单选题 At present, it seems impossible to visit the satellites of other stars in search of life. Our present theories of physics indicate that it is impossible to move at a speed greater than that of light. Even at such a speed it would take many years to reach the nearest star that might have planets. Most of such stars are many lifetimes away.
Perhaps someday we shall invent ways of travelling or sending messages that will allow man to find other living things in the universe.
Even more interesting is the possibility that they may find us! If the steady-state theory of the universe is correct, there must be many "solar systems" that are mush older than ours. On some of these, intelligent life may have evolved (进化) long ago. If so, these creatures might be exploring the universe today.
Serious scientific projects in recent years have been studying the skies with radio telescopes, hoping to find signals sent by such intelligent beings. It has been suggested that the puzzling quasars (类星体) might be the wakes (航迹) left by spaceships travelling faster than light.
Thus far, we have found no definite evidence of other intelligent life in the universe. Perhaps we never shall. Yet the search and the hope will remain an exciting possibility for the future.

单选题 Today we cannot visit other stars because ______.
A. they have no planets and satellites
B. we cannot travel at the speed of light
C. we need further research in physics
D. they are beyond our travelling distance
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 细节明示题。从第一段2，3句可知，其他星球在离我们太遥远的地方，我们无法以超过光速的速度行进，就算可以，也需要花费数年的时间才能到达离我们最近的星球。
单选题 The last sentence in the first paragraph talks about ______.
A. the speed of light travelling in the universe
B. the existence of life on other planets
C. the remoteness of other stars
D. the shortness of our life
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[解析] 细节推断题。由第一段最后一句说绝大多数星球是人要花几生的时间才能到达那么远就可以得知这些星球离我们的距离太远了。
单选题 According to the author, the existence of intelligent life on the planets of other stars is ______.
A. a fact B. a possibility
C. a discovery D. a mystery
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[解析] 细节推断题。最后一段最后一句直接告诉我们作者认为未来发现其他星球的智能生物有这个可能。
单选题 Which of the following statements is TRUE according to this passage?
A. Attempts have been made to find life on other planets.
B. It seems unlikely that life exists on other planets.
C. Intelligent beings from other planets have visited the earth.
D. Spaceships have been launched by other intelligent beings.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 细节推断题。C、D选项是明显错误的。在最后一段第一句可以得知现在还没有任何证据显示其他星球有生命存在，但是在将来我们还会继续研究并抱有希望。
单选题 As for the evidence of other intelligent life in the universe, the author of the passage believes that in the future ______.
A. we shall give up hope and stop searching for it
B. these creatures will send us signals to confirm it
C. it is definitely impossible for us humans to find it
D. it is possible for us humans to continue to search for it
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 细节明示题。由最后一段最后一句提及人类还将继续为找寻其他生命体作出努力。