In a surprising discovery about where higher life can survive, scientists have found a shrimp —— like creature and a jellyfish swimming beneath an Antarctic ice sheet.
About 180 meters below the ice where no light can get through, scientists had thought nothing much more than a few microbes (微生物) could exist.
That’s why a NASA team was surprised when they lowered a video camera to get the first long look at the underbelly of an ice sheet in Antarctica. A curious shrimp – like creature came swimming by and then parked itself on the camera’s cable. Scientists also pulled up a tentacle (触须) they believe came from a jellyfish.
“We were operating on the presumption that nothing’s there.” Said NASA ice scientist Robert Bindschadler. “It was a shrimp you’d enjoy having on your plate.”
“We were just gaga (狂热的) over it,” he said of the 7.5cm long, orange creature starring in their two – minute video. Technically, it’s not a shrimp. It’s a Lyssianasid amphipod, which is distantly related to the shrimp.
The video is likely to inspire experts to rethink what they know about life in harsh environments. And it has scientists thinking that if shrimp – like creatures can live below 180 meters of Antarctic ice in freezing dark water, what about other cold places? What about Europa, a frozen moon of Jupiter?
Cynan Ellis – Evans, a scientist of the British Antarctic Survey called the finding fascinating. He said it was possible the creatures swam in from far away and don’t live there permanently.
But Kim, who is a co-author of the study, doubts it. “The site in West Antarctica is at least 19 km from open seas. Bindschadler drilled a 20 cm – wide hole and was looking at a tiny amount of water. That means it’s unlikely that two creatures swam from great distances and were captured randomly in that small of an area,” she said.
Yet scientist were puzzled at what the food source would be for these creatures. While some microbes can make their own food out of chemicals in the ocean, complex life like the shrimp can’t, Kim said.
“So how do they survive? That’s the key question.” Kim Sai.
“It’s pretty amazing when you find a huge puzzle like that on a planet where we thought we know everything.” Kim said.
1. What does the underlined word “harsh” probably mean?
A. cold B. loud C. cruel D. ugly
2. According to Kim, the shrimp – like creature .
A. swam great distances to Antarctic B. has always lived in the region
C. gradually evolved from shrimps D. has nothing in common with shrimps
3. The finding is significant in that .
A. it marks NASA’S first Antarctic biological study
B. it proves there is marine life in the Antarctic
C. it could inspire further study of life in harsh environments
D. it shows that Lyssianasid amphipod is closely related to shrimps
4. Which of the following statements about the discovery is FALSE?
A. Complex life usually lives on other forms of life.
B. Scientists saw two creatures in the two – minute video.
C. It is possible for creatures to live 180 meters below the ice though there is no light.
D. Scientists captured the shrimp – like creature in a camera by drilling a hole through the ice.
1.How many days will the two jazz masters perform in Hong Kong?
A. 2 days. B. 3 days. C. 4 days. D. 5 days.
2. You can get a ticket except that ______.
A. you go and buy one at the ticket office B. you book online
C. you call and pay with your credit card D. you wait to get one for free
3. Why will the two jazz masters perform in Hong Kong?
A. Because they meet in there after not seeing each other for 40 years.
B. It’s for Hong Kong Arts Festival.
C. Because they can’t live without music.
D. It just happens that they two are performing there.
Big things were happening in my life the summer after I turned 13. In the middle of that summer, my parents 1. my entire world and turned it upside down 2. they told me they were getting a divorce. I couldn’t believe that our family was going to 3. . Though I always knew my parents weren’t very happy and they often 4. , I still wanted my family to stay the same.
My life changed completely 5. the divorce. My mother and I moved into a small apartment across town, 6. my father and brother, Bill, stayed in our house. I now became a 7. whenever I went to see my dad and Bill on the weekends. And immediately I had my soon-to-be stepfather, Dan, whom I showed no 8. in. I was depressed, especially after Dan and my mother married and I realized that there was no 9. that things could change back to the way they were.
Even though I 10. all Dan’s attempts to get to know me and wasn’t very 11. to him, he never gave up on me. 12. , I began to trust him. I realized that we actually had some things in 13. , especially when it came to movies and TV shows. We 14. a lot of time together hanging out watching TV. That gave us a chance to talk and getto know each other.
Better still, Dan showed an interest in me that I had never experienced from my own father. Dan was always around when I needed 15. on school or friends. Once I began to warm up to Dan, the three of us began spending a lot of time together. We often went out to eat and took short trips. 16. , I discovered that I had the happy family that I had always wanted.
I now realize my parents were 17. about getting the divorce. Their divorce was the best thing to happen for all of us. My father also found happiness—he 18. and had another child, my half-sister, Michelle.
At 13, I learned an important 19. —change is not always the worst thing that can 20. . Sometimes, it is just what we need the most.
21. A. created B. shook C. entered D. occupied
22. A. unless B. if C. when D. until
23. A. break up B. hold up C. keep up D. show up
24.A. whispered B. fought C. talked D. competed
25.A. throughout B. beyond C. before D. after
26.A. where B. although C. while D. that
27.A. visitor B. relative C. neighbor D. stranger
28. A. confidence B. interest C. fear D. anger
29. A. doubt B. difference C. point D. way
30.A. forgot B. supported C. resisted D. valued
31. A. serious B. nice C. bad D. generous
32. A. Gradually B. Immediately C. Usually D. Regularly
33. A. mind B. trouble C. common D. order
34.A. spent B. wasted C. lost D. saved
35.A. experience B. information C. impression D. advice
36.A. However B. Besides C. Eventually D. Occasionally
37. A. wrong B. confident C. guilty D. right
38.A. remarried B. returned C. changed D. left
39. A. method B. truth C. skill D. word
40. A. exist B. remain C. continue D. happen
--- How do you find the concert in the Beijing Grand Theatre last night?
--- _________. But the conductor was perfect.
A. I couldn’t agree more B. I don’t think much of it
C. I was crazy about it D. I really like it
I ________ to help you with your homework, but I couldn’t spare any time. I ________ a composition last night and I’ll finish it today.
A. wanted; wrote B. had wanted; was writing
C. have wanted; wrote D. wanted; have been writing
Without facts, we can’t form a correct opinion, for we need to have actual knowledge _______ our thinking.
A. which to be based on B. which to base on
C. on which to base D. which to base
