Question

    Is there intelligent (有智力的) life on other planets? For years, scientists said “No” or “We don’t know.” But today this is changing. Seth and Alex are astronomers (天文学家). They believe intelligent life exists (存在) somewhere in the universe They also think we will soon communicate with these beings (人, 生物).

Why do seth and Alex think intelligent life exists on other planets? The first reason (理由) is time. Scientists believe the universe is about 12 billion years old. “This is long enough for other planets to have intelligent life.” say Seth and Alex. The second reason is size. The universe is huge. “We have known that there are at least 100 billion galaxies.” says Seth, “And our galaxy, the Milky Way, has at least 100 billion stars. Some planets going around these stars might be similar (相似的) to Earth.”

In the past. it was hard to look for signs (迹象) of intelligent life in the universe. But now, powerful telescopes (高倍望远镜) allow scientists to discover smaller planets—the size of Mars or Earth—in other solar systems. These planets might have intelligent life.

Have beings from space already visited Earth? “Probably not.” says Alex. “It’s a long way away. However, intelligent beings may communicate with us in other ways, such as radio signals (信号). In fact, they may be trying to communicate with us now, but we don’t have the right tools (工具) to receive their messages. However, this is changing. By 2025, we could communicate with other life forms in our universe and we might help each other.”

1.Seth and Alex think ________.

A. intelligent life exists somewhere in the universe

B. it was easy to look for signs of intelligent life in the universe in the past

C. beings from space have already visited Earth

D. we have the right tools to receive other intelligent life’s messages

2.Scientists believe ________ may be long enough for other planets to have intelligent life.

A. 100 billion galaxies

B. 100 billion stars

C. about 12 billion years

D. the huge universe

3.Why is it easy to look for signs of intelligent life in the universe now?

A. There are more smaller planets.

B. There are some powerful telescopes.

C. The astronomers are more interested in them.

D. The Milky Way exists now.

4.Why haven’t we received other intelligent beings’ messages according to Alex?

A. They may not want to communicate with us now.

B. They don’t know how to send radio signals to us.

C. There isn’t intelligent life on other planets.

D. We don’t have the right tools to receive their messages.

5.This passage mainly talks about ________.

A. the size of Mars or Earth

B. intelligent life on other planet

C. other solar systems

D. the Milky Way

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.B

4.D

5.B

【解析】

本文主要谈论其他星球上有智能生命。天文学家赛斯和亚历克斯相信在宇宙的某个地方有智能生命。他们也认为我们很快就会与这些生命沟通。

1.题意：赛斯和亚历克斯认为_____________。考查细节理解。A. intelligent life exists somewhere in the universe智能生命存在于宇宙的某个地方；B. it was easy to look for signs of intelligent life in the universe in the past过去很容易在宇宙中寻找智能生命的迹象；C. beings from space have already visited Earth来自太空的生物已经访问过地球；D. we have the right tools to receive other intelligent life’s messages我们有正确的工具来接收其他智能生命的信息。根据第1段第4和5句Seth and Alex are astronomers (天文学家). They believe intelligent life exists (存在) somewhere in the universe（赛斯和亚历克斯是天文学家。他们相信智能生命存在于宇宙的某个地方。）可知“赛斯和亚历克斯认为智能生命存在于宇宙的某个地方”；选A。

2.题意：科学家认为，_________可能足以让其他行星拥有智慧生命。考查细节理解。A. 100 billion galaxies：1000亿个星系；B. 100 billion stars：1000亿颗星；C. about 12 billion years大约120亿年；D. the huge universe：巨大的宇宙。根据第2段第3和4句Scientists believe the universe is about 12 billion years old. “This is long enough for other planets to have intelligent life.” say Seth and Alex.（科学家认为宇宙大约有120亿年的历史。赛斯和亚历克斯说：“对于其他行星来说，这已经足够长了，可以有智慧的生命。”）可知科学家认为，大约120亿年可能足以让其他行星拥有智慧生命。选C。

3.题意：为什么现在很容易在宇宙中寻找智慧生命的迹象？考查细节理解。A. There are more smaller planets. 有更多较小的行星；B. There are some powerful telescopes. 有一些强大的望远镜；C. The astronomers are more interested in them. 天文学家对它们更感兴趣；D. The Milky Way exists now.银河系现在存在。根据第3段第2和3句But now, powerful telescopes allow scientists to discover smaller planets—the size of Mars or Earth—in other solar systems. These planets might have intelligent life.（但是现在，强大的望远镜允许科学家在其他太阳系中发现火星或地球大小的较小行星。这些行星可能有智慧生命。）可知选B。

4.题意：根据亚历克斯的说法，我们为什么没有收到其他智能生物的信息？考查细节理解。A. They may not want to communicate with us now. 他们现在可能不想和我们沟通；B. They don’t know how to send radio signals to us. 他们不知道如何向我们发送无线电信号；C. There isn’t intelligent life on other planets. 其他星球上没有智能生命；D. We don’t have the right tools to receive their messages.我们没有合适的工具来接收他们的信息。根据第4段倒数第3句In fact, they may be trying to communicate with us now, but we don’t have the right tools (工具) to receive their messages.（事实上，他们现在可能正试图与我们沟通，但我们没有合适的工具来接收他们的信息。）可知选D。

5.题意：这篇文章主要讨论___________________。考查主旨理解。A. the size of Mars or Earth火星或地球的大小；B. intelligent life on other planet其他星球上的智能生命；C. other solar systems其他的太阳系；D. the Milky Way银河系。本文主要谈论其他星球上有智能生命。天文学家赛斯和亚历克斯相信在宇宙的某个地方有智能生命。他们也认为我们很快就会与这些生命沟通。根据本文主要内容可知选B。