13.The announcements by the NASA,in the form of several Web site postings and a video posted on YouTube,were in response to worries that the world will end on Dec.21,2012.
The doomsday(末日) rumour reached a high point with the release of the new movie"2012",directed by Roland Emmerich.In the movie,Yellowstone blows up,showering the continent with black ash.Tidal waves wash over the Himalayas,where the governments of the planet have secretly built a ship which a select 400,000people can ride out the storm.There are hundreds of hooks devoted to 2012,and millions of Web sites,depending on what combination of"2012"and"doomsday"you type into Google.All of it,astronomers say,is nonsense."Most of what's claimed for 2012relies on wishful thinking and ignorance of astronomy."Ed Krupp,an expert on ancient astronomy,wrote in an article in the November issue of Sky&Telescope.
"I get angry at the way people are being influenced and frightened to make money,"Morrison said."There is no right to frighten children to make a buck."suggested David Morrison,an astronomer at the NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field,Calif.He said he had been getting about 20letters and e-mail messages a day from people as far away as India scared out of their wits.Morrison said he did not blame the movie for all this,as much as many other supporters of the Mayan prediction.But then,he said,"my doctorate is in astronomy,not psychology."
In an e-mail exchange,Krupp said:"We are always uncertain about the future,and we always consume representations of it.We are always attracted by the romance of the ancient past."A NASA spokesman,Dwayne Brown,said the agency did not comment on movies,leaving that to movie critics.But when it comes to science,Brown said,"we felt it was careful to provide a resource."
If you want to worry,most scientists say,you should think about global climate change or nuclear war.But if ancient prophecies(預(yù)言)get you going,here are some things Morrison and the others think you should know.
64.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?D
A.Dr.Morrison blamed the Movie"2011"for the panic it aroused in the public around the world.
B.People who watched the movie were seared and firmly believed that the end of the world was coming.
C.In terms of science it was better to provide evidence and theory at the same time.
D.Dr.Morrison thought it was not right to make money by frightening people.
65.It can be inferred from the text thatD.
A.a(chǎn)stronomers think that doomsday is likely to happen in the near future
B.the reason why the NASA posted web site postings was to make people interested in astronomy
C.scientists think we shouldn't worry about doomsday but show concern about environment protection
D.most astronomers agree that the world is not ending-at least anytime soon
66.Which of the following would be the best title?B
A.A New Movie"2012"
B.Is Doomsday Coming?
C.End-of-the-World Stories
D.Astronomers Comment on Movies
67.What would the author probably discuss in the paragraph that follows?C
A.Evidence that the Mayans thought something special would happen in 2012.
B.What will really happen in 2012.
C.The reason why there is no need to worry about doomsday.
D.Ancient stories about the end of the world.
分析 本文屬于說明文閱讀,作者通過這篇文章主要向我們描述了關(guān)于世界末日的傳言,天文學(xué)家認(rèn)為短期內(nèi)不會出現(xiàn)世界末日.
解答 64.D.細(xì)節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文章第三段:I get angry at the way people are being influenced and frightened to make money,"Morrison said."There is no right to frighten children to make a buck可知dr.morrison認(rèn)為這是不正確通過嚇唬人來賺錢;故選D.
65.D.推理判斷題.根據(jù)文章第二段:Ed Krupp,an expert on ancient astronomy,wrote in an article in the November issue of Sky&Telescope可知大部分天文學(xué)家認(rèn)為短期內(nèi)不會出現(xiàn)世界末日;故選D.
66.B.推理判斷題.通讀全文,可知文章主要講了關(guān)于世界末日的傳言,天文學(xué)家認(rèn)為短期內(nèi)不會出現(xiàn)世界末日;故選B.
67.C.推理判斷題.根據(jù)最后一段:But if ancient prophecies(預(yù)言)get you going,here are some things Morrison and the others think you should know可知作者將在下面的段落中討論為什么沒有必要擔(dān)心世界末日;故選C.
點評 考察學(xué)生的細(xì)節(jié)理解和推理判斷能力,做細(xì)節(jié)理解題時一定要找到文章中的原句,和題干進(jìn)行比較,再做出正確的選擇.在做推理判斷題不要以個人的主觀想象代替文章的事實,要根據(jù)文章事實進(jìn)行合乎邏輯的推理判斷.