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
张惠妹《排山倒海》英文版
初中英语常用词组3 量词词组
初中英语常用词组1 动词词组
常用英语词语辨析105组(3)
09年中考英语总复习经典习题讲解4一数词
为英语写作”画龙点睛“的24句谚语
2009中考英语词汇表 系列H
2010年中考英语词汇旧词新义:cause
2010年中考英语词汇旧词新义:blind
2009最新中考英语单项填空模拟考试卷 附详解答案
常用英语词语辨析105组(2)
2009中考英语词汇表 系列N
中考英语词汇“for短语”全攻略
2009中考英语词汇表 系列M
09年中考英语总复习经典习题讲解5一代词
十个窍门积累英语词汇
常用英语词语辨析105组(11)
常用英语词语辨析105组(5)
初中英语常用词组复习1
2009中考英语词汇短语集锦 (2)
09年中考英语总复习经典习题讲解2一名词
初中英语短语汇总 A- Y
2009中考英语词汇表 系列W
词汇笔记 五种词汇的学习方法 超强
初中英语常用词组复习2
常用英语词语辨析105组(4)
2009中考英语词汇表 系列JKL
09年中考英语总复习经典习题讲解3一冠词
高中英语词汇:80后“A到Z”生存法则
2010年中考英语词汇旧词新义:cost
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |