英语听力精选进阶版 7212

Background: 科学杂志《自然》上的一项新的研究报告认为地球可能曾经拥两个月亮，不过在天体碰撞后，比较小的一个消失了。科研人员认为，碰撞过程可能相当缓慢导致月球上出现了鲜为人见的凹凸不平的高地结构。

This new theory builds on the idea that around four billion years ago the Earth was struck by a Mars-like planet, but instead of the smash producing enough debris¹ for one moon, this paper argues there was enough for two.

This small second moon become stuck in a gravitational tug² of war between the Earth and its much larger sibling³. After millions of years in this position the new moon was drawn⁴ into a collision at a speed of less than three kilometres per second.

The scientists say this slow paced crash may have caused a build up of material and the formation of highlands on the Moon's far side.

For decades scientists have been trying to understand why the visible near side of the Moon is covered in craters⁶ while the far side has mountain ranges higher than 3,000 metres.

The researchers hope that Nasa observational missions might prove this new theory within a year.

Glossary⁷ 词汇表

to be struck by 被撞击 

a smash 冲击 

debris 碎片；废墟 

a paper 学术文章报告 

to become stuck 被阻无法移动 

a gravitational tug of war 天体碰撞 

a sibling 姊妹（类似天体） 

slow paced 慢速 

the far side 远处 

crater⁵ 火山口

Questions:

1. When was the Earth hit by a planet the size of Mars? 

Around four billion years ago.

2. What was the consequence of the collision of the second moon? 

The formation of hills on an area of the Moon rarely seen.

3. What was it about the Moon that scientists could not understand before? 

The reason why the near side of the Moon is covered in craters while the far side has mountain ranges.

4. True or false? The small second moon lasted millions of years. 

True. Between its formation and its disappearance⁸ after a collision the second moon lasted millions of years.

1 debris   

n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片

参考例句：

• After the bombing there was a lot of debris everywhere.轰炸之后到处瓦砾成堆。
• Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth,causing decay.细菌附着在牙缝中的食物残渣上，导致蛀牙。

2 tug   

v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船

参考例句：

• We need to tug the car round to the front.我们需要把那辆车拉到前面。
• The tug is towing three barges.那只拖船正拖着三只驳船。

3 sibling   

n.同胞手足(指兄、弟、姐或妹)

参考例句：

• Many of us hate living in the shadows of a more successful sibling.我们很多人都讨厌活在更为成功的手足的阴影下。
• Sibling ravalry has been common in this family.这个家里，兄弟姊妹之间的矛盾很平常。

4 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

5 crater   

n.火山口，弹坑

参考例句：

• With a telescope you can see the huge crater of Ve-suvius.用望远镜你能看到巨大的维苏威火山口。
• They came to the lip of a dead crater.他们来到了一个死火山口。

6 craters   

n.火山口( crater的名词复数 )；弹坑等

参考例句：

• Small meteorites have left impact craters all over the planet's surface. 这个行星的表面布满了小块陨石留下的撞击坑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The battlefield was full of craters made by exploding shells. 战场上布满弹坑。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 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。

8 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。