far out in our solar system. In a statement, the California Institute of Technology—Caltech—said this planet travels a very strange “long and thin orbit in the distant solar system.” The discovery was made by two researchers at Caltech: Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown. They used mathematical modeling and computer simulations(模拟) to find the planet. So far, there have not been any direct observations of the planet.
“My jaw hit the floor,” said astronomer(宇航员) Mike Brown, the moment he realized there might be a ninth planet.
The scientists said it would take this planet 10,000 to 20,000 years just to make one full orbit around the sun. The new planet, called “Planet Nine”, has a mass about 10 times the size of Earth. If they are right, the newly found planet would be the ninth planet in our solar system. Pluto(冥王星) had been called the ninth planet until 2006, when it was renamed a “dwarf planet.”
Actual confirmation of a ninth planet would be very big news. “This would be a real ninth planet,” Brown said in the statement. “There have only been two true planets discovered since ancient times, and this would be a third. It's a pretty substantial chunk of our solar system that's still out there to be found, which is pretty exciting.”
While they did not get a picture of “Planet Nine” yet, the
scientists say they are using the biggest—and best—telescopes on Earth to try to find “Planet Nine.” They are also working on improving their computer simulations. They want to find out more about “Planet Nine’s” orbit, and its impact on the outer part of our solar system.
16. The newly-found planet ________. A. moves around the Sun
B. was discovered by two astronomers C. travels a round orbit
D. is far away from our solar system
17. The possibility of finding a ninth planet made Mike Brown ________.
A. confused B. frightened C. satisfied D. surprised 18. According to the scientists, ________
A. the planet is ten times larger than the Earth
B. it takes the planet less than 10,000 years to make a
full orbit
C. Pluto was once thought to be the ninth planet in the
solar system
D. Pluto was given a new name after it was discovered in
2006
19. It can be inferred from Paragraph 4 that ________. A. there is no actual confirmation about the ninth planet B. no true planets were discovered in ancient times C. scientists have found three planets in modern times D. the ninth planet is the only one discovered since ancient
times
20. To find “Planet Nine”, scientists are using all the following EXCEPT ________.
A. mathematical modeling B. computer simulations C. advanced telescopes D. large spacecrafts
Passage Two
“Helicopter parenting” describes a style of raising children where parents are over-protective and do too much. The term was used for the first time in the late 1960s. It describes parents who hover(悬停) over their kids like a helicopter. Today, modern technology allows these helicopter parents to hover from even far away. They can give their children directions at any moment from anywhere.
Author Julie Lythcott-Haims wrote a book titled How to Raise an Adull. In her book, she gives readers a closer look at this
parenting style.
“Over-parenting”, she says, “comes in three types: the
first is the over-protective parents who think the world is scary and unsafe and unpredictable. And therefore, I must protect and prevent. The second type is the over-directive type—the parent who says, I know best what leads to success and you will do as I say. You’ll study these topics, do these activies and you will be highly achieving at all of it. The third type is the concierge(看门人)—the parent who just wants to make life smoother—from waking their kid up, to keeping track of their deadlines, to making sure they haven't forgotten anything, to even doing the homework for the kid.”
Julie Lythcott-Haims says she experienced the effects of helicopter parenting firsthand when she worked as dean of first-year students at Stanford University. The incoming students were very smart and accomplished on paper. But many were unable to take care of themselves.
“They were turning to parents constantly for guidance, for problem solving, to have them make the choice about something.” Often times, Lythcott-Haims had to remind those parents that their kids were old enough to take care of themselves. 21. The term “helicopter parenting” ________.
A. describes parents who give children directions in the air B. was probably invented in the late nineteenth century
C. gains more meaning as modern technology develops D. refers to parents who concern too much about kids
22. According to Lythcott-Haims, over-parenting has all the following features EXCEPT ________.
A. over-directive B. over-dependent C. over-preventive D. over-protective 23. It can be inferred that a concierge mother will ________. A. regard the world as very dangerous B. allow children to do whatever they like C. keep a close eye on the kid’s assignment D. let the kid alone when he falls on the ground
24. In Julie’s eyes, the first-year students at Stanford University are ________. A. very clever in studying
B. really good at problem-solving C. unable to communicate with teachers D. having problems making friends
25. Lythcott-Haims’ attitude towards helicopter parenting is ________. A. supportive
B. negative
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