Unless we spend money to spot and prevent asteroids now, one might crash into Earth and destroy life as we know it, say some scientists.
Asteroids are bigger versions of the meteoroids that race across the night sky. Most orbit the sun far from Earth and don t threaten us. But there are also thousands of asteroids whose orbits put them on a collision course with Earth.
Buy $50 million worth of new telescopes right now. Then spend $10 million a year for the next 25 years to locate most of the space rocks. By the time we spot a fatal one, the scientists say, we ll have a way to change its course.
Some scientists favor pushing asteroids off course with nuclear weapons. But the cost wouldn t be cheap.
Is it worth it?Two things experts consider when judging any risk re:1)How likely the event is;and 2)How bad the consequences if the event occurs. Experts think an asteroid big enough to destroy lots of life might strike Earth once every 500, 000 years. Sounds pretty rare but if one did fall, it would be the end of the world. If we don t take care of these big asteroids, they ll take care of us, says one scientist. It s that simple.
The cure, though, might be worse than the disease. Do we really want fleets of nuclear weapons sitting around on Earth? The world has less to fear from doomsday rocks than from a great nuclear fleet set against them, said a New York Times article.
21.What does the passage say about asteroids and meteoroids?
A) They are heavenly bodies different in composition.
B) They are heavenly bodies similar in nature.
C) There are more asteroids than meteoroids.
D) Asteroids are more mysterious than meteoroids.
22.What do scientists say about the collision of an asteroid with Earth?
A) It is very unlikely but the danger exists.
B) Such a collision might occur once every 25 years.
C) Collisions of smaller asteroids with Earth occur more often than expected.
D) It s still too early to say whether such a collision might occur.
23.What do people think of the suggestion of using nuclear weapons to alter the courses of asteroids?
A) It sounds practical but it may not solve the problem.
B) It may create more problems than it might solve.
C) It is a waste of money because a collision of asteroids with Earth is very unlikely.
D) Further research should be done before it is proved applicable.
24.We can conclude from the passage that ________.
A) while pushing asteroids off course nuclear weapons would destroy the world
B) asteroids racing across the night sky are likely to hit Earth in the near future
C) the worry about asteroids can be left to future generations since it is unlikely to happen in our lifetime
D) workable solutions still have to be found to prevent a collision of asteroids with Earth
25.Which of the following best describes the author s tone in this passage?
A) Optimistic.
B) Critical.
C) Objective.
D) Arbitrary.
答案:21.B 22.A 23.B 24.D 25.C
中考英语满分作文两篇
我的故乡(MY NATIVE TOWN)
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我的优缺点(My Strengths and Weaknesses)
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2004年江西中考英语作文
我的家乡(My Home Town)
根据提示写一篇“My English Teacher”
雨中回家(Go Home Rainy Day)
关于香港回归十周年的日记
回忆初中生活(Four years' school life)
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马戏团(The Circus)
中考满分作文
电脑的重要性(The Importance of Electricity)
中考满分作文赏析
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我们的班长(Our Monitor)
拒抽二手烟(No Secondhand Smoke)
伟大的中国,我爱你!(Great China, I love you!)
保护我们的城市(Saving Our City)
Large Companies and Small Companies
我童年的甜美回忆(Pleasant Memory of My Childhood)
一件难忘的事情(An Unforgetful Thing)
田间劳动(Students Working in the Fields)
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烟花(Fireworks)
我最喜欢的课程(My favourite lesson)
介绍朋友的生活与饮食习惯
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