Question

【題目】閱讀理解
Scientists have found living organisms trapped in crystals(晶體) that could be 50,000 years old.
The organisms were found in a hot, but beautiful cave system in Naica, Mexico. These ancient life forms can be seen only with a microscope. Penelope Boston, who leads the Astrobiology Institute at NASA, the space agency of the United States, says the ancient microbes(微生物) were able to live by eating minerals such as iron.
She spoke about the discovery recently at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. If the findings are confirmed, they will show how microbes can survive in extreme conditions. Forty different kinds of microbes and some viruses were found in the underground area. The genetic structures of these organisms are 10 percent different from those of their nearest relatives.
The caves in Naica are 800 kilometers deep. They were once used for mining lead. Before the miners began working in the caves, the area was separated from the surface and the outside world. Some of the caves are as big as the large religious centers built during Europe's Middle Ages. There are crystals covering the walls. The caves are so hot that scientists must wear special clothing to keep cool. The clothing keeps the crystals safe from human germs（病菌）or other damage. Boston said the researchers could only work for about 20 minutes at a time before they had to go to a room that was 38 degrees Celsius to cool down.
NASA officials would not let Boston share her findings with scientific experts before last week's announcement. So scientists could not say much about the findings. But Norine Noonan, a biologist with the University of South Florida, said she believed them. "Why are we surprised?" Noonan asked. "As a biologist, I would say life on Earth is extremely tough and extremely colorful."
Boston is also studying microbes commonly found inside caves in other countries, such as Ukraine and the United States. These microbes appear to be impossible to kill. Boston said they show how difficult life on Earth can be.
（1）The existence of the ancient microbes relies on _______.
A.surrounding insects
B.diverse plants
C.eating minerals
D.absorbing air
（2）What can we infer about the caves in Naica from the passage?
A.The walls are covered by crystals.
B.The temperature in the caves is quite low.
C.The caves have been explored since they were formed.
D.The environment in the caves is difficult to adapt to.
（3）What is the biologist Norine Noonan's attitude towards the findings?
A.Critical
B.Positive.
C.Doubtful.
D.Indifferent.
（4）What’s the main idea of the passage?
A.Living organisms bring hope to scientific research.
B.Scientists Discover 50,000-year-old “super life” in Mexico.
C.Microbes show great power to survive in terrible conditions.
D.Caves provide living environment for living organisms.

Answer 1

【答案】
（1）C
（2）D
（3）B
（4）B
【解析】本文報(bào)道科學(xué)家在墨西哥發(fā)現(xiàn)50000歲的“超級(jí)生命”。

（1）C細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第二段 “the ancient microbes were able to live by eating minerals such as iron”可知，C選項(xiàng)正確。

（2）D推理判斷題。根據(jù)第四段“The caves are so hot that scientists must wear special clothing to keep cool.”和“the researchers could only work for about 20 minutes at a time”可推知，洞穴內(nèi)的環(huán)境很糟糕，不適合進(jìn)入。因此D選項(xiàng)“The environment in the caves is difficult to adapt to（很難適應(yīng)）”正確，故選D。選項(xiàng)A中的“l(fā)ow” 與原文不符，故排除A。選項(xiàng)B中的“have been explored since they were formed”意為“自從成形以來已經(jīng)被探索” 與原文第四段的“Before the miners began working in the caves, the area was separated from（與…隔離） the surface and the outside world.”不符，故排除B。選項(xiàng)C中的“The walls are covered by crystals” 在原文第四段的“There are crystals covering the walls”直接表現(xiàn)出來，不屬于推斷出來的，故排除C。

（3）B觀點(diǎn)態(tài)度題。根據(jù)倒數(shù)第二段 “she believed them”和她說的話“Why are we surprised?”以及 “l(fā)ife on Earth is extremely tough and extremely colorful”可推知，Norine Noonan對這個(gè)發(fā)現(xiàn)的態(tài)度是正面肯定的，故B選項(xiàng)“Positive（積極的）”正確。選項(xiàng)A “Neutral”意為“中立的”，選項(xiàng)C “Doubtful”意為“懷疑的”，選項(xiàng)D “Indifferent”意為“漠不關(guān)心的”，均不符合文意，故排除A, C和D。

（4）B主旨大意題。根據(jù)第一段中心段和整篇文章的描述，文章第一段由“Scientists have found living organisms（生物體） trapped in crystals that could be 50,000 years old.”引入，接下來五個(gè)段落都圍繞這個(gè)生物體和研究發(fā)現(xiàn)進(jìn)行展開描述，故選項(xiàng)B正確。A選項(xiàng)“bring hope to（給…帶來希望）” 在文中沒有體現(xiàn)，故排除A；C選項(xiàng)“show great power to survive” 偏離文章討論的中心，故排除C；D選項(xiàng)“Caves provide living environment for living organisms”沒有點(diǎn)出文章主要討論的這項(xiàng)研究，故排除D。