英语听力精选进阶版 7173

Background: 天文学家发现了能满足人类生存条件的行星，并称此行星和太阳系外已发现的所有行星相比，其特征更近似于地球。

Gliese 581g is the sixth planet to be found circling a dwarf¹ star some 20 light-years away, in the constellation² of Libra.

On paper it looks good – three times the mass of the Earth with possibly a rocky surface and enough gravity to hold on to an atmosphere.

The researchers also promised shirt-sleeve weather in some regions, but not everywhere. One side of the planet is almost always in sunshine; the other almost always in darkness. And estimated temperatures range from minus four degrees Celsius³ to a very hot 71 degrees.

A year meanwhile would go by in just 37 days.

Of course, whether life could be supported on Gliese 581g would need much more investigation⁴ and most probably technologies which don't exist yet. But the astronomers⁵ say that planethunting is getting easier and they were surprised how quickly they detected the tell-tale signs of this distant body using ground-based telescopes.

Glossary⁶ 词汇表

dwarf star 矮星 

light-years 光年 

constellation 星座 

on paper 理论上 

mass 质量 

rocky surface 多岩石表面 

shirt-sleeve weather 暖和舒适的 

planet hunting 寻找行星 

to detect something 发现某物 

tell-tale signs 有迹象显示 

body 天体 

ground-based 地面上的

Questions and Answers

Is it a big star? 

No, it is a dwarf star, so it is of average size or smaller.

In what ways could this planet have conditions to support life? 

The new planet has enough gravity to retain an atmosphere and the weather seems to be warm in some regions.

What makes it difficult for astronomers to confirm if life can be supported? 

The technology needed to investigate the planet further probably hasn't been invented yet.

True or False: Planets can only be identified with scientific equipment sent to space. 

False. Information about this planet was gathered using a telescope mounted on the surface of the Earth.

1 dwarf   

n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小

参考例句：

• The dwarf's long arms were not proportional to his height.那侏儒的长臂与他的身高不成比例。
• The dwarf shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. 矮子耸耸肩膀，摇摇头。

2 constellation   

n.星座n.灿烂的一群

参考例句：

• A constellation is a pattern of stars as seen from the earth. 一个星座只是从地球上看到的某些恒星的一种样子。
• The Big Dipper is not by itself a constellation. 北斗七星本身不是一个星座。

3 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

4 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

5 astronomers   

n.天文学者，天文学家( astronomer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Astronomers can accurately foretell the date,time,and length of future eclipses. 天文学家能精确地预告未来日食月食的日期、时刻和时长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Astronomers used to ask why only Saturn has rings. 天文学家们过去一直感到奇怪，为什么只有土星有光环。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 glossary   

n.注释词表；术语汇编

参考例句：

• The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
• For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便，我们在附录中也提供了术语表。