挺簡單的一篇。
One reason researchers have long believed that Mars never enjoyed an extensive period of warm and wet climate is that much of the surface not covered by wind-borne dust appear to be composed of unweathered material. If water flowed for an extended period, researchers reasoned, it should have altered and weathered the volcanic minerals, creating clays or other oxidized, hydrated phases (minerals that incorporate water molecules in their crystal structure) .
It turns out, though, that the scientists were not looking closely enough. New high-resolution mapping data and close-up surface studies have revealed clays and other hydrated minerals in many regions. The clay deposits are scattered all over, in ancient volcanic surfaces and heavily cratered highland regions, some of which have apparently been exposed by erosion only recently.
1. According to the passage, scientists are able to discover weathered material on the Martian surface because they have benefited from which of the following?
A. a new method to analyze volcanic craters created on the Martian surface.
B. an improved ability to detect hydrated materials on the Martian surface
C. a more sophisticated understanding of the effect of wind-borne dust on the Martian surface
D. a decision to look for water primarily in heavily cratered highland regions.
E. a better understanding of how erosion might affect clay deposits.
答案：B
Consider each of the choices separately and select all that apply.
2. It can be inferred from the passage that the author would agree with which of the following statements regarding the reasoning discussed in the highlighted sentence?
A. It provides the basis for an explanation of why water on Mars has been difficult to find until recently.
B. It correctly identifies a consequence of water flowing on the Martian surface.
C. It depends on a false assumption about how water and volcanic materials interact on Mars.
答案：B
解析見下。
【第一段】One reason researchers have long believed that Mars never enjoyed an extensive period of warm and wet climate is that much of the surface not covered by wind-borne dust appear to be composed of unweathered material.
第1句：研究人員長期以來一直認為火星從未享受過溫暖溼潤氣候的廣泛時期的原因之一是，大部分未被風力攜帶的塵埃覆蓋的表面似乎都是由未風化的物質組成的。
老觀點：火星從未有過溫暖溼潤氣候的廣泛時期。翻譯成人話——火星上就算有過溫暖溼潤的氣候，持續的時間也很短，從未長期有過這種氣候。也就是，火星上幾乎一直是寒冷乾燥的氣候。注意，這是一種觀點，不一定是事實真相。
為什麼研究人員會有這種看法？理由之一是：【大部分未被風力攜帶的塵埃覆蓋的表面似乎都是由未風化的物質組成的。】
啥意思？【大部分未被風力攜帶的塵埃覆蓋的表面】——就是裸露在外的火星表面。
【大部分未被風力攜帶的塵埃覆蓋的表面似乎都是由未風化的物質組成的】——裸露在外的火星表面似乎並未風化。也就是，裸露在外的火星表面似乎並未經過風吹雨打。
如果【裸露在外的火星表面似乎並未經過風吹雨打】就能說明【火星上幾乎一直是寒冷乾燥的氣候，從未長期有過溫暖溼潤的氣候】的話，那就說明，溫暖溼潤的氣候能夠風化火星表面。所以，未經風化的表面才能說明火星應該沒經歷過長期的溫暖溼潤的氣候。
If water flowed for an extended period, researchers reasoned, it should have altered and weathered the volcanic minerals, creating clays or other oxidized, hydrated phases (minerals that incorporate water molecules in their crystal structure).
第2句：研究人員推斷，如果長時間有水流動，就應該改變和風化火山礦物，產生粘土或其他氧化的水合物相（在水晶結構中包含水分子的礦物質）。
這句話就是在解釋，溫暖溼潤的氣候為什麼能風化火星表面。也就是，如果火星有過長期的溫暖溼潤的氣候，我們應該在火星表面發現什麼證據。按照文章的意思，溫暖溼潤的氣候應該能造成表面有水的流動（比如雨水流動，甚至形成河流）。那就應該發現由水流造成的風化的痕跡，和【粘土或其他氧化的水合物相】。
【第二段】It turns out, though, that the scientists were not looking closely enough.
第1句：但是，事實證明，科學家並沒有觀察得夠仔細。
新證據出現了。
New high-resolution mapping data and close-up surface studies have revealed clays and other hydrated minerals in many regions.
第2句：新的高分辨率測繪資料和近景表面研究揭示了許多地區的粘土和其他含水礦物。
以前沒找到【粘土和其他含水礦物】，所以認為缺乏表面流動水的證據，從而認為火星未經歷過長期溫暖溼潤時期。現在，找到了。
The clay deposits are scattered all over, in ancient volcanic surfaces and heavily cratered highland regions, some of which have apparently been exposed by erosion only recently.
第3句：粘土沉積物被散佈得到處都是；在古老的火山表面和有很多火山坑的高山地區，其中一些粘土沉積物很顯然是最近才被侵蝕給暴露出來的。
【粘土沉積物被散佈得到處都是】——更加說明之前火星表面有水的流動，因為水的流動會把物質衝得到處都是。
【其中一些粘土沉積物很顯然是最近才被侵蝕給暴露出來的】——這些粘土沉積物是在過去被創造出的，被埋於地下，最近才暴露出來。也許能說明，過去，歷史上，火星有過溫暖溼潤，表面有水流動的時期。
總結：早期觀點是火星沒有過長期的溫暖溼潤的時期，證據是沒有（流水造成的）風化痕跡。新證據說明，可能有流水，因為其實有風化痕跡/粘土等物質的，只是以前技術不行，沒看見。潛臺詞：老觀點有問題。
1. According to the passage, scientists are able to discover weathered material on the Martian surface because they have benefited from which of the following?
根據這篇文章，科學家之所以能夠發現火星表面的風化物質，是因為他們從以下哪一方面受益？
根據文章第2句：New high-resolution mapping data and close-up surface studies have revealed clays and other hydrated minerals in many regions.新的高分辨率測繪資料和近景表面研究揭示了許多地區的粘土和其他含水礦物。
顯然是新的技術（高分辨率）幫了忙；另外，close-up近景，其實就是特寫的意思。這說明以前可能沒有拍特寫照片的能力，拍不了那麼近的。現在技術進步了，能拍了。
所以，選B。
B. an improved ability to detect hydrated materials on the Martian surface
B.提高的檢測火星表面水合物的能力
技術更強了，當然檢測能力就提高啦。
看錯誤選項。
A. a new method to analyze volcanic craters created on the Martian surface.
A.一種分析火星表面上形成的火山口的新方法。
沒說有新的分析方法啊。
C. a more sophisticated understanding of the effect of wind-borne dust on the Martian surface
C.對火星表麵灰塵的影響有更深入的瞭解
沒說有什麼更深入的瞭解。
D. a decision to look for water primarily in heavily cratered highland regions
D.一個主要在有很多火山坑的高山地區尋找水的決定
並不是尋找的地方發生了改變使得人們找到了水，而是技術進步使得人們找到了水。
E. a better understanding of how erosion might affect clay deposits
E.對侵蝕會如何影響粘土沉積物的更好的理解
人們對於【侵蝕會如何影響粘土沉積物】的理解並沒有改變過。
第二題解析略。需要解析請留言。
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