Scientists are worried that an asteroid(小行星) will possibly hit the earth in 2036. If scientists are right, planet earth is 24 years away from a major disaster.
Scientists have been monitoring the progress of a 390-metre-wide asteroid ever since it was discovered last June. They have announced that it could hit the earth, causing huge damage, in 2036.
NASA estimates that the impact from the asteroid named after Apophis and ancient Egyptian demon(魔鬼) would release more than 100,000 times the energy released in the nuclear explosion over Hiroshima. Thousands of square kilometers would be directly affected by the explosion. The whole planet would see the effects of the dust released into the atmosphere.
This is the worst possible scenario(情景) of any asteroid in recorded history.
Having more than 20 years’ warning of possible impact might seem plenty of time. But scientists insist that there is actually very little time left to decide.
Luckily, however, they aren’t short on ideas for deflecting the asteroid. The favored method is also probably the easiest—throwing a spacecraft at the asteroid to change its direction. The European Space Agency plans to test this in the next decade.
One idea that seems to have no support from astronomers is the use of explosive, although this sounds more likely to the public or Hollywood producer.
At present, scientists are trying to make a better estimate of how much time we have, through more observations.
In spring of next year, there will be another chance for radar observation of Apophis. This will help astronomers calculate the orbits of the asteroid more accurately.
If, at that stage, they can’t rule out an impact with the earth in 2036, the next chance to make better observations will not be until 2016, then 2029.
“If we wait until 2029 and the worst—case scenario turns out to be true, it would seem unlikely that we’d be able to do anything about 2036,” warns Prof Fitzsimmons.
【小题1】What does the underlined word “deflecting” most probably mean?

A．making it smaller.

B．observing it clearly enough.

C．dividing into pieces.

D．changing its direction.

【小题2】According to the scientists’ observation, _______.

A．the asteroid named Apophis will explode in 2036.

B．the asteroid named Apophis might hit the earth in 2036.

C．the asteroid named Apophis is 24 years old.

D．there is plenty of time to decide the way we deal with the asteroid.

【小题3】What is the impact from Apophis if it hits the earth?

A．It will damage Hiroshima.

B．Thousands of square kilometers would see the effects of the dust released into the atmosphere.

C．It might be the worst damage caused by asteroids in recorded history.

D．The whole planet would be directly affected by the explosion.

【小题4】It can be inferred from the text that _____.

A．Hollywood producers will explode Apophis to avoid its hit.

B．There are only two chances for scientists to make better observations if they can’t grasp the chance next year.

C．NASA plans to throw a spacecraft at Apophis to change its direction.

D．It is supportive from astronauts that we explode the Apophis.

Scientists are worried that an asteroid(小行星) will possibly hit the earth in 2036. If scientists are right, planet earth is 24 years away from a major disaster.

Scientists have been monitoring the progress of a 390-metre-wide asteroid ever since it was discovered last June. They have announced that it could hit the earth, causing huge damage, in 2036.

NASA estimates that the impact from the asteroid named after Apophis and ancient Egyptian demon(魔鬼) would release more than 100,000 times the energy released in the nuclear explosion over Hiroshima. Thousands of square kilometers would be directly affected by the explosion. The whole planet would see the effects of the dust released into the atmosphere.

This is the worst possible scenario(情景) of any asteroid in recorded history.

Having more than 20 years’ warning of possible impact might seem plenty of time. But scientists insist that there is actually very little time left to decide.

Luckily, however, they aren’t short on ideas for deflecting the asteroid. The favored method is also probably the easiest—throwing a spacecraft at the asteroid to change its direction. The European Space Agency plans to test this in the next decade.

One idea that seems to have no support from astronomers is the use of explosive, although this sounds more likely to the public or Hollywood producer.

At present, scientists are trying to make a better estimate of how much time we have, through more observations.

In spring of next year, there will be another chance for radar observation of Apophis. This will help astronomers calculate the orbits of the asteroid more accurately.

If, at that stage, they can’t rule out an impact with the earth in 2036, the next chance to make better observations will not be until 2016, then 2029.

“If we wait until 2029 and the worst—case scenario turns out to be true, it would seem unlikely that we’d be able to do anything about 2036,” warns Prof Fitzsimmons.

1.What does the underlined word “deflecting” most probably mean?

A．making it smaller.

B．observing it clearly enough.

C．dividing into pieces.

D．changing its direction.

2.According to the scientists’ observation, _______.

A．the asteroid named Apophis will explode in 2036.

B．the asteroid named Apophis might hit the earth in 2036.

C．the asteroid named Apophis is 24 years old.

D．there is plenty of time to decide the way we deal with the asteroid.

3.What is the impact from Apophis if it hits the earth?

A．It will damage Hiroshima.

B．Thousands of square kilometers would see the effects of the dust released into the atmosphere.

C．It might be the worst damage caused by asteroids in recorded history.

D．The whole planet would be directly affected by the explosion.

4.It can be inferred from the text that _____.

A．Hollywood producers will explode Apophis to avoid its hit.

B．There are only two chances for scientists to make better observations if they can’t grasp the chance next year.

C．NASA plans to throw a spacecraft at Apophis to change its direction.

D．It is supportive from astronauts that we explode the Apophis.

 

He had travelled thousands of miles in the hope of earning some money，but 18-year-old Lin Kongming never knew danger was waiting for him.

He and six other migrant workers from Fujian Province spent 36 hours in Iraq as international hostages（人质）. But luckily，they were set free last Tuesday morning，unharmed by the people who had taken them hostage.

After hard work by Chinese diplomats（外交官）in the region the Iraqi kidnappers（绑架者）agreed to hand them over to a local religious group.“The friendly relations between the Chinese and Iraqi peoples have played a key role in the release of the hostages,”said Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan. China refused to join the US-led coalition（联军）in the Iraq war.

Since April 4，over 60 hostages from 12 countries，including America，Italy and Japan，have been taken in Iraq. Some have been released, others were killed.

The Iraqi resistance groups have started taking foreigners hostage in an attempt to force the US-led troops out of their country. As a result，many foreigners have left，fearing the situation will get worse. Some nations are also considering removing their troops from Iraq. Thailand has ordered its forces not to leave their camp and may bring them home before September as originally planned. New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark is considering similar action.

But Dan Senor，spokesman for the US-led coalition in Baghdad，said that it would not negotiate（谈判）with “terrorists or kidnappers” to get hostages released.

The seven workers from Fujian were set free mainly because ______.

A. they were too poor to pay anything

B. kidnappers didn’t know they were Chinese

C. China didn’t take sides with the US-led coalition

D. kidnappers were friendly to the Chinese

Why did the Iraqi resistance groups start to take foreigners hostage？

A. To show their anger towards the occupation of foreign troops.

B. To tell the world they would fear nothing.

C. To make foreign armies leave their country.

D. To resist the American troops.

The author mentioned Dan Senor to show the US ______.

A. wouldn’t give in to Iraqi terrorists or kidnappers

B. had enough power to station in Iraq

C. wouldn’t give up unless it could get something

D. had no plan to bring its troops home

The passage mainly tells us ______.

A. the hostage crises in Iraq

B. foreigners were not welcome in Iraq

C. the Chinese hostages were set free

D. keeping away from Iraq is a wise choice

He had travelled thousands of miles in the hope of earning some money，but 18-year-old Lin Kongming never knew danger was waiting for him.

He and six other migrant workers from Fujian Province spent 36 hours in Iraq as international hostages（人质）. But luckily，they were set free last Tuesday morning，unharmed by the people who had taken them hostage.

After hard work by Chinese diplomats（外交官）in the region the Iraqi kidnappers（绑架者）agreed to hand them over to a local religious group.“The friendly relations between the Chinese and Iraqi peoples have played a key role in the release of the hostages,”said Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan. China refused to join the US-led coalition（联军）in the Iraq war.

Since April 4，over 60 hostages from 12 countries，including America，Italy and Japan，have been taken in Iraq. Some have been released, others were killed.

The Iraqi resistance groups have started taking foreigners hostage in an attempt to force the US-led troops out of their country. As a result，many foreigners have left，fearing the situation will get worse. Some nations are also considering removing their troops from Iraq. Thailand has ordered its forces not to leave their camp and may bring them home before September as originally planned. New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark is considering similar action.

But Dan Senor，spokesman for the US-led coalition in Baghdad，said that it would not negotiate（谈判）with “terrorists or kidnappers” to get hostages released.

1.The seven workers from Fujian were set free mainly because ______.

A. they were too poor to pay anything

B. kidnappers didn’t know they were Chinese

C. China didn’t take sides with the US-led coalition

D. kidnappers were friendly to the Chinese

2.Why did the Iraqi resistance groups start to take foreigners hostage？

A. To show their anger towards the occupation of foreign troops.

B. To tell the world they would fear nothing.

C. To make foreign armies leave their country.

D. To resist the American troops.

3.The author mentioned Dan Senor to show the US ______.

A. wouldn’t give in to Iraqi terrorists or kidnappers

B. had enough power to station in Iraq

C. wouldn’t give up unless it could get something

D. had no plan to bring its troops home

4.The passage mainly tells us ______.

A. the hostage crises in Iraq

B. foreigners were not welcome in Iraq

C. the Chinese hostages were set free

D. keeping away from Iraq is a wise choice

 

He had travelled thousands of miles in the hope of earning some money，but 18-year-old Lin Kongming never knew danger was waiting for him.
He and six other migrant workers from Fujian Province spent 36 hours in Iraq as international hostages（人质）. But luckily，they were set free last Tuesday morning，unharmed by the people who had taken them hostage.
After hard work by Chinese diplomats（外交官）in the region the Iraqi kidnappers（绑架者）agreed to hand them over to a local religious group.“The friendly relations between the Chinese and Iraqi peoples have played a key role in the release of the hostages,”said Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan. China refused to join the US-led coalition（联军）in the Iraq war.
Since April 4，over 60 hostages from 12 countries，including America，Italy and Japan，have been taken in Iraq. Some have been released, others were killed.
The Iraqi resistance groups have started taking foreigners hostage in an attempt to force the US-led troops out of their country. As a result，many foreigners have left，fearing the situation will get worse. Some nations are also considering removing their troops from Iraq. Thailand has ordered its forces not to leave their camp and may bring them home before September as originally planned. New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark is considering similar action.
But Dan Senor，spokesman for the US-led coalition in Baghdad，said that it would not negotiate（谈判）with “terrorists or kidnappers” to get hostages released.
【小题1】The seven workers from Fujian were set free mainly because ______.

A．they were too poor to pay anything

B．kidnappers didn’t know they were Chinese

C．China didn’t take sides with the US-led coalition

D．kidnappers were friendly to the Chinese

【小题2】Why did the Iraqi resistance groups start to take foreigners hostage？

A．To show their anger towards the occupation of foreign troops.

B．To tell the world they would fear nothing.

C．To make foreign armies leave their country.

D．To resist the American troops.

【小题3】The author mentioned Dan Senor to show the US ______.

A．wouldn’t give in to Iraqi terrorists or kidnappers

B．had enough power to station in Iraq

C．wouldn’t give up unless it could get something

D．had no plan to bring its troops home

【小题4】The passage mainly tells us ______.

A．the hostage crises in Iraq

B．foreigners were not welcome in Iraq

C．the Chinese hostages were set free

D．keeping away from Iraq is a wise choice