2015年考研英语阅读理解考前专项训练（116）
发布时间：2012/11/6 14:33:51 来源：城市网学院 编辑：admin
In its 4.5 billion years，Earth has evolved from its hot，violent birth to the celebrated watery blue planet that stands out in pictures from space.But in a new book，two noted University of Washington astrobiologists say the planet already has begun the long process of devolving into a burned-out cinder， eventually to be swallowed by the sun.①
By their reckonin9，Earth'sday in the sun has reached 4：30 a.m.，corresponding to its 4.5 billion—year age.By 5 a.m.，the l billion-year reign of animals and plants will #e to an end.At 8 a.m. the oceans will vaporize.At noon--after l 2 billion years--the ever---expanding sun，transformed into a red giant,will engulf the planet，melting away any evidence it ever existed and sending molecules and atoms that once were Earth floating off into space.o
“The disappearance of our planet is still 7.5 billion years away.but people really should consider the fate of our world and have a realistic understanding of where we are goin9，”said UW astrophysicist Donald Brownlee.“We live in a fabulous place at a fabulous time.It's a healthy thing for people to realize what a treasure this is in space and time，and fully appreciate and protect their environment as much as possible.”
The prospects of humans surviving by moving to some other habitable planet or moon aren't good， Brownlee and Ward contend，because even if such a place were found，getting there would be a huge obstacle.Various probes sent into space could survive Earth's demise，and just a few grams of material could arguably carry a DNA sample from every human，they say，but it's not likely the human species itself will survive.。Long before the planet's final end，life will be#e quite challengin9，and finally impossible，for humans.
As the sun gets hotter and grows in size，it will envelop Mercury and Venus.It is possible it will stop j ust short of Earth，the authors say，but the conditions still would make this a most—inhospitable planet.More likely，though，the sun will consume Earth as well。severing all the chemical bonds between molecules and sending its individual atoms out into space，perhaps eventually to form new planets.That would leave Mars as the nearest planet to the sun.and on Mars the fading sun's glow would be like that of Earth'S moon.
That end is still some 7.5 billion years distant，but by then Earth will have faced a variety of“ends” along the way，the authors say.The last dinosaur perished long a90.Still tO #e are the last elephant， the last tree，the last flower，the last glacier，the last snowflake，the last ocean，the last life.
“It'S a healthy thing to think of the place of Earth among the other planets，and its place in the sun.The sun gave life and ultimately it will bring death.kaoshida[484 words]
1.According tO the new book，the life expectancy of the Earth is______.
A.1 billion years
B.4.5 billion years
C.7.5 billion years
D.12 billion years
2.It can be inferred from this passage that______.
A.1ife is nothing
B.the world is precious
C.man can never conquer nature
D.the future of human species is gloomy
3.The authors of the new book believe that the human species will______.
A.disappear long before the disappearance of the Earth
B.survive in the universe even if the Earth disappears
C.find a place tO live after the disappearance of the Earth
D.be sent into space by various spacecrafts
4.All of the following things would #e tO an end before the final end of the Earth，EXCEPT______
A.Mars
B.animals
C.plants
D.oceans
5.The authors of the new book intend tO tell readers primarily that______.
A.the Earth is nothing but one planet in the solar system
B.nothing can survive for ever
C.we should cherish our life and environment on Earth
D.the sun gave lire and ultimately it will bring death [NextPage] 难句透析
①But in a new book，two noted University of Washington astrobiologists say[the planet already has begun the long process of devolving into a burned out cinder，（eventually to be swallowed by the sun）].
【结构】方括号所标示的部分是“say”的宾语从句。圆括号所标示的动词不定式短语用做状语。
【释义】但是，在一本新书中，华盛顿大学的两位着名的太空生物学家说：地球这颗行星已经开始了其逐渐演变成烧尽的灰烬的漫长过程，最终将被太阳全部吞没。
②At noon after 12 billion years the eve expanding sun，transformed into a red giant，will engulf the planet，[melting away any evidence（it ever existed）]and [sending molecules and atoms（that once were Earth）floating off into space].
【结构】过去分词短语“transformed into a red giant”用做后置定语，修饰“the ever-expanding sun”。两组方括号所标示的两个并列的现在分词短语，用做伴随情况状语。
【释义】120亿年后，就到了正午，不断膨胀的太阳那时已经变成一颗红巨星，将要吞没地球这颗行星，熔化掉地球曾经存在过的任何证据，把曾经构成地球的分子和原子送出浮游、飘人太空。
③[Various probes（sent into space）could survive Earth's demise，and。just a few grams of material could arguably carry a DNA sample from every human].they say。but lit's not likely（the human species itself will survive）].
【结构】在本句中，“they say”是插入语。整句是由“but”连接的两个分句组成的并列句。第一个分句是由“and”连接的两个次一级分句构成的并列句。
【释义】他们说，送入太空的各种各样的探测器在地球死亡时可能幸免于难；仅有几克物质携带着每个人的DNA样本，这有可能；但是，人类这个物种存活下去，则不可能。
④[It is possible（it will stop just short of Earth）]，the authors say，but 2'[the conditions still would make this a most～inhospitable planet.
【结构】在本句中，“the authors say”是插入语。整句是由“but”连接的两个分句组成的并列句。第一个分句中的“It”是形式主语，真正主语是圆括号所标示的主语从句。“just short of”表达否定含义。
【释义】作者说，太阳的这种活动有可能在吞噬地球之前停下来；但是，情况依然会使地球成为最不适合居住的行星。
⑤More likely，though，the sun will consume Earth as well，[severing all the chemical bonds between molecules] and[sending its individual atoms out into space，（perhaps eventually to form new planets）].
【结构】两组方括号所标示的两个并列的现在分词短语，用做伴随情况状语。在第二个现在分词短语中，圆括号所标示的动词不定式短语用做补充说明状语。
【释义】不过，可能性更大的是：太阳也将毁灭地球，把分子之间所有的化学键都切断，把单个的原子送入太空，或许最终会形成新的行星。
全文翻译
在45亿年的生命里，地球从其诞生时的炙热、暴烈的原始状态演化到了目前这让人称道的水蓝色星球，在从 太空拍摄的照片中它脱颖而出。但是，在一本新书中，华盛顿大学的两位着名的太空生物学家说：地球这颗行星已 经开始了其逐渐演变成烧尽的灰烬的漫长过程，最终将被太阳全部吞没。
根据他们的推想，地球“在太阳中的一天”已经到了早上4点半，这与其45亿年的年龄相当。到早上5点的时 候，动植物对地球长达10亿年的统治将终结。到早上8点的时候，各大洋都将蒸发殆尽。120亿年后，就到了正 午，不断膨胀的太阳那时已经变成一颗红巨星，将要吞没地球这颗行星，熔化掉地球曾经存在过的任何证据，把曾 经构成地球的分子和原子送出浮游、飘入太空。
“距离我们的星球消失还有75亿年，但是人们真的应该考虑我们这个世界的命运并对我们将要走向何处有个 清醒的认识，”华盛顿大学的天体物理学家唐纳德·布朗利如是说，“我们生存在一个最好的地方的最好的时段。 如果人们能够意识到这在空间和时间上来说都是一笔财富的话那就再好不过了，人们应在最大程度上来珍惜和保 护我们现有的环境。”
布朗利和沃德都认为，让人类移居到适宜生存的星球上的想法并不有效，因为即使真的找到这样一个地方，移 居过去也将是一个艰巨的任务。他们说，送入太空的各种各样的探测器在地球死亡时可能幸免于难；仅有几克物 质携带着每个人的DNA样本，这有可能；但是，人类这个物种存活下去，则不可能。在这个星球死亡前很长的时 间内，生存就会显得异常艰难，对人类而言最终将不可能生存。
随着太阳变得越来越热并且体积不断增大，它将吞噬水星和金星。作者说，太阳的这种活动有可能在吞噬地 球之前停下来；但是，情况依然会使地球成为最不适合居住的行星。不过，可能性更大的是：太阳也将毁灭地球，把 分子之间所有的化学键都切断，把单个的原子送入太空，或许最终会形成新的行星。这将会使得火星成为离太阳 最近的星球，火星表面的太阳余晖就会像地球上的月光一样。
最后的终结仍然在75亿年之后，但是作者们也指出，在这一过程中，地球将经历多个“终结”。最后一只恐龙 很早之前就消失了。随后消失的将会是最后一头大象，最后一棵树，最后一朵花，最后一片冰川，最后一朵雪花，最 后一片海洋，以及最后一条生命。
“思考一下地球在其他诸多行星中的位置，以及它相对于太阳的位置是件好事。太阳赋予了地球生命，但它也 将最终带来灭亡。”
超纲词汇
Astrobiologist n.天体生物学家
astrophysicist n.天体物理学家
Cinder n.煤渣，灰烬
Fabulous 寓言中的，寓言般的，神话般的，传统上的，惊人的，难以置信的
Glacier n.冰河
Habitable adj.可居住的
Inhospitable 冷淡的，不好客的；（地带、气候等）不适合居住的；（指地方）荒凉的
Reign n.统治，支配，盛行，占优势
snowflake n.雪花
UW abbr.University of Washington
参考答案：1.D 2.B 3.A 4.A 5.C
