Question

Is There Life on Earth?

There was great excitement on the planet of Venus(金星) this week. For the first time 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 Manhattan (named after the great Venusian astronomer Prof. 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 as to feasibility (可行性) of a manned flying saucer (碟) 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,” Prof. 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 the 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 originally planned.”

“Are there any other dangers that you discovered in your studies?”

“Take a look at this photo. You see this dark black cloud hovering(盤旋) over the surface of Earth? We call this the Consolidated Edison Belt. 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 Venus Being 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.”

“Sir, what are all those tiny black spots on the photographs?”

“We are not certain. They seem to be metal particles(粒子) that move along certain paths. They emit gases, make noise and keep crashing into each other. There are so many of these paths and so many metal particles that it is impossible to land a flying saucer without its being smashed by one”.

“What are those stalagmite(石筍) projections sticking up?”

“They are some of granite formations that give off light at night. Prof. Glom has named them skyscrapers since they seem to be scraping the skies. ”

“If all you say is true, won’t this set back the flying saucer program several years?”

“Yes, but we shall continue as soon as the Grubstart gives us the added funds.”

Prof. Zog, why are we spending billions and billions of zilches to land a flying saucer on Earth when there is no life there?

“Because if we Venusians can learn to breathe in an Earth atmosphere, then we can live anywhere.”

1.According to Prof. Zog, the Venusians will have to take their own oxygen with them when they carry out their flying saucer program because ________.

A. they need it on their way to the planet of earth

B. the earth’s atmosphere is filled with deadly gases

C. oxygen is far from enough in the area of Manhattan

D. there is no air on the planet of Earth

2.The “dark black cloud” in the 10th paragraph indicates ________.

A. the polluted air hovering over the surface of Earth

B. the mass of tiny drops of water floating above Earth

C. the mass of small things moving through the air

D. the dark clouds gathering before a storm breaks

3.The author wishes to call our attention to the fact that ________.

A. modern man has polluted his environment to such an extent that he may destroy himself if he carries on like this

B. there is no point in spending billions and billions of zilches to land a flying saucer on Earth

C. pollution has become so serious a problem on Earth that even Venusians find life there unbearable

D. it is difficult, if not altogether impossible, to land a manned flying saucer on Earth

4.The tone of this essay is ________.

A. hopeless and objective

B. serious and critical (批評的)

C. humorous and satirical (諷刺的)

D. sensitive and subjective

Answer 1