2009年12月大学英语四级考试真题与答案_第9页

Section B
　　Passage One
　　篇章结构
　　本次四级听力篇章从内容难度上来讲，比2009年6月的更难。此篇文章属于天文类，讲的是除地球以外的星球上形成生命的可能性。曾经科学家们认为其他星球上存在生命的可能性不大，但是现在科学家在渐渐地定位那些有可能会形成生命的地方。文章对此举了一个例子，就是木星的一个卫星，叫木卫二。
　　词汇点拨
　　fascinated a. 着迷的;surface n. 表面;bacteria n 细菌;automatically ad. 自动地;probe n.探头，探针;evolution n. 进化
　　话题词汇
　　beneath prep. 在……之下
　　Jupiter n. 木星
　　moon n. 卫星，月球
　　nitrogen n. 氮
　　planet n. 行星，星球
　　volcanic activity 火山活动
　　难句解析
　　1. Since early times, people have been fascinated with the idea of life existing somewhere else besides earth.
　　【解析】since early times作时间状语，主句主语为people，谓语为be fascinated with，即“对……着迷”，着迷的对象是idea of life，existing somewhere else besides earth为现在分词作定语修饰名词life。
　　2. The probes have also made scientists think that under its surface Europa has a rocky core giving off volcanic heat.
　　【解析】本句主句部分谓语成分为make sb. do sth.，让某人做某事，that引出think的从句。从句的主语为Europa，giving off volcanic heat作定语修饰has的宾语a rocky core。
　　试题详解
　　26. A) There were no planets without moons. A) 除了卫星外没有行星。
　　B) There was no air or water on Jupiter. B) 在木星上没有空气或水。
　　C) Life was not possible in outer space. C) 在外空是没有生命的。
　　D)The mystery of life could not be resolved D) 生命的奥秘是不能解决的。
　　【听音指导】预览选项，可知本题考查细节事实题。鉴于此题位于本短文的第一题，答案应在最初几句中找到，具体的说，是在开头30秒。选项D与其他三项明显不同，可初步排除。听音时关注no planets，no air or water还是no life。
　　【正确项分析】第一题问的是科学家曾经(once)相信什么事实?那么根据我们的理解，应该是他们认为外太空不可能存在生命。这个答案出现在原文的第二句，原文是Until recently, scientists believed that life on other planets was just a hopeful dream，意为科学家们认为在其他星球上存在生命只不过是个充满希望的梦。故选择C项。
　　27. A) It has a number of active volcanoes. A) 有很多活火山。
　　B) It has an atmosphere like the earth’s. B) 有像地球上的大气层。
　　C) It has a large ocean under its surface. C) 在它的表面有一个大海洋。
　　D) It has deep caves several miles long. D) 有几英里长的深洞穴。
　　【听音指导】通过选项即可确定本题为对于某一事物的细节描述题，所以首先要解决各选项中it所指的内容。由第一题选项可初步推测，本题很可能考查的是对一个星球的描述。
　　【正确项分析】问题为科学家在木卫二星球上找到什么，那么应该是Space probes have provided evidence that Europa has a large ocean under its surface，意为航空观测镜发现了星球表面下有个大的海洋。C选项与原文一模一样。
　　28. A) Light is not an essential element to it. A) 光不是必备因素。
　　B) Life can form in very hot temperatures. B) 生命在很热的温度下能够形成。
　　C) Every form of life undergoes evolution. C) 每种生命的形成都需要进化。
　　D) Oxygen is not needed for some life forms. D) 氧在生命形成过程中没有必要。
　　【听音指导】根据惯例，最后一个问题答案出现在篇章结束前三十秒左右，选项均涉及生命形成因素，分别为light，hot temperatures，evolution和oxygen，根据这些信息，可轻易在短文结束前找到答案。
　　【正确项分析】注意转折连词but前后，原文为Until recently, scientists thought that light was essential. But now, places have been found on earth that are in total blackness such as caves several miles beneath the ocean. And bacteria, primitive forms of life, have been seen there。意为科学家一直以为光是很重要的，但是现在他们发现完全黑暗的地方—比如几英里深的洞里，也有生命，即细菌。可见，光不是必备因素，选项A正确。
　　原文及译文
　　Since early times, people have been fascinated with the idea of life existing somewhere else besides earth. Until recently, scientists believed that life on other planets was just a hopeful dream. But now they are beginning to locate places where life could form. In 1997, they saw evidence of planets near other stars like the sun. But scientists now think that life could be even nearer in our own solar system. One planet scientists are studying very closely is Europa, a moon of Jupiter. Space probes have provided evidence that Europa has a large ocean under its surface. The probes have also made the scientists think that under its surface Europa has a rocky core giving off volcanic heat. Water and heat from volcanic activity are two basic conditions needed for life to form. A third is certain basic chemicals such as carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. Scientists believe there might be such chemicals lying at the bottom of Europa’s ocean. They may have already created life or may be about to. You may wonder if light is also needed for life to form. Until recently, scientists thought that light was essential. But now, places have been found on earth that are in total blackness such as caves several miles beneath the ocean. And bacteria, primitive forms of life have been seen there. So the lack of light in Europa’s sub-surface ocean doesn’t automatically rule out life forming.
　　26. What did scientists once believe according to the passage?
　　27. What have scientists found about Europa, a moon of Jupiter?
　　28. What have scientists come to know recently about the formation of life?
　　从很早以前，人们一直迷恋着地球以外的地方也存在生命的想法。直到近来，科学家们认为在其他星球上存在生命只不过是个充满希望的梦。但是，现在他们开始查找可能有生命的地方。1997年，科学家们在恒星附近，例如太阳，发现了行星的踪迹。科学家们现在认为生命可能我们更近，就在太阳系内。科学家们正密切关注的地方是木卫二，木星的一个卫星。太空探测器提供了证据表明木卫二表层之下有一个海洋。探测器也让科学家们认为木卫二表层有散发出火山热的岩石核心。火山活动的水和热量是生命形成的两个基本条件。第三个是一些基本的化学物质，如碳、氧和氮。科学家们认为在木卫二海洋底部可能存在这样的化学成分。他们可能已经创造了生命或即将产生生命。你可能在想光也是生命形成的必要条件。直到最近，科学家们仍认为光是不可或缺的。但现在已经在地球上发现，海洋几英里之下的黑暗的洞穴内有细菌，即原始生命形式的存在。所以不能排除缺乏光的木卫二地下海洋有生命形成的可能性。
　　26. 根据短文，科学家曾相信什么?
　　27. 科学家们发现关于木卫二的什么信息?
　　28. 最近，科学家就生命的形成了解到什么?