難句解析

　　1. Since early times, people have been fascinated with the idea of life existing somewhere else besides earth.

　　【解析】since early times作時間狀語，主句主語為people，謂語為be fascinated with，即“對……著迷”，著迷的對象是idea of life，existing somewhere else besides earth為現在分詞作定語修飾名詞life。

　　2. The probes have also made scientists think that under its surface Europa has a rocky core giving off volcanic heat.

　　【解析】本句主句部分謂語成分為make sb. do sth.，讓某人做某事，that引出think的從句。從句的主語為Europa，giving off volcanic heat作定語修飾has的賓語a rocky core。

　　試題詳解

　　26. A) There were no planets without moons. A) 除了衛星外沒有行星。

　　B) There was no air or water on Jupiter. B) 在木星上沒有空氣或水。

　　C) Life was not possible in outer space. C) 在外空是沒有生命的。

　　D)The mystery of life could not be resolved D) 生命的奧秘是不能解決的。

　　【聽音指導】預覽選項，可知本題考查細節事實題。鑒于此題位于本短文的第一題，答案應在最初幾句中找到，具體的說，是在開頭30秒。選項D與其他三項明顯不同，可初步排除。聽音時關注no planets，no air or water還是no life。

　　【正確項分析】第一題問的是科學家曾經(once)相信什么事實?那么根據我們的理解，應該是他們認為外太空不可能存在生命。這個答案出現在原文的第二句，原文是Until recently, scientists believed that life on other planets was just a hopeful dream，意為科學家們認為在其他星球上存在生命只不過是個充滿希望的夢。故選擇C項。

　　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) 有像地球上的大氣層。

　　C) It has a large ocean under its surface. C) 在它的表面有一個大海洋。

　　D) It has deep caves several miles long. D) 有幾英里長的深洞穴。

　　【聽音指導】通過選項即可確定本題為對于某一事物的細節描述題，所以首先要解決各選項中it所指的內容。由第一題選項可初步推測，本題很可能考查的是對一個星球的描述。

　　【正確項分析】問題為科學家在木衛二星球上找到什么，那么應該是Space probes have provided evidence that Europa has a large ocean under its surface，意為航空觀測鏡發現了星球表面下有個大的海洋。C選項與原文一模一樣。

　　28. A) Light is not an essential element to it. A) 光不是必備因素。

　　B) Life can form in very hot temperatures. B) 生命在很熱的溫度下能夠形成。

　　C) Every form of life undergoes evolution. C) 每種生命的形成都需要進化。

　　D) Oxygen is not needed for some life forms. D) 氧在生命形成過程中沒有必要。

　　【聽音指導】根據慣例，最后一個問題答案出現在篇章結束前三十秒左右，選項均涉及生命形成因素，分別為light，hot temperatures，evolution和oxygen，根據這些信息，可輕易在短文結束前找到答案。

　　【正確項分析】注意轉折連詞but前后，原文為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。意為科學家一直以為光是很重要的，但是現在他們發現完全黑暗的地方—比如幾英里深的洞里，也有生命，即細菌。可見，光不是必備因素，選項A正確。

　　原文及譯文

　　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?

　　從很早以前，人們一直迷戀著地球以外的地方也存在生命的想法。直到近來，科學家們認為在其他星球上存在生命只不過是個充滿希望的夢。但是，現在他們開始查找可能有生命的地方。1997年，科學家們在恒星附近，例如太陽，發現了行星的蹤跡。科學家們現在認為生命可能我們更近，就在太陽系內。科學家們正密切關注的地方是木衛二，木星的一個衛星。太空探測器提供了證據表明木衛二表層之下有一個海洋。探測器也讓科學家們認為木衛二表層有散發出火山熱的巖石核心。火山活動的水和熱量是生命形成的兩個基本條件。第三個是一些基本的化學物質，如碳、氧和氮。科學家們認為在木衛二海洋底部可能存在這樣的化學成分。他們可能已經創造了生命或即將產生生命。你可能在想光也是生命形成的必要條件。直到最近，科學家們仍認為光是不可或缺的。但現在已經在地球上發現，海洋幾英里之下的黑暗的洞穴內有細菌，即原始生命形式的存在。所以不能排除缺乏光的木衛二地下海洋有生命形成的可能性。