2019年6月大学英语四级阅读理解训练：外星生物

A scientist once said: “I have concluded that the earth is being visited by intelligently controlled vehicles from outer space.”

If we take this as a reasonable explanation for UFOs (unidentified flying objects), questions immediately come up.

“Why don’t they get in touch with us, then? Why don’t they land right on the White House lawn and declare themselves?” people asked.

In reply, scientists say that, while this may be what we want, it may not necessarily be what they want.

“The most likely explanation, it seems to me,” said Dr. Mead, “is that they are simply watching what we are up to -- that responsible society outside our solar system is keeping an eye on us to see that we don’t set in motion a chain reaction that might have unexpected effects for outside our solar system.”

Opinions from other scientists might go like this: “Why should they want to get in touch with us? We may feel we’re more important than we really are! They may want to observe us only and not interfere with the development of our civilization. They may not care if we see them but they also may not care to say ‘hello’.”

①Some scientists have also suggested that Earth is a kind of zoo or wildlife reserve. ②Just as we set aside wilderness areas and wildlife reserves to allow animals and growing things to develop naturally while we observe them, so perhaps Earth was set aside ages ago for the same purpose.

①Are we being observed by intelligent beings from other civilizations in the universe? ②Are they watching our progress in space travel? ③Do we live in a gigantic “zoo” observed by our “keepers,” but having no communication with them?

①Never before in our history have we had to confront ideas like these. ②The simple fact is that we, who have always regarded ourselves as supreme in the universe, may not be so. ③Now we have to recognize that, among the stars in the heavens, there may very well be worlds inhabited by beings who are to us as we are to ants.

11. People who ask the question “Why don’t they get in touch with us... and declare themselves?” think that ________.11. 提出“那么他们为什么不和我们联系呢?为什么他们不正好降落到白宫的草坪上然后自我介绍一下呢?”这些问题的人认为________.

[A] there are no such things as UFOs[A] 不明飞行物这种东西是不存在的

[B] UFOs are visitors from solar system[B] 不明飞行物是来自太阳系的探访者

[C] there’s no reason for UFOs sooner or later[C] 对于不明飞行物的说法迟早会理屈词穷的

[D] we are bound to see UFOs sooner or later[D] 人类迟早会看见不明飞行物的

[分析]本题考查的知识点是：推理引申。

根据第一、二段可知，题干中的问题是“如果将来自外太空的智能飞船正在造访地球作为对不明飞行物的合理解释”就会出现的问题。第四到七段引用科学家的话对这一问题给予了回复：对为什么人类同外星人之间没有联系进行了推测。可见，问这些问题的人并不相信外星生物或不明飞行物是存在的，而科学家的推测却在证明它们可能是存在的。故[A]选项正确。

[B]选项是根据UFOs和solar system编造的干扰项，且[B]选项本身表达亦不正确。文中指出如果外星人是存在的，那他们一定存在于太阳系之外的某个星系之中。[C]选项错在no reasons。文章第四到七段给出针对这些问题的解答，所以并非是理屈词穷。[D]选项反向干扰，从上面的分析可知提出问题的人是不相信UFOs是存在的，所以他们也不会认为迟早会见到不明飞行物。

12. According to Dr. Mead, the attitude of beings from outer space toward us is one of ________.12.米德博士认为来自外太空的生物对人类的看法会是_______。

[A] unfriendliness[A] 不友善的

[B] suspicion[B] 猜疑的

[C] superiority[C] 盛气凌人的

[D] hostility[D] 敌意的

[分析]本题考查的知识点是：推理引申。

根据题中人物关键词Dr. Mead定位到文章第五段。针对一些人提出的外星人为何不同人类接触的问题，米德博士认为最可能的解释就是他们只是负责留意我们，确保我们的行动不会触发能够危害到他们的连锁反应。由此可知，米德博士的观点是外星人对人类的态度应该是猜疑的，故[B]选项正确。

[A]、[C]选项都是其他猜测认为来外星生物会对人类所持的态度。[D]选项从文中无从推知。

13. The tone of the writer is that of ________.13. 作者的语气是________。

[A] doubt[A] 怀疑的

[B] warning[B] 警告的

[C] indifference[C] 冷漠的

[D] criticism[D] 批判的

[分析]本题考查的知识点是：作者态度。

文章第八段是作者观点的阐述。第八段第二句指出人类从未有过外星生物是否存在的想法正是人类自身的盲目优越感所致。作者认为也许正是这种盲目自大，使我们否定了外星生物的存在，但是外星生物一定是存在于茫茫宇宙的某个星体上，他们看待我们就如同我们看待蚂蚁一般。可见本文作者所持的是批判的态度，故[D]选项正确。

[A]选项反向干扰。第八段第三句话明确指出，我们必须认识到茫茫星海中也许真的有外星生物的存在。从文中无法得出作者对否定外星人存在的人所给的警示之语，故排除[B]选项。第八段中always, supreme, have to, who are to us as we are to ants等表明了作者并不是漠然的，故[C]选项错误。