Question

We know more about the surface of the planet Mars than we know about what is at the bottom of Earth’s oceans.

Until recently, scientists had mapped only about 20 percent of the sea floor. But our knowledge of the deep seas is changing because of information from satellites. Scientists have produced a new map that provides a detailed picture of the oceans. The map is expected to help oceanographers, industry and governments.

The new map is twice as detailed as the map made 20 years ago. David Sandwell is a geophysics professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California. He and other scientists worked on the mapping project. He says they turned to space to look deeper into the ocean. He spoke to VOA on SKYPE.

“The way we’re doing that is to use a satellite altimeter (高度计), a radar to map the topography (地貌) of the ocean surface. Now that seems sort of strange that you’d map the topography of the ocean surface when you really want to get at the sea floor. But, the ocean surface topography has these bumps and dips due to gravitational effects that mimic what’s on the sea floor.”

The scientists collected and studied information from two satellites. Some of the data came from the European Space Agency’s Cryo-2 satellite. It was placed in Earth’s orbit to watch sea ice. The other satellite is the American space agency’s Jason-1. It is studying the surface of the oceans. Scientists combined the satellite data with images gathered by sonar ( 声呐：利用声波探测水下物体的装置或系统) equipment on ships. Sonar works by sending sound waves through the water. When the sound waves hit an object, its presence is confirmed.

“That enables us to look at smaller-scale features and also features that are buried by sediments in the ocean basins.”

The new map shows the sea floor as it has never been seen before. It shows thousands of underwater mountains and places where continents pulled apart. It shows where earthquakes were active many years ago. They all are buried deep underneath the ocean floor.

In one place, three mountain ridges join at the same area. Huge tectonic (构造的) plates can be seen clearly there.

1.The passage is likely to _____.

A. be an advertisement                   B. appear on VOA

C. make a comment on radar                D. appear on SKYPE

2.What will be mentioned in the following paragraph, according to the last paragraph? _____.

A. The detailed information about the place.

B. The more important thing in the ocean.

C. The things buried in the ocean.

D. Scientists told SKYPE they will explore at the same area.

3.Scientists collected and studied information by _____.

A. the European Space Agency’s Cryo-2 satellite

B. the American space agency’s Jason-1

C. sonar equipment on ships

D. the Cryo-2 and the Jason-1

4. What’s the best title of the passage? _____.

A. Scientists Create New Maps of Ocean Floor

B. Scientists Knows More Oceans Than Mars

C. Oceans Will Provide Us With Maps

D. People Knows Easily About Mars

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.D

4.A

【解析】

试题分析: 本文是科普类阅读，讲述科学家绘制了海底面积百分之二十的地图，得益于卫星传来的信息，我们对于深海的了解更加详细。

1.B 推断题。根据第三段提到He spoke to VOA on SKYPE，他在SKYPE上对VOA说，可知是慢速英语，故选B项。

2.A 推断题。根据最后一段提到In one place, three mountain ridges join at the same area. Huge tectonic (构造的) plates can be seen clearly there. 有一个地方，三座山脉的山脊在同一片区域结合，在那里可以清晰地看到巨大的版块构造，故下一段将提到这个地方的详细信息，故选A项。

3.D 推断题。根据第五段提到The scientists collected and studied information from two satellites. Some of the data came from the European Space Agency’s Cryo-2 satellite. It was placed in Earth’s orbit to watch sea ice. The other satellite is the American space agency’s Jason-1. 科学家收集的信息和研究材料来自两个卫星发布的消息。一些数据来自欧洲航天局的Cryo2号卫星，它绕地球轨道，用来观测海洋浮冰。另一个卫星是美国航天局的杰森1号，它主要负责海洋表面，故选D项。

4.A 主旨标题。本文是科普类阅读，讲述科学家绘制了海底面积百分之二十的地图，得益于卫星传来的信息，我们对于深海的了解更加详细，A项符合文意。

考点：科普类阅读。