文字稿

从天文学的角度来讲，距太阳系最近的适宜人居住的星球或许就在我们附近。一组科学家通过调查发现，有一颗地球大小的行星正绕着离太阳系最近的恒星—比邻星的轨道运行，且它所处的位置可能为该星球表面产生液态水提供条件。请听 David Shukman 的报道。

Until 20 years ago, no one knew there were planets beyond the ones we have in our own Solar System. But thousands have recently been discovered orbiting distant stars. And the Holy Grail has been defined (as) one that might conceivably be habitable and, ideally, as close to us as possible.

Proxima b is slightly larger than Earth and orbits its star at the right distance for liquid water to exist at the surface. That might mean that life is possible there. On the other hand, the planet would be vulnerable to massive flares of radiation.

Proxima b is just over four light years away, so it would take something like 70,000 years to get there with a conventional rocket. Although there are ideas for far more rapid space travel.

词汇表

beyond  比……更远，远于
Solar System 太阳系
orbiting （天体）沿（恒星或行星的）轨道运行着
distant stars 遥远的恒星；远方的星球
the Holy Grail 极难找到或得到的事物（原意为“圣杯”）
conceivably 有可能
habitable 适于居住的，可居住的
liquid water 液态水
vulnerable to 容易受……影响的
flares （近似耀斑的）能量爆发
light years 光年
conventional 常规的，普通的
rapid 快的，迅速的
space travel 太空旅行

测验

请听报道并回答下列问题。

1. How large is Proxima b compared to the Earth?

2. How long would it take to get to the planet with a conventional rocket?

3. True or false? There might be life on Proxima b.

4. Which word in the text means 'the top layer or outer part of something'?

答案

1. How large is Proxima b compared to the Earth?
It is slightly larger than Earth.

2. How long would it take to get to the planet with a conventional rocket?
It would take about 70,000 years to get to the planet with a conventional rocket.

3. True or false? There might be life on Proxima b.
True. Proxima b orbits around its star at the right distance for liquid water to exist, which might mean that life is possible there.

4. Which word in the text means 'the top layer or outer part of something'?
Surface.