Manhattan是考生在备考GMAT考试时必备的备考资料之一，在Manhattan阅读中对GMAT阅读考试的介绍非常详细实用，下面小编就为大家带来Manhattan阅读中文笔记-Chapter7(三)希望对大家的阅读备考有帮助。
Passage C: Life on Mars
Because of the proximity and likeness of Mars to Earth, scientists have long speculated about the possibility of life on Mars. As early as the mid-17th century, astronomers observed polar ice caps on Mars, and by the mid-19th century, scientists discovered other similarities to Earth, including the length of day and axial tilt. But in 1965, photos taken by the Mariner 4 probe revealed a Mars without rivers, oceans or signs of life. And in the 1990s, it was discovered that Mars, unlike Earth, no longer possessed a substantial global magnetic field, allowing celestial radiation to reach the planet's surface and solar wind to eliminate much of Mars's atmosphere over the course of several billion years.
More recent probes have focused on whether there was once water on Mars. Some scientists believe that this question is definitively answered by the presence of certain geological landforms. Others posit that different explanations, such as wind erosion or carbon dioxide oceans, may be responsible for these formations. Mars rovers Opportunity and Spirit, which have been exploring the surface of Mars since 2004, have both discovered geological evidence of past water activity. These findings substantially bolster claims that there was once life on Mars.
生疏单词：
speculate：推测，投机，思索
axial tilt：轴倾角
reveal：揭露，显示，展现
possessed：疯狂的，着魔的
celestial：天上的，天体的
probe：探测，调查
definitively：决定性地，最后地
geological：地质的，地质学的
posit：假设，假定
erosion：侵蚀，腐蚀
substantial：大量的，本质的，实质
bolster：支持，支撑
长难句分析：
And in the 1990s, it was discovered that Mars, unlike Earth, no longer possessed a substantial global magnetic field, allowing celestial radiation to reach the planet's surface and solar wind to eliminate much of Mars's atmosphere over the course of several billion years.
本句中it做形式主语，真正的主语是that引导的宾语从句，从句的主体结构Mars no longer possessed a substantial global magnetic field，后面allowing引导的由and连接的并列句作状语，对主语进行修饰。
话题分类：自然科学
文章展开套路：新老观点型
作者态度：客观评价
文章脉络：
第一段：因为火星和地球的一些相似性,科学家们早就推测火星上有存在生命的可能性。并列举了历史上的几次探究成果。
第二段：最近的调查主要集中在火星上是否曾经有水，并且科学家对这一观点发表了不同的看法。更多相关内容请点击》两大普世性GMAT阅读法介绍。
答案：1-5: B D A C E
习题解析：
1. The author’s stance on the possibility of life on Mars can best be described as
(A) optimistic
(B) disinterested
(C) skeptical
(D) simplistic
(E) cynical
选项说明：
(A) 作者对于火星上是否存在生命持客观态度，既不积极也不消极。
(B) disinterested means “impartial” or “neutral，准确描述了作者的态度。
(C) 文中没有提到作者有什么怀疑。
(D) 作者考虑了火星上存在生命的几个前提因素，很严谨，用simplistic描述不恰当。
(E) 作者的态度是客观公正，就事论事，没有讽刺。
2. The passage is primarily concerned with which of the following?
(A) disproving a widely accepted theory
(B) initiating a debate about the possibility of life on Mars
(C) presenting evidence in support of a controversial claim
(D) describing the various discoveries made concerning the possibility of life on Mars
(E) detailing the findings of the Mars rovers Opportunity and Spirit
选项说明：
(A) 首先没有出现accepted theory，其次没有对这一论点的反驳。
(B) 这个答案具有诱惑性，比较中立，但是文章中没有提到initiating a debate，而是通过研究成果构建了一个讨论。
(C) 文中对火星上是否存在生命是探究的态度，并不仅仅是提供证据支持。
(D) 很好的概括了文章的主要内容，描述了对于火星上是否有生命的不同观点的讨论。
(E) 这一答案过于具体，概括面太窄，不准确。
3. Each of the following discoveries is mentioned in the passage EXCEPT
(A) Wind erosion and carbon dioxide oceans are responsible for certain geological landforms on Mars.
(B) Mars does not have a substantial global magnetic field.
(C) Mars does not currently have water activity.
(D) The length of day on Mars is similar to that on Earth.
(E) The axial tilt of Mars is similar to that of Earth.
选项说明：
(A) 文章说太阳风和二氧化碳海很可能是地质地貌形成的原因，只是推测而不是发现。
(B) 第一段的最后提到in the 1990s, it was discovered that Mars, unlike Earth, no longer possessed a substantial global magnetic field .
(C) 第一段的第三句话The Mariner 4 probe revealed in 1965 that there are no rivers or oceans (water activity) on Mars
(D) 第一段提到Certain similarities of Mars to Earth were discovered in the mid-19th century, including the length of day
(E) 同样是第一段第二句话Certain similarities of Mars to Earth were discovered in the mid-19th century, including the axial tilt of Mars
4. In the first paragraph, the author most likely mentions the discovery of polar ice caps to
suggest that
(A) until recently Mars’ polar ice caps were thought to consist largely of carbon dioxide
(B) Martian polar ice caps are made almost entirely of water ice
(C) Mars has many similarities to Earth, including the existence of polar ice caps
(D) Mars has only a small fraction of the carbon dioxide found on Earth and Venus
(E) conditions on the planet Mars were once very different from what they are at present
选项说明：
(A) 文中没有提到其内容，只是说polar ice caps被发现。
(B) 与A一样，文章中没有提到polar ice caps由什么构成。
(C) 正确，
(D) polar ice caps是火星和地球的相似性之一。
(E) 作者没有通过polar ice caps来说明火星上的环境变化。
5. Each of the following can be inferred from the passage EXCEPT
(A) The presence of certain geological landforms is not definitive proof that there was once
life on Mars.
(B) It is likely that there were few significant discoveries related to the possibility of life on
Mars prior to the mid-17th century.
(C) The absence of a substantial global magnetic field on Mars suggests that it would be difficult to sustain life on Mars.
(D) The presence of water activity on Mars is related to the possibility of life on Mars.
(E) The claim that there was once water on Mars has only limited and indirect support from
recent discoveries.
选项说明：
(A) 第二段提到地质地貌暗示了水的存在，但也可能是风蚀或二氧化碳作用的产物。
(B) 第一段提到The first discoveries mentioned were as early as the mid-17th century.并且选项中用的是likely。
(C) 第二段the absence of a substantial global magnetic field is presented as evidence of the lack of life on Mars.
(D) 第二段的第一句话more recent probes have focused on whether or not there was once water on Mars.水是生命存在的一个重要前提条件。
(E) 第二段提到the Mars rovers Opportunity and Spirit have both discovered geological evidence o f past water activity这证明水曾经在火星上存在过，反驳了该选项。
以上是关于Manhattan阅读中文笔记-Chapter7(三)的详细内容，希望大家也能从中受益，不断改进自己的备考方法提升备考效率，从而写出漂亮的文章获得满意的成绩。更多相关内容百利天下小编会持续为大家送上，祝大家都能早日梦圆名校。
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