Unit 4 Astronomy the science of the stars.阅读理解ANASAs New Horizons probe (宇宙探测器) flew by Pluto (冥王星) this morning, sending back historys first upclose looks at the vast freezingcold world. Closest approach came at 7：49 am EDT. To celebrate, NASA gave out the latest photo of Pluto. It showed a reddish world with an amazing heartshaped feature on its surface.After todays close encounter, all the nine solar systems traditionally recognized planets have now been visited by a spaceshipa huge project begun in 1962 when NASAs Mariner 2 probe flew past Venus, a planet in the solar system. More than 1,200 scientists, NASA guests and important persons, including 200 reporters, watched the flyby live at New Horizons mission control center.That close encounter has been a long time coming. The $723 million New Horizons mission launched in January 2006 but began taking shape in 1989. “New Horizons is a capstone mission，” Glen Fountain, mission project manager told Space. com. “It is the first completion of the observations of our solar system. It is giving us a new idea about how we human beings fit into the universe.”“New Horizons faced a crazy number of challenges，” Stern, a driving force behind New Horizons said, “So many people stuck with this for so long. They got knocked down; they stood up. They got knocked down again; they stood up again.”In a coincidence, todays close approach falls on the 50th anniversary of the first flyby of Mars, another planet, which was completed by NASAs Mariner 4 spaceship.There are no longer nine officially recognized planets, of course. The International Astronomical Union regarded Pluto as “a dwarf planet” in 2006, in a decision that remains controversial (有争议的) today.篇章导读：本文是一篇新闻报道类文章，主要讲述了科学家对太阳系行星冥王星的最新探测成果。1Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?AIdeas still vary in the identity of Pluto.BOnly scientists could watch the flyby live.CMars is the first planet visited by a spaceship.DNew Horizons mission aimed to observe the solar system.答案：A细节理解题。根据最后一段最后一句可知，科学家对冥王星的分类还是有争议的。故答案是A。2Glen Fountain may probably agree that _.Ait is the most difficult to land on Pluto in the solar systemBNew Horizons mission is a long and troublesome projectCtheir strong determination leads to the successful flybyDpeople are likely to find new ways to fit into space答案：D细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句可知，格伦方丹认为人们或许会发现新的方法去探究太空。故答案是D。3Which is the best title for the passage?AA New Horizons ProbeBNASAs Huge ProjectCPluto, a Controversial PlanetDA Close Approach to Pluto答案：D标题判断题。文章主要讲述了对太阳系行星冥王星的探测。故答案选D。BGot big plans for Friday night? Thats OK, we dont either.Guess well all have to make do by watching the celestial (天空的) show that will take place that night.First, there will be a full moon. Thats always fun, but this one will be a little more special. Its known as a “snow moon”. The name comes from the fact that the heaviest snows usually fall during February, according to The Old Farmers Almanac.But if thats not special enough, theres also an eclipse (月食) that night. Itll be a penumbral lunar eclipse, meaning its a partial eclipse that leaves sections of the moon darkened by the earths shadow. No, it wont be as spectacular as those “blood moon” eclipses. Itll be subtler. The level of darkness it reaches during the eclipse may or may not be apparent; it just depends on where you are when you view it.In North America, the eclipse begins at 5：34 pm ET and ends at 9：53 pm ET, according to the astronomy website EarthSky. The eclipse will be at its height around 7：44 pm ET.If thats still not enough, lets throw in a comet (彗星) to the nights festivities.Comet 45P (it has a much longer name, but we wont burden you with it here) is visible as it flies by the earth. The comet will get within 7.4 million miles of the planet as it makes its closest approach this weekend, according to Universe Today.Comet 45P will be most visible a couple of hours after the eclipse, so look to the skies again around 3 am ET Saturday and find the greenishblue light with a tail.And dont forget, a total bigtime solar eclipse will streak across the United States on August 21st.篇章导读：本文是一篇说明文，介绍了星期五晚上将会发生的天文现象。4According to the text, what can be viewed on Friday night?AA blood moon. BA total solar eclipse.CA partial lunar eclipse. DA comet without a tail.答案：C细节理解题。根据第四段第二句可知，星期五晚上将会出现月偏食，故选C项。5If you want to see Comet 45P, you will need to _.Await around 7：44 pm ETBstay up until 9：53 pm ETCwake up before 3：00 am ETDstart watching at 5：34 pm ET答案：C细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中的“so look to the skies again around 3 am ET Saturday”可知，要想看到45P彗星，你需要在凌晨三点之前起床。6The author writes the text with the purpose of _.Aintroducing basic astronomy to the mediaBsharing new discoveries with astronomy researchersCpromoting astronomical events among science studentsDinformin