Mars Was Not Always Bitterly Cold

Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have reported evidence that Mars was warmer and wetter long ago than it is today.  The Caltech scientists say they have directly established the temperature of Mars four billion years ago. At least, they established the surface temperature on part of the planet at that time. The researchers say it is the first such evidence to be discovered and presented.

The Caltech scientists say carbonate（碳酸盐） minerals formed on Mars at about eighteen degrees Celsius. They reached the finding after studying a meteorite（陨石） that had its beginnings near the Martian surface.

Today, the average temperature on Mars is sixty-three degrees below zero Celsius.

The finding was reported on the website of the National Academy of Sciences. Caltech Assistant Professor Woody Fischer helped to prepare the report. He says eighteen degrees Celsius is not especially cold or hot. He says this makes the finding extremely interesting. Knowing the temperature can give scientists an idea of the climate on Mars long ago. It can also help them decide whether the planet had liquid water. Spacecraft orbiting Mars have shown what appear to be rivers, lakebeds and mineral deposits. These pictures suggest that, at one time, water did flow there. Mars Rover vehicles and other spacecraft have confirmed the information.

Caltech Geology Professor John Eiler was another writer of the report. He says knowing the temperature of Mars from long ago provides valuable information. It shows that early in the planet's history, at least part of Mars could support a climate like that of Earth.

The meteorite the scientists examined is one of the oldest known rocks in the world. It is called the Allan Hills meteorite. Its name came from the place in Antarctica where it was found in 1984. The meteorite is believed to have blown loose from the Mars' surface when another space rock struck its "home."

1. The underlined word “establish” in Paragraph 1 probably means “___________”.

A．to set up

B．to make people accept a belief

C．to discover or prove

D．to start having a relationship with others

2.How did the scientists reach the finding?

A．By studying Allan Hills meteorite.

B．By using spacecraft orbiting Mars.

C．By studying minerals gathered on Mars

D．By studying a meteorite on the Martian surface.

3.According to the fourth paragraph, what have spacecraft orbiting Mars done?

A．Measuring the temperature of Mars.

B．Taking photos of the surface of Mars.

C．Confirming that there is water flowing on Mars.

D．Finding where human beings will probably land on Mars.

4.How did Allan Hills meteorite get its name?

A．From its original place on Mars.

B．From where it was found on the earth.

C．From the name of the scientist who found it.

D．From the name of the aircraft that discovered it

5. Where can we most probably read this passage?

A．In a biography of scientists.

B．In a geography magazine.

C．In an environment report.

D．In a science report.

 

Mars Was Not Always Bitterly Cold
Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have reported evidence that Mars was warmer and wetter long ago than it is today.  The Caltech scientists say they have directly established the temperature of Mars four billion years ago. At least, they established the surface temperature on part of the planet at that time. The researchers say it is the first such evidence to be discovered and presented.
The Caltech scientists say carbonate（碳酸盐） minerals formed on Mars at about eighteen degrees Celsius. They reached the finding after studying a meteorite（陨石） that had its beginnings near the Martian surface.
Today, the average temperature on Mars is sixty-three degrees below zero Celsius.
The finding was reported on the website of the National Academy of Sciences. Caltech Assistant Professor Woody Fischer helped to prepare the report. He says eighteen degrees Celsius is not especially cold or hot. He says this makes the finding extremely interesting. Knowing the temperature can give scientists an idea of the climate on Mars long ago. It can also help them decide whether the planet had liquid water. Spacecraft orbiting Mars have shown what appear to be rivers, lakebeds and mineral deposits. These pictures suggest that, at one time, water did flow there. Mars Rover vehicles and other spacecraft have confirmed the information.
Caltech Geology Professor John Eiler was another writer of the report. He says knowing the temperature of Mars from long ago provides valuable information. It shows that early in the planet's history, at least part of Mars could support a climate like that of Earth.
The meteorite the scientists examined is one of the oldest known rocks in the world. It is called the Allan Hills meteorite. Its name came from the place in Antarctica where it was found in 1984. The meteorite is believed to have blown loose from the Mars' surface when another space rock struck its "home."
【小题1】 The underlined word “establish” in Paragraph 1 probably means “___________”.

A．to set up

B．to make people accept a belief

C．to discover or prove

D．to start having a relationship with others

【小题2】How did the scientists reach the finding?

A．By studying Allan Hills meteorite.

B．By using spacecraft orbiting Mars.

C．By studying minerals gathered on Mars

D．By studying a meteorite on the Martian surface.

【小题3】According to the fourth paragraph, what have spacecraft orbiting Mars done?

A．Measuring the temperature of Mars.

B．Taking photos of the surface of Mars.

C．Confirming that there is water flowing on Mars.

D．Finding where human beings will probably land on Mars.

【小题4】How did Allan Hills meteorite get its name?

A．From its original place on Mars.

B．From where it was found on the earth.

C．From the name of the scientist who found it.

D．From the name of the aircraft that discovered it

【小题5】 Where can we most probably read this passage?

A．In a biography of scientists.

B．In a geography magazine.

C．In an environment report.

D．In a science report.

 

第一节（共5小题；每小题1.5分，满分7.5分）

听下面5段对话。每段对话后有一个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。听完每段对话后，你都有10秒种的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话仅读一遍。

1.What are the speakers talking about?

A. The traveling to the Great Wall          B. A film produced on the Great Wall

C. The pictures the man took on the Great Wall

2.What does the woman mean?

A. She will attend another lecture on Friday morning.

B. She has mixed up the dates.      C. The man doesn’t need to remind her

3.Where does the conversation most probably take place?

A. In the café      B. In the kitchen       C. In the store

4.Where did the man think they were supposed to meet?

A. At the information desk      B. On the platform

C. At the ticket office

5.Why is the woman so happy?

A. Her article is in the latest issue of the journal

B. She has won a prize for her research    

C. She has got her paper on classroom activities published.

第二节（共15小题；每小题1.5分，满分22.5分）

听下面5段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5秒钟；听完后，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。

听第6段材料，回答6-7题。

6.What’s the relationship between the speakers?

A. Husband and wife     B. Doctor and patient       C. Doctor and nurse

7.Why doesn’t the man’s head hurt that much?

A. He has had some pills        B. He’s frightened     C. He’s treated

听第7段材料，回答8-10题。

8.Where does the conversation take place?

A. At a travel agency       B. In a bank        C. At an airport

9.What does the woman show the man for here identification?

A. Her ID card      B. Her credit card      C. Her passport

10.How much will the woman get at last?

A. $ 294        B. $200     C. $147

听第8段材料，回答第11-13题。

11.What can we know about the man’s school?

A. There are several other schools like it nowadays.

B. Many children in it have been sent to special school

C. A lot of children in it are physically disabled.

12.Why did the man decide to start the school.

A. He wanted to bring all children together for their education

B. There were not enough special schools

C. The disabled children have no choice to go to school

13.What happens in classes in the school?

A. Quick learners and slow learners are together for all classes.

B. Slow learners sometimes work better and more quickly than quick learners.

C. Quick learners sometimes act as teachers of slow learners

听第9段材料，回答第14-17题。

14.Where are the speakers?

A. At the radio station         B. On the Tv show       C. In the forest

15.How many kinds of trees grow in one square kilometer according to the man?

A. About 1,500      B. About 750        C. About 5,000

16.What does the woman do?

A. An announcer     B. A student        C. A scientist

17.What can we know from the conversation?

A. People can’t see any of the trees in other places.

B. The speakers hear many birds singing

C. The man is an insect researcher

听第10段材料，回答第18-20题。

18.Who are the main characters of the science fiction?

A. A group of soldiers          B. A group of sailors

C. Two young people

19.What book is the third one mentioned in the text?

A. A historical novel           B. A sports journal     C. A biography

20.What can we know from the text?

A. Give Me Shelter is written by Alan Cooper

B. Jump for the Stars tells us something about Tracy McGrady

C. The speaker is a bookstore keeper

 

阅读理解

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C、D)中，选出最佳选项。

United States President George W. Bush yesterday expressed doubt on efforts by United Nations arms inspectors(调查人员)to get detailed information from Iraqi scientists, adding the presence of Iraqi officials as a reason for it. A US official said any interference (干涉、干扰) by Iraq with the interview would be another sign that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was failing to meet UN disarmament(解除武装) demands. “The inspectors are there to decide whether or not he is disarming. You hear these reports about Iraqi scientists being interviewed, but there's an official in the room.” Bush told reporters during a tour of his Texas farm. Bush had been asked whether he was satisfied with the UN inspectors' attempts to interview Iraqi scientists. Bush's answer included broad criticism (批评) of Saddam and a warning that a war was near. “He is a man who likes to play games and jokes. The question is, will Saddam Hussein disarm?” Bush said. “The first sign isn't very satisfactory that he will voluntarily disarm.”Bush talked of Iraq's declaration on its arms, which he called “false”, as well as the scientist interviews. “He's got to understand his day is coming,” Bush said of Saddam. Bush spoke as more than 11,000 US soldiers prepared to head for the Gulf to join in US preparations for a possible invasion (入侵) of Iraq to force an end to any programmes Saddam has to make nuclear biological or chemical weapons(武器). The news came the same day as warplanes dropped 480,000 leaflets(传单) over two cities in a so called no - fly area of southern Iraq on Thursday, pressing Iraqi army and citizens to listen to US special - forces radio broadcasts to the area, the US armed forces said.

1．What didn't President Bush talk about according to this news report?

[　　]

A．The interview with Iraqi scientists.

B．The warning towards Iraq.

C．The doubt about Saddam's disarmament.

D．Sending 480,000 soldiers to Iraq.

2．Why didn't Bush believe what the Iraqi scientists said during the interviews?

[　　]

A．Because the scientists wouldn't like to tell the truth.　　　　　　　　　　

B．Because Bush never believed anythi g the scientists said.

C．Because Iraqi officials were watching them during the interviews.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

D．Because Saddam asked them to tell lies during the interviews.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

3．Which of the following statements is true?

[　　]

A．The farm owned by Bush is in Califor nia.

B．11,000 US soldiers haven't got to the Middle East.

C．The no - fly zone is in the northern part of Iraq.

D．Bush thinks Saddam will disarm of himself.