2006年9月英语高级口译真题new

2006年9月英语高级口译真题+音频+答案PartA:SpotDictationDirections:Inthispartofthetest,youwillhearapassageandreadthesamepassagewithblanksinit.Fillineachoftheblankswiththeworldorwordsyouhaveheardonthetape.WriteyouranswerinthecorrespondingspaceinyourANSWERBOOKLET.RememberyouwillhearthepassageONLYONCE.Playisveryimportantforhumansfrombirthtodeath.Playisnotmeanttobejustforchildren.Itisaformof___________(1)thatcantapintoyourcreativity,andcanallowyouthechancetofindyourinnerchildandtheinnerchildofothers.Ihavecollectedthe___________(2)ofplayhere.

Playcanstimulateyou___________(3).Itcangoagainstalltherules,andchangethesame___________(4).WaltDisneywasdevotedtoplay,andhiswillingnessto___________(5)changedtheworldofentertainment.Thenexttimeyouarestuckina___________(6)wayoflife,pulloutaboxofcolorpencils,modelingclay,glueandscissors,and___________(7)andbreakfree.Youwillbeamazedatthewayyourthinking___________(8).

Playingcanbringgreaterjoyintoyourlife.Whatdoyouthinktheworldwouldbelike-if___________(9)eachdayinplay?Ibetjustaskingyouthisquestionhas___________(10).Playcreateslaughter,joy,entertainment,___________(11).Startingtoday,trytoget30minuteseachdaytoengageinsomeformofplay,and___________(12)rise!

Playisknown___________(13).Studiesshowthat,ashumans,playispartofournature.Wehavetheneedtoplaybecauseitisinstinctiveand___________(14).

Withregularplay,ourproblem-solvingand___________(15)willbeinmuchbettershapetohandlethiscomplexworld,andwearemuchmorelikelytochoose___________(16)astheyarise.Itcreateslaughterandfreedomthatcaninstantlyreducestressand__________(17)toourdailyliving.

Playcan___________(18),curiosity,andcreativity.Researchshowsthatplayisbotha‘hands-on'and‘minds-on'learningprocess.Itproducesadeeper,___________(19)oftheworldanditspossibilities.Webegingivingmeaningtolifethroughstorymaking,andplayingout___________(20).PartB:ListeningComprehensionDirections:Inthispartofthetesttherewillbesomeshorttalksandconversations.Aftereachone,youwillbeaskedsomequestions.Thetalks,conversationsandquestionswillbespokenONLYONCE.NowlistencarefullyandchoosetherightanswertoeachquestionyouhaveheardandwritetheletteroftheansweryouhavechoseninthecorrespondingspaceinyourANSWERBOOKLET.

Questions1to5arebasedonthefollowingconversation.1.(A)inCherryBlossomsVillageninetyoftheresidentsareover85yearsold.

(B)IntheUnitedStates,therearetwiceasmanycentenariansasthereweretenyearsago.

(C)AllthepeoplestudiedbythesescientistsfromGeorgialiveininstitutionsfortheelderly.

(D)AlmostalltheresidentsinQuestions6to10arebasedonthefollowingnews.6.(A)Globaltemperaturesroseby3degreesinthe20thcentury.

(B)GlobalwarmingmayspreaddiseasethatcouldkillalotofpeopleinAfrica.

(C)Developedcountriesnolongerdependonfossilfuelsfortransportandpower.

(D)Theimpactoftheglobalwarmingwillberadicallyreducedby2050.

7.(A)Takingbribes.

(B)Creatingaleadershipvacuumatthecountry'stopcarmaker.

(C)Misusingcompanyfundsforpersonalspending.

(D)Offeringcashforpoliticalfavors.

8.(A)Thenationhasraisedalertstatustothehighestlevelandthousandsofpeoplehavemovedtosafety.

(B)TheeruptionofMountMerapihasbeentheworstinIndonesiaoverthepasttwodecades.

(C)Allresidentsintheregiontenkilometersfromthebaseofthemountainhaveevacuated.

(D)Theeruptionprocesswasasuddenburstandhascausedextensivedamageandheavycasualty.

9.(A)6to7.

(B)8to10.

(C)11to16.

(D)17to25.

10.(A)Curbinghigh-levelcorruption.

(B)Fightingorganizedcrime.

(C)Investigatingconvictionsofcriminals.

(D)Surveyingthethreatstonationalsecurity.Questions11to15arebasedonthefollowinginterview.11.(A)Awinetaster.

(B)Amasterwatertaster.

(C)Thehostoftheshow.

(D)Theengineerwhoworksonthewatertreatmentplant.

12.(A)BerkeleySprings.

(B)SantaBarbara.

(C)AtlanticCity.

(D)Sacramento.

13.(A)Beingsaucyandpiquant.

(B)Tastingsweet.

(C)Acertainamountofminerals.

(D)Anabsenceoftaste.

14.(A)Looking-smelling-tasting.

(B)Tasting-smelling-looking.

(C)Smelling-looking-tasting.

(D)Tasting-looking-smelling.

15.(A)Bathing.

(B)Boilingpastain.

(C)Swimming.

(D)Makingtea.Questions16to20arebasedonthefollowingtalk.16.(A)Enhancereadingandmathskills.

(B)Increasethestudents'appreciationofnature.

(C)Improvemath,butnotreadingskills.

(D)Developreading,butnotmathskills.

17.(A)Tohelpthestudentsappreciatethearts.

(B)Tomakethestudents'educationmorewell-rounded.

(C)Toinvestigatetheimpactofartstraining.

(D)Toenhancethestudents'mathskills.

18.(A)Onceweekly.

(B)Twiceweekly.

(C)Onceamonth.

(D)Twiceamonth.

19.(A)Sixmonths.

(B)Sevenmonths.

(C)Eightmonths.

(D)Ninemonths.

20.(A)Thechildren'sattitude.

(B)Thechildren'stestscores.

(C)Boththechildren'sattitudeandtestscores.

(D)Boththeteachers'andthechildren'sattitude.SECTION2:READINGTEST(30minutes)

Directions:Inthissectionyouwillreadseveralpassages.Eachoneisfollowedbyseveralquestionsaboutit.YouaretochooseONEbestanswer,(A),(B),(C)or(D),toeachquestion.AnswerallthequestionsfollowingeachpassageonthebasisofwhatisstatedorimpliedinthatpassageandwritetheletteroftheansweryouhavechoseninthecorrespondingspaceinyourANSWERBOOKLET.Questions1-5

Anyonewhodoubtsthatchildrenarebornwithahealthyamountofambitionneedspendonlyafewminuteswithababyeagerlylearningtowalkoraheadstrongtoddlerstartingtotalk.Nomatterhowmanytimesthelittleonesstumbleintheirinitialefforts,mostkeepontrying,determinedtomastertheiramazingnewskill.Itisonlyseveralyearslater,aroundthestartofmiddleorjuniorhighschool,manypsychologistsandteachersagree,thatagoodnumberofkidsseemtolosetheirnaturaldrivetosucceedandendupjoiningtheranksofunderachievers.Fortheparentsofsuchkids,whoseownambitionisofteninextricablytiedtotheirchildren'ssuccess,itcanbeabewildering,painfulexperience.Soit'snowondersomeparentsfindthemselveshopingthat,justmaybe,ambitioncanbetaughtlikeanyothersubjectatschool.

It'snotquitethatsimple."Kidscanbegiventheopportunitiestobecomepassionateaboutasubjectoractivity,buttheycan'tbeforced,"saysJacquelynneEccles,apsychologyprofessorattheUniversityofMichigan,wholedalandmark,25-yearstudyexaminingwhatmotivatedfirst-andseventh-gradesinthreeschooldistricts.Evenso,agrowingnumberofeducatorsandpsychologistsdobelieveitispossibletounearthambitioninstudentswhodon'tseemtohavemuch.Theysaythatbyinstillingconfidence,encouragingsomerisktaking,beingacceptingoffailureandexpandingtheareasinwhichchildrenmaybesuccessful,bothparentsandteacherscanreignitethatinnatedesiretoachieve.

Figuringoutwhythefirewentoutisthefirststep.Assumingthatakiddoesn'tsufferfromanemotionalorlearningdisability,orisn'tinvolvedinsomefamilycrisisathome,manyeducatorsattributeasuddenlackofmotivationtoafearoffailureorpeerpressurethatconveysthemessagethatdoingwellacademicallysomehowisn'tcool."Kidsgetsocaughtupinthemoment-to-momentissueofwilltheylooksmartordumb,anditblocksthemfromthinkingaboutthelongterm,"saysCarolDweck,apsychologyprofessoratStanford."Youhavetoteachthemthattheyareinchargeoftheirintellectualgrowth."Overthepastcoupleofyears,DweckhashelpedrunanexperimentalworkshopwithNewYorkCitypublicschoolseventh-graderstodojustthat.DubbedBrainology,theunorthodoxapproachusesbasicneurosciencetoteachkidshowthebrainworksandhowitcancontinuetodevelopthroughoutlife."Themessageisthateverythingiswithinthekids'control,thattheirintelligenceismalleable,"saysLisaBlackwell,aresearchscientistat1.Whichofthefollowingbestexpressesthemainideaofthefirstparagraph?

(A)Childrenarebornwithakindofhealthyambition.

(B)Howababylearnstowalkandtalk.

(C)Ambitioncanbetaughtlikeothersubjectsatschool.

(D)Someteenagechildrenlosetheirdrivetosucceed.

2.Accordingtosomeeducatorsandpsychologists,allofthefollowingwouldbehelpfultocultivatestudents'ambitiontosucceedEXCEPT________.

(A)stimulatingthemtobuildupself-confidence

(B)cultivatingtheattitudeofrisktaking

(C)enlargingtheareasforchildrentosucceed

(D)makingthemunderstandtheirfamilycrisis

3.Whatisthemessagethatpeerpressureconveystochildren?

(A)Asuddenlackofmotivationisattributedtothestudent'sfailure.

(B)Bookknowledgeisnotasimportantaspracticalexperience.

(C)Lookingsmartismoreimportantforyoungpeopleatschool.

(D)Toachieveacademicexcellenceshouldnotbetreatedasthetoppriority.

4.Theword"malleable"intheclause"thattheirintelligenceismalleable,"(para.3)mostprobablymeanscapableofbeing________.

(A)alteredanddeveloped

(B)blockedandimpaired

(C)sharpenedandadvanced

(D)replacedandtransplanted

5.Theexpression"todisabusethemofthenotion"(para.4)canbeparaphrasedas________.

(A)tofreethemoftheidea

(B)tohelpthemunderstandtheidea

(C)toimbuethemwiththenotion

(D)toinformthemoftheconceptQuestions6-10Civil-libertiesadvocatesreelingfromtherecentrevelationsonsurveillancehadsomethingelsetoworryaboutlastweek:theprivacyofthebillionsofsearchqueriesmadeonsiteslikeGoogle,AOL,YahooandMicrosoft.Aspartofalong-runningcourtcase,thegovernmenthasaskedthosecompaniestoturnoverinformationonitsusers'searchbehavior.AllbutGooglehavehandedoverdata,andnowtheDepartmentofJusticehasmovedtocompelthesearchgianttoturnoverthegoods.

Whatmakesthiscasedifferentisthattheintendeduseoftheinformationisnotrelatedtonationalsecurity,butthegovernment'scontinuingattempttopoliceInternetpornography.In1998,CongresspassedtheChildOnlineProtectionAct(COPA),butcourtshaveblockeditsimplementationduetoFirstAmendmentconcerns.Initsappeal,theDOJwantstoprovehoweasyitistoinadvertentlystumbleuponpore.Inordertoconductacontrolledexperiment-tobeperformedbyaUCBerkeleyprofessorofstatistics-theDOJwantstousealargesampleofactualsearchtermsfromthedifferentsearchengines.Itwouldthenusethosetermstodoitsownsearches,employingthedifferentkindsoffilterseachsearchengineoffers,inanattempttoquantifyhowoften"materialthatisharmfultominors"mightappear.Googlecontendsthatsinceitisnotapartytothecase,thegovernmenthasnotrighttodemanditsproprietaryinformationtoperformitstest."Weintendtoresisttheirmotionvigorously,"saidGoogleattorneyNicoleWong.

DOJspokespersonCharlesMillersaysthatthegovernmentisrequestingonlytheactualsearchterms,andnotanythingthatwouldlinkthequeriestothosewhomadethem.(TheDOJisalsodemandingalistofamillionWebsitesthatGoogleindexestodeterminethedegreetowhichobjectionablesitesaresearched.)Originally,thegovernmentaskedforatreasuretroveofallsearchesmadeinJuneandJuly2005;therequesthasbeenscaledbacktooneweek'sworthofsearchqueries.

OneoddityabouttheDOJ'sstrategyisthattheexperimentcouldconceivablysinkitsowncase.Ifthebuilt-infiltersthateachsearchengineprovidesareeffectiveinblockingpornsites,thegovernmentwillhavewoundupprovingwhattheoppositionhassaidallalong-youdon'tneedtosuppressspeechtoprotectminorsontheNet."Wethinkthatourfilteringtechnologydoesagoodjobprotectingminorsfrominadvertentlyseeingadultcontent,"saysRamezNaam,groupprogrammanagerofMSNSearch.

ThoughthegovernmentintendstousethesedataspecificallyforitsCOPA-relatedtest,it'spossiblethattheinformationcouldleadtofurtherinvestigationsand,perhaps,subpoenastofindoutwhowasdoingthesearching.Whatifcertainsearchtermsindicatedthatpeoplewerecontemplatingterroristactionsorothercriminalactivities?SaystheDOJ'sMiller,"I'massumingthatifsomethingraisedalarms,wewouldhanditovertotheproperauthorities."Privacyadvocatesfearthatifthegovernmentrequestisupheld,itwillopenthedoortofurthergovernmentexaminationofsearchbehavior.OnesolutionwouldbeforGoogletostopstoringtheinformation,butthecompanyhopestoeventuallyusethepersonalinformationofconsentingcustomerstoimprovesearchperformance."Searchisawindowintopeople'spersonalities,"saysKurtOpsahl,anElectronicFrontierFoundationattorney."TheyshouldbeabletotakeadvantageoftheInternetwithoutworryingaboutBigBrotherlookingovertheirshoulders."6.WhentheAmericangovernmentaskedGoogle,AOL,YahooandMicrosofttoturnoverinformationonitsusers'searchbehavior,themajorintentionis_________.

(A)toprotectnationalsecurity

(B)tohelpprotectpersonalfreedom

(C)tomonitorInternetpornography

(D)toimplementtheChildOnlineProtectionAct

7.Googlerefusedtoturnover"itsproprietaryinformation"(para.2)requiredbyDOJasitbelievesthat________.

(A)itisnotinvolvedinthecourtcase

(B)users'privacyismostimportant

(C)thegovernmenthasviolatedtheFirstAmendment

(D)searchtermsisthecompany'sbusinesssecret

8.Thephrase"scaledbackto"inthesentence"therequesthasbeenscaledbacktooneweek'sworthofsearchqueries"(para.3)canbereplacedby_________.

(A)maximizedto

(B)minimizedto

(C)returnedto

(D)reducedto

9.Inthesentence"OneoddityabouttheDOJ'sstrategyisthattheexperimentcouldconceivablysinkitsowncase."(para.4),theexpression"sinkitsowncase"mostprobablymeansthat_________.

(A)counterattacktheopposition

(B)leadtoblockingofpornsites

(C)provideevidencetodisprovethecase

(D)givefullgroundtosupportthecase

10.WhenKurtOpsahlsaysthat"TheyshouldbeabletotakeadvantageoftheInternetwithoutworryingaboutBigBrotherlookingovertheirshoulders."(para.5),theexpression"BigBrother"isusedtoreferto_________.

(A)afriendorrelativeshowingmuchconcern

(B)acolleaguewhoismuchmoreexperienced

(C)adominatingandall-powerfulrulingpower

(D)abenevolentanddemocraticorganizationQuestions11-15OnNewYear'sDay,50,000inmatesinKenyanjailswentwithoutlunch.Thiswasnotsomemasshungerstriketohighlightpoorlivingconditions.Itwasanextraordinaryhumanitariangesture:themoneythatwouldhavebeenspentontheirluncheswenttothecharityFoodAidtohelpfeedanestimated3.5millionKenyanswho,becauseofaseveredrought,arethreatenedwithstarvation.ThedroughtisbignewsinAfrica,affectinghugeareasofeastAfricaandtheHorn.Ifyouarereadingthisinthewest,however,youmaynotbeawareofit-themediaisnotinterestedinoldstories.Evenifyoudoknowaboutthedrought,youmaynotbeawarethatitisdevastatingonegroupofpeopledisproportionately:thepastoralists.Thereare20millionnomadicorsemi-nomadicherdersinthisregion,andtheyarefastbecomingsomeofthepoorestpeopleinthecontinent.TheirplightencapsulatesAfrica'sperennialproblemwithdroughtandfamine.

Howso?Itcomesdowntothereluctanceofgovernments,aidagenciesandforeignlenderstosupporttheherders'traditionalwayoflife.Insteadtheyhavetendedtotrytoturnthemintocommercialranchersoragriculturalists,eventhoughithasbeendemonstratedtimeandagainthatpastoralistsarewelladaptedtotheirharshenvironments,andthatmovinglivestockaccordingtotheseasonsorclimaticchangesmakestheirmethodsfarmoreviablethanagricultureinsub-Saharandrylands.

Furthermore,Africanpastoralistsystemsareoftenmoreproductive,intermsofproteinandcashperhectare,thanAustralian,AmericanandotherAfricanranchesinsimilarclimaticconditions.Theymakeasubstantialcontributiontotheircountries'nationaleconomies.InKenya,forexample,theturnoverofthepastoralistsectorisworth$800millionperyear.IncountriessuchasBurkinaFaso,EritreaandEthiopia,hidesfrompastoralists'herdsmakeupover10percentofexportearnings.Despitethisproductivity,pastoralistsstillstarveandtheiranimalsperishwhendroughthits.Onereasonisthatonlyatrickleoftheprofitsgoestotheherdersthemselves;thelion'sshareispocketedbytraders.Thisispartlybecausetheherdersonlysellmuchoftheirstockduringtimesofdroughtandfamine,whentheyneedthecashtobuyfood,andthetermsoftradeinthissituationneverworkintheirfavour.Anotherreasonisthelackofinvestmentinherdingareas.

FundingbodiessuchastheWorldBankand-USAIDtriedtoaddresssomeoftheproblemsinthe1960s,investingmillionsofdollarsincommercialbeefanddairyproduction.Itdidn'twork.Firstly,noonebotheredtoconsultthepastoralistsaboutwhattheywanted.Secondly,rearinglivestocktookprecedenceoverhumanprogress.Thepoliciesandstrategiesofinternationaldevelopmentagenciesmoreorlessmirroredthethinkingoftheircolonialpredecessors.Theywerebasedontwofalseassumptions:thatpastoralismisprimitiveandinefficient,whichledtonumerousfailedschemesaimedatconvertingherderstomodernranchingmodels;andthatAfrica'sdrylandscansupportcommercialranching.Theycannot.MostofAfrica'sherdersliveinareaswithunpredictableweathersystemsthataretotallyunsuitedtocommercialranching.

Whatthepastoralistsneedissupportfortheirtraditionallifestyle.Overthepastfewyears,fundersandpolicy-makershavebeenstartingtogetthemessage.Oneexampleisinterventionbygovernmentstoensurethatpastoralistsgetfairpricesfortheircattlewhentheysellthemintimesofdrought,sothattheycanaffordtobuyfodderfortheirremaininglivestockandcerealstokeepthemselvesandtheirfamiliesalive(theprobleminAfricanfaminesisnotsomuchalackoffoodasalackofmoneytobuyit).Anotherexampleisadroughtearly-warningsystemrunbytheKenyangovernmentandtheWorldBankthathashelpedavertlivestockdeaths.

Thisisallpromising,butmoreneedstobedone.SomeAfricangovernmentsstillfavourforcingpastoraliststosettle.Theyshouldheedthelatestscientificresearchdemonstratingtheproductivityoftraditionalcattle-herding.Ultimately,sustainableruraldevelopmentinpastoralistareaswilldependonincreasingtrade,soonethinggoingforthemisthegrowingdemandforlivestockproducts:therewilllikelybeanadditional2billionconsumersworldwideby2020,thevastmajorityindevelopingcountries.Toensurethatpastoralistsbenefit,itwillbecrucialtogivethemagreatersayinlocalpolicies.Otherkeytasksincludegivingagreatersaytowomen,whoplaycriticalrolesinlivestockproduction.Therichworldshouldpayproperattentiontotheplightofthepastoralists.Leavingthemdependentonforeignfoodaidisunsustainableandwillleadtomoreresentment,conflict,environmentaldegradationandmalnutrition.Itisintherichworld'sintereststohelpout.11.WhichofthefollowingCANNOTbeconcludedfromthepassage?

(A)ForcingAfrica'snomadicherderstobecomerancherswillsavethemfromdrought.

(B)ThedifferencebetweenpastoralistandagriculturalistisvitaltotheAfricanpeople.

(C)TherichworldshouldgivemoresupporttotheAfricanpeopletoovercomedrought.

(D)EnvironmentaldegradationshouldbethemajorconcernindevelopingAfrica'spastoralism.

12.Theword"encapsulates"inthesentence"TheirplightencapsulatesAfrica'sperennialproblemwithdroughtandfamine."(para.l)canbereplacedby________.

(A)concludes.

(B)involves.

(C)represents.

(D)aggravates.

13.Whatistheauthor'sattitudetowardAfricandroughtandtraditionallifestyleofpastoralism?

(A)Neutralandindifferent.

(B)Sympatheticandunderstanding.

(C)Criticalandvehement.

(D)Subjectiveandfatalistic.

14.Whentheauthorwrites"thepoliciesandstrategiesofinternationaldevelopmentagenciesmoreorlessmirroredthethinkingoftheircolonialpredecessors."(para.4),heimpliesallthefollowingEXCEPTthattheaidagenciesdidnot__________.

(A)haveanobjectiveviewofthesituationinAfrica

(B)understandtheunpredictableweathersystemsthere

(C)feelthemselvessuperiorindecisionmaking

(D)careaboutthedevelopmentofthelocalpeople

15.Theauthor'smainpurposeinwritingthisarticlein_________.

(A)toevaluatethelivingconditionsofKenyanpastoralists

(B)togivesuggestionsonthesupportofthetraditionalpastoralisminAfrica

(C)toillustratethedifferencebetweencommercialranchingandpastoralism

(D)tocriticizethecolonialthinkingofwesternaidagenciesQuestions16-20TheprospectsforfindinglifebeyondEarthmaybebrightening.Today,scientistsarereportingevidenceforyetanotherpotentialhabitatinoursolarsystem:Saturn'smoonEnceladus.ScientistsminingnewdatafromtheCassinispacecraftsaytheymayhavefoundevidencethatEnceladus-theplanet'sfourth-largestmoon-hostsliquidwater.

Iftheresultsholdup,thiswouldbringtofourthenumberofbodiesinthesolarsystem-includingEarth-thatdisplayactivevolcanism.Andsincelifeasbiologistsknowitrequiresliquidwaterandasourceofenergy,EnceladuswouldjoinJupiter'smoonEuropaandSaturn'smoonTitan,aswellasMars,aspossiblespotsbeyondEarthwheresimpleformsoflifemayhavegainedorstillmaintainafoothold.

Thediscovery,however,isbittersweetformanyscientists.NASA'sproposedbudgetforfiscal2007callsfora50percentcutinitsastrobiologyprogram.Althoughtheprogramisatinypieceoftheagency'soverallspendingplanforscience,it'sasignificantsourceofmoneyforprobingfundamentalquestionsofhowandwhylifeemergedonEarthandwhetherlifearoseelsewhereintheuniverse.

A50-percentcut"isalmostagoing-out-of-business-levelcut"inavibrantlineofresearchthatstandsasonepillarsupportingPresidentBush'svisionforspaceexploration,saysplanetaryscientistSeanSolomon,whoheadstheDepartmentofTerrestrialMagnetismattheCarnegieInstitutionofWashington.

Nevertheless,theresearchintoday'sissueofthejournalScienceisthesortofthingthatcontinuestolightafireunderthefield.ItsreportaboutliquidwaterundertheicysurfaceofEnceladusisa"radicalconclusion,"acknowledgesCarolynPorco,wholeadstheimagingteamworkingwithdatafromtheCassiniorbiter.Butiftheteamisright,"wehavesignificantlybroadenedthediversityofsolar-systemenvironments"thatmighthaverolledoutthewelcomemat"forlivingorganisms,"sheconcludes.

Imagesreleasedlastfallshowthemoonejectingvastplumesofmaterialnearitsunexpectedlywarmsouthpole.Astheteamponderedtheevidence,theynixedseveralexplanations,includingtheideathattheparticlesintheplumesweredrivenbyvaporbillowingoutasicereachedthesurfaceandimmediatelyturnedintoagas.Thelastideastanding:Liquidwaterwasventingfromreservoirsnearthesurface,perhapsonlytensofmetersbelowthefrigidcrust.ThisexplanationalsohelpedsolvetheriddleofpuzzlinglyhighlevelsofoxygenatomsfoundinSaturn'sneighborhood.

Confirmationcouldcomewithadditionalflybys,ifwater-andperhapslife-ispresent,itwouldn'tbe"luxuriant,"notesJeffreyKargel,aresearcherattheUniversityofArizonaatTucson.Itlikelywouldfacetoughconditions-nastychemicals,verylowtemperatures,andlittleenergytodriveit.Still,headds,it'sprematuretocrossthemoonoffthelistofpossible"outposts"forlifebeyondEarth.Yettheprospectofbuildingontheseresultscouldbedimmerwiththethreatofbudgetcuts.Theproposedreductionspostseveralchallenges,researcherssay.

Oneisthelossofimportantfinancialleverage.Whilemoneyforexperimentsandotherresearchrelatedtoastrobiologycancomefromotherfundingagencies,suchastheNationalScienceFoundationoreventheNationalInstitutesofHealth,NASA'sprogramoftenprovidesthecrucialmissingpiecethatturnsdemandingandsometimesdangerousfieldworkintoexcitingresults.

Oneofthebiggestsuccessesovertheprogram's10-yearhistoryhasbeentohelprevolutionizethewayscienceisdone.AnsweringquestionsabouttheoriginsoflifeonEarthandtheprospectsforlifeelsewhererequirestrongcollaborations.FromradioastronomerstobiologistsandgeologistsstudyingtheevolutionofEarth,groupsareworkingtogetherinwaystheyneverthoughtofadecadeago,addsEdwardYoung,ageochemistattheUniversityofCaliforniaatLosAngeles.

"NASA'smadealotofprogressbymakingarelativelysmallinvestmentinawaythathasbroughtdisparateexpertstogetherfromthewholespectrumofphysicalandbiologicalsciences.It'sawonderfullessononhowtomakeprogressbycrossingtheseboundaries,"Dr.Solomonsays."Itwouldberegrettabletostopthatexperiment."16.Accordingtothepassage,simpleformsoflifemightbefoundonthefollowingheavenlybodiesinthesolarsystem:________.

(A)Europa,Titan,Earth'smoonandMars

(B)Europa,Mars,TitanandEnceladus

(C)Jupiter,Saturn,MarsandEnceladus

(D)Earth'smoon,Jupiter,MarsandSaturn

17.Whentheauthorsays"Thediscovery,however,isbittersweetformanyscientists."(para.3),hemostprobablymeansthatthediscovery_________.

(A)greatlydiscouragesscientists

(B)leadstothecuttingofNASA'sbudget

(C)causesmuchdoubtandargument

(D)bringsscientistsbothgoodandbadnews

18.WhenSeanSolomonsaysa50-percentcutinNASA'sfiscalbudgetfor2007initsastrobiologyprogram"isalmostagoing-out-of-business-levelcut"(para.4),hemostprobablymeansthat_________.

(A)theprogramwillgoaheadasscheduled

(B)itwillbenexttoimpossibletocontinuetheresearch