3 . Exoplanets (外行星): The Hunt Is On

Today scientists believe that planets could outnumber the stars. For centuries, scientists and natural philosophers have proposed that stars in the night sky have planetary systems similar to our own solar system. The existence of extrasolar planets, or exoplanets, has long been discussed.     1     Although not the first exoplanet discovery, a planet near a sun-like star was discovered by astronomers in 1995. This kicked off an era of exoplanet hunting, with thousands of discoveries and confirmations following in its wake.

    2     However, in 2015 NASA’s Kepler space telescope found its first Earth-sized planet in a “habitable” zone. This is the distance from a star where surface temperatures of a planet wouldn’t be too hot or too cold for liquid water. So far, only a small slice of our galaxy, the Milky Way, has been explored. Even so, scientists have confirmed over 3,500 exoplanets, with more being added every day.

To detect exoplanets, scientists use data from a variety of sources. Large ground-based telescopes, earth-circling and sun-circling satellites all collect different types of information. Because exoplanets are so far away and very close to stars, it is very difficult to see them directly.     3     For example, when an exoplanet moves between its star and us, it causes a small drop in the star’s brightness. Measuring this drop is the transit (凌日) method of discovery. NASA’S Kepler space telescope has discovered many exoplanets this way.

As a planet circles a star, it pulls on it and causes it to shake.     4     Measuring these slight changes is the radial velocity (径向速度) method of discovering planets. It is one of the most productive methods for finding and confirming exoplanets.

These are just two examples of the many methods scientists use in their hunt for exoplanets, hoping for more information and enhanced detail. As time progresses and technology improves, who knows what else we may find!

A．Scientists use indirect methods to discover exoplanets.

B．Most exoplanets are very different from the ones in our solar system.

C．As the star moves unsteadily, it changes the wavelength of the light we see.

D．Astronomers have detected signals indicating the presence of a planet.

E．However, we have developed the technology to prove their existence only in the last few decades.

F．Direct detection of the visible light from giant planets in space is becoming increasingly possible.

4 . Questions are based on the following passage.
1.

A．The location.

B．The scenery.

C．The seafood.

D．The culture.

2.

A．Attract whales to the closer shore.	B．Tell people where to see whales.
C．Warn people to stay away from shore.	D．Go around to gather enough visitors.

3.

A．It is held every other year in summer.

B．It helps Whale Crier to show his talents.

C．It guarantees everyone to find something to enjoy.

D．It is one of the best eco-arts festivals in South Africa.

5 . Since Peter Singer published Animal Liberation in 1975, animal rights activists thought animals should be granted the same rights as humans. Referring to scientific studies showing animals_______“human characteristics”, they argue animals should be protected with the same rights. So why don’t animals have the same legal status (身份) as humans？

The line of reasoning in favor of granting animals equal rights to humans_______the fact that scientists have found characteristics in animals we normally_______with humans. A group of scientists showed monkeys demonstrate self-consciousness at the same level as humans. This has usually served as a justification for human rights, so why don’t we grant equal rights to monkeys？

The truth is,_______convincing scientific evidence, the argument for granting at least some animals the same rights as humans can’t be justified philosophically. An adequate argument for animal rights would require further philosophical inquiry and not just descriptive_______. We can feel pity for animals being treated badly and strive to protect them from such treatment. This,_______, doesn’t mean animals should enjoy the same legal status as humans.

There is a strong reason for_______that rights only apply to humans. While fundamental rights surely are valuable in their nature, they would be worthless without a system to_______them. That is why we expect other people to respect our rights.

The system that defends our rights is the fact that other people are obliged by_______in their behaviors towards us. In our daily life, we experience numerous situations in which bad guys could________from violating (侵犯) our rights. Nevertheless, we see, of course, with some exceptions, that individuals cooperate and respect other people’s rights. Rights and duties are two sides of the same coin, and one cannot________to have certain rights without having to observe the duties.

If it is my claim to live freely on my property without being bothered, my neighbor’s duty prevents him from violating my right to property and life. Suppose, however, he breaks in and damages my property. He will then be held responsible in a court of law, for he has________his duty to respect my rights. This is completely reasonable, but we will certainly face________if my property was violated by an elephant.

If we assume that animals are granted the same legal status as humans,________requires that we now drag he elephant into court. Remember, if an animal were to have such rights, it would logically also have social duties. Therefore, it is now________to the same legal procedures as humans. This raises practical questions: Who will defend the animal in court？And will the animal be able to comprehend what is going on？

1.

A．acquiring

B．desiring

C．displaying

D．respecting

2.

A．explores

B．challenge

C．overlooks

D．emphasizes

3.

A．treat

B．associate

C．deal

D．bear

4.

A．considering

B．despite

C．instead of

D．according to

5.

A．conclusions

B．performances

C．experiments

D．messages

6.

A．in return

B．for instance

C．therefore

D．however

7.

A．denying

B．maintaining

C．recognizing

D．suggesting

8.

A．approve

B．demand

C．ensure

D．reserve

9.

A．contracts

B．possession

C．faith

D．duties

10.

A．profit

B．keep

C．learn

D．result

11.

A．afford

B．claim

C．pretend

D．determine

12.

A．assigned

B．declared

C．failed

D．fulfilled

13.

A．dangers

B．questions

C．charges

D．obstacles

14.

A．agreement

B．justice

C．criticism

D．frustration

15.

A．open

B．addicted

C．subject

D．relevant

6 . Directions: After reading the passage below, choose the best answers from the six statements according to what you have just read.

The price of a piece of history

A fresh lemon can be purchased for less than $1. But in 2008, Cowan's Auctions in Cincinnati sold a lemon blackened with age for $2,350.

What was so special about this lemon?     1     According to a handwritten note in ink attached to a partly sealed bottle containing the lemon, the fruit was picked in May 1842 by Washington's "old gardener" some 43 years after the first president's death

Two thousand dollars is a lot to pay for produce, even from the estate of a founding father. This sale, however, just might be considered a bargain compared with prices paid for other historical collectibles in recent years.     2    

Collecting a piece of history, or an object associated with a famous person, is not brand new. Ordinary objects with extraordinary stories have increasingly been coming to auction and achieving high prices, says Thomas Venning, director of Christie's department of books and manuscripts in London. Prices are being driven up, he says, by collectors in the U.S. and, increasingly, in Asia. The Hawking wheelchair, for example, was purchased by a private museum in China.

    3     For one thing, their history of ownership is both crucial and sometimes difficult to prove. Photographs of the famous person with the object, as well as documentation (such as letters, diaries or recollections by acquaintances referring to the object) can also help.       4     To evaluate the value of a Picasso painting, one can look at recent prices paid for other Picasso paintings of the same period, similar size or style. Finding another recent sale of a lemon planted by George Washington is a different matter.

Katie Horstman, head of Cowan's American History department, says she could find no comparable items for the lemon as she prepared the piece for its auction. Ms. Horstman nevertheless eventually arrived at the estimated value at $3,000 to $4,000, she says, by researching auction records for objects somehow associated with Washington that had appeared on the market.

Cowans ended up estimating the value of the lemon at $3,000 to $4,000, according to description on its website. Objects associated with Washington these days, Ms. Horstman says, can sell for anywhere from 1,000 up to tens of thousands of dollars.

A．Stephen Hawking’s wheelchair fetched 296, 750 at a sale at Christie's in London last November.

B．Yet determining potential values of such objects isn't easy.

C．It was said to be from a tree planted by George Washington at Mount Vernon.

D．The auction result surely drew the attention from both the business and economics worlds.

E．The uniqueness of many of these objects further complicates efforts to put a value on them.

F．Therefore the unique value of many objects proved the worth of collection.