Astronomers have captured(捕获) the first direct image of a planet being born.
Adam Kraus, of the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy, said the planet is being formed out of dust and gas circling a 2-million-yea-old star about 450 light years from Earth.
The planet itself, based on scientific models of how planets form, is believed to have started taking shape about 50,000 to 100,000 years ago.
Called LkCa 15b, it’s the youngest planet ever observed. The previous record holder was about five times older.
Kraus and his colleague, Michael Ireland from Macquarie University and the Australian Astronomical Observatory, used Keck telescopes on Mauna Kea(a volcano on the island of Hawaii, US) to find the planet. Kraus presented the discovery Wednesday at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.
Observing planets while they’re forming can help scientists answer questions like weather planets form early in the life of a star or later, and whether they form relatively close to stars or father away.
Planets can change orbits(轨道) after forming, so it’s difficult to answer such questions by studying older planets.
“These very basic questions of when and where are best answered when you can actually see the planet forming, as the process is happening right now,” Kraus said.
Scientists hadn’t been able to see such young planets before because the stars they’re circling around outshine(光亮强过) them. Kraus and Ireland used two techniques to overcome this problem.
One method, which is also used by other astronomers, was to change the shape of the telescope mirrors to remove light distortion(扭曲) created by the Earth’s atmosphere. The other method they used, which was unique, was to put masks with several holes over most of the telescope mirrors. The combination of these techniques allowed the astronomers to obtain high-quality images that let them see the planet next to the bright star.
The star LkCa 15—the planet is named after its star—was the team’s second target. They immediately knew they were seeing something new, so they plan to gather more data on the star.
小题1:The research on younger planets helps scientists _____________.| A．study why planets change orbits after forming | | B．understand how planets move around their stars | | C．answer questions about the age of stars and planets | | D．know the relationship between planets and their stars |
小题2:Why are young planets like LkCa 15b hard to discover?| A．Their stars are brighter than them.. | B．They are very far from the earth. | | C．They are generally too small. | D．They rarely form. |
小题3:According to the text, Kraus and Ireland _____________. | A．have been working in the same university | | B．observed the planet on a volcano in Hawaii | | C．used two new methods in the observation | | D．cut holes in the mirrors when observing |
小题4:Which of the following would be the best title for the text?| A．Youngest planet seen as it’s forming. | | B．Planet 450 light years away discovered. | | C．World’s first direct image of a planet taken. | | D．New technique helps discover young planets. |
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小题1:D
小题2:A
小题3:B
小题4:A |
试题分析：文章介绍了夏威夷天文学院的Adam Kraus和澳大利亚麦考瑞大学的Michael Ireland观察到了一个行星的诞生过程并拍下了图像。观察这种行星的形成过程有助于科学家搞清楚这些行星与他们周围的星星之间的关系。用通常的方法是很难观察到这种星星的，因为周围的星星的光强过这种行星，两位天文学家用了两种现代的技术观察了这颗行星。
小题1:D细节理解题。Observing planets while they’re forming can help scientists answer questions like weather planets form early in the life of a star or later, and whether they form relatively close to stars or father away.句意为：当他们形成的时候，观察这种行星有助于科学家回答一些问题，比方说，行星是形成于星星的生命之前还是之后，相对来说，他们的形成离星星是近还是远。所以答案应为D，了解行星与星星之间的关系。
小题2:A细节理解题。Scientists hadn’t been able to see such young planets before because the stars they’re circling around outshine(光亮强过) them. Kraus and Ireland used two techniques to overcome this problem.以前科学家是没有办法看到这么年轻的行星的，因为环绕他们的星星的光亮强过他们自己的光。两位天文学家用了两种技术去克服这个问题。故答案应为A，他们周围的星星比较亮。
小题3:B细节判断题。夏威夷天文学院的Adam Kraus和澳大利亚麦考瑞大学的Michael Ireland，所以A是错误的；One method, which is also used by other astronomers, was to change the shape of the telescope mirrors to remove light distortion(扭曲) created by the Earth’s atmosphere.一种方法，也是其他天文学家用的方法----，故答案C是错误的；The other method they used, which was unique, was to put masks with several holes over most of the telescope mirrors.他们使用的另一种方法是独特的，就是放一个有几个洞的面罩----，故D，在镜子上弄洞是错误的。Kraus and his colleague, Michael Ireland from Macquarie University and the Australian Astronomical Observatory, used Keck telescopes on Mauna Kea(a volcano on the island of Hawaii, US) to find the planet.在Mauna Kea上使用的望远镜，Mauna Kea是美国夏威夷岛上的一个活火山，故B是正确的。
小题4:A综合理解题。文章讲述的是两位科学家用两种技术观察到了一个最年轻的行星的形成过程，讲述了他们的年龄，以及原来很难观察到这种行星的原因，还有了解这种行星的意义等，所以A是正确的，在他们形成的时候观察到了一种行星。B的意思为：被发现的450亿光年远的行星,没有强调是在形成的过程中，是不恰当的；C照的第一张行星的直接影像，文章没有讲述拍照的过程；D新的技术有助于发现年轻的行星，本文没有详细介绍这种技术。
【考点】考查科技类文章的阅读理解。 |
核心考点
试题【Astronomers have captured(捕获) the first direct image of a planet being born.Adam】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
[详细]举一反三
Koala bears as pets might be appealing to many of us. However, there are quite a few points to consider even before thinking of adopting one.
Koala bears are one of the most lovely Australian animals. In certain cases where the koala has been raised by hand, they have turned out to be quite affectionate pets. These people tied a piece of fur to a pillow and placed it beside a joey (a baby kola) as a substitute (替代物) for the mother koala. This trick seemed to work well with the baby koala. However, it is a known fact that human handling causes stress to koalas. In my personal opinion, this aspect clouds the fact that koala bears can be tamed (驯服).
In Australia the koala is a priority animal as far as conservation status assessment is concerned. It was hunted to near extinction (灭绝) for its fur. In fact the koala had been wiped out from South Australia in the 1920s. However, rehabilitation efforts have brought the animal back in the state. As for the Australia government, the koala is not a threatened animal, but the US government does list the koala as one.
Although they may live in 40 to 60 kinds of eucalyptus trees, they prefer only 10 to 14 specific kinds. Koalas sleep for most part of the day, which is about 16 to 18 hours, and for most of their waking hours all they do is eat. Koala bears eat the leaves of eucalyptus trees. A full-grown koala can eat almost 2 to 3 pounds of leaves in a day. Despite their slow movements and sweet look, koala bears can be vicious when hungry. Other than this, there are the stress caused to koalas due to human handling and the fights that start in koalas.
Almost everyone finds koalas lovely in the zoo. However, as far as having koala bears as pets is concerned, there are legal issues to consider. Other than that, being able to provide for its diet and habitat is another point that needs some attention before any law legalizing their adoption as pets is passed.
小题1:What’s the author’s attitude towards people raising the koala?| A．Optimistic. | B．Grateful. | C．Cautious. | D．Enthusiastic. |
小题2:Why did Australians hunt the koala?| A．To get its fur. | B．To eat its meat. | C．To wipe it out. | D．To have it for fun. |
小题3:The underlined word “vicious” in Paragraph 4 probably means __________.| A．fierce and dangerous | B．patient and friendly | | C．afraid and defensive | D．lovely and interesting |
小题4:It can be inferred from the passage that __________.| A．koala bears tend to live in groups | | B．koala bear care can be very demanding | | C．koala bears are not particular about their food | | D．koala bears are the No. 1 threatened animal in the US |
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When times get tough, we all look for ways to cut back. When we’re hungry, we eat at home instead of going out. We take buses instead of taxis. And we wear our old designer jeans just a few months longer. With college expenses at all-time highs, high school students are eager to do anything to cut the cost of a university education.
One cost-cutting proposal is to allow college students to get a bachelor’s degree in three years instead of four. Educational institutions have been actively exploring ways to make the learning process more efficient. But there’s a question: Would the quality of undergraduate(本科生)education suffer? Few US universities have formally approved a “three-year degree” model.
I doubt that mainstream North American colleges will carry out a three-year curriculum(课程) any time soon. For one thing, most universities already allow highly qualified students to graduate early by testing out of certain classes and obtaining a number of college credits(学分). In addition, at famous universities, the committee who determine which courses are required and which courses are electives are unlikely to suddenly “throw out” one quarter of the required credits. Professors will resist “diluting(稀释)” the quality of the education they offer.
In my opinion, a quality four-year education is always superior to a quality three-year education. A college education requires sufficient time for a student to become skilled in their major and do coursework in fields outside their major. It is not a good idea to water down education, any more than it’s not a good idea to water down medicine. If we want to help students find their way through university, we should help them understand early on what knowledge and skills they need to have upon graduation. We should allow students to test out of as many courses as possible. We should give them a chance to earn money as interns(实习生)in meaningful part-time jobs that relate to their university studies, such as the five-year co-op program at Northeastern University.
小题1:The first paragraph serves as a(n)________．| A．explanation | B．definition | C．introduction | D．comment |
小题2:We can learn from the passage that ________.| A．most American universities are against the “three-year degree” model | | B．many famous US universities are considering adopting the “three-year degree” model | | C．professors are willing to accept the “three-year degree” model | | D．the “three-year degree” model can make college learning more efficient |
小题3:In most US universities，________.| A．college students are offered the co-op program | | B．electives’ credits make up one quarter of the required credits | | C．all students are required to finish four-year education before graduation | | D．some excellent students can graduate ahead of time |
小题4:We can infer that________.| A．the author is a college professor | | B．the author thinks the cost of a university education is too high for people to afford | | C．the author considers the university education quality very important | | D．the author pays special attention to the all-round development of college students |
小题5:Which of the following can be the best title?| A．It’s time to shorten the learning process | | B．Best learning takes place over time | | C．University education should be watered down | | D．College education calls for reform |
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We all need a healthy environment. ____, we produce waste every day and it ____ harm to our environment. Though we are young, we can still do ____ to help. In fact, even the simplest everyday activities can make a real ____ to the environment. Here are some ideas for you to live a ____ life.
Remember these three _____: reduce, reuse and recycle.
Reduce means “use less”. Don"t ____ things. This saves money and reduces pollution and waste going into the environment. Before we buy something new, think if it is really ____ or maybe the ____ one will be just as good! When we do buy things, choose local products if possible, and try not to buy too many things from a ____ country.
Reuse means “use again”. Use things for ____ possible. When we buy things, make sure that they ____ a long time. We should take care of them ____ they will last, and we should ____ them if we can instead of throwing them away and buying new ones. Don"t use a paper cup or a paper bag. It’s better to use a china cup and a lunch box because you can use them ____.
Recycle means “change things into something else”. Although it ____ energy to change something into something else, it’s better than ____ things or burning them. Find out ____ can be recycled in your neighbourhood and take part in recycling programmes. We should also buy ____ made from recycled materials, such as recycled paper, to help save ____.
| 小题1: | | A．Therefore | B．However | C．Otherwise | D．Besides |
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| 小题2: | | A．gives | B．takes | C．causes | D．does |
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| 小题3: | | A．something | B．everything | C．nothing | D．everything |
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| 小题4: | | A．difference | B．mistake | C．effect | D．help |
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| 小题5: | | A．busy | B．hard | C．green | D．happy |
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| 小题6: | | A．letters | B．words | C．sentences | D．lessons |
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| 小题7: | | A．buy | B．produce | C．save | D．waste |
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| 小题8: | | A．necessary | B．important | C．helpful | D．useful |
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| 小题9: | | A．cheap | B．expensive | C．new | D．old |
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| 小题10: | | A．rich | B．developed | C．foreign | D．poor |
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| 小题11: | | A．as soon as | B．as long as | C．as much as | D．as well as |
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| 小题13: | | A．so that | B．if | C．because | D．though |
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| 小题14: | | A．sell | B．lend | C．throw | D．repair |
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| 小题15: | | A．less | B．more | C．again | D．better |
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| 小题16: | | A．costs | B．spends | C．takes | D．pays |
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| 小题17: | | A．throwing away | B．putting away | C．taking away | D．giving away |
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| 小题19: | | A．cups | B．bags | C．boxes | D．products |
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| 小题20: | | A．money | B．trees | C．paper | D．time |
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There are various aspects that go into making a successful school, and success can be measured in various ways. Often, the teachers are praised for a school’s success and blamed for its failure. Yet, in order for a school to be effective, it must be a place where teaching and learning can easily take place, and that requires the hard work of more than just educators. Students must take learning into their own hands and feel as if what they are doing is as important as it actually is. This can only be done with the cooperation of every adult that is involved in the students’ life. Some of these individuals often go unnoticed, yet the role they play in the students’ lives is immeasurable.
In the school, administrative assistants greet students at the start of the day and answer a large quantity of questions. When an assistant remembers a student’s name or even something special about that student, it communicates to him that he is cared for. The assistant can also give that extra encouragement for a student to make better choices, especially when they are visiting the principal’s office.
Meanwhile, though cafeteria workers have a short space of time to interact with students, they can make a big difference as well. Beyond meeting nutritional needs, cafeteria workers may also on occasion meet the emotional needs of the students they serve. Students benefit from positive interaction with adults, and cafeteria workers may give that extra bit of encouragement that a child needs.
Custodians (管理员) are usually underappreciated for what they offer to schools. They have to be knowledgeable about everything from cleaning to fixing the most intricate (复杂的) tools. They get to school early in the morning before teachers arrive and lock up late at night after the last student has left from the after-school event. They also make sure teachers are equipped with the necessary items and prepare the rooms so that they are ready for learning. A great custodian also gives that kind word or extra smile to that student who needs it most.
小题1:The purpose of the passage is to _______.| A．emphasize the role teachers play in a school | | B．highlight the contributions of other staff at school besides teachers. | | C．tell us who make the greatest contributions to a school | | D．explain what contributes to the success of a student |
小题2:If an assistant remembers a student’s name, the student will feel that _________. | A．he is paid particular attention to | B．he is special | | C．he has done something wrong | D．he has made progress in study |
小题3:Which of the following is TRUE about cafeteria workers? | A．It’s enough for them to cook for the students. | | B．It’s hard for them to interact with the students. | | C．They have the most interaction with students at school. | | D．They can also meet the emotional needs of the students. |
小题4:How does the author feel about the staff mentioned in the text? | A．Disappointed. | B．Dissatisfied. | C．Appreciative. | D．Doubtful. |
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Do people ever consider the possibility that, if they’re exposed to increased reports about a social problem, it’s the reporting that has increased rather than the problem? It’s increasingly clear that this is the case with school bullying（欺凌）：Only news reports about it have increased, not the behavior itself. In fact, both bullying and fear of it are down among US middle school students
The rate of students who reported fearing an attack or harm at school at all has dropped dramatically, from nearly 12% in 1995 to less than 4% in 2011. For black and Hispanic students, it’s an even more encouraging shift—from more than 20% of both groups of students worried about being attacked at school to less than 5% in 2011.
The decline in actual physical violence in schools is even more dramatic: It was down 74% between 1992 and 2010, according to the latest US Department of Justice data.
What about cyberbullying? Online harassment increased from 6% in 2000 to 9% in 2005 to 11% in 2010 between, and it’s interesting to note that it increased less between 2005 and ’10 than in the first 5 years tracked. Because social media is very much a reflection of school social life for young people, the peer aggression seen in social media is a lot like the peer aggression seen on school bathroom walls. So once it finds its “dead level,” it will probably decline in the same way verbal and written aggression have.
Besides education and crime prevention at the social level, medicine treatment and better access to mental healthcare also contribute to this downward trend in victimization of self and others.
The rise of social media is what people don’t typically think of as a positive force in society. But Finkelhor, director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire says, “These technologies might have prevented crime and bullying by providing more ways of help, more forms of social supervision, and interesting activities that destroy forms of alienation(异化) that lead to crime”.
小题1:From the first paragraph we learn that __________.| A．school bullying has increased because of increased reports | | B．school bullying has decreased because of increased reports | | C．the number of reports on school bullying has increased | | D．the number of reports on school bullying has decreased |
小题2:The underlined word is closest in meaning to "_________".| A．crime | B．aggression | C．surfing | D．communication |
小题3:The cyberbullying is still increasing probably because ________.| A．it isn"t as easy to control as the other school bullying | | B．it hasn"t been concerned by the governments | | C．it isn"t part of school social life | | D．it hasn"t come to its top level |
小题4:Finkelhor believes that social media have a ________ influence on the falling trend of school bullying.| A．positive | B．negative | C．major | D．slight |
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