阅读理解
The Moon is attracting
much attention these days as NASA is ready for its Artemis I launch and
preparing for more to follow. The mission objectives are clear: develop a sustainable
presence on its surface and pave the way to go to Mars.
And then what? What's
the next great leap in humans' quest for the secrets of the universe?
When it comes to the near future scientific exploration, there are a few areas
of the solar system that will be receiving some special attention.
First off there's
Venus, a planet which was a relative paradise (天堂),
with oceans and a pleasant atmosphere. Something went terribly wrong there a
few billion years ago, and NASA has scheduled a series of missions to explore
what exactly is going on there.
At the other end are
the gas giants. Several of the satellites of Jupiter and Saturn are covered in
thick sheets of ice, and underneath that ice sit oceans of liquid water. NASA
has missions planned to investigate those mysterious worlds, hunting for any
signs of possible life hidden deep within.
As for us humans, Mars
is certainly the grand prize in the coming decades. If we have the adequate
drive and funds, we can establish a semi-permanent presence on the red planet,
keeping crews working and studying in person on the Martian surface. The other
planets of our solar system are not so suitable for people to settle on. Mercury
is too close to the Sun for comfort and too far away from the Earth.
Over the coming
decades humans expect to see a rise of "space hotels", set up for
visiting tourists and scientific explorations. Naturally, turning the space
rock into a habitat for humans is not very practical considering our current
level of technological maturity, but in my best estimation, it's the next
easiest thing to accomplish. after the Moon and Mars, of course.
(1)
What does the underlined word "quest" probably mean in the second paragraph?
A . Question.
B . Explanation.
C . Request.
D . Search.
(2)
Which is the least likely to be explored in the next decades according to the passage?
A . Mars.
B . Mercury.
C . Venus.
D . Gas giants.
(3)
What's the author's attitude towards the "space hotels"?
A . Ambiguous.
B . Critical.
C . Hopeful.
D . Indifferent.
(4)
What's the passage mainly about?
A . The launch of Artemis I.
B . The secrets of the solar system.
C . The missions of NASA
D . The areas of the future universe exploration.
答案: D
B
C
D