18.It took 100years,but finally,scientists proved Albert Einstein's theory that gravitational waves exist.
The waves were predicted as part of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity nearly 100years ago.It was the theory of the physics behind the workings of our world and the universe.The idea was that the waves are like ripples(漣漪)in space,caused by some of the violent and energetic processes in the Universe.For example,two black holes crashing into each other.
Now a group of scientists,including ones from CalTech,MIT and the LIGO Scientific Collaboration finally found the gravitational waves.
David Reitze is the executive(有執(zhí)行權(quán)的)director of the LIGO observatory(天文臺(tái)) at CalTech."We have detected gravitational waves.We did it!"Reitze spoke with others at a press conference in Washington,DC this past week.The scientists announced they were able to see ripples in the fabric(織物)of space time.
What are these gravitational waves?Well,imagine throwing a rock into a pond.When the rock hits the flat surface of the water,it creates ripples or waves.Space time is like the surface of the water.So that means gravitational waves are like the ripples moving out from where the rock hits the water.
It might be hard to understand,but those gravitational waves expand and contract space and time as they move through space.And when they get to the Earth,the waves pass through,and contract and expand the planet as the wave goes by.
It was Einstein who said these gravitational waves should be observable.But these are not huge waves.They are very,very small,which is why it took so long to find them.You cannot see them with your eyes.They are smaller than the size of an atom.
How did the scientists find them?They used a giant scientific tool called LIGO-which stands for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory.The billion-dollar LIGO project is two L-shaped observatories.One is in Louisiana and one in Washington state.Their job was to watch for these gravitational waves.They have been looking on and off since 2002.
For years,scientists have been watching two black holes in another galaxy(銀河)faraway.The two were spinning around each other,moving closer and closer together.When they finally crashed into each other,it was with such power and force,that gravitational waves rang throughout the universe,like a giant bell.Those waves,traveling at the speed of light,finally reached the Earth,some 1.3billion years later.They are the same waves that the scientists announced this past week.Each of the black holes was thought to be 29to 36times the mass of our sun.
So,what does this discovery mean?
Abhay Ashtekar is a Penn State physicist,who was not on the discovery team.He said:"Our understanding of the heavens changed dramatically."
24.According to the text,which of the following statements is true?C
A.Gravitational waves have been existing for 100years.
B.Albert Einstein proved the existence of gravitational waves.
C.Gravitational waves travel as fast as light.
D.Albert Einstein predicted the existence of black holes.
25.What can be inferred from the text?A
A.The LIGO project costs a lot of money.
B.The LIGO project is directed by Abhay Ashtekar.
C.The LIGO has been watching for gravitational waves continuously.
D.The LIGO observatory is intended to detect black holes.
26.What is the text mainly about?B
A.Einstein's General Theory of Relativity.
B.The detection of gravitational waves.
C.David Reitze's LIGO project.
D.The crash of two black holes.
27.The underlined word"contract"probably meansB.
A.make a legal agreement with someone
B.become shorter or narrower or smaller
C.catch or develop an illness
D.communicate with someone.
分析 本文是一篇科教類閱讀,報(bào)道了最近發(fā)現(xiàn)的引力波.文章詳細(xì)介紹了引力波的產(chǎn)生,引力波發(fā)現(xiàn)的意義和引力波的尋找過程
解答 24-27CABB
24題答案:C考查細(xì)節(jié)推理,根據(jù)原文倒數(shù)第二段的Those waves,traveling at the speed of light…"那些波(引力波)以光速傳播…"可知本題答案為C選項(xiàng).
25題答案:A考查細(xì)節(jié)推理,根據(jù)文章倒數(shù)第三段的The billion-dollar LIGO project is two L-shaped observatories…"這個(gè)花了一億美元的工程是兩個(gè)L型的天文臺(tái)…"可知本題答案為A選項(xiàng).
26題答案:B考查細(xì)主旨概括,文章詳細(xì)介紹了引力波的產(chǎn)生,引力波發(fā)現(xiàn)的意義和引力波的尋找過程;故本題答案為B選項(xiàng).
27題答案:B考查細(xì)節(jié)推理,根據(jù)文章第六段的but those gravitational waves expand and contract space and time as they move through space."但是當(dāng)這些引力波穿過太空時(shí)它們會(huì)波擴(kuò)張并且___空間和時(shí)間."可知contract一詞的含義為"使某物變短、變小或變窄",故本題答案為B選項(xiàng).
點(diǎn)評(píng) 本文是一篇科教類閱讀,題目涉及多道細(xì)節(jié)理解題,做題時(shí)結(jié)合原文和題目有針對(duì) 性找出相關(guān)語(yǔ)句進(jìn)行仔細(xì)分析,結(jié)合選項(xiàng)選出正確答案.推理判斷也是要在抓住關(guān)鍵句子的基礎(chǔ)上合理的分析才能得出正確的答案.