3.Last week,we explained that the planet Mars has passed"opposition".It passed a point opposite the Sun.This week,we tell about the planet's surprising motion(運動) among the stars.
For thousands of years,people have recognized that planets travel among the stars.The planets generallyfollow the path taken by the Sun through the sky.The Sun's path is called the ecliptic(黃道).The groups of stars along the ecliptic are called the Zodiac(黃道帶).
The motion of the planets can be confusing at times.Everyone knows the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west.But this is caused by the turning motion of the Earth.Planets generally move from west to east.
However,Mars will appear to move backward for about two months this year.This happens because the Earth is overtaking(超過) Mars on its way around the Sun.Mars began its backward,or westward motion on May 11th.It will start moving eastward again on July 19th.
Mars'apparent(明顯的) motion has been a mystery to astronomers for hundreds of years.Most early theories of the solar system argued that the Sun and planets turned around the Earth.But the sudden westward motion of Mars presented a problem.Why would Mars move west for two months when it nears"opposition"?
In 1543,a Polish church worker named Nicolas Copernicus published a different theory.His theory said the Earth and planets moved around the Sun in perfectly circular orbits(循環(huán)的軌道).Copernicus'theory was simpler.But his Suncentered system still did not explain the observed motion of Mars very well.
Finally,a German mathematician named Johannes Kepler published a complete theory of the motion of the planets in 1619.He had carefully studied the motion of Mars for many years.Johannes Kepler discovered that the planets do not move in circular orbits around the sun.Instead,they travel in flattened(變平的) orbits called ellipses(橢圓).Mars'elliptical orbit is the cause of its unusual brightening this year and its apparent large size.During the next several weeks,you can see for yourself why the mysterious motin of Mars has caused so many people to wonder.
32.From the passage we can learn that.C
A.the planets generally travel westward
B.Kepler studied the orbit of the planets in 1619
C.the Earth's turning motion causes the Sun to rise in the east
D.Copernicus'theory well explained the motion of Mars
33.On July 19th MarsA.
A.will appear to change its direction again
B.will pass the"opposition"
C.will begin to move westward
D.will appear to change its orbit again
34.Why does Mars appear to be bigger and brighter when it passes"opposition"?B
A.It is overtaking the earth.
B.It moves in an elliptical orbit.
C. It follows the path of the sun.
D.It travels in a circular orbit.
35.What is the best title for the passage?C
A.The Recent Research into Mars
B.The Great Discovery on Mars
C.The Surprising Motion of Mars
D.The Wonderful Mystery of Mars.
分析 文章主要講今年火星Mars有兩個月的時間是向西轉動的,這與一般行星自西向東轉動是相反的.
解答 CABC
32.C 考查推理判斷題.在1619年出版了行星運動的完全理論"可知,他的研究應該是在1619年之前,B錯誤;根據第六段最后一句"Buthis Sun-centered system still did not explainthe observed motion of Mars verywell."可知,D錯誤;根據第三段第二、三句"Everyoneknows the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west.But this iscaused by the turning motion of theEarth."可知C正確.
33.A 考查細節(jié)理解題.根據第四段最后一句"Marsbegan its backward,or westward,motion on May 11th,It will startmoving eastward again on July 19th."可知,在7月19號,火星將會再次改變方向,故A正確.
34.B 考查細節(jié)理解題.根據第八段最后一句"Mars'elliptical orbit is the cause of its unusual brightening this yearand its apparent largesize."可知,橢圓型軌道是引起不尋常明亮的主要原因,故B正確.
35.C 主旨概括題.綜合全文,文章主要講今年火星Mars有兩個月的時間是向西轉動的,這與一般行星自西向東轉動是相反的,因此C項符合題意.
點評 本文是人文地理類閱讀理解.做這類題材閱讀理解時要求考生對文章通讀一遍,做題時結合原文和題目有針對性的找出相關語句進行仔細分析,結合選項選出正確答案.推理判斷題也是要在抓住關鍵句子的基礎上合理的分析才能得出正確答案,切忌胡亂猜測,一定要做到有理有據