tf阅读真题第95篇Early Astronomy

Early Astronomy

As surviving records and artifacts make abundantly clear, many early cultures took a keen interest in the changing nighttime sky. But unlike today, the major driving force behind the development of astronomy in those early societies was probably neither scientific nor religious. Instead, it was decidedly practical. Seafarers needed to navigate their vessels, and farmers had to know when to plant their crops. In a real sense, then. human survival depended on knowledge of the heavens. The ability to predict the arrival of the seasons, as well as other astronomical events, was undoubtedly a highly prized, perhaps jealously guarded, skill.

The human brain’s ability to perceive patterns in the stars led to the “invention” of constellations as convenient means of labeling regions of the nighttime sky. The realization that these patterns returned to the night sky at the same time each year met the need for a practical means of tracking the seasons. Widely separated cultures all over the world built elaborate structures to serve, at least in part, as primitive calendars, but often early experts on astronomy enshrined their knowledge in myth and ritual, sometimes turning sites used for astronomical observation into places for religious ceremonies.

Perhaps the best-known such site is Stonehenge located on Salisbury Plain in England. This ancient monument, which today is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Britain, dates from the Stone Age. Researchers believe it was an early astronomical observatory of sorts-not in the modern sense of the term (a place for making new observations and discoveries pertaining to the heavens)–but rather a kind of three-dimensional calendar or almanac, enabling its builders and their descendants to identify important dates by means of specific astronomical events. Its construction apparently spanned a period of about 17 centuries, beginning around 2800 B.C. Additions and modifications continued to about 1100 B.C, indicating its ongoing importance to the Stone Age and, later, Bronze Age people who built, maintained, and used Stonehenge. The largest stones weigh up to 50 tons and were transported from many miles away.

Many of the stones are aligned so that they point toward important astronomical events. For example, the line joining the center of the inner circle to the so-called heel stone, set off some distance from the rest of the structure, points in the direction of the rising Sun on the summer solstice (the longest day of the year). Other alignments are related to the rising and setting of the Sun and the Moon at other times of the year. The accurate alignments (within a degree or so) of the stones at Stonehenge were first noted in the eighteenth century, but it was only relatively recently– in the second half of the twentieth century, in fact–that the scientific community began to credit Stone Age technology with the ability to carry out such a precise feat of engineering. While some of Stonehenge’s purposes remain uncertain and controversial, the site’s astronomical function seems well established. Although Stonchenge is the most impressive and the best preserved, other stone circles, found all over Europe, are believed to have performed similar functions.

The early Chinese also observed the heavens Their beliefs attached particular importance to omens” such as comets, which are seen in the night sky only occasionally, and “guest stars”-stars that appeared suddenly in the sky and then slowly faded away-and they kept careful and extensive records of such events. Twentieth-century astronomers still turn to Chinese records to obtain observational data recorded during the Dark Ages (roughly from the fifth to the tenth century AD.), when turmoil in Europe largely halted the progress of Western science. Perhaps the best-known guest star was one that appeared in AD.1054 and was visible in the daytime sky for many months. We now know that the event was actually a supernova-the explosion of a giant star-which scattered most of its mass into space. It left behind a remnant that is still detectable today, nine centuries later. The Chinese data are a prime source of historical information for supernova research. 

1.

As surviving records and artifacts make abundantly clear, many early cultures took a keen interest in the changing nighttime sky. But unlike today, the major driving force behind the development of astronomy in those early societies was probably neither scientific nor religious. Instead, it was decidedly practical. Seafarers needed to navigate their vessels, and farmers had to know when to plant their crops. In a real sense, then. human survival depended on knowledge of the heavens. The ability to predict the arrival of the seasons, as well as other astronomical events, was undoubtedly a highly prized, perhaps jealously guarded, skill. 

The word “keen” in the passage is closest in meaning to

Vocabulary Questions词汇题

Asurprising

Blong-term

Cintense

Doccasional

2.

As surviving records and artifacts make abundantly clear, many early cultures took a keen interest in the changing nighttime sky. But unlike today, the major driving force behind the development of astronomy in those early societies was probably neither scientific nor religious. Instead, it was decidedly practical. Seafarers needed to navigate their vessels, and farmers had to know when to plant their crops. In a real sense, then. human survival depended on knowledge of the heavens. The ability to predict the arrival of the seasons, as well as other astronomical events, was undoubtedly a highly prized, perhaps jealously guarded, skill.

Paragraph 1 supports which of the following inferences about individuals in early societies who could accurately predict astronomical events?

Factual Information Questions事实信息题

AThey regarded astronomy mainly as a way of finding religious meaning.

BThey became interested in astronomy after crop failures followed certain events in the nighttime sky.

CTheir skills may not have been appreciated much at the time.

DThey may not have wanted to share their knowledge of the heavens with others.

 

 

 

3.

The human brain’s ability to perceive patterns in the stars led to the “invention” of constellations as convenient means of labeling regions of the nighttime sky. The realization that these patterns returned to the night sky at the same time each year met the need for a practical means of tracking the seasons. Widely separated cultures all over the world built elaborate structures to serve, at least in part, as primitive calendars, but often early experts on astronomy enshrined their knowledge in myth and ritual, sometimes turning sites used for astronomical observation into places for religious ceremonies.

The word “realization” in the passage is closest in meaning to

Vocabulary Questions词汇题

Afact

Brecognition

Ctheory

Dconnection

 

 

 

4.The human brain’s ability to perceive patterns in the stars led to the “invention” of constellations as convenient means of labeling regions of the nighttime sky. The realization that these patterns returned to the night sky at the same time each year met the need for a practical means of tracking the seasons. Widely separated cultures all over the world built elaborate structures to serve, at least in part, as primitive calendars, but often early experts on astronomy enshrined their knowledge in myth and ritual, sometimes turning sites used for astronomical observation into places for religious ceremonies. 

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

Sentence Simplification Questions句子简化题

AWidely separated cultures built elaborate structures that served as calendars at sites that early experts on astronomy identified as places suitable for religious ceremonies.

BExpert astronomers with a knowledge of the myths and rituals of different cultures built elaborate structures serving as primitive calendars at sites used for astronomical observation.

CEarly astronomers often enshrined astronomical sites in myth and ritual when explaining to those without expert knowledge how structures built at the sites could serve as calendars.

DStructures used as calendars were built by many cultures, and some were turned into religious sites, as astronomical knowledge was often enshrined in myth and ritual.

 

 

 

5.Perhaps the best-known such site is Stonehenge located on Salisbury Plain in England. This ancient monument, which today is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Britain, dates from the Stone Age. Researchers believe it was an early astronomical observatory of sorts-not in the modern sense of the term (a place for making new observations and discoveries pertaining to the heavens)–but rather a kind of three-dimensional calendar or almanac, enabling its builders and their descendants to identify important dates by means of specific astronomical events. Its construction apparently spanned a period of about 17 centuries, beginning around 2800 B.C. Additions and modifications continued to about 1100 B.C, indicating its ongoing importance to the Stone Age and, later, Bronze Age people who built, maintained, and used Stonehenge. The largest stones weigh up to 50 tons and were transported from many miles away. 

Paragraph 3 answers all of the following questions about Stonehenge EXCEPT:

Negative Factual Information Questions否定事实信息题

AWhat was its original purpose?

BHow were its stones transported to the site?

CHow long did it take to build it?

DWhen did construction on it begin?

 

 

 

6.Many of the stones are aligned so that they point toward important astronomical events. For example, the line joining the center of the inner circle to the so-called heel stone, set off some distance from the rest of the structure, points in the direction of the rising Sun on the summer solstice (the longest day of the year). Other alignments are related to the rising and setting of the Sun and the Moon at other times of the year. The accurate alignments (within a degree or so) of the stones at Stonehenge were first noted in the eighteenth century, but it was only relatively recently– in the second half of the twentieth century, in fact–that the scientific community began to credit Stone Age technology with the ability to carry out such a precise feat of engineering. While some of Stonehenge’s purposes remain uncertain and controversial, the site’s astronomical function seems well established. Although Stonchenge is the most impressive and the best preserved, other stone circles, found all over Europe, are believed to have performed similar functions. 

According to paragraph 4, which of the following statements is true about Stonehenge?

Factual Information Questions事实信息题

ASome of its stones are lined up in such a way as to point toward regularly repeating astronomical events.

BThe idea that it had an astronomical function is the subject of considerable disagreement among today’s scientists.

CIt is one of the few prehistoric structures in Europe that is thought to have served as a kind of calendar.

DIt was first discovered in the eighteenth century.

 

 

 

7.

Many of the stones are aligned so that they point toward important astronomical events. For example, the line joining the center of the inner circle to the so-called heel stone, set off some distance from the rest of the structure, points in the direction of the rising Sun on the summer solstice (the longest day of the year). Other alignments are related to the rising and setting of the Sun and the Moon at other times of the year. The accurate alignments (within a degree or so) of the stones at Stonehenge were first noted in the eighteenth century, but it was only relatively recently– in the second half of the twentieth century, in fact–that the scientific community began to credit Stone Age technology with the ability to carry out such a precise feat of engineering. While some of Stonehenge’s purposes remain uncertain and controversial, the site’s astronomical function seems well established. Although Stonchenge is the most impressive and the best preserved, other stone circles, found all over Europe, are believed to have performed similar functions. 

According to paragraph 4, which of the following impresses today’s scientists about Stonehenge?

Factual Information Questions事实信息题

AThe accuracy of the written records kept by Stonehenge’s astronomers

BThe engineering skills of Stonehenge’s builders

CThe discoveries about the heavens made by Stonehenge’s astronomers

DThe excellent condition in which Stonehenge’s stones remain today

 

 

 

8.

The early Chinese also observed the heavens Their beliefs attached particular importance to omens” such as comets, which are seen in the night sky only occasionally, and “guest stars”-stars that appeared suddenly in the sky and then slowly faded away-and they kept careful and extensive records of such events. Twentieth-century astronomers still turn to Chinese records to obtain observational data recorded during the Dark Ages (roughly from the fifth to the tenth century AD.), when turmoil in Europe largely halted the progress of Western science. Perhaps the best-known guest star was one that appeared in AD.1054 and was visible in the daytime sky for many months. We now know that the event was actually a supernova-the explosion of a giant star-which scattered most of its mass into space. It left behind a remnant that is still detectable today, nine centuries later. The Chinese data are a prime source of historical information for supernova research. 

In paragraph 5, why does the author discuss the guest star that appeared in the sky in AD. 1054?

Factual Information Questions事实信息题

ATo argue that Chinese astronomers were as interested in changes in stars over time as they were in the sudden appearance of stars

BTo help explain why Chinese people thought that omens such as guest stars were important

CTo support the point that Chinese data from the Dark Ages continue to be important for research

DTo indicate that comets were not the only omens recorded by early Chinese astronomers

 

 

 

9.

Many of the stones are aligned so that they point toward important astronomical events. For example, the line joining the center of the inner circle to the so-called heel stone, set off some distance from the rest of the structure, points in the direction of the rising Sun on the summer solstice (the longest day of the year). ⬛ Other alignments are related to the rising and setting of the Sun and the Moon at other times of the year. ⬛ The accurate alignments (within a degree or so) of the stones at Stonehenge were first noted in the eighteenth century, but it was only relatively recently– in the second half of the twentieth century, in fact–that the scientific community began to credit Stone Age technology with the ability to carry out such a precise feat of engineering. ⬛ While some of Stonehenge’s purposes remain uncertain and controversial, the site’s astronomical function seems well established. ⬛ Although Stonchenge is the most impressive and the best preserved, other stone circles, found all over Europe, are believed to have performed similar functions. 

Look at the four squaresthat indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage

It is worth noting that Stonehenge’s purpose and design are not particularly unusualInsert Text Questions句子插入题

Where would the sentence best fit？Click on a square  sentence to the passage.

 

 

10.

 

From prehistoric times, humans have been interested in studying the night sky.

Prose Summary Questions概要小结题

Select 3 answers

AEarly astronomers examined events in the nighttime sky in order to help make decisions about activities such as farming and ship navigation

BThe alignment of stones at Stonehenge with important astronomical events suggests that it functioned at least in part as a kind of calendar.

CEarly Chinese astronomers kept records that allow today’s scientists to obtain valuable information about astronomical events during the Dark Ages.

DIt is now widely accepted by scientists that Stonehenge, unlike many other prehistoric stone monuments in Europe, was an ancient site for making astronomical observations.

EIn the late Stone Age, many sites stopped being used for astronomical observation and began to be used for religious and other ceremonial purposes.

FWesterners became interested in astronomy again at the end of the Dark Ages when observational data collected by Chinese.

 

 

 

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