NASA’s Mars detector (探测器), Opportunity, succeeded in finding signs that water onc

NASA’s Mars detector (探测器), Opportunity, succeeded in finding signs that water once existed on the planet. Opportunity landed on Mars in January. Scientists now believe that the planet could once have supported life.

This discovery was chosen by Science, one of the world’s leading magazines, as the most important scientific achievement of 2004 last Friday.

“This little, wheeled, one-armed box went around another planet and has done something no human has ever managed,” according to Science. “It has discovered another place in the universe where life could once have existed.”

“Although we still can’t say that life could have existed in this environment, it is now certain that there was water on Mars,” said Steve Squyres, one of the scientists working on the Mars mission. The evidence comes from pictures and chemical readings taken by Opportunity. It includes marks on rocks like those caused by flowing water on Earth and salty chemicals like those found in dried-out sea-beds. Scientists said the new evidence proved beyond doubt that water has been existed on Mars. But it is still unknown whether the water on Mars was like an ocean or just ice.

While Opportunity has not found any signs of life, the presence of water means life is possible. “In everything we know about life on Earth, there is no example without liquid water,” Squyres said. “So water is important for the search for life on Mars.”

Researchers agree that a future mission (任务) should bring back physical samples (样品). But some scientists worry about the risk that this could introduce dangerous foreign creatures to Earth. “The problem here is how to get the samples back,” Squyres replied. “I think it is our responsibility to limit any risk.”

1. ________ prove that water existed on Mars.

A. The physical samples with salty chemicals      B. The marks on rocks and salty chemicals

C. Scientific achievements of 2004              D. Creatures from Mars

2. Which of the following is true according to the text?

A. It is now certain that there was water on Mars.

B. The water on Mars was like an ocean.

C. Evidence of life on Mars has been found.

D. Search for life on Mars is a great risk to humans.

3. How did scientists draw the conclusion that there was water on Mars?

A. The world’s leading magazine has announced the fact.

B. Scientists have taken many pictures and chemical readings on the Mars.

C. Astronauts have got some rocks from Mars.

D. Scientists have made a study of the pictures and readings sent back by Mars detector.

4. It can be inferred that, if the creatures from Mars came to Earth, ________.

A. they would be kind to humans    B. they would be cruel to humans

C. they would be a great danger to Earth

D. it would be hard to say whether it would be a good news or bad news

1-4 BADD

1.   事实细节题。根据短文第五段“It includes marks on rocks like those caused by flowing water on Earth and salty chemicals like those found in dried-out sea-beds”一句可知：岩石上有类似地球上水流的痕迹和化学物。

2.   事实细节题。根据第二段“succeeded in finding signs that water once existed on the planet”一句可判断，火星上有水。

3.   事实归纳题。人们对火星的研究是通过探测器“机遇号”发回的图片和数据进行分析得出的，人类还没有登上火星，所以B、C两项不符文意。A项“杂志上报道的”更不能作为结论的根据(from www.nmet168.com)。

4.   推测题。根据短文最后一段“some scientists worry about the risk that this could introduce dangerous foreign creatures to Earth”的意义，科学家有这种担心外星人是否会对人类造成危害。由此可推测：如果外星人来地球，是好是坏不得而知。