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8月17日

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Europa: A Mysterious Moon of Jupiter

Jupiter has more than ninety known satellites, but one of the most fascinating is Europa. Slightly smaller than Earth's Moon, Europa has attracted the attention of scientists because its icy surface may conceal a vast ocean of liquid water beneath it. Although the surface temperature is far below freezing, gravitational forces produced by Jupiter continually stretch and compress Europa. This process, known as tidal heating, generates enough internal energy to prevent the underground ocean from freezing completely.

Evidence for this hidden ocean comes from several observations. Spacecraft have photographed long cracks crossing Europa's icy crust, suggesting that the surface has shifted over time. Scientists have also detected minerals and salts that may have originated from water beneath the ice. Some observations even indicate that water vapor occasionally erupts into space through narrow openings in the surface.

Because liquid water is considered one of the essential ingredients for life, Europa has become one of the most promising places in the Solar System for future exploration. Although no direct evidence of living organisms has yet been discovered, researchers hope that future missions will drill through the ice or analyze material ejected from beneath the surface. Such investigations could help answer one of humanity's oldest questions: whether life exists beyond Earth.

Questions

1. What is the main idea of the passage?

A. Europa is one of Jupiter's moons that may contain conditions suitable for life.

B. Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System.

C. Scientists have already discovered life beneath Europa's ice.

D. Europa has the warmest surface among Jupiter's satellites.

2. The word "conceal" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to

A. create

B. hide

C. measure

D. destroy

3. According to the passage, what prevents Europa's underground ocean from freezing completely?

A. Heat from the Sun

B. Volcanic eruptions

C. Tidal heating caused by Jupiter's gravity

D. Warm winds beneath the ice

4. Why does the author mention "long cracks crossing Europa's icy crust"?

A. To explain how astronauts landed on Europa

B. To provide evidence supporting the existence of an underground ocean

C. To compare Europa with Earth's Moon

D. To show that Europa has many mountains

5. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. Scientists believe Europa is the only moon with water.

B. Future missions may provide stronger evidence about the possibility of life on Europa.

C. Europa's surface temperature is suitable for human settlement.

D. Spacecraft have already drilled through Europa's ice.

進階單字片語

單字 / 片語	詞性	字意	英文例句
Europa	n.	木衛二；歐羅巴	Europa is one of Jupiter’s largest moons and may contain a vast ocean beneath its icy surface.
conceal	v.	隱藏；遮蔽	A thick layer of ice may conceal a large ocean beneath Europa’s surface.
gravitational force	n. phr.	引力；萬有引力	Jupiter’s powerful gravitational force strongly affects Europa.
tidal heating	n. phr.	潮汐加熱	Tidal heating may prevent Europa’s underground ocean from freezing completely.
generate	v.	產生；生成	The movement inside the moon can generate a considerable amount of heat.
vapor	n.	蒸氣；水汽	Scientists have detected signs of water vapor above Europa’s surface.
ingredient	n.	成分；要素；必要條件	Liquid water is considered an essential ingredient for life.
promising	adj.	有希望的；前景看好的	Europa is regarded as one of the most promising places to search for extraterrestrial life.
crust	n.	地殼；外殼	Europa has a thick icy crust covering its possible subsurface ocean.