时文阅读——讲好中国故事 中国科学家探索月球种植
As humans set sights on deep space exploration, the moon becomes a stepping stone, with countries hoping to build lunar bases to support such missions.
To solve the “lunch” problem, scientists have been exploring the possibility of growing plants on the moon. A new study by Chinese scientists has found that bacteria (细菌) in the soil from the Earth could offer a solution.
Researchers from China Agricultural University tested five species of bacteria on a material that simulated (模拟) lunar soil. Within a period of 10 to 21 days, three of the bacteria species had doubled their amount of phosphorus (磷) content, a key element for plant growth. They then grew model plants in the lunar soil with these three bacteria species. They observed that the plants had longer stems (茎) and roots after six days of growth compared with those grown without the bacteria. The plants also had heavier and wider clusters (簇) of leaves after 24 days of growth. Besides, levels of chlorophyll—responsible for harvesting energy from light—in the model plants were about twice as much as that of those grown without bacteria.
“The study results are very important for future long-term stays on the moon,” the study’s lead researcher said. The Earth bacteria may help astronauts make better use of lunar resources, like creating lunar greenhouses.
In their follow-up research, they hope to experiment with real lunar soil and grow crops like rice, corn and potatoes. Since the duration (持续时间) of space missions is increasing, carrying all food supplies to
space becomes unsustainable. So, “space planting” becomes very important.
During the Shenzhou XI mission, astronauts managed to grow lettuce, from sowing to harvest. In the later missions, the “space farmers” have successfully grown wheat, rice, thale cress, scallions and cherry tomatoes. These “space gardens” not only provide astronauts with food but also more oxygen and water.
一、好词句深练
（一）根据语境用所给单词的适当形式填空
1. (explore) of the unknown world has always attracted humans.
2. Scientists are researching the (possible) of finding new energy sources.
3. The company is experiencing significant (grow) due to its good ways of sales.
（二） 用方框中词的正确形式替换下列句子中的黑体部分（有一个词多余） amount solve compare
1. We need to find a way to settle the problem.
2. The quantity of fruits they supplied is enough for the people’s daily use.
（三）根据所给汉语，完成下列句子
1. She was paid (是……的两倍) her workmates for the same job.
2. (与……相比) last year, the production of the crops has increased greatly.
（四） 仿写句子
1. As humans set sights on deep space exploration, the moon becomes a stepping stone, with countries hoping to build lunar bases to support such missions. (as 引导时间状语从句)
仿写: 当我走在回家的路上时，我看到了美丽的日落。

2. To solve the “lunch” problem, scientists have been exploring the possibility of growing plants on the moon. (动词不定式短语作目的状语)
仿写: 为了赶上第一班公交车，哈里没有吃早饭就冲出家门。

二、阅读短文，完成下列各题
（）1. What’s the third paragraph mainly about?
A. The test of five species of bacteria.
B. The ways to make plants become stronger.
C. The simulated lunar soil and the model plants.
D. The researchers’ experiment and their findings.
（）2. 新考法·观点态度 What’s the writer’s attitude towards growing plants in space?
A. Doubtful. B. Worried. C. Uncertain. D. Supportive.
（）3. What’s the best title for the passage?
A. The deep space exploration B. The new study on “space gardens”
C. The achievements of “space farmers” D. The bacteria species in the soil from the Earth
4. 新考法·开放题 What’s your advice on space planting?

一、（一）1. Exploration 2. possibility 3. growth
（二）1. solve 2. amount
（三）1. twice as much as 2. Compared with
（四）1. As I walked home, I saw beautiful sunset.
2. To catch the first bus, Harry rushed out of his home without having breakfast.
二、 答案速查 1.D 2.D 3.B
【主旨大意】科学家们一直在探索在月球上种植植物的可能性。一项来自中国科学家的新研究发现，地球土壤中的细菌可以使模拟月壤中的植物生长得更好，在后续研究中，他们希望能在真实的月壤上开展实验。
1. D【点拨】段落大意题。第三段主要介绍了来自中国农业大学的研究人员在模拟月壤上测试细菌对植物的影响，包括如何进行实验以及他们的研究发现。
2. D【点拨】推理判断题。根据文章中的“So, ‘space planting’ becomes very important.” 和“These ‘space gardens’ not only provide astronauts with food but also more oxygen and water.”可知，“太空种植”变得很重要，这些“太空菜园”不仅为航天员提供食物，而且提供氧气和水。由此推断，作者对太空种植持支持态度。
3. B【点拨】最佳标题题。通读全文可知，本文主要介绍了中国科学家利用地球土壤中的细菌来改进太空种植的新研究。
4. I suggest exploring and discovering new species of life in space, including new species of plants, animals, and even bacteria.（答案合理即可）

【分析】
本题分为词汇运用和阅读理解两部分。词汇部分需依据语境、词性转换、同义词替换及固定搭配完成；阅读理解部分需结合文章段落内容、作者态度及主旨大意分析作答，开放题需围绕主题给出合理建议。解题时先明确各小题考点，再结合文章信息或语法规则推导答案。
【解析】
一、（一）1. 此处需名词作主语，explore的名词形式为Exploration，注意首字母大写。
2. 定冠词the后接名词，possible的名词形式为possibility，意为“可能性”。
3. 形容词significant后接名词，grow的名词形式为growth，意为“增长”。
（二）1. settle意为“解决”，对应方框内的solve。
2. quantity意为“数量”，对应方框内的amount。
（三）1. 表示“是……的两倍”用固定短语twice as much as，修饰不可数名词（此处指报酬）。
2. “与……相比”用固定短语Compared with，作状语。
（四）1. as引导时间状语从句，描述过去动作，主句用一般过去时，仿写为As I walked home, I saw beautiful sunset.
2. 动词不定式短语To catch the first bus作目的状语，主句用一般过去时，仿写为To catch the first bus, Harry rushed out of his home without having breakfast.
二、1. 第三段主要介绍研究人员在模拟月壤上测试细菌的实验过程及发现，对应选项D。
2. 根据文章中“‘space planting’ becomes very important”及“These ‘space gardens’ not only provide astronauts with food but also more oxygen and water”，可知作者对太空种植持支持态度，选D。
3. 全文围绕中国科学家关于太空种植的新研究展开，对应选项B。
4. 开放题需结合太空种植主题给出合理建议，如探索新的太空植物品种等。
【答案】
一、（一）1. Exploration 2. possibility 3. growth
（二）1. solve 2. amount
（三）1. twice as much as 2. Compared with
（四）1. As I walked home, I saw beautiful sunset.
2. To catch the first bus, Harry rushed out of his home without having breakfast.
二、1.D 2.D 3.B
4. I suggest exploring and discovering new species of life in space, including new species of plants, animals, and even bacteria.（答案合理即可）
【知识点】
词性转换、固定短语、阅读理解
【点评】
本题结合科技时文，既考查英语基础词汇、语法的运用，又培养学生的阅读理解能力，引导学生关注科技发展，符合英语学科核心素养要求。
【难度系数】
0.6