英语听力精选进阶版 7226

Background: 研究太阳系的科学家们说他们有了突破性发现。在木星卫星欧罗巴的地表下面他们发现了水的迹象，这说明那里或许能提供给有机生物存活的环境。

What secrets lie beneath the icy surfaces of Europa? Scientists say they may have found the best evidence yet for water on Jupiter's frozen moon.

They suspect that a vast ocean lies beneath the thick crust of ice. Any liquid water could represent a potential habitat for life. The scientists analysed images collected by the Galileo spacecraft launched in 1989. They've also based their findings on observations of similar icy terrains² on Earth.

Analysis of Europe's surface suggests plumes⁴ of warmer water well up beneath its icy shell, melting and fracturing the outer layers.

Much more work is needed to confirm their theories but scientists are excited.

The US and Europe are working on more missions to Europa and Jupiter's other moons. They hope to launch them either late this decade or early in the 2020s. Only then might we really know what lies beneath those icy wastes.

Glossary⁵ 词汇表

an icy surface 冰冷的表面 

evidence 证据 

a thick crust 厚厚的一层（冰） 

to analyse 分析 

the findings 发现 

a terrain¹ 地形 

a plume³ (of water) 一股向上喷的(水) 

to fracture 打碎 

an outer layer 外壳 

an icy waste 冰冻的旷野

Questions:

1. What do scientists think lies beneath the ground on Jupiter's moon?

A vast ocean.

2. How have they reached the conclusions announced in the report?

They studied images collected by the Galileo spacecraft and some areas on Earth.

3. True or false? There could be life on Europa.

True. According to the report, if the presence of liquid water is confirmed Jupiter's moon could sustain life.

4. How will scientists be sure that their theories are correct?

The US and Europe hope to send more missions to Europa and Jupiter's other moons.

1 terrain   

n.地面，地形，地图

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• He knows the terrain of this locality like the back of his hand.他对这一带的地形了如指掌。

2 terrains   

n.地形( terrain的名词复数 )；地面；地域；地带

参考例句：

• Scientists call these pieces exotic or suspect terrains. 科学家们把这些小陆块叫外来或嫌疑地块。 来自辞典例句
• In the western of China are intricate terrains and many hilly regions. 我国西部地区地势复杂，多丘陵。 来自互联网

3 plume   

n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰

参考例句：

• Her hat was adorned with a plume.她帽子上饰着羽毛。
• He does not plume himself on these achievements.他并不因这些成就而自夸。

4 plumes   

羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物

参考例句：

• The dancer wore a headdress of pink ostrich plumes. 那位舞蹈演员戴着粉色鸵鸟毛制作的头饰。
• The plumes on her bonnet barely moved as she nodded. 她点点头，那帽子的羽毛在一个劲儿颤动。

5 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。