Question

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

For generations, people have dreamed of traveling to Mars to explore Earth’s closest planetary neighbor. The American Space Agency, NASA, and other space agencies have announced plans to send people to the Red Planet.1..

In the United States, some volunteers are learning how people will react to months of separation from other humans on a Mars base.2. But actually, they are living in Hawaii. The project is called HI-SEAS. NASA has provided financial support for the work.

Six people are living on a make-believe Mars Base. They are isolated high on top of Mauna Loa, a volcanic mountain on the Big Island of Hawaii, whose environment is as close to Mars as we can find on Earth. 3. When measured from its base, deep in the ocean, Mauna Loa is the second largest mountain in our solar system. Because it is so high, the land is not warm or rich with plants, like the rest of Hawaii. Visually, it is very similar to what you see on Mars. They can walk across red lava rock from the volcano and see the wonderful volcanic material. There is really no visible plant life or animal life.

The six member HI-SEAS crew is mostly self-sufficient. They take care of themselves.4.

But the individuals bringing those supplies cannot communicate with volunteers inside the base. The current crew has been living in the base since October, and will stay until June. Crew members communicate with the outside world through e-mail and blogs. They also produce videos on the YouTube website.5.

Food and supplies are brought to them.

A. But such a manned mission is years away.

B. Mars has the largest volcanic mountain in the solar system.

C. They are spending eight months in an area that looks much like the surface of Mars.

D. Mauna Loa is 2,500 meters above sea level.

E. Conditions on the surface of Mars are closer to the conditions on Earth.

F. For now, on a mountaintop in Hawaii, volunteers are getting a taste of life on a future Mars base.

G. Food and supplies are brought to them.

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.D

4.G

5.F

【解析】本文是一篇说明文，介绍了一些志愿者在夏威夷进行模拟火星生活的事。为了探索火星计划，一些志愿者被隔离在夏威夷大岛的莫纳罗亚火山的最高处，他们生活在一个与火星基地类似环境中进行长达数月的体验。

1.A考查对上下文的推理判断能力。根据下文是讲述志愿者在夏威夷体验在火星的生活可知，探索火星的任务还要好多年才能实现，故A项符合语境。

2.C考查对上下文的推理判断能力。根据上句In the United States, some volunteers are learning how people will react to months of separation from other humans on a Mars base.（在美国，一些志愿者正在学习如何在隔离其他人的火星基地上生活数月。）再根据下句 But actually, they are living in Hawaii.（但实际上他们是在夏威夷生活。），故空格处是讲志愿者们在看似跟火星环境非常相似的地方正在接受长达八个月的体验生活。故选C。

3.D考查对上下文的推理判断能力。根据上句They are isolated high on top of Mauna Loa, a volcanic mountain on the Big Island of Hawaii, whose environment is as close to Mars as we can find on Earth.（他们被隔离在夏威夷大岛的莫纳罗亚火山的最高处。他们生活在我们能在地球上找到的与月球最接近的环境中。）再根据下句When measured from its base, deep in the ocean, Mauna Loa is the second largest mountain in our solar system.（当从莫纳罗亚火山深入海里的底部测量时，它是我们太阳系中的第二大高山。），D项“莫纳罗亚火山距离海平面2500米高”符合上下文语境，故选D。

4.G考查对上下文的推理判断能力。根据上句The six member HI-SEAS crew is mostly self-sufficient. They take care of themselves. （六名HI-SEAS的成员几乎是完全自给自足的，他们自己照顾自己），根据下句But the individuals bringing those supplies cannot communicate with volunteers inside the base.（但是物资供应人员不允许与基地内部志愿者进行交流。）可知，空格处应该是说“需要提供他们食物和物资”。故选G。

5.F考查对上下文的推理判断能力。本句总结全文，是说目前在夏威夷的某个山顶，志愿者们正在体验生活在未来火星基地的滋味。故选F。