Question

The full moon climbs over the eastern horizon (地平线) and hangs like a huge orange globe in the sky. A few hours later, the moon is overhead but seems to have changed. The huge orange globe has become a small silver disk. What has happened? Why has the orange color disappeared? Why does the moon seem so much smaller and farther away now that it is overhead?

The moon appears orange on the horizon because we view it through the dust of the atmosphere. The overhead moon does not really shrink as it moves away from the horizon. Our eyes inform us that the overhead moon is farther away. But in this position the moon is actually closer to our eyes than when it is near the horizon.

The change in size is a trick our eyes and minds play on us. When the moon is low in the sky, we can compare its size with familiar objects. It is easy to see that the moon is much larger than trees or buildings, for example. When the moon is high in the sky, however, it is hard to compare it with objects on earth. Compared to the vastness of the sky, the moon seems small.

There is another reason why the moon seems to shrink. We are used to staring at objects straight ahead of us. When an object is difficult to see, our eyes have to try to focus on it. When we move our heads back to look up, we will try hard again. Looking at something from an unaccustomed position can fool you into believing an object is smaller or farther away than it is. However, scientists do not yet understand completely why the moon seems to shrink as it rises in the sky.

1.What makes us puzzled when the moon is high in the sky?

A. It becomes large.    B. It looks different.

C. Its color disappears.    D. Its shape changes.

2.What really happens when the moon floats farther away from the horizon?

A. It comes nearer.    B. It turns orange.

C. It goes farther.    D. It gets through dust.

3.What does the author intend to suggest by mentioning trees and buildings in Para. 3?

A. They can affect our judgment.    B. They are low on earth.

C. They can attract our attention.    D. They are large objects.

4.What can we infer from the text?

A. The size of the moon often changes.

B. The moon is in fact a huge orange globe.

C. The moon is beginning to shrink much.

D. We do not see the moon as it really is.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.A

4.D

【解析】本文是一篇科普文章，为什么月亮高挂空中时似乎离我们更远也更小？其实我们没有看到真正的月亮。

1.B

推理判断题。根据第三段中It is easy to see that the moon is much larger than trees or buildings, for example. When the moon is high in the sky, however, it is hard to compare it with objects on earth. Compared to the vastness of the sky, the moon seems small.可知当月亮高挂天空的时候，“它看起来不同”使人感到疑惑。故选B。

2.A

推理判断题。根据第二段中The overhead moon does not really shrink as it moves away from the horizon. Our eyes inform us that the overhead moon is farther away. But in this position the moon is actually closer to our eyes than when it is near the horizon.可知当月亮离地平线远的时候，其实它离我们更近。故选A。

3.A

推理判断题。根据第三段中When the moon is low in the sky, we can compare its size with familiar objects. It is easy to see that the moon is much larger than trees or buildings, for example. When the moon is high in the sky, however, it is hard to compare it with objects on earth. Compared to the vastness of the sky, the moon seems small.可知树和建筑物影响我们对月亮大小的判断。故选A。

4.D

推理判断题。根据最后一段最后一句However, scientists do not yet understand completely why the moon seems to shrink as it rises in the sky.可知我们没有看到真正的月亮。故选D。