专题能力训练十四 阅读理解(五)
能力升级训练第43页
A
(2014·郑州第一次质量预测)
There was great excitement on the planet of Venus(金星).Venusian scientists managed to land a satellite on the planet Earth,and it has been sending back signals as well as photographs ever since.
The satellite was directed into an area known as Manha ttan,named after th e great Venusian astronomer Professor Manhattan,who first discovered it with his telescope 20 000 light years ago.
Because of excellent weather conditions and extremely strong signals,Venusian scientists were able to get valuable information about the feasibility(可行性) of a manned flying saucer landing on Earth.A press conference was held at the Venus Institute of Technology.
“We have come to the conclusion,based on last week’s satellite landing,”Professor Zog said,“that there is no life on Earth.”
“How do you know this?”the science reporter of The Venus Evening Star asked.
“For one thing,Earth’s surface in the area of Manhattan is made up of solid concrete and nothing can grow there.For another,the atmosphere is filled with carbon monoxide(一氧化碳) and other deadly gases and nobody could possibly breathe this air and survive.”
“What does this mean as far as our flying saucer program is concerned?”
“We shall have to take our own oxygen with us,which means a much heavier flying saucer than we planned at first.”
“Are there any other dangers that you discovered in your studies?”
“Take a look at this photo.You see this dark black cloud hanging over the surface of Earth.We don’t know what it is made of,but it could give us a lot of trouble and we shall have to make further tests before we send a Venusian there.Over here you will notice what seems to be a river,but the satellite findings indicate it is polluted and the water is unfit to drink.This means we shall have to carry our own water,which will add even greater weight to the saucer.”
