知识背景 Mars
火星，太阳系八大行星之一，是距离太阳由近到远的第四颗行星，属于类地行星。直径约为地球的53%，质量为地球的14%，与地球最近距离约为5500万公里，最远距离则超过4亿公里。其自转轴倾角、自转周期均与地球相近，公转一周约为地球公转时间的两倍。
阅读短文并回答问题
NASA’s Curiosity vehicle（“好奇号”） recently recorded the largest level of methane（甲烷） during its seven-year Mars mission. The discovery is exciting because the existence of methane gas could support the case for life on Mars.
It was not the first time Curiosity has found methane gas in the Martian atmosphere. About a year ago, NASA announced that Curiosity had discovered sharp seasonal increases in the gas. This time, NASA said the measured methane gas level was clearly larger than any others observed in the past. NASA officials even temporarily stopped Curiosity’s other activities to investigate further.
The rise and fall of the methane gas levels left NASA scientists with more questions than answers. The scientists are continuing to study possible causes for the sudden increase.
1. Curiosity discovered .
A. the largest methane gas level ever on Mars B. the existence of life on Mars C. the reason for the increased methane D. interactions between rocks and water
2. Why did NASA officials once stop Curiosity’s other activities? A. To seek possible life existing on Mars. B. To check the quality of Curiosity’s mission. C. To find seasonal increases in the methane gas. D. To further examine the methane gas level on Mars.
3. The passage is probably taken from . A. a geography textbook B. a science newspaper C. a health magazine D. a travel brochure
参考答案
1. A 第一段：NASA’s Curiosity vehicle recently recorded the largest level of methane（甲烷）ever measured during its seven-year Mars mission.
2. D 第三段NASA officials even temporarily stopped Curiosity’s other activities to investigate further.
3. B 全文介绍“好奇号”发现火星甲烷含量是有史以来的最高值，属于科普类文章，所以可能选自科学报纸。A. geography textbook 地理教科书 B. a science newspaper科学报纸 C. a health magazine 健康杂志 D. a travel brochure旅游指南
生词及长难句
1. NASA 美国国家航空航天局 2. Mars n. 火星
3. Curiosity’s Mars Science Laboratory “好奇号”火星科学实验室
4. The rise and fall of the methane gas levels left NASA scientists with more questions than answers.
主干结构： leave sb. with sth.给某人留下某物
主语：The rise and fall of the methane gas levels是所有格的一种形式，意思是“甲烷含量的升高和降低”。
短语：more...than... 与其说……倒不如……
翻译：甲烷气体水平的升降，与其说给美国宇航局的科学家留下了答案，倒不如说是留下了疑问。
【2024年时事热点新闻】做中考英语阅读理解：火星“好奇号”的最新探测结果
