Scientists have known for a long time that the surface of Mars is very cold and supports no life. Many people keep wondering whether we can make this planet more suitable for living things. Mars has many serious problems, including harmful UV rays and salty soil. But the
greatest problem is its low average temperature, around $-60° \mathrm{C}$. A new study has come up with a creative method that brings humans closer to their long-held dream of living on Mars.
In the study, researchers developed small stick-like particles(颗粒). These particles can hold heat and spread sunlight onto Mars' surface, making the planet warmer. The study shows that if we send these particles into Mars' atmosphere(大气) continuously at 30L per second, Mars' temperature will rise by more than $10° \mathrm{C}$. This temperature is friendly to small living things, which is an important first step to make Mars fit for humans.
This way is better than earlier ones because it uses materials found on Mars. It is much more practical than old plans that had to carry materials from Earth. It is also over 5,000 times more effective in warming Mars. However, it will take many years to see real results. A researcher named Edwin Kite said, “This tells us that warming Mars to have liquid(液态的) water is not as difficult as we thought before.”
Still, we have much work to do. We do not know how fast the particles will disappear from Mars' atmosphere. When Mars becomes warmer, water may form small drops around the particles and fall to the ground as rain. This will cut down the number of particles and make the warming effect weaker. Kite noted, “Climate feedbacks are really not easy to predict exactly. We would need more data from both Mars and Earth and must proceed carefully to ensure the effects.”
Besides, the study only aims to warm Mars for small living things and plants, not to make air for humans to breathe. Anyway, this study brings new hope for future exploration.
()56. According to the recent study, the particles could .
A. do harm to the microbial life
B. deal with UV rays and salty soil
C. increase the temperature on Mars
D. build a greenhouse for men to live in
()57. What can we learn about the new method?
A. Humans can breathe on Mars if it works properly.
B. Its full effect will be seen soon as the particles are sent.
C. Materials from Earth will be transported to Mars.
D. Drops of water with the particles inside may fall back as rain.
()58. What can we infer from Edwin Kite's words in Paragraph 3 and 4?
A. Warming Mars with liquid water is totally impossible.
B. Climate feedbacks on Mars have been well understood.
C. The new method still faces uncertain things in its effect.
D. Now researchers have enough data from both Mars and Earth.
()59. What does the underlined word “proceed” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A. Continue.
B. Change.
C. Pretend.
D. Give up.
()60. What is the passage mainly about?
A. A more practical way to heat Mars.
B. An age-old dream to explore Mars.
C. Chance of creating Mars' atmosphere.
D. Difficulty of making Mars more livable.

56.C 57.D 58.C 59.A 60.A

【分析】
这是一篇科技类英语阅读理解题，共5道小题，考查细节理解、推理判断、词义猜测及主旨归纳能力。解题思路：1. 第56题定位原文中颗粒的作用，匹配选项；2. 第57题核对新方法的细节描述；3. 第58题结合Kite的表述推断新方法的效果；4. 第59题通过上下文猜测划线词含义；5. 第60题归纳全文核心内容确定主旨。
【解析】
56. 细节理解题：根据原文第二段“These particles can hold heat and spread sunlight onto Mars' surface, making the planet warmer.”可知，颗粒能提升火星温度，对应选项C，故选C。
57. 细节理解题：根据原文第四段“When Mars becomes warmer, water may form small drops around the particles and fall to the ground as rain.”可知，选项D描述正确，故选D。
58. 推理判断题：根据第四段Kite的话“Climate feedbacks are really not easy to predict exactly. We would need more data...”可推断，新方法的效果存在不确定性，对应选项C，故选C。
59. 词义猜测题：前文提到需更多数据，后文说要小心确保效果，因此“proceed”意为“继续”，对应选项A，故选A。
60. 主旨大意题：全文围绕一种更实用的火星加热新方法展开，对应选项A，故选A。
【答案】
56.C 57.D 58.C 59.A 60.A
【知识点】
英语阅读理解、细节理解与推理判断、主旨大意
【点评】
本文为科技类说明文，考查学生对原文信息的定位、推理及归纳能力，需准确把握各段落关键信息，难度适中。
【难度系数】
0.6