It seems that we are one step closer to finding alien life and maybe a future home for humanity. Scientists from NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) have found a new solar system filled with planets that look like Earth and could even support life.

The group of seven planets, which orbits a star called Trappist-1, is 40 light years away from Earth in the constellation of Aquarius(水瓶座). And three of them are in the so-called “habitable (宜居的)zone” ----the area around a star where liquid water is most likely to be found. This is important because water is a necessary ingredient for life.

All of the planets were found using a method called “transit photometry.” This works by watching out for when a planet passes in front of its host start. This blocks out a small amount of light, allowing us to see the planet and learn about its size.

“This is an amazing planetary system---not only because we have found so many planets, but because they are all surprisingly similar in size to the Earth,” astronomer Michael Gillon from the University of Liege in Belgium told The Independent.

Trappist-1 is a “dwarf star (矮星)” which is colder and shines dimmer than our sun. If a person were on one of the seven planets, everything would look a lot darker than usual. The amount of light heading toward our eyes would be about 200 times less than we get from the sun, according to The Independent.

Because of that, Trappist-1, together with many other dwarf stars, was never on the list of places where scientists look for alien life. but Michael Gillon, lead researcher behind the discovery, decided to give dwarf stars a chance. He built a telescope in Chile to observe 60 of the closest dwarf stars, and it turned out that Trappist-1 was worthy of the effort.

The researchers hope that they can spend more time watching the newly found planets to learn more about them. Even though more research is needed before determining whether these planets could really support life, the discovery is still encouraging. It shows just how many Earth-size planets could be out there.

“The discovery gives us a hint that finding a second Earth is not just a matter of if, but when,” NASA scientist Thomas Zurbuchen told the Telegraph.

1.Which of the following statements is TRUE about the newly found planets?

A. It will take human beings about 40 years to travel to them

B. Some of them might have the proper conditions to support life

C. They are spread out in the habitable zone around Trappist-1

D. Underground ice has been found in some them

2.“Transit photometry” is a special method mainly used to ________.

A. tell apart different stars

B. test the brightness of stars

C. search for and measure planets

D. work out the distance between stars

3.We can infer from the article that _______.

A. scientists will soon find an Earth-like planet that can support human life

B. researchers know a little about the environment on the newly found planets

C. dwarf stars have long been a popular choice in the hunt for Earth-like planets

D. the size of a planet is the top concern when scientists search for a “second Earth”

4.Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?

A. Life in space soon?

B. Any aliens in space?

C. Trappist-1, a dark dwarf star

D. New record, seven new solar systems

練習(xí)冊系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目：高中英語 來源：河南省漯河市2016-2017學(xué)年高一下學(xué)期期末考試英語試卷 題型：書面表達(dá)

假定你是李華，最近獲悉你的美國網(wǎng)友Peter家鄉(xiāng)受到地震侵襲，損失慘重。請你用英語給Peter寫一封慰問信。信的內(nèi)容包括：

1. 得知情況及感受；

2. 表達(dá)安慰和鼓勵；

3. 打算提供的幫助。

注意：

1. 詞數(shù)100左右；

2. 可以適當(dāng)增加細(xì)節(jié)，以使行文連貫；

3. 開頭和結(jié)語已為你寫好，但不計入總詞數(shù)。

Dear Peter,

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Never give up hope and be strong! Longing for good news from you!

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：河南省鄭州市2018屆高三上學(xué)期一輪復(fù)習(xí)模擬測試（一）英語試卷 題型：閱讀理解

Exposed soil isn’t part of nature’s master plan. Good examples where soil is naturally found with no plants growing in are beneath freshly removed trees, or where the ground has been burnt by a land fire. In these situations bare soil isn’t bare for long; within days seedlings (芽) begin to appear and cover the ground. In a few months’ time, the scar is hardly noticeable.

Unlike these natural examples, ploughed (耕犁) fields and freshly dug gardens are obvious examples created by man. But, left to nature, even these bare soils soon turn green with a large number of tiny seedlings. In fields, gardens and on grasslands, roadside and sports fields, along streets and on paths and pavements, we are constantly battling to stop weeds from growing. All we are doing is stop the recovering powers of nature.

Whenever soil is exposed, weeds act like a kind of medicine to reduce the potentially harmful rays of the sun, so the sooner plant growth covers the soil over again, the better.

Weeds also help to improve the fertility (肥沃) of the soil. Their roots get the soil together, improving its structure and creating a more stable environment in which soil life can grow fast. Those weeds with a deep root draw up plant nutrients from deeper in the ground, making them available to plants growing near the soil surface. Above ground, the stems (莖) of weeds help trap fallen leaves which break down into the soil, adding to the fertility of the soil.

As the soil becomes more fertile, different kinds of plants start to replace the “pioneering” weeds. Bushes move in to take the place by gradually shading them out, followed in turn by trees, which eventually push up through the bushes, finally shading them out too. Fallen leaves from the bushes and trees carry on the job of building soil fertility that was begun by those very first weeds that grew on the bare soil. Then, when one of these mature trees is removed in a storm, leaving a wound of bare soil in the earth, the whole process starts again.

1.When will soil be left bare?

A. A land fire has just happened. B. A young tree is planted in.

C. No one ploughs the land. D. No crops are planted in.

2.Which of the following prevents the bare soil from recovering?

A. Seedlings appearing in gardens.

B. Reducing harmful rays of the sun.

C. Removing weeds from pavements.

D. Replacing plants in sports fields.

3.What can weeds do for the soil?

A. They create soil life.

B. They help improve the soil.

C. They get nutrients from the sun.

D. They break down fallen leaves.

4.How can the soil remain fertile after trees move in?

A. By adding more weeds to the soil.

B. By taking out the weeds constantly.

C. By removing the previous bushes.

D. By making use of the fallen leaves.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：湖南省長沙市2016-2017學(xué)年高二上學(xué)期期末考試英語試卷 題型：完形填空

In August 1999,Yuriko noticed that her daughter,Ayako,was looking thin and pale,_______ she insisted that the 22-year-old see a doctor.As they waited for the rest results,the doctor________ gave Yuriko a note while her daughter wasn’t noticing.

In the restroom,Yuriko opened the note,“It is stomach cancer,“said the doctor.“Please________.There is no time.”

On September 21,Ayako had a(n)________.Three quarters of her stomach were removed.The doctor ________ the situation to Yuriko but the medical terms sounded like a foreign language.

Ayako was put on anti-cancer drugs,and over the next three months,she ________ from side effects,and lost seven kilograms.

Yuriko decided to do more to ________ her daughter.She read all kinds of books on cancer.As a single mother,she had no one to share her ________ with.

________ the difficulties,Yuriko was able to help her daughter.When Ayako started experiencing breathing difficulties,Yuriko ________ if it could be a side effect of the anti-cancer drug.She told Ayako’s doctor and he ________ to take her off the drug.

________,in November 2002,Ayako’s treatment came to an end.Although she felt her pain ________,Yuriko couldn’t forget how lost and ________ she felt during her daughter’s treatment.She wrote a letter to the local newspaper ________ the creation of a support group for cancer patients.

Phone calls and letters ________ her idea started pouring in.In December 2002,Yuriko formally ________ Ikkikai,roughly meaning “sharing the joy”,with the ________ of providing hope and information for people with cancer,and their families.

Ikkikai’s message has begun to ________.Yuriko says,“The simple act of talking to other people who understand your problems can make the greatest ________.I hope that more people would join in the group.”

1.A. otherwise B. or C. so D. but

2.A. nervously B. secretly C. weakly D. kindly

3.A. imagine B. guess C. look D. hurry

4.A. operation B. training C. rest D. examination

5.A. expressed B. explained C. recognized D. repeated

6.A. learnt B. survived C. suffered D. escaped

7.A. please B. praise C. help D. comfort

8.A. burden B. pleasure C. benefit D. disappointment

9.A. In honor of B. In spite of C. Instead of D. Because of

10.A. realized B. discussed C. recognized D. wondered

11.A. meant B. regretted C. agreed D. preferred

12.A. Actually B. Finally C. Obviously D. Surprisingly

13.A. relieved B. shocked C. convinced D. encouraged

14.A. lonely B. angry C. defeated D. ashamed

15.A. mentioning B. suggesting C. running D. complaining

16.A. describing B. considering C. testing D. supporting

17.A. founded B. discovered C. assisted D. joined

18.A. choice B. memory C. problem D. goal

19.A. exist B. spread C. arrive D. continue

20.A. promise B. record C. job D. difference

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：山西省運(yùn)城市2017屆高三4月模擬調(diào)研測試英語試卷 題型：短文改錯

假定英語課上老師要求同桌之間交換修改作文，請你修改你同桌寫的以下作文。文中共有10處語言錯誤，每句最多有兩處。每處錯誤僅涉及一個單詞的增加、刪除或修改。

增加：在缺詞處加一個漏字符號（∧），并在其下面寫出該加的詞。

刪除：把多余的詞用斜線（＼）劃掉。

修改：在錯的詞下劃一橫線，并在該詞下面寫出修改后的詞。

注意：1.每處錯誤及其修改均僅限一詞。

2.只允許修改10處，多者（從第11處起）不計分。

Wang Lei and I are neighbours and we go to the same school. We have been good friend since childhood and have a great deal to share with every day. however, one day, Wang Lei copied my homework, which made me such angry that I did not want to befriend with him any long. One Monday morning I run downstairs without realizing it was raining, but there was no time to return home to fetch umbrella. It happened when Wang Lei was just around the corner and offered to share her umbrella with me. He made an apology to me in a gently voice. I forgave him but gave him a hug.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：貴州省貴陽市2018屆高三8月摸底考試英語試卷 題型：短文填空

There was a proud teak tree in the forest.He was tall and strong.There1.(be) a small herb（香草）next to the tree.

The teak tree said,"I am very handsome and strong.No one can defeat me.”When2.(hear) this,the herb replied,"Dear friend,too much pride is3.(harm).Even the strong will fall one day."

The teak ignored the herb’s words.He continued to praise4.(he).

A strong wind blew.The teak stood5.(firm).Even when it rained,the teak stood strong by spreading its leaves. During these times,6.herb bowed low.The teak made fun7.the herb.

One day,there was a storm in the forest.The herb bowed low.As usual,the teak did not want to bow.The storm kept growing8.(strong).The teak could no longer bear it.He felt his strength giving way.He tried his best9. (stand) upright,but in the end,he fell down.That was the end of the proud tree.

10.everything was calm again,the herb stood straight.He looked around.He saw the proud teak fallen.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：2018《模塊綜合檢測》高考英語（江蘇專用譯林版）精練優(yōu)化卷（七）（Book 7） 題型：書面表達(dá)

Many people in England are angry that drivers park their cars on the pavements. Cars that are on the pavement prevent people from walking safely down the street. They have to walk into the road to get around the running cars. It’s a lot more difficult for blind people to walk around the town if cars are in their way. A spokesman for a charity told the BBC, “It can be frightening for anyone who is forced to step into a road because the pavement is blocked by a van, car or other badly parked vehicle. Imagine you have to step into a road where you can’t see oncoming traffic.”

A survey on parking in Britain found that 70 percent of people want a ban on parking on pavements. A town south of London has already started a system to get drivers to park in a proper car park. Any motorist who parks on the pavement gets a $115 fine. However, many people say the fines do not work. Local people say car owners ignore the fine and park where they want. One woman said there would soon be a very serious accident because of a car parked on the pavement. She wants her town to be like London, which has strict rules against pavement parking.

【寫作內(nèi)容】

1．用約30個單詞概括上文的主要內(nèi)容；

2．用約120個單詞就“人行道停車”談?wù)勀愕目捶ǎ瑑?nèi)容包括：

(1)分析駕駛員在人行道上停車的原因；

(2)簡述人行道停車給行人帶來的不便；

(3)你對解決該問題有何建議？

【寫作要求】

1．寫作過程中不能直接引用原文語句；

2．作文中不能出現(xiàn)真實姓名和學(xué)校名稱；

3．不必寫標(biāo)題。

【評分標(biāo)準(zhǔn)】

內(nèi)容完整，語言規(guī)范，語篇連貫，詞數(shù)適當(dāng)。

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：2018《模塊綜合檢測》高考英語（江蘇專用譯林版）精練優(yōu)化卷（七）（Book 7） 題型：單項填空

—Do you still remember when we went to Australia?

—I can’t remember now but sometime last winter?

A. might it be B. could it be

C. could it have been D. should it have been

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：新疆呼圖壁縣第一中學(xué)2016-2017學(xué)年高一下學(xué)期期末考試英語試卷 題型：單項填空

With the help of the foreign experts, they produced ___ washing machines in 2003 as the year before.

A. as twice many B. as twice as many

C. as many as twice D. twice as many

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊答案