主题十五　奥秘探索--2027通用版高考英语第一轮主题练（含答案）

中小学教育资源及组卷应用平台
2027通用版高考英语第一轮
主题十五　奥秘探索
组合练1　阅读(2)&语法填空
1.三年模拟(2026届广东深圳多校联考开学考,C)主题 极地探索
　　For more than a decade, a team of researchers have studied the dynamics of the Greenland Ice Sheet as it responds to a warming climate. But while much of their focus has been on water's impacts on ice sheet change, their most recent research findings have overturned the order of their thinking. Meierbachtol, Harper and their team discovered that changes in the ice sheet have a real impact on the massive groundwater system underlying Greenland.
This latest discovery occurred thanks to a marriage of drilling techniques. International cooperators made an angled hole 650 meters through bedrock underneath a Greenland glacier (冰川) to measure groundwater conditions under the ice. Meanwhile, researchers drilled 32 holes from atop the glacier, through nearly a kilometer of ice, to measure water conditions at the area between ice and bedrock, which forms an important boundary controlling groundwater flow below. After drilling, the team fixed sensors in the ice column and at the ice sheet bed to measure ice dynamics and water conditions as water flows under the ice.
“By studying areas that were covered by ice 10,000 years ago, we have known that the huge mass and vast amounts of water from melting ice can impact the underlying groundwater,” Meierbachtol said. “It's generally accepted that the groundwater is sleeping over decades to centuries and its response to ice sheet change is long: thousands of years. But what we've shown here is that it is immediate.”
This new understanding could have important subsequent effects on how Greenland's thinning impacts the Arctic. The thinning ice could reduce the rate of groundwater flow to the ocean, changing the water temperature and salinity (盐度) balance that is important for ocean circulation (循环) patterns. “In thinking about the complex feedbacks from Greenland's ongoing change, we have really ignored the groundwater component,” Harper said.
1. How do the researchers feel about the result of the recent study
A. Surprised.　B. Doubtful.　C. Satisfied.　D. Disappointed.
2. What contributes most to the new research about the Greenland Ice Sheet
A. Joint efforts from global experts.
B. Advanced sensors tracking ice dynamics.
C. Ideal bedrock stability for measurements.
D. A combination of two drilling approaches.
3. What is a misunderstanding of the groundwater under glaciers
A. Its component is complex.　 B. It is inactive for a long time.
C. It has a very large volume.　 D. Its temperature is changeable.
4. What does the text mainly talk about
A. Long-lasting effects of global warming on the Arctic.
B. Water impacts on Greenland's permanent ice sheet.
C. Newly discovered groundwater resources in Greenland.
D. Greenland's groundwater changes with thinning ice sheet.
2.三年模拟(2025江苏新高考基地学校期初质量监测,D) 主题 太空探索
　　The future of space food could be simple and strange. For decades, astronauts have relied mostly on prepackaged food or the occasional grown vegetables during their visits to outer space. With missions beyond Earth orbit in sight, a NASA-led competition is hoping to change all that and start a new era of sustainable space food.
To solve the problem of feeding astronauts on long-duration missions, the US space agency started the Deep Space Food Challenge in January 2021, asking companies to propose novel ways to develop sustainable foods for future missions. About 200 companies entered, which were narrowed down to 11 teams in January 2023 as part of phase 2. On May 19, NASA announced the teams that will progress into the final phase of the competition, with some winners to be announced later.
All teams had to show systems that could operate for three years and feed a crew of four on a future space mission. The proposals did not need to supply a crew's entire diet, but they did need to create a variety of nutritious foods for the astronauts.
One company took an incredibly unusual approach to the task. Air Company, based in New York, designed a system that could use the carbon dioxide breathed out by astronauts in space to produce alcohol, which could then be fed to yeast (酵母) and produce “something that's suitable to be eaten”. “It's making food out of the air,” says Stafford Sheehan, co-founder and chief technology officer of Air Company. “It sounds like magic, but when you see it actually operating, it's much more simple.”
Interstellar Lab in Florida had a different approach. Its system, called NUCLEUS, is a set of small capsules. Each is self-contained, with its own temperature, watering system, etc. That would allow different vegetables to be cultivated so that astronauts can easily grow their own food in space.
While the winning ideas from the Deep Space Food Challenge won't immediately be used by astronauts, they show what might be possible on future missions. “You've got to start years in advance to make sure you have the capability in place when you need it,” says Ralph Fritsche, senior project manager for space crop production at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
1. Why was the Deep Space Food Challenge launched
A. To find tasty foods for astronauts.
B. To found a space food supply center.
C. To develop a new source of space food.
D. To attract astronauts to food exploration.
2. Which might be the requirement to become the winning company
A. Future space missions lasting three years.
B. Entire diets for long-lasting space research.
C. Concrete proposals involving a crew of four.
D. Sustainable supply of nutritious space foods.
3. What do paragraphs 4 and 5 focus on
A. The process of creating space foods.
B. Unique systems of storing foods.
C. Examples of specific space foods.
D. Prospects of these food companies.
4. What is the most suitable title for the text
A. Astronauts produce more space food
B. Space explorers face a lack of nutrition
C. Future space missions will last even longer
D. New types of space foods are on the way
3.三年模拟(2025山东青岛三模) 主题 宇宙探索
　　French scientists at the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP) are conducting testing on Chang'e-5 lunar samples, aiming to better understand the moon's early origins and its 1.　　　　　　(form).
As part of its April 24 announcement, the China National Space Administration allowed scientists from several countries 2.　　　　　　(borrow) Chang'e-5 lunar samples, further expanding global access to lunar research materials.
Frederic Moynier, a professor at IPGP, 3.　　　　　　(transport) the Chang'e-5 lunar samples from China to his lab in Paris. He emphasized 4.　　　　　　 rarity of the samples collected from a northern region of the moon's near side 5.　　　　　　 had never been sampled before.
According to Moynier, these samples show that volcanic activity on the moon existed longer than 6.　　　　　　(previous) thought. Using isotopic (同位素) analysis, he's identifying traces of various elements 7.　　　　　　(contain) in the lunar soil. His goal is to compare these findings with other missions' samples to fill gaps 8.　　　　　　 the understanding of the moon's history.
Long Zhengyu, a Chinese PhD student at IPGP, pointed out that foreign 9.　　　　　　(laboratory) can provide analysis and testing conditions for the Chang'e-5 lunar samples from China. The project is more than just a scientific effort; it also 10.　　　　　　(serve) as a powerful example of global collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
组合练2　阅读(2)&语法填空
1.三年模拟(2025河北石家庄教学质量检测三,C) 主题 自然科学研究成果
　　Scientists have been looking at DNA to store all types of data, not just biological, but also digital. Yet while DNA is a great storage material, it's also quite delicate. Water or heat can damage it easily unless it's given an amber-like (似琥珀的) coating. That new idea was borrowed from the 1993 movie Jurassic Park, in which scientists cloned dinosaurs from DNA trapped in amber.
DNA is the world's oldest data storage device. The most amazing thing about DNA is that it can potentially be used to store any type of data. Putting information into DNA uses a process called encoding. “Your computer stores information in a binary (二进制) format, zeroes and ones,” notes Karishma Matange, a computational biologist. “Encoding works to change these zeroes and ones into A, C, G and T, the DNA bases that can store information.” The order of the bases in DNA is called sequence (序列), which spells out the information it holds. To pull information back out from the DNA, you reverse the process.
Scientists can store DNA for long periods. But it requires freezing temperatures, special equipment and dangerous chemicals, which makes the process costly. James Banal, a scientist in San Carlos, California, and his team came up with a new method T-REX. His team uses this method to trap DNA in a material similar to plastic. “Plastics are durable,” Banal points out. Besides, T-REX is a cheap way to enclose DNA.
To test it, the team encoded the Jurassic Park theme music and a person's genome into DNA. Then they put the DNA in the glassy plastic. Damp and heat are DNA's biggest threats. But the T-REX material keeps damp out. The researchers heated it up to 75° Celsius. Later, they got the DNA by breaking the coating down. The best part, Banal says, is that the broken-down material can be reused to store DNA again.
Banal and his colleagues want to use the T-REX method to preserve genetic data or even safely store biological samples that will be launched into space. And we might one day use it to store the massive amounts of data people generate every day.
1. How is digital information stored into DNA
A. By turning binary code into DNA bases.　 B. By freezing the DNA at low temperatures.
C. By coating the DNA with amber material.　 D. By sequencing DNA from ancient samples.
2. What is the main advantage of the T-REX method for DNA storage
A. Breaking DNA down with chemicals.
B. Offering cost-effective storage of DNA.
C. Helping DNA survive extreme wetness.
D. Extracting DNA from dinosaurs.
3. What will the DNA storage technology be used for in the future
A. Cloning extinct dinosaurs.
B. Reducing global plastic pollution.
C. Preserving diverse samples.
D. Speeding future space exploration.
4. What's the main idea of the text
A. A breakthrough in DNA data storage technology.
B. How digital technology advances DNA analysis.
C. The biological applications of DNA repairing system.
D. How Jurassic Park inspired DNA preservation research.
2.三年模拟(2025江苏南通一模,D) 主题 宇宙探索
　　In Morten Tyldum's movie Passengers, characters Jim Preston and Aurora Lane are on a 120-year interstellar journey with other people. Their destination: HomesteadⅡ, a new world to start their lives anew. To survive the travel, passengers entered hibernation(冬眠), each one frozen in their own pod. However, something goes wrong and Jim and Aurora wake up 90 years too early. But what if we told you that hibernation for space travel is more likely to happen than the romantic story between Jim and Aurora
Hibernation is a state in which living organisms slow down their metabolic(新陈代谢的) processes while maintaining essential functions. Once inside these pods, astronauts will get drugs to adjust metabolism, reduce core temperature, and cause inactivity. Once back on Earth, they will wake up and gradually readopt their normal functional metabolism.
For going to Mars, astronauts would require about 30kg of food, water, air, and other supplies per day. Thus, hibernation can significantly cut down on their essential needs. Additionally, hibernating astronauts wouldn't get bored, stressed, or lonely, and less time and space would be needed to help keep them fit or entertained.
But this is merely the theory. Space agencies are investigating whether reducing body temperature and later inducing(导致) metabolism is a more practical option, while most research projects are currently focusing on animals. The question is: how can we evoke hibernation in species that are not normally doing that And this is why the research on rats, not naturally hibernating animals, is interesting. Research on bears is also important since their body size is more relatable to ours.
The concept is not being considered for the forthcoming Mars mission, but for longer missions to farther destinations such as the outer planets, it could be a very useful technology. Hibernation for humans is an ethically controversial concept, and critics may consider it as a mad scientist's dream. However, without such dreamers, humanity would still be in the Middle Ages.
1. Why does the author mention the movie Passengers
A. To advertise a popular sci-fi space movie.
B. To introduce a new approach to long spaceflights.
C. To explore the possibility of settling another planet.
D. To reveal the potential dangers of long space travel.
2. What happens to hibernating astronauts
A. Their functional metabolism is disturbed.
B. They need more time and space for entertainment.
C. They lose the balance between basic needs and supplies.
D. Their physical and mental needs are reduced to a minimum.
3. What does the underlined word “evoke” in paragraph 4 mean
A. Initiate.　B. Justify.　C. Define.　D. Prioritize.
4. What does the author think of hibernation for humans
A. It may be a risky strategy.　 B. It is a dream hard to realize.
C. It can advance social progress.　 D. It challenges traditional moral values.
3.三年模拟(2026届安徽临泉田家炳实验中学月考) 主题 极地探索
　　Up to now, an autonomous underwater vehicle(AUV) developed by a Chinese university team has obtained abundant data during the country's latest Arctic expedition, 1.　　　　　　(reveal) various features beneath the North Pole.
The red, fish-shaped robot called XH1000 was made by researchers from Harbin Engineering University. During the 13th Arctic Ocean scientific expedition 2.　　　　　　 concluded in September, 2023, it 3.　　　　　　(complete) under-ice environment detection operations near the Chukchi Sea and relayed plenty of data, including ocean water temperature, salinity and pH levels. 4.　　　　　　(equip) with domestically developed detection sonar(声呐), the polar-observing AUV explored an area of 7,000 square meters beneath the Arctic ice.
Operation team leader Zhu Zhongben, 5.　　　　　　 associate professor, said the 6.　　　　　　(inform) gathered will help scientists improve their understanding of the changing process of sea ice and ocean currents in this region, providing data support for 7.　　　　　　　(effective) coping with the impact of global climate change 8.　　　　　　 China.
Chinese scientists set off for the 13th Arctic Ocean scientific expedition on July 12,2023 aboard the polar icebreaker Xuelong 2, travelling over 15,000 nautical miles before returning. They reached the North Pole on Sept. 5,2023, and the expedition generated 9.　　　　　　(value) experience for robotic ships 10.　　　　　　(work) in high-risk polar areas and filled the gap in the country's scientific research on the polar region.
组合练3　阅读专练(2)
1.三年模拟(2025届海南期中,C)主题 宇宙探索
　　A new study provides evidence that Mars contains a large ocean deep beneath its surface. The finding is based on data collected by the InSight Lander, a robotic explorer operated by the American space agency NASA. InSight, which landed in 2018, was designed to capture data from within the planet's interior. The lander ended its operations on Mars in late 2022.
For the current study, researchers used seismic(地震的) data collected by InSight. The team examined the data to study Martian quake activity. InSight had recorded more than 1,300 marsquakes.
The device InSight used to measure ground movements is called a seismometer(地震仪). It is extremely sensitive to the Martian environment. The seismic data suggests liquid water exists deep beneath the ground where InSight operated from.
Since water is considered necessary to support life, scientists say the presence of it on Mars leaves open the possibility that some form of life might exist, or existed there in the past.
Numerous studies done before have also provided evidence that liquid water could exist on Mars. Scientists have already uncovered evidence that about 3 billion years ago, the surface of Mars likely had an active system of lakes, rivers and oceans.
Scientists believe that Mars has lost its surface water as its atmosphere became less thick. This likely turned the planet into the dry, dusty world it is today. They have theorized that much of the ancient water escaped out into space or remained buried under the surface.
The data suggests liquid water sits between 11 and 20 kilometers down in the Martian crust. The water is likely contained in a deep layer of igneous rock beneath the Martian surface. Scientists said that the water likely moved down from the surface billions of years ago, when water is believed to have flowed freely on Mars.
There is currently no way to confirm the study's suggested existence of liquid water because it sits so far beneath the Martian surface. Such a confirmation would require large drills and other specialized equipment.
1. How did the researchers get the finding
A. By analyzing the previous research.
B. By conducting an experiment on Mars.
C. By referring to the data from a robotic explorer.
D. By comparing the Martian surface with that of Earth.
2. Why did water disappear from the surface of Mars according to the scientists
A. Its structure changed.
B. Its atmosphere thinned.
C. Its temperature rose.
D. Its surface broke into pieces.
3. What's the author's attitude towards the new discovery
A. Objective.　B. Tolerant.　C. Unclear.　D. Uncaring.
4. What's the text mainly about
A. There are frequent quakes on Mars just like on Earth.
B. Scientists have been searching for signs of life on Mars.
C. New study suggests Mars has a large underground ocean.
D. An advanced device for exploring Mars has ended its mission.
2.三年模拟(2025届河南郑州中学期中,C) 主题 宇宙探索
　　What once seemed far away is now a reality: Ordinary people can walk in space. On Sept 12,2024, the SpaceX Polaris Dawn crew made history by performing the world's first commercial spacewalk.
First announced in 2022, Polaris Dawn is the first of three missions designed to test and develop new space technologies. US billionaire Jared Isaacman is the founder of the Polaris Program and has funded the missions through his collaboration with SpaceX.
On Sept 10,2024, the crew of four astronauts, including Isaacman, was launched into space. After two days of preparations, Isaacman first stepped out of the spacecraft. “Back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here—it looks like a perfect world,” he said as he stepped out into space. Another crew member, Sarah Gillis, also took part in the spacewalk, with the actual time spent outside being around 10 minutes per astronaut, reported CNN.
Aside from this amazing achievement, the Polaris Dawn crew also tested their new SpaceX-designed spacewalk suits. The suit works like a mini-spacecraft that fits the human body. One of the engineers described it as “a suit of armor(盔甲) made of fabric”.
Unlike the heavy white suits used by NASA astronauts, SpaceX's suits don't have a backpack life support system. Instead, they get air and power from tubes connected to the spacecraft. SpaceX plans to use these suits for many future missions, both around Earth and in deep space.
Polaris Dawn also conducted nearly 40 scientific experiments. These experiments included testing wearable devices that collect body data, trying to reduce space motion sickness, and studying eye health in microgravity(微重力). Polaris Dawn also traveled through parts of Earth's radiation belt, providing the chance to better understand how this radiation affects the human body.
After the five-day mission, on Sept 15,2024 the Polaris Dawn crew landed safely on Earth in Florida, US.
NASA described the mission as “a giant leap forward” for the commercial space industry. It also brings SpaceX closer to its goal of commercializing space travel and reducing costs, which could enable people to live and work in space in the future.
1. What was a major achievement of the Polaris Dawn crew
A. They completed the longest spacewalk.
B. They conducted the first commercial spacewalk.
C. They stayed outside the spacecraft for over one hour.
D. They became the first astronauts in deep space.
2. How do SpaceX's spacewalk suits differ from NASA's suits
A. They are larger but lighter in design.
B. They have a built-in life support system.
C. They are made from advanced materials.
D. They rely on the spacecraft for resources.
3. What research did the Polaris Dawn crew do
A. Testing radiation protection systems.
B. Evaluating the effects of space on hearing.
C. Studying body health and motion in space.
D. Collecting data on Earth's surface changes.
4. What broader goal does SpaceX aim to achieve through missions like Polaris Dawn
A. To discover new planets for exploration.
B. To promote international cooperation in space.
C. To make space travel more accessible to the public.
D. To develop technology for sustainable space living.
主题十五　奥秘探索
组合练1　阅读(2)&语法填空
1.三年模拟(2026届广东深圳多校联考开学考,C) 主题 极地探索
　　For more than a decade, a team of researchers have studied the dynamics of the Greenland Ice Sheet as it responds to a warming climate. But while much of their focus has been on water's impacts on ice sheet change, their most recent research findings have overturned the order of their thinking. Meierbachtol, Harper and their team discovered that changes in the ice sheet have a real impact on the massive groundwater system underlying Greenland.
This latest discovery occurred thanks to a marriage of drilling techniques. International cooperators made an angled hole 650 meters through bedrock underneath a Greenland glacier (冰川) to measure groundwater conditions under the ice. Meanwhile, researchers drilled 32 holes from atop the glacier, through nearly a kilometer of ice, to measure water conditions at the area between ice and bedrock, which forms an important boundary controlling groundwater flow below. After drilling, the team fixed sensors in the ice column and at the ice sheet bed to measure ice dynamics and water conditions as water flows under the ice.
“By studying areas that were covered by ice 10,000 years ago, we have known that the huge mass and vast amounts of water from melting ice can impact the underlying groundwater,” Meierbachtol said. “It's generally accepted that the groundwater is sleeping over decades to centuries and its response to ice sheet change is long: thousands of years. But what we've shown here is that it is immediate.”
This new understanding could have important subsequent effects on how Greenland's thinning impacts the Arctic. The thinning ice could reduce the rate of groundwater flow to the ocean, changing the water temperature and salinity (盐度) balance that is important for ocean circulation (循环) patterns. “In thinking about the complex feedbacks from Greenland's ongoing change, we have really ignored the groundwater component,” Harper said.
1. How do the researchers feel about the result of the recent study
A. Surprised.　B. Doubtful.　C. Satisfied.　D. Disappointed.
2. What contributes most to the new research about the Greenland Ice Sheet
A. Joint efforts from global experts.
B. Advanced sensors tracking ice dynamics.
C. Ideal bedrock stability for measurements.
D. A combination of two drilling approaches.
3. What is a misunderstanding of the groundwater under glaciers
A. Its component is complex.　 B. It is inactive for a long time.
C. It has a very large volume.　 D. Its temperature is changeable.
4. What does the text mainly talk about
A. Long-lasting effects of global warming on the Arctic.
B. Water impacts on Greenland's permanent ice sheet.
C. Newly discovered groundwater resources in Greenland.
D. Greenland's groundwater changes with thinning ice sheet.
答案
1. A　2. D　3. B　4. D　
2.三年模拟(2025江苏新高考基地学校期初质量监测,D) 主题 太空探索
　　The future of space food could be simple and strange. For decades, astronauts have relied mostly on prepackaged food or the occasional grown vegetables during their visits to outer space. With missions beyond Earth orbit in sight, a NASA-led competition is hoping to change all that and start a new era of sustainable space food.
To solve the problem of feeding astronauts on long-duration missions, the US space agency started the Deep Space Food Challenge in January 2021, asking companies to propose novel ways to develop sustainable foods for future missions. About 200 companies entered, which were narrowed down to 11 teams in January 2023 as part of phase 2. On May 19, NASA announced the teams that will progress into the final phase of the competition, with some winners to be announced later.
All teams had to show systems that could operate for three years and feed a crew of four on a future space mission. The proposals did not need to supply a crew's entire diet, but they did need to create a variety of nutritious foods for the astronauts.
One company took an incredibly unusual approach to the task. Air Company, based in New York, designed a system that could use the carbon dioxide breathed out by astronauts in space to produce alcohol, which could then be fed to yeast (酵母) and produce “something that's suitable to be eaten”. “It's making food out of the air,” says Stafford Sheehan, co-founder and chief technology officer of Air Company. “It sounds like magic, but when you see it actually operating, it's much more simple.”
Interstellar Lab in Florida had a different approach. Its system, called NUCLEUS, is a set of small capsules. Each is self-contained, with its own temperature, watering system, etc. That would allow different vegetables to be cultivated so that astronauts can easily grow their own food in space.
While the winning ideas from the Deep Space Food Challenge won't immediately be used by astronauts, they show what might be possible on future missions. “You've got to start years in advance to make sure you have the capability in place when you need it,” says Ralph Fritsche, senior project manager for space crop production at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
1. Why was the Deep Space Food Challenge launched
A. To find tasty foods for astronauts.
B. To found a space food supply center.
C. To develop a new source of space food.
D. To attract astronauts to food exploration.
2. Which might be the requirement to become the winning company
A. Future space missions lasting three years.
B. Entire diets for long-lasting space research.
C. Concrete proposals involving a crew of four.
D. Sustainable supply of nutritious space foods.
3. What do paragraphs 4 and 5 focus on
A. The process of creating space foods.
B. Unique systems of storing foods.
C. Examples of specific space foods.
D. Prospects of these food companies.
4. What is the most suitable title for the text
A. Astronauts produce more space food
B. Space explorers face a lack of nutrition
C. Future space missions will last even longer
D. New types of space foods are on the way
答案
1. C　2. D　3. C　4. D　
3.三年模拟(2025山东青岛三模) 主题 宇宙探索
　　French scientists at the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP) are conducting testing on Chang'e-5 lunar samples, aiming to better understand the moon's early origins and its 1.　　　　　　(form).
As part of its April 24 announcement, the China National Space Administration allowed scientists from several countries 2.　　　　　　(borrow) Chang'e-5 lunar samples, further expanding global access to lunar research materials.
Frederic Moynier, a professor at IPGP, 3.　　　　　　(transport) the Chang'e-5 lunar samples from China to his lab in Paris. He emphasized 4.　　　　　　 rarity of the samples collected from a northern region of the moon's near side 5.　　　　　　 had never been sampled before.
According to Moynier, these samples show that volcanic activity on the moon existed longer than 6.　　　　　　(previous) thought. Using isotopic (同位素) analysis, he's identifying traces of various elements 7.　　　　　　(contain) in the lunar soil. His goal is to compare these findings with other missions' samples to fill gaps 8.　　　　　　 the understanding of the moon's history.
Long Zhengyu, a Chinese PhD student at IPGP, pointed out that foreign 9.　　　　　　(laboratory) can provide analysis and testing conditions for the Chang'e-5 lunar samples from China. The project is more than just a scientific effort; it also 10.　　　　　　(serve) as a powerful example of global collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
答案
1. formation　2. to borrow　3. transported　4. the　5. that/which　6. previously　7. contained　8. in　9. laboratories　10. serves　
组合练2　阅读(2)&语法填空
1.三年模拟(2025河北石家庄教学质量检测三,C) 主题 自然科学研究成果
　　Scientists have been looking at DNA to store all types of data, not just biological, but also digital. Yet while DNA is a great storage material, it's also quite delicate. Water or heat can damage it easily unless it's given an amber-like (似琥珀的) coating. That new idea was borrowed from the 1993 movie Jurassic Park, in which scientists cloned dinosaurs from DNA trapped in amber.
DNA is the world's oldest data storage device. The most amazing thing about DNA is that it can potentially be used to store any type of data. Putting information into DNA uses a process called encoding. “Your computer stores information in a binary (二进制) format, zeroes and ones,” notes Karishma Matange, a computational biologist. “Encoding works to change these zeroes and ones into A, C, G and T, the DNA bases that can store information.” The order of the bases in DNA is called sequence (序列), which spells out the information it holds. To pull information back out from the DNA, you reverse the process.
Scientists can store DNA for long periods. But it requires freezing temperatures, special equipment and dangerous chemicals, which makes the process costly. James Banal, a scientist in San Carlos, California, and his team came up with a new method T-REX. His team uses this method to trap DNA in a material similar to plastic. “Plastics are durable,” Banal points out. Besides, T-REX is a cheap way to enclose DNA.
To test it, the team encoded the Jurassic Park theme music and a person's genome into DNA. Then they put the DNA in the glassy plastic. Damp and heat are DNA's biggest threats. But the T-REX material keeps damp out. The researchers heated it up to 75° Celsius. Later, they got the DNA by breaking the coating down. The best part, Banal says, is that the broken-down material can be reused to store DNA again.
Banal and his colleagues want to use the T-REX method to preserve genetic data or even safely store biological samples that will be launched into space. And we might one day use it to store the massive amounts of data people generate every day.
1. How is digital information stored into DNA
A. By turning binary code into DNA bases.　 B. By freezing the DNA at low temperatures.
C. By coating the DNA with amber material.　 D. By sequencing DNA from ancient samples.
2. What is the main advantage of the T-REX method for DNA storage
A. Breaking DNA down with chemicals.
B. Offering cost-effective storage of DNA.
C. Helping DNA survive extreme wetness.
D. Extracting DNA from dinosaurs.
3. What will the DNA storage technology be used for in the future
A. Cloning extinct dinosaurs.
B. Reducing global plastic pollution.
C. Preserving diverse samples.
D. Speeding future space exploration.
4. What's the main idea of the text
A. A breakthrough in DNA data storage technology.
B. How digital technology advances DNA analysis.
C. The biological applications of DNA repairing system.
D. How Jurassic Park inspired DNA preservation research.
答案
1. A　2. B　3. C　4. A　
2.三年模拟(2025江苏南通一模,D) 主题 宇宙探索
　　In Morten Tyldum's movie Passengers, characters Jim Preston and Aurora Lane are on a 120-year interstellar journey with other people. Their destination: HomesteadⅡ, a new world to start their lives anew. To survive the travel, passengers entered hibernation(冬眠), each one frozen in their own pod. However, something goes wrong and Jim and Aurora wake up 90 years too early. But what if we told you that hibernation for space travel is more likely to happen than the romantic story between Jim and Aurora
Hibernation is a state in which living organisms slow down their metabolic(新陈代谢的) processes while maintaining essential functions. Once inside these pods, astronauts will get drugs to adjust metabolism, reduce core temperature, and cause inactivity. Once back on Earth, they will wake up and gradually readopt their normal functional metabolism.
For going to Mars, astronauts would require about 30kg of food, water, air, and other supplies per day. Thus, hibernation can significantly cut down on their essential needs. Additionally, hibernating astronauts wouldn't get bored, stressed, or lonely, and less time and space would be needed to help keep them fit or entertained.
But this is merely the theory. Space agencies are investigating whether reducing body temperature and later inducing(导致) metabolism is a more practical option, while most research projects are currently focusing on animals. The question is: how can we evoke hibernation in species that are not normally doing that And this is why the research on rats, not naturally hibernating animals, is interesting. Research on bears is also important since their body size is more relatable to ours.
The concept is not being considered for the forthcoming Mars mission, but for longer missions to farther destinations such as the outer planets, it could be a very useful technology. Hibernation for humans is an ethically controversial concept, and critics may consider it as a mad scientist's dream. However, without such dreamers, humanity would still be in the Middle Ages.
1. Why does the author mention the movie Passengers
A. To advertise a popular sci-fi space movie.
B. To introduce a new approach to long spaceflights.
C. To explore the possibility of settling another planet.
D. To reveal the potential dangers of long space travel.
2. What happens to hibernating astronauts
A. Their functional metabolism is disturbed.
B. They need more time and space for entertainment.
C. They lose the balance between basic needs and supplies.
D. Their physical and mental needs are reduced to a minimum.
3. What does the underlined word “evoke” in paragraph 4 mean
A. Initiate.　B. Justify.　C. Define.　D. Prioritize.
4. What does the author think of hibernation for humans
A. It may be a risky strategy.　 B. It is a dream hard to realize.
C. It can advance social progress.　 D. It challenges traditional moral values.
答案
1. B　2. D　3. A　4. C　
3.三年模拟(2026届安徽临泉田家炳实验中学月考) 主题 极地探索
　　Up to now, an autonomous underwater vehicle(AUV) developed by a Chinese university team has obtained abundant data during the country's latest Arctic expedition, 1.　　　　　　(reveal) various features beneath the North Pole.
The red, fish-shaped robot called XH1000 was made by researchers from Harbin Engineering University. During the 13th Arctic Ocean scientific expedition 2.　　　　　　 concluded in September, 2023, it 3.　　　　　　(complete) under-ice environment detection operations near the Chukchi Sea and relayed plenty of data, including ocean water temperature, salinity and pH levels. 4.　　　　　　(equip) with domestically developed detection sonar(声呐), the polar-observing AUV explored an area of 7,000 square meters beneath the Arctic ice.
Operation team leader Zhu Zhongben, 5.　　　　　　 associate professor, said the 6.　　　　　　(inform) gathered will help scientists improve their understanding of the changing process of sea ice and ocean currents in this region, providing data support for 7.　　　　　　　(effective) coping with the impact of global climate change 8.　　　　　　 China.
Chinese scientists set off for the 13th Arctic Ocean scientific expedition on July 12,2023 aboard the polar icebreaker Xuelong 2, travelling over 15,000 nautical miles before returning. They reached the North Pole on Sept. 5,2023, and the expedition generated 9.　　　　　　(value) experience for robotic ships 10.　　　　　　(work) in high-risk polar areas and filled the gap in the country's scientific research on the polar region.
答案
1. revealing　2. that/which　3. completed　4. Equipped　5. an　6. information　7. effectively　8. on　9. valuable　10. to work　
组合练3　阅读专练(2)
1.三年模拟(2025届海南期中,C)主题 宇宙探索
　　A new study provides evidence that Mars contains a large ocean deep beneath its surface. The finding is based on data collected by the InSight Lander, a robotic explorer operated by the American space agency NASA. InSight, which landed in 2018, was designed to capture data from within the planet's interior. The lander ended its operations on Mars in late 2022.
For the current study, researchers used seismic(地震的) data collected by InSight. The team examined the data to study Martian quake activity. InSight had recorded more than 1,300 marsquakes.
The device InSight used to measure ground movements is called a seismometer(地震仪). It is extremely sensitive to the Martian environment. The seismic data suggests liquid water exists deep beneath the ground where InSight operated from.
Since water is considered necessary to support life, scientists say the presence of it on Mars leaves open the possibility that some form of life might exist, or existed there in the past.
Numerous studies done before have also provided evidence that liquid water could exist on Mars. Scientists have already uncovered evidence that about 3 billion years ago, the surface of Mars likely had an active system of lakes, rivers and oceans.
Scientists believe that Mars has lost its surface water as its atmosphere became less thick. This likely turned the planet into the dry, dusty world it is today. They have theorized that much of the ancient water escaped out into space or remained buried under the surface.
The data suggests liquid water sits between 11 and 20 kilometers down in the Martian crust. The water is likely contained in a deep layer of igneous rock beneath the Martian surface. Scientists said that the water likely moved down from the surface billions of years ago, when water is believed to have flowed freely on Mars.
There is currently no way to confirm the study's suggested existence of liquid water because it sits so far beneath the Martian surface. Such a confirmation would require large drills and other specialized equipment.
1. How did the researchers get the finding
A. By analyzing the previous research.
B. By conducting an experiment on Mars.
C. By referring to the data from a robotic explorer.
D. By comparing the Martian surface with that of Earth.
2. Why did water disappear from the surface of Mars according to the scientists
A. Its structure changed.
B. Its atmosphere thinned.
C. Its temperature rose.
D. Its surface broke into pieces.
3. What's the author's attitude towards the new discovery
A. Objective.　B. Tolerant.　C. Unclear.　D. Uncaring.
4. What's the text mainly about
A. There are frequent quakes on Mars just like on Earth.
B. Scientists have been searching for signs of life on Mars.
C. New study suggests Mars has a large underground ocean.
D. An advanced device for exploring Mars has ended its mission.
答案
1. C　2. B　3. A　4. C　
2.三年模拟(2025届河南郑州中学期中,C) 主题 宇宙探索
　　What once seemed far away is now a reality: Ordinary people can walk in space. On Sept 12,2024, the SpaceX Polaris Dawn crew made history by performing the world's first commercial spacewalk.
First announced in 2022, Polaris Dawn is the first of three missions designed to test and develop new space technologies. US billionaire Jared Isaacman is the founder of the Polaris Program and has funded the missions through his collaboration with SpaceX.
On Sept 10,2024, the crew of four astronauts, including Isaacman, was launched into space. After two days of preparations, Isaacman first stepped out of the spacecraft. “Back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here—it looks like a perfect world,” he said as he stepped out into space. Another crew member, Sarah Gillis, also took part in the spacewalk, with the actual time spent outside being around 10 minutes per astronaut, reported CNN.
Aside from this amazing achievement, the Polaris Dawn crew also tested their new SpaceX-designed spacewalk suits. The suit works like a mini-spacecraft that fits the human body. One of the engineers described it as “a suit of armor(盔甲) made of fabric”.
Unlike the heavy white suits used by NASA astronauts, SpaceX's suits don't have a backpack life support system. Instead, they get air and power from tubes connected to the spacecraft. SpaceX plans to use these suits for many future missions, both around Earth and in deep space.
Polaris Dawn also conducted nearly 40 scientific experiments. These experiments included testing wearable devices that collect body data, trying to reduce space motion sickness, and studying eye health in microgravity(微重力). Polaris Dawn also traveled through parts of Earth's radiation belt, providing the chance to better understand how this radiation affects the human body.
After the five-day mission, on Sept 15,2024 the Polaris Dawn crew landed safely on Earth in Florida, US.
NASA described the mission as “a giant leap forward” for the commercial space industry. It also brings SpaceX closer to its goal of commercializing space travel and reducing costs, which could enable people to live and work in space in the future.
1. What was a major achievement of the Polaris Dawn crew
A. They completed the longest spacewalk.
B. They conducted the first commercial spacewalk.
C. They stayed outside the spacecraft for over one hour.
D. They became the first astronauts in deep space.
2. How do SpaceX's spacewalk suits differ from NASA's suits
A. They are larger but lighter in design.
B. They have a built-in life support system.
C. They are made from advanced materials.
D. They rely on the spacecraft for resources.
3. What research did the Polaris Dawn crew do
A. Testing radiation protection systems.
B. Evaluating the effects of space on hearing.
C. Studying body health and motion in space.
D. Collecting data on Earth's surface changes.
4. What broader goal does SpaceX aim to achieve through missions like Polaris Dawn
A. To discover new planets for exploration.
B. To promote international cooperation in space.
C. To make space travel more accessible to the public.
D. To develop technology for sustainable space living.
答案
1. B　2. D　3. C　4. C　
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