科學家計劃在月球遠端架設新型望遠鏡

鐘翠頻 黃連英

American scientists are working to develop a telescope to deploy on the moon. The telescope is designed to search for ancient radio waves that could provide important details about the early universe.

The telescope will be the first designed to collect data on a historical period of the universe called the Dark Ages. This period is considered important to study because it can provide new details about the formation and development of the universe.

The telescope is to be placed on what is known as the far side of the moon. This description came about because that side of the moon cannot be seen from Earth. The area does experience its own day and night cycle.

The far side of the moon enjoys radio silence compared to Earth， which experiences so much radio wave traffic that is considered noise “pollution.” It offers an unusual environment that permits researchers to record sensitive radio signals. Team members say such signals cannot be captured anywhere else in near-Earth space.

Anze Slosar is a physicist with the Department of Energys Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. “So far， we can only make predictions about earlier stages of the universe using a benchmark called the cosmic microwave background，” Slosar said. He noted that the new telescope would provide a new benchmark， opening the door for scientists to make further important discoveries about the universe.

After touching down on the moon， the telescopes lander will turn off permanently so it does not produce any wave interference. The telescope will then deploy four three-meter-long antennas. The instrument must survive the severe conditions existing on the moons far side. Scientists on Earth will have to wait 40 days for the telescope to collect and send its first data to a satellite that can communicate with Earth.

Researchers leading the project say multiple big discoveries could be made in the future with the lunar telescope.

（材料出自“51VOA”網站，有刪改）

1. Which of the following isnt true about the telescope？

A. Its designed to search for radio waves at present.

B. It will be used to collect data on the Dark Ages.

C. It will be placed on the far side of the moon.

D. Itll be helpful for scientists to understand the universe better.

2. Why will the telescope be placed on the far side of the moon？

A. Because that side of the moon cannot be seen from Earth.

B. Because it has its own day and night cycle.

C. Because sensitive radio signals can be captured easily there.

D. Because there is so much radio wave traffic there.

3. What dos the author mainly tell us in the last but second paragraph？

A. What the telescope will collect .

B. How the telescope will work.

C. Why the telescope will be used.

D. Why the lander will turn off.

4. Which column might the article be in a magazine？

A. Education and Culture. B. Sports and Health.

C. Human and Nature.D. Science and Technology.

1. A。解析：細節理解題。根據材料第二段第一個句子，我們可知B選項是正確的，故排除；根據材料第三段第一個句子，我們可知C選項是正確的，故排除；根據材料第五段最后一句中的“opening the door for scientists to make further important discoveries about the universe”，我們可知D選項是正確的，故排除；根據材料第一段最后一句中的“to search for ancient radio waves”，我們可知該望遠鏡的設計目的是尋找古老的無線電波，A選項與原文內容不符，故選A。

2. C。解析：細節理解題。根據材料第三段第二個和第三個句子“This description came about because that side of the moon cannot be seen from Earth. The area does experience its own day and night cycle.”，我們可知A、B選項都是在解釋那個地區為什么叫月球遠端，故排除；根據材料第四段第二個句子“...that permits researchers to record sensitive radio signals.”，我們可知在月球遠端敏感的無線電信號能被捕捉到。故選C。

3. B。解析：推理判斷題。材料倒數第二段提到：在接觸到月球表面之后，該望遠鏡的著陸器將永久關閉，以免產生任何波紋干擾。然后，該望遠鏡將部署4根3米長的天線。該儀器必須能夠在月球遠端的嚴酷環境中生存。地球上的科學家將不得不等待40天，以便望遠鏡收集第一批數據，然后發送給可以與地球通信的衛星。因而，此段講的是望遠鏡的工作過程。故選B。

4. D。解析：推理判斷題。文章是圍繞“美國科學家正致力于開發一款部署到月球上的新型望遠鏡”展開論述的，所以最有可能出現在雜志的科技欄目。故選D。