英语听力精选进阶版 7226（在线收听）

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 terrains on Earth.

Analysis of Europe's surface suggests plumes 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.

Glossary 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 terrain 地形 

a plume (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.