2011年12月四级听力精练第3套：短文理解

Passage One

　　Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.

　　26. A) There were no planets without moons.

　　B) There was no air or water on Jupiter.

　　C) Life was not possible in outer space.

　　D) The mystery of life could not be resolved.

　　27. A) It has a number of active volcanoes. B) It has an atmosphere like the earth's.

　　C) It has a large ocean under its surface. D) It has deep caves several miles long.

　　28. A) Light is not an essential element to it.

　　B) Life can form in very hot temperatures.

　　C) Every form of life undergoes evolution.

　　D) Oxygen is not needed for some life forms.

　　答案：考试大，考试伴你同行

　　26. C. Life was not possible in outer space.

　　27. C. It has a large ocean under its surface.

　　28. A. Light is not an essential element to it.

　　原文：

　　Passage One

　　Since early times, people have been fascinated with the idea of life existing somewhere else besides earth. Until recently, scientists believed that life on other planet was just a hopeful dream. But now they are beginning to locate places where life could form. In 1997, they saw evidence of planets near other stars like the sun. But scientists now think that life could be even nearer in our own solar system. One place scientists are studying very closely is Europa, a moon of Jupiter. Space probes have provided evidence that Europa has a large ocean under its surface. The probes have also made the scientists think that under its surface Europa has a rocky core giving off volcanic heat. Water and heat from volcanic activity are two basic conditions needed for life to form. A third is certain basic chemicals such as carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. Scientists believe there might be such chemicals lying at the bottom of Europa’s ocean. They may have already created life, or maybe about to. You may wonder if light is also need for life to form. Until recently, scientists thought that light was essential. But now, places have been found on earth that are in total in blackness, such as caves several miles beneath the ocean. And bacteria, primitive forms of life have been seen there. So the lack of light in Europa’s subsurface ocean doesn’t automatically rule out life forming.

　　26. What did scientists once believe according to the passage?

　　27. What have scientists found about Europa, a moon of Jupiter?

　　28. What have scientists come to know recently about the formation of life?