1 . History could repeat itself. Solar storms have happened before and they could happen again.
About 2,700 years ago, a strong solar storm swept past the Earth. Scientists announced this in a new study.
Scientists studied ancient ice in Greenland, a part of Denmark although it is in North America. They searched to uncover clues (线索) about previous solar storms. They looked at an ice core that dated as far back as 100,000 years. In it, scientists found radiation that showed a very strong solar storm 2,700 years ago. “If that solar storm occurred today, it could have serious effects on our high-tech society,” said Muscheler, a scientist at Lund University in Sweden.
Solar storms are made up of high-energy particles (粒子) released from the sun. The releases are explosions on the star’s surface. Solar storms include different kinds of eruptions (喷发) from the sun’s surface, says NASA. Flares, sunspots and other bursts are common signs of solar activity. They all involve sudden releases of stored energy, NASA says.
The long-ago storm had little effect on people in the world. It happened before businesses and technology were everywhere. However, a solar storm of that strength would be a threat to modern society, the study said. It would cause widespread power failure. Communications, space technologies, and airline operations would also be in danger.
Scientists said this is the third known discovery of a huge solar storm in historic times. This suggests that while the storms are rare, they are a natural effect of solar activity. In other words, they could happen again. “That’s why we must increase society’s protection against solar storms,” Muscheler said. “Our research suggests that the risks are currently underestimated. We need to be better prepared.”
1. What does the author intend to do in Paragraph 3?| A．Add some background information. | B．Summarize the previous paragraphs. |
| C．Provide some advice for the readers. | D．Introduce a new topic for discussion. |
| A．We pay little attention to the risks of solar storms. |
| B．A solar storm would destroy everything on the Earth. |
| C．It would cause widespread snowstorms on the Earth. |
| D．Modern society depends on science and technology. |
| A．Solar storms will hit areas worldwide. |
| B．Solar storms could have serious effects on the Earth today. |
| C．Three known solar storms happened in historic times. |
| D．Solar storms are high-energy particles released from the sun. |
1. 与……完全相反
2. 极区
3. 布置精美
4. 在……的边界
5. make way
6. 私人财产
7. brick
8. mud
9. grain
10. liquid
11. delicacy
12. delicate
1. 不落俗套
2. 除了（2个）
3. 在城市地区
4. 少数人
5. 不足为奇
6. 区分A与B make a
7. 在……最深处
8. in the suburbs
9. 植物园
10. valley
11. glacier
12. blooming
1. absence n．缺乏，不存在；缺席→
2. occupy vt.占用，使用；居住；占领，侵占；使忙于→
3. evaluate vt.评估，估计，评价→
4. exposure n．面临，遭受；揭露；报道→
5. visible adj.看得见的；明显的→
6. universe n．宇宙，天地万物→
7. origin n．起源，起因；出身→
8. frequency n．发生率，出现率；频繁；频率→
9. investment n．投资；投入→
10. coverage n．新闻报道；覆盖范围；信息范围→
11. assistant n．助理；售货员；助教 adj.助理的，副的→
12. dust n．沙土，尘土；灰尘，尘埃→
13. motive n．原因，动机，目的→
Life on a space station
Living in space is every would-be astronaut’s dream. My six-month stay on a space station has come to an end, and it has been a challenging but magical adventure. I bet you’d love to know what daily life is like up in space and how it differs from that on the Earth—the low gravity definitely makes ordinary things strange!
The strangeness of living in space is apparent from the moment we sleep. Due to the near absence of gravity in space, we have to attach ourselves so that we don’t float around. We usually sleep in private quarters, which are more like large cupboards, or in sleeping bags attached to the walls or the ceiling. It’s strange that we try to sleep with no pressure against our back, but the unusual beds don’t bother us any more. After about eight hours of sleep, we start our day of work.
The routine tasks that occupy most of the day are demanding, but they can also be extremely rewarding. Our main mission is to conduct scientific research. We need to evaluate the effects of low gravity on animals and plants. Creatures such as mice, fish and mosquitoes have also been sent to the station! In a low-gravity environment, we can learn more about changes in cells and microorganisms under the microscope. As well as doing these biological experiments, we carry out experiments in other research fields. I have been working on one experiment which locates and tracks lightning over large regions of the Earth. Hopefully, it will cast new light on the Earth’s climate and lead to better lightning protection. With so much going on, the space station needs a lot of maintenance, so we constantly check support systems and do some cleaning.
The most challenging work takes place when we need to perform tasks outside the space station, such as testing new equipment, monitoring scientific experiments or repairing the space station. In the circumstances, it’s time for a spacewalk. First, we put on our spacesuits, which allow us to breathe in space and protect us from exposure to the cold and radiation. Then we head out, and sometimes perform tasks for hours at a time, with the beautiful Earth visible below. Splendid as the view of the Earth is, spacewalking is not as exciting as you might think. It’s probably the most dangerous work, with potential risks such as electric shocks. That’s why every spacewalk is carefully planned.
In view of the low-gravity environment, eating is also different in space. Most food is dried or freeze-dried. It’s a luxury to eat fresh food, because fresh produce such as fruit and vegetables can only be delivered to the space station from the Earth every couple of months. Salt and pepper are only in liquid form, so that they will not float away and block the air pipes. However, liquids can’t be easily controlled in space. We must drink water or any other liquids out of a bag through a thin tube of plastic. Furthermore, to keep our body healthy, we must ensure a balanced supply of nutrients by taking pills.
Spending some time in the gym is of vital importance to astronauts’health. Did you know that in just five months, astronauts could lose a significant amount of muscle and bone mass? Considering these negative effects low gravity has on the human body, we discipline ourselves to do at least two hours of exercise every day. Exercise in space is not your average workout. We have to be tied onto specially designed exercise equipment to stop ourselves from floating around.
During our leisure time, there’s nothing we like more than to sit back with the rest of the crew and watch our remarkable planet go by, taking pictures for our family and friends back home. As the space station travels at a speed of about 17,500 miles per hour, we get to see the sunrise every 90 minutes. In these precious moments, all the challenges of life in space seem worth it.
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