和谐英语

2011年12月英语四级听力精练第8套:短文理解

2011-12-05来源:和谐英语
  Passage One
  26. A) There were no planets without moons.
  B) There was no air or water on Jupiter.
  C) Life was not possible in outer space.
  D) The mystery of life could not be resolved.
  27. A) It has a number of active volcanoes.
  B) It has an atmosphere like the earths
  C) It has a large ocean under its surface.
  D) It has deep caves several miles long.
  28. A) Light is not an essential element to it.
  B) Life can form in very hot temperatures.
  C) Every form of life undergoes evolution.
  D) Oxygen is not needed for some life forms.
  答案
  26、【听音指导】预览选项,可知本题考查细节事实题。鉴于此题位于本短文的第一题,答案应在最初几句中找到,具体的说,是在开头30秒。选项D与其他三项明显不同,可初步排除。听音时关注no planets,no air or water还是no life。
  【正确项分析】第一题问的是科学家曾经(once)相信什么事实?那么根据我们的理解,应该是他们认为外太空不可能存在生命。这个答案出现在原文的第二句,原文是Until recently, scientists believed that life on other planets was just a hopeful dream,意为科学家们认为在其他星球上存在生命只不过是个充满希望的梦。故选择C项。
  27、【听音指导】通过选项即可确定本题为对于某一事物的细节描述题,所以首先要解决各选项中it所指的内容。由第一题选项可初步推测,本题很可能考查的是对一个星球的描述。
  【正确项分析】问题为科学家在木卫二星球上找到什么,那么应该是Space probes have provided evidence that Europa has a large ocean under its surface,意为航空观测镜发现了星球表面下有个大的海洋。C选项与原文一模一样。
  28、【听音指导】根据惯例,最后一个问题答案出现在篇章结束前三十秒左右,选项均涉及生命形成因素,分别为light,hot temperatures,evolution和oxygen,根据这些信息,可轻易在短文结束前找到答案。
  【正确项分析】注意转折连词but前后,原文为Until recently, scientists thought that light was essential. But now, places have been found on earth that are in total blackness such as caves several miles beneath the ocean. And bacteria, primitive forms of life, have been seen there。意为科学家一直以为光是很重要的,但是现在他们发现完全黑暗的地方—比如几英里深的洞里,也有生命,即细菌。可见,光不是必备因素,选项A正确。
  原文
  Passage 1
  Since early times, people have been fascinated with the idea of life existing somewhere else besides earth. Until recently, scientists believe that life on other planets was just a hopeful dream. But now they are beginning to locate places where life could form. In 1997, they saw evidence of planets near other stars like the sun. But scientists now think that life could be even nearer in our own solar system. One place scientists are studying very closely is Europa, a moon of Jupiter. Space probes have provided evidence that Europa has a large ocean under its surface. The probes have also made scientists think that under its surface Europa has a rocky core giving off volcanic heat. Water and heat from volcanic activity are two basic conditions needed for life to form. A third is certain basic chemicals such as carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. Scientists believe there might be such chemicals lying at the bottom of Europa’s ocean. They may have already created life or may be about to. You may wonder if light is also needed for life to form. Until recently, scientists thought that light was essential. But now, places have been found on earth that are in total blackness such as caves several miles beneath the surface. And bacteria, primitive forms of life, have been seen there. So the lack of light in Europa’s sub-surface ocean doesn’t automatically rule out life forming.
  Questions26 to 28
  26. What did scientists once believe according to the passage?
  27. What have scientists found about Europa, a moon of Jupiter?
  28. What have scientists come to know recently about formation of life?