Question

Choose the best answer（根据短文内容，选择最恰当的答案）

Unless we spend money to spot（认出，发现） and prevent asteroids（小行星）now, one might crash into Earth and destroy life as we know it, say some scientists.

Asteroids are bigger versions of the meteoroids（流星体） that race across the night sky. Most orbit the sun far from Earth and don’t threaten us. But there are also thousands of asteroids whose orbits put them on a collision course with Earth.

Buy $500 million worth of new telescopes right now, they spend $10 million a year for the next 25 years to locate most of the space rocks. By the time we spot a fatal one, the scientists say, we’ll have a way to change its course.

Is it worth it？ Two things experts consider when judging any risk are: （1） How likely the event is; （2） How bad the consequences if the event occurs. Experts think an asteroid big enough to destroy lots of life might strike Earth once every 500,000 years. Sounds pretty rare but if one did fall. It would be the end of the world. “If we don’t take care of these big asteroids, they’ll take care of us,” says one scientist. “It’s that simple. ”

The cure, though, might be worse than the disease. Do we really want fleets（队，车队） of nuclear weapons sitting around on Earth？ “The world has less fear from doomsday rocks than from a great nuclear fleet set against them.” said a New York Times article.

1.What does the passage say about asteroids and meteoroids？

A.They are heavenly bodies different in composition. B.They are heavenly bodies similar in nature.

C.There are more asteroids than meteoroids. D.Asteroids are more mysterious than meteoroids.

2.What do scientists say about the collision, of an asteroid with Earth？

A.It is very unlikely but the danger exists.

B.Such a collision might occur once every 25 years.

C.Collisions of smaller asteroids with Earth occur more often than expected.

D.It’s still too early to say whether such a collision might occur.

3.What do people think of the suggestion of using nuclear weapons to alter the course of asteroids？

A.It sounds practical but it may not solve the problem.

B.It may create more problems than it might solve.

C.It is a waste of money because a collision of asteroids with Earth is very unlikely.

D.Further research should be done before it is proved applicable.

4.We can conclude from the passage that

A.while pushing asteroids off course nuclear weapons would destroy the world.

B.asteroids racing across the night sky are likely to hit Earth in the near future.

C.the worry about asteroids can be left to future generations since it is unlikely to happen in our lifetime.

D.workable solutions still have to be found to prevent a collision of asteroids with Earth.

5.Which of the following best describes the author’s tone in this passage？

A.Optimistic. B.Critical. C.Objective. D.Arbitrary（武断的）

6.The best title for the passage is __________.

A.How will the world end？ B.Asteroids and meteoroids in the sky.

C.Nuclear weapons on Earth. D.What if asteroids crash into Earth？

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.B

4.D

5.C

6.D

【解析】

本文叙述了小行星和划破夜空的流星是性质一样的物质，只是体积大些，但是小行星撞击地球的可能性每50万年才可能有一次， 但一旦发生，将是地球末日。人们现在提出用核武器来改变小行星的轨道，但是现在人们对这个方法担心重重，可行的解决方法仍在寻找之中。

1.细节理解题。根据文章第二段Asteroids are bigger versions of the meteoroids（流星体） that race across the night sky.可知小行星和划破夜空的流星是性质一样的物质，都是绕日的星体，只是体积大些。故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据上文Experts think an asteroid big enough to destroy lots of life might strike Earth once every 500,000 years. Sounds pretty rare but if one did fall. It would be the end of the world.对小行星撞击地球的可能性做出了形象的描述。每50万年才可能有次，但一旦发生，将是地球末日，故选A。

3.推理判断题。根据文章最后一段The cure, though, might be worse than the disease…against them.” said a New York Times article. 尽管如此，治愈方法可能比疾病还要糟糕。我们真的想在地球上部署核武器舰队吗？《纽约时报》的一篇文章说：“世界对世界末日之言的恐惧要小于对他们的巨大核舰队的恐惧。可见这样做可能会造成比它可能解决的更多的问题。故选B。

4.细节推理题。本文虽然提到了用核武器对付小行星的建议。但根据Do we really want fleets（队，车队） of nuclear weapons sitting around on Earth？同时指出人们对这种解决方法担心重重，可见，可行的解决方法仍在寻找之中，故选D。

5.推理判断题。根据上文Two things experts consider when judging any risk are: （1） How likely the event is; （2） How bad the consequences if t…. ，“The world has less fear….” said a New York Times article.根据本文在引述观点及例证时，用了不少引语，说明出处或原述者。可见本文是一篇对事实情况的客观报道，故选C。

6.最佳标题题。通读全文可知，本文主要讲了如果小行星撞击地球，人类该怎么办，科学家正想办法试图寻找解决方法。故选D。