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    Unit One:Is There Life on Earth?



    作者:sun 阅读次数:4194


     
     
    [hide]


    Unit One

    It is a humorous essay. But after reading it you will surely find that the author is most serious in writing it.

    IS THERE LIFE ON EARTH? 


    Art Buchwald


    There was great excitement on the planet of Venus 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 the feasibility
    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 land-
    ing, "Prof. Zog said, "that there is no life on Earth. "


    "How do you know this?" the science reporter of the Venus Evening
    15 Star asked.


    "For one thing, Earth's surface in the area of Manhattan is composed
    of solid concrete and nothing can grow there. For another, the atmosphere
    is filled with carbon monoxide 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 con-
    cerned?"


    "We shall have to take our own oxygen with us, which means a much
    heavier flying saucer than we originally planned. "


    "Are there any other hazards that you discovered in your studies? "
     

    "Take a look at this photo. You see this dark black cloud hovering
    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're not certain. They seem to be metal particles 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 projections sticking up?"


    "They're some type 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 proceed 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
    sphere, then we can live anywhere. "
     
     

    New Words



    humorous a.
    funny; that makes people laugh 幽默的

    humor n.

    essay n. 散文,随笔

    excitement n.
    the state or quality of being excited

    planet n.
    large body in space that moves round a star, esp.

     
    round the sun 行星

    Venusian a.
    of or having to do with the planet Venus金星的

    n.
    supposed Venus being 金星人

    satellite n.
    spacecraft that goes round the planet earth and

     
    sends back radio and television signals; heav-

     
    enly body that goes round a planet (人造)卫星

    signal n. 信号; 暗号

    astronomer n.
    person who studies the science of the sun, moon, stars and planets 天文学家

    telescope n.
    instrument with special glasses used for seeing distant things

    extremely ad.  very 极端, 非常

    extreme a.

    feasibility n.
    possibility of being carried out or don 可行性

    feasible a.

    manned a.
    occupied by one or more persons 载人的

    saucer n. 浅碟;茶托

    flying saucer n. 飞碟

    conference n.
    meeting

    press conference n.
    meeting arranged by an important person to which news reporters are invited to listen to a statement or ask questions 记者招待会

    technology n. 技术

    conclusion n.
    decision or opinion reached by reasoning 结论

    conclude v.

    reporter n.
    person who gathers news for a newspaper, magazine, or radio or TV station 记者

    compose vt
    make up, form 组成, 构成

    concrete n.
    building material made by mixing cement with sand, small stones and water 混凝土

    atmosphere n
    all tlie gases round the earth; air in a place 大气;空气

    carbon n. 碳

    monoxide n. 一氧化物

    deadly a.
    causing death; likely to cause death 致命的

    gas n. 气体

    survive vi.
    remain alive; continue to live or exist 活下来; 幸存

    vt.
    remain alive after; live longer than 经历…后还活着;比…活得长

    survival n.

    program n.
    plan of what is to be done 计划

    concern vt.
    be of importance or interest to; have an effect on 涉及;关系到

    oxygen n. 氧;氧气

    originally ad.
    formerly 起初, 原来

    original a.

    hazard n.
    danger

    hover vi.
    stay in or near one place in the air 盘旋

    consolidated a.
    united; combined 联合的

    consolidate vt.

    belt n.
    area that has some special quality;zone(地)带

    indicate vt.
    show

    indication n.

    pollute vt.
    make (air, water, soil, etc.) dirty with manmade waste 污染

    pollution n.

    unfit a.
    not good enough; not suitable

    particle n. 粒子;微粒

    emit vt.
    send out 散发 , 射击

    emission n.

    crash v.
    fall or strike suddenly, violently and noisily 坠落;猛撞

    smash v.
    (cause to) break into pieces violently(使)碎裂

    stalagmite n.石笋

    projection n.
    sth. that stands out from a surface 凸出物

    project v.

    type n.
    a particular kind, class or group 类型, 种类

    granite n.
    hard grey stone used for building 花岗岩

    formation n.
    sth. that is formed; way in which sth. is formed 形成(物)

    skyscraper n.
    very tall building 摩天大楼

    scrape vt.
    rub with sth. rough or sharp 刮, 擦

    proceed vi.
    continue after having stopped ( 停顿后 ) 继续进行

    fund n.
    sum of money set apart or available for a special purpose 资金 ; 基金

    billion n.
    one thousand million

    zilch n.
    zero; nothing at all 

     

    Phrases & Expressions

     

    (be) known as
    also publicly called; named 以…闻名,通常名叫

    name after .
    give the same name 以…名字命名

    as to
    about, concerning 关于

    base on upon ,
    use as a basis or foundation for 以…为基础 把…基于

    for one thing…(for another)
    in the first place… (in the second place)

    be composed of
    have as members or parts 由…组成

    as far as… be concerned
    to the degree that it matters to 就…而言

    stick up
    stand upright; project 直立; 突出

    give off
    emit; send out 发出 ; 散发出

    set back
    delay the advance or development of 耽搁 ; 阻碍

     
     
     
    Proper Names
     
    Art Buchwald
    阿特·布奇沃德

    Venus
    金星

    Manhattan
    曼哈顿(纽约市中心区)

    Zog
    佐格(姓氏)

    Edison
    爱迪生(姓氏)

    Glom
    格洛姆(姓氏)

    [/hide]

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