Comprehension 理解
Answer these questions：
1 What do you understand by the word‘galaxy’?
2 Why, according to the author, is it highly probable that life exists in other parts of the universe?
3 Why would it be extremely difficult to visit another planet even if one were travelling at 186,000 miles per second?
4 How might it be possible to accomplish interstellar communication?
Vocabulary词汇
Refer to the text to see how the following words have been used, then write sentences of your own using these words: approximately (1.2);prevailing primitive state(1.15);automatic messenger(1.17);obstacles(1.21);orbit(1.26); interstellar(1.35); chance encounter(1.37).
Summary摘要
Drawing your information from lines 21-37 (‘But here ... chance encounter.’), write an account of the difficulties of interstellar communication. Do not write more than 100 words. Use your own words as far as possible. Your answer should be in one paragraph.
Composition作文
Write a composition of about 600 words on one of the following subjects:
1 The universe.
2 Flying saucers.
3 If an outside observer were given the opportunity to spend a year on earth, what impression might he get of its inhabitants?
Key structures 关键句型
A Note the form of the verb in italics:
But other suns are bound to have planets like our own. (11.5-6)
Write sentences using the following expressions:
sure to; about to; due to.
B Rewrite the sentences given below using the opening phrases provided. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:
1 As the number of planets is so vast, intelligent life is bound to be a natural part of the universe.
So vast ______ (1.11)
2 First of all, it is possible that they came to this planet of ours thousands or millions of years ago.
First of all, they may _______(1.14)
3 It was argued in Nature by Professor Ronald Bracewell, a leading American radio astronomer, that such a superior civilization, on a visit to our own solar system, may have left an automatic messenger behind.
Professor Ronald Bracewell, _____ (11.16-17)
4 Even if our own present primitive chemical rockets are good enough to orbit men, they have no chance of transporting us to the nearest other star.
Our own present ... though ______ (11.26-27)
Special difficulties难点
A Study the following pairs of words and then write sentences of your own to bring out the difference.
1 planet (1.2) ---- star (1.6)
Live images of the robotic vehicle, Sojourner, have been relayed from the planet Mars to our T.V. screens in seconds.
There must be other stars, like our own sun, with orbiting planets similar to Earth.
2 estimated (1.9) ---- esteemed
The cost of repair has been estimated at $45.
German mechanical engineering is highly esteemed world-wide.
3 natural (1.11) ---- physical
It's quite natural for a boy's voice to break when he is about 14.
Boxers take a lot of physical punishment.
4 unsaid (1.20) ---- untold
Some things are better left unsaid.
The floods have caused untold misery to hundreds of thousands of farmers this year.
5 search for (1.36) ---- search
The whole village has been searching for the missing boy.
The security guards are searching each passenger.
B Note the use of let alone in this sentence:
Similarly, our own present primitive chemical rockets, though good enough to orbit men, have no chance of transporting us to the nearest other star, four light years away, let alone distances of tens or hundreds of light years. (11.26-28)
Complete the following sentences:
1 He's incapable of adding up a simple list of figures, let alone ______
2 He doesn't earn enough to support himself, let alone_____
Multiple choice questions 多项选择题
Choose the correct answers to the following questions.
Comprehension 理解
1 The possibility that life exists on other planets is almost certain because ______ .
a．there are plenty of planets like our own
b．the other planets in our solar system are unlikely to support life
c．our own galaxy is so large
d．of the sheer number of planets in the universe
2 According to the writer, ____.
a．there is a possibility that we constantly have visitors from outer space
b．our planet may have been visited at some time during the distant past
c．an automatic messenger was left on our planet at some time in the past
d．our civilization is just awakening and is of interest to other beings
3 Travel in the universe is difficult because ____.
a．even at the speed of light, distances are immense
b．light travels at 186,000 miles per hour
c．planets are 100 light years away
d．there are no rockets in the universe powerful enough
4 The discovery of the natural frequency of emission of hydrogen atoms in space is important because ________.
a．it's a precise radio frequency of 1420 megacycles per second
b．it would be universally recognized by intelligent life anywhere in the universe
c．it makes the discovery of intelligent life elsewhere virtually certain
d．hydrogen is abundant exclusively in our own solar system
Structure 句型
5 Life ______ present on a planet approximately like our own. (11.1-2)
a．was
b．might be
c．must be
d．is
6 Why have we had no visitors from outer space_____ ? (11.13-14)
a．before
b．in the past
c．so far
d．till then
7 They were not ______our primitive state. (1.15)
a．interesting to (6) interesting in
c．interested to
d．interested in
8 We have no chance ______by our own primitive chemical rockets. (11.26-27)
a．to be transporting
b．to transport
c．of transporting
d．of being transported
Vocabulary词汇
9 They are_____ to have planets like our own.(11.5-6)
a．almost certain
b．obliged
c．required
d．due
10 What impression they would get of us is best left _____.(11.19-20)
a．unspoken
b．untold
c．unmentioned
d．unrecounted
11 We come up against the most difficult of all obstacles to ____people.(1.21)
a．speaking to
b．being in touch with
c．touching
d．reaching out to
12 This depends on the _____radio frequency of the 21cm wavelength. (11.30-31)
a．measurable
b．exact
c．established
d．known