高考英语模拟试题阅读理解精选编讲第134篇——秒词邦背单词app

Scientists have found living organisms trapped in crystals (晶体) that could be 50,000 years old.

The organisms were found in a hot, but beautiful cave system in Naica, Mexico. These ancient life forms can be seen only with a microscope. Penelope Boston, who leads the Astrobiology Institute at NASA, the space agency of the United States, says the ancient microbes were able to live by eating minerals such as iron.

She spoke about the discovery recently at a meeting of the American association for the Advancement of Science. If the findings are confirmed, they will show how microbes can survive in extreme conditions. Forty different kinds of microbes and some viruses were found in the underground area. The genetic structures of these organisms are 10 percent different from those of their nearest relatives.

The caves in Naica are 800 kilometers deep. They were once used for mining lead. Before the miners began working in the caves, the area was separated from the surface and the outside world. Some of the caves are as big as the large religious centers built during Europe’s Middle Ages. There are crystals covering the walls. The caves are so hot that scientists must wear special clothing to keep cool. The clothing keeps the crystals safe from human germs (病菌) or other damage. Boston said the researchers could only work for about 20 minutes at a time before they had to go to a room that was 38 degrees Celsius to cool down.

NASA officials would not let Boston share her findings with scientific experts before last week’s announcement. So scientists could not say much about the findings. But Norine Noonan, a biologist with the University of South Florida, said she believed them. “Why are we surprised?” Noonan asked. “As a biologist, I would say life on earth is extremely tough and extremely colorful.”

Boston is also studying microbes commonly found inside caves in other countries, such as Ukraine and the United States. These microbes appear to be impossible to kill. Boston said they show how difficult life on earth can be.

科学家发现了被困在晶体中的活生物体(晶体) 那可能有5万年的历史。

这些生物是在墨西哥奈卡一个炎热但美丽的洞穴系统中发现的。只有用显微镜才能看到这些古老的生命形式。美国国家航空航天局天体生物学研究所所长佩内洛普·波士顿表示，这些古老的微生物能够通过吃铁等矿物质来生存。

她最近在美国科学促进会的一次会议上谈到了这一发现。如果这些发现得到证实，它们将展示微生物如何在极端条件下生存。在地下区域发现了40种不同的微生物和一些病毒。这些生物的遗传结构与它们的近亲有10%的不同。

奈卡的洞穴有800公里深。它们曾经被用来开采铅。在矿工们开始在洞穴中工作之前，该地区与地表和外界是分开的。一些洞穴与欧洲中世纪建造的大型宗教中心一样大。墙上布满了水晶。洞穴非常热，科学家们必须穿上特殊的衣服来保持凉爽。这种衣服可以保护水晶免受人体细菌的侵害(病菌) 或其他损坏。波士顿表示，研究人员一次只能工作大约20分钟，然后才能去38摄氏度的房间降温。

在上周宣布之前，美国国家航空航天局官员不会让波士顿与科学专家分享她的发现。因此，科学家们无法对这些发现发表太多评论。但南佛罗里达大学的生物学家诺琳·努南表示，她相信这些说法。“我们为什么感到惊讶？”努南问道。“作为一名生物学家，我认为地球上的生命是极其坚韧和丰富多彩的。”

波士顿也在研究其他国家洞穴中常见的微生物，如乌克兰和美国。这些微生物似乎不可能被杀死。波士顿说，他们展示了地球上的生活是多么困难。

句子成分分析：

She spoke about the discovery [recently] [at a meeting (of the American Association)] [for the Advancement (of Science)].

句子语法结构详解：

(spoke 为 speak 的过去式。)

* spoke 为谓语，采用一般过去时。
* she 为人称代词主格。the 为定冠词。a 为不定冠词。

句子相关词汇解释：

Phrase:

Vocabulary:

句子成分分析：

Before the miners began working [in the caves], || the area was separated from the surface and the outside world.

句子语法结构详解：

(began 为 begin 的过去式。)

* before 为连词，引导时间状语从句。
* began 为谓语，采用一般过去时。
* working 为动名词，作宾语。
* 第3个 the 开头为陈述句。
* separated 为谓语，采用一般过去时和被动语态。
* was 为助动词。the 为定冠词。

句子相关词汇解释：

Vocabulary:

句子成分分析：

NASA officials would not let Boston share her findings with scientific experts [before last week's announcement].

句子语法结构详解：

* let 为谓语，采用一般过去将来时。
* share 为不带 to 的不定式，作宾语补足语(或称复合宾语)。
* would 为情态动词。her 为形容词型物主代词。week's 为名词所有格。

句子相关词汇解释：

Phrase:

Vocabulary:

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