Question

    U.K. astronomer Martin Rees says that in future, some people may decide to leave Earth in order to live on other worlds. Finally, he added, they might use high technologies to change themselves to adapt to their new environment.

“They will find themselves ill-adapted to conditions there, so they will redesign themselves using powerful genetic engineering (基因工程) technologies,” Rees says. “These techniques will, I hope, be kept under control on Earth; but those on other planets will be freer to try.”

“We should surely wish them luck in changing their children to adapt to outer planets. This may be the first step towards the development of a new species,” says Rees. He says that these “post-humans” could one day turn into “fully inorganic intelligences” which may not even need an atmosphere to live and may grow well in zero-gravity environments, which ordinary people are not adapted to. “So it is in deep space, not on Earth, that ‘brains’ may develop powers that humans can’t even imagine,” says Rees.

Rees also warns that human beings shouldn’t fall back on the idea that they can avoid disaster on Earth by heading deeper into space. “It’s dangerous to think that space offers an escape from Earth’s problems,” he says. “We must solve them here. Dealing with climate change is a doddle compared with changing other planets; there’s no environment in our solar system as mild as even the top of Qomolangma.”

This isn't the first time Rees has made interesting predictions. Last year, Rees predicted possible dangers of nuclear physics (核物理学) tests taking place on Earth. “Maybe a black hole could form, and then take in everything around it,” he said. However, some scientists were not worried about this prediction. Stefan, a physicist, said he wouldn't be “losing any sleep” over that prediction.

1.What might be Rees’s prediction?

A.People might live on other planets soon.

B.Space technologies might be improved greatly.

C.People might avoid using genetic technology in outer space.

D.Space exploration might lead to genetically-changed humans.

2.Which of the following might be a description of “post-humans” ?

A.They have better survivability.

B.They are sensitive to zero gravity.

C.They are as smart as ordinary people.

D.They cannot adapt to the global environment.

3.What might the underlined part “a doddle” Paragraph 4 mean?

A.The top dog. B.A hot potato.

C.A piece of cake. D.A white elephant.

4.What did Stefan think of Rees’s prediction?

A.It was doubtful.

B.It made great sense.

C.It required special attention.

D.It questioned many popular beliefs.

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.C

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章介绍了英国天文学家Martin Rees的预言。他预言人类在探索太空的过程中将利用强大的基因工程技术来改造自己，并预言post-humans（后人类）会有更好的生存能力。

1.

细节理解题。根据文章第二段Rees说的话“They will find themselves ill-adapted to conditions there, so they will redesign themselves using powerful genetic engineering (基因工程) technologies.”可知，在探索太空的过程中，人们会发现自己不适应那里的环境，所以他们将利用强大的基因工程技术重新设计自己。由此可推断出，Rees预测太空探索可能会导致人类的基因改变。故选D项。

2.

细节理解题。根据文章第三段关键句“He says that these “post-humans” could one day turn into “fully inorganic intelligences” which may not even need an atmosphere to live and may grow well in zero-gravity environments, which ordinary people are not adapted to.”可知，post-humans（后人类）可能有一天会不需要大气来生存，也可以在零重力环境下生存良好，而这些环境是普通人不能适应的。由此可推断出，post-humans（后人类）有更好的生存能力。故选A项。

3.

词义猜测题。画线词所在句“Dealing with climate change is a doddle compared with changing other planets”意为“与改变其他星球相比，应对地球上的气候变化是_____。”再根据下一句话“there’s no environment in our solar system as mild as even the top of Qomolangma.”可知，在我们太阳系中，没有哪一个环境像珠穆朗玛峰山顶那样温和。”，珠穆朗玛峰象征着地球，也就说，地球的环境在太阳系中是最温和的。再结合画线词所在句可推断出，与改变其他星球相比，应对地球上的气候变化应该是简单的。A piece of cake意为“小事一桩”，符合句意。故选C项。

4.

推理判断题。根据文章最后一段关键句“However, some scientists were not worried about this prediction. Stefan, a physicist, said he wouldn't be “losing any sleep” over that prediction.”可知，然而，一些科学家并不担心这个预言。物理学家Stefan说他不会因为这个预言而失眠的。由此可推断出Stefan对这个预言的态度是怀疑的，所以才不会因此失眠。故选A项。