Europe’sMarsorbiter(人造衞星)hasfoundwatermolecules(分子)vapo...

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Europe’s Mars orbiter (人造衞星) has found water molecules (分子) vapourizing (蒸汽化) from the Red Planet’s south pole, scientists announced today, calling it the most direct evidence yet of water in the form of ice on the Martian surface.

A picture taken by Mars Express, January 15, 2004 from a height of 273 km shows a channel (Reull Vallis) once formed by flowing water east of the Hellas basin on Mars.

The search for water on Mars – which could be a sign of life – has greatly interested scientists for centuries. Mars watchers have long believed that the planet’s poles contain frozen water, but scientific findings in the past – including NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter’s evidence of large amounts of ice – were based more on inferences (推論), European Space Agency scientists said.

While Mars Odyssey has been able to indirectly show the presence of water at the pole using temperature monitors, the European camera has for the first time been able to map the polar cap using infrared technology that shows where water molecules are present, said scientist Jean-Pierre Bibring.

If Mars once had surface water, there were possibility for it to support life, although members of the European project have said that it remains too early to draw conclusions.

NASA’s Mars Odyssey, which has orbited the planet for two years, previously turned up evidence of lots of ice mixed with the soil, as little as 40 centimetres from the surface.

James Garvin, lead scientist for NASA’s Mars exploration program, told the Associated Press today that Mars Express had offered further confirmation of what scientists have long known: “Mars is a water planet.”

At a news conference earlier, he said the Express’s results were “not unexpected.”

“That’s wonderful results, it’s instant science, and I think scientists are going to want some time to think about what that means in the context of what we’re learning.”

As far back as 1940, scientists using telescopes saw vapours they believed indicated the presence of water. But in the 1960s the first Mars mission showed the planet to be frozen, dry and covered with craters (隕石坑) and deep ravines (溝壑).

29. Which of the following statements is TRUE according the the text?

A. Mars Express is also called the Red Planet.

B. Mars Express is a robot which has walked on Mars.

C. Odyssey is an American man-made satellite which orbits Mars.

D. Mars orbiter has found flowing water east of the Hellas basin on Mars.

30. Mars Express _______________.

A. used temperature monitors to detect water  B. used infrared technology to detect water

C. set up cameras on Mars to take pictures    D. used telescopes to detect water

31. James Garvin said the Express’ results were not unexpected because ______________.

A. as far back as 1940 scientists already found water on Mars

B. in the 1960s scientists found in the first Mars mission that Mars was a dry planet

C. it is well known to all that Mars is a water planet

D. scientists had got indirect evidence of the presence of water on Mars long before

32. Which of the following is the best title for this text?

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