2015年考研英语阅读理解考前专项训练（164）
发布时间：2012/11/7 15:44:33 来源：城市网学院 编辑：admin
The blue haze represents X-ray emissions from hot gas between galaxies in the cluster MSl054—03218 billion light-years away.What confines the gas within the cluster?Some propose that it's dark matter.
If gravity works the way it's supposed t0，then most of the universe's mass is invisible，existing as what's #e to be known as“dark matter.①What's the nature of that missing mass，and what does it all mean for the fate of universe?The questions lead to some of the greatest mysteries of modern physics.
Scientists haven't even figured out yet how much total mass the universe contains--a no-less- weighty question that is linked to the dark matter debate.Indeed，the nature and amount of dark matter determines whether the universe itself is fated to collapse back upon itself，expand into virtual nothingness or reach a state of equilibrium.⑦
Right now,the best bet is that there isn't enough matter for gravity to over#e the Big Ban9， meaning that the universe's current expansion will continue forever until there's practically nothing left.In fact，some scientists are puzzling over data indicating that the expansion is acceleratin9.
For a long time，cosmologists worked under the assumption that there is enough matter to bring the universe into an eventual balance. Cosmologists call this balance point the critical density，and they use fl variable called 0mega”to describe the proportion of the universe's actual density to the critical density.④
If omega equals one，the universe is in balance and all is well for most theoretical physicists.But if omega is much less than one—as appears to be the case--then the theoreticians have a lot of explaining to d0.In fact，it may indicate that we don't fully understand how gravity works after all.
That's why some physicists hope there's enough undetected dark matter to fill the gap.
Figuring out the total mass of the universe may sound like an imponderable question--but surprisin91y，Lawrence and other researchers hope to #e up with some conclusive answers in the next decade or so.Their strategy is to measure the uneven afterglow of the Big Ban9's aftermath，known as the cosmic background radiation.
A satellite calied the Cosmic Background Explorer has made fl good start toward charting that afterglow.Future spacecraft such as NASA's Microwave Anisotropy Probe and the European Space Agency's Planck mission will map the early universe's signature in even greater detail.By closely #paring the density differences in the background radiation，astronomers can #e up with an answer for the mass question and gain some new hints as to the nature of dark matter.
“I think in 10 or 15 years we will know pretty much for sure whether the universe will expand forever，collapse back on itself or j ust drift，”said Lawrence，who is a principal investigator for one of the Planck research teams.“That's pretty excitin9.That's a question that didn't exist100 years ago.[488 words]
1.According to this passage，the universe______.
A.is unlikely to collapse back upon itself
B.is still full of mysteries to be revealed by us
C.will continue to expand until nothing exists in it
D.will reach a state of equilibrium sooner or later
2.Some cosmologists assume that______.
A.the universe is made of dark matter
B.the dark matter in the universe is missing
C.gravity may not work the way it's supposed to
D.gravity is a concept that didn't exist 100 years ago
3.The variable”omega“used by cosmologists______.
A.tends to be one
B.is usually much less than one
C.refers to the balance point of the universe
D.refers to the actual density of the universe
4.Cosmologists the total mass of the universe______.
A.have figured out
B.have little possibility to know
C.are too ignorant of the nature of dark matter to estimate
D.are expected to find some way to figure out
5.It is pointed out in the passage that has contributed to the study of the Big Ban9's aftermath______.
A.the theory of gravity
B.the Cosmic Background Explorer
C.NASA's Microwave Anisotrophy Probe
D.the European Space Agency's Planck mission
超纲词汇
Afterglow n.余辉
Aftermath n.结果，后果
Anisotropy n.[物]各向异性
Equilibrium n.平衡，均衡，安静
cosmologist n.宇宙学家
Haze n.薄雾
Imponderable 不可估计的 [NextPage] 参考答案：1.B 2.C 3.B 4.D 5.B
难句透析
①[If gravity works the way（it'S supposed to）]，then most of the universe'S mass is invisible，[existing as（what'S #e tO be known as“dark matter.”）]
【结构】第一个方括号所标示的是“if，引导的条件状语从句；其中圆括号所标示的”it'S supposed t0“是”the way“的定语从句；…it‘指”gravity“。第二个方括号所标示的现在分词短语用做状语；其中圆括号所标示的”what“引导的名词性从句是”as“的宾语从句。
【释义】如果万有引力真按人们想象的方式起作用的话，那么宇宙之中的大多数物质将是不可见的，以人们称之为”隐秘物质“的形式存在。
②Indeed，the nature and amount of dark matter determines[whether the universe itself is fated to collapse back upon itself， expand into virtual nothingness or reach a state of equilibrium].
【结构】方括号所标示的部分是”whether“引导的宾语从句；其中，三个并列的动词不定式”to collapse“，”expand“和”reach“用做从句主语”the universe“的补语。
【释义】实际上，隐秘物质的本质和数量就决定了宇宙本身是否注定将自身坍塌，或是无限扩张到一片虚无，还是最终达到某种平衡状态。
③Right now，the best bet is[that there isn't enough matter for gravity to over#e the Big Bang]，meaning[that。the universe'S current expansion will continue forever（until there'S practically nothing left）].
【结构】第一个方括号所标示的是表语从句。现在分词”meanin9“引导的短语用做状语，后面的方括号所标示的从句是现在分词”meanin9“的宾语从句。
【释义】 目前，我们下的最佳赌注是：宇宙中的物质还没有多到产生的万有引力超过了宇宙大爆炸威力的地步。遂意味着，宇宙现在进行的膨胀将永远持续下去，直到宇宙中的物质全部消失为止。
④Cosmologists call this balance point the critical density，and they use a variable[called”omega“]to describe the proportion of the universe'S actual density to the critical density.
【结构】本句是两个分句组成的并列句。方括号所标示的过去分词短语用做后置定语，修饰”a variable“。
【释义】宇宙学家把这个平衡点称之为临界密度。他们使用一个称之为”欧米加“的变量来描述宇宙实际密度和临界密度的比值。
⑤[Figuring out the total mass of the universe]may sound like an imponderable question--but”surprisingly. Lawrence and other researchers hope to #e up with some conclusive answers in the next decade or s0.
【结构】本句是两个分句组成的并列句。方括号所标示的动名词短语用做第一个分句的主语。
【释义】计算出宇宙总质量听起来可能令人觉得不可思议，但令人惊讶的是，劳伦斯和其他一些研究人员希望在未来l0年左右时间内对此问题获得某种结论性的答案。
全文翻译
蓝色的霾代表着80亿光年之外的MS1054—0321星系团间热气散发出的x光线。在星系团中什么限制了热气呢？有人提出是隐秘物质。
如果万有引力真按人们想象的方式起作用的话，那么宇宙之中的大多数物质将是不可见的，以人们称之为“隐秘物质”的形式存在。①这些多数的物质的性质是什么，它对整个宇宙的命运意味着什么？这些问题引出了现代物理学中部分最大的谜团。
科学家们甚至还没弄清楚宇宙中这些物质的总量有多少这个不可小视的问题与围绕隐秘物质展开的争论密切相关。实际上，隐秘物质的本质和数量就决定了宇宙本身是否注定将自身坍塌，或是无限扩张到一片虚无，还是最终达到某种平衡状态。
目前，我们下的最佳赌注是：宇宙中的物质还没有多到产生的万有引力超过了宇宙大爆炸威力的地步。这意味着，宇宙现在进行的膨胀将永远持续下去，直到宇宙中的物质全部消失为止。@事实上，一些科学家对显示膨胀正在加速的数据感到疑惑不解。
很长一段时间内，宇宙学家们假设存在足够的物质可以将宇宙带入一个最终的平衡状态，他们的研究都是在这个假设的基础上展开的。宇宙学家把这个平衡点称之为临界密度。他们使用一个称之为“欧米加”的变量来描述宇宙实际密度和临界密度的比值。
如果欧米加的值等于1，那么宇宙就处于平衡状态，对于大多数的理论物理学家来说一切都好解决了。但是假如欧米加远小于1，看起来实际情况也是这样，那么理论家们就要进行大量的解释工作了。实际上，这可能表示我们根本不能完全明白万有引力是如何发挥作用的。
这就是为什么物理学家们希望有足够未经探测到的隐秘物质来填补缺口的原因了。
计算出宇宙总质量听起来很令人觉得不可思议，但令人惊讶的是，劳伦斯和其他一些研究人员希望在未来10年左右时间内对此问题获得某种结论性的答案。他们的策略就是要测量出宇宙大爆炸后不均匀的余辉质量，就是大众所熟知的宇宙背景辐射的质量。
一颗名为宇宙背景探测器的卫星已经在绘制余辉的过程中开了一个好头。未来诸如美国宇航局微波各向异性探测器的太空船和欧洲空间局的普朗克任务都会对早期宇宙信号进行甚至更详细的测绘。通过认真比较背景辐射的密度差异，天文学家就可以找出有关大多数物质的问题，同时还可以为解释隐秘物质获得新的线索。
普朗克调查组首席调查人员劳伦斯表示：我们在未来10到15年内肯定可以知道宇宙是永远膨胀、自身坍塌还是只是漂移。这实在令人兴奋。这个问题100年前根本就没有出现
