的最新的发现,在距离地球500光年的地方发现了一个名为Kepler-186f 的与地球各方面很相似的行星,以及对它的一些其它发现和研究.
解答 63.B 细节理解题.根据文章第一段It orbits its star at the right distance for liquid water on the surface.That is a necessary condition for life as we know it.它表面的液态水的距离为它的恒星轨道,而生命的一个必要条件就是有水的存在,故B符合文意.
64.A 细节理解题.根据文章内容."It's more of an Earth's cousin.It's not an Earth's twin.It shares the same characteristics as Earth,but their parent stars are very different 与其说他们是双胞胎不如说他们是堂兄妹的关系.Kepler-186f和地球特性相似,但是他们的恒星轨道不同,结合选项,故选A
65.C 细节理解题.根据文章内容The next step would be to look for signs of life in the atmospheres of these distant worlds.That would take a more sophisticated (高端的;复杂的) space telescope,现在发现了和地球相似的Kepler-186f,接下来就需要透过高端的望远镜来寻找生命迹象,这个观点可能是二位科学家同意的,故选C
66.D 主旨大意题.根据文章内容主要讲述了一个国际科研组织的最新的发现,在距离地球500光年的地方发现了一个名为Kepler-186f 的与地球各方面很相似的行星,以及对它的一些其它发现和研究.结合选项,故选D
点评 本文是新闻报道类阅读理解.做这类题材阅读理解时要求考生对文章通读一遍,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.