一张以前所未有的精度绘制出的新地图呈现了南极洲冰层下地貌前所未见的细节。科学家认为这张地图能极大地增进我们对这片白色冰封大陆的认识。

Thanks to data collected by satellites, scientists have a good understanding of Antarctica's icy surface, but what lies beneath has remained more of a mystery. In fact, more is known about the surface of some planets in our solar system than much of what's under the continent's ice.

得益于人造卫星采集到的数据，科学家们对南极洲的冰层表面有良好的认识，但潜藏其下的部分则一直更像是一个谜题。实际上，人类对我们太阳系中一些行星表面的了解甚至超过了对这片大陆冰下世界的认识。

Now, researchers have used a new approach to create what they believe to be the most detailed map of the landscape yet. The ridges, mountains, and channels shape how fast the glaciers above move, and understanding the topography could help scientists work out how quickly the ice might retreat in a warming climate.

现在，研究人员采用了一种新方法，绘制出了他们认为迄今为止最详尽的描绘这片景观的地形图。冰下的山脊、山脉和沟槽决定了上方冰川移动的速度，了解这些地形细节能帮助科学家计算出冰层随着不断变暖的气候可能会以多快的速度消退。

The scientists say more research is needed to give greater confidence in their findings, but they hope the new map will ultimately improve understanding of the potential impact on sea levels from Antarctica's melting ice.

科学家们表示，他们需要展开更多研究以提高这些发现的可信度，但他们希望这幅新地图最终能提升人类对南极冰层融化对海平面潜在影响的认识。

词汇表

satellites 人造卫星
solar system 太阳系
ridges 山脊
channels 沟槽
shape 决定，影响
topography 地形，地貌
retreat 消退，缩小
potential 潜在的

听力练习

一、听第一遍音频，回答问题。

1. The new approach allows researchers to…
a. collect data about satellites in the solar system.
b. see what is beneath Antarctica to create a map. 
c. stop the glaciers melting in Antarctica.

二、用一分钟阅读下列问题，然后听第二遍音频并回答问题。

1. We know more about the surface of other planets than we know about what is beneath the surface of Antarctica.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

2. What moves above on Antarctica's surface?
a. channels
b. glaciers
c. mountains

3. Understanding topography could help scientists understand... 
a. how fast the ice is melting.
b. how much of the ice is melting. 
c. how much hotter the climate is getting. 

4. Scientists hope the new map will help them predict how much ice will melt in the future. 
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

三、听第三遍音频，将句子补充完整。（提示：可以反复听，直到听清楚每一个词）

1. Thanks to data collected by satellites, scientists have a good understanding of ________________, but what lies beneath has remained more of a mystery.

2. The scientists say more research is needed to ________________ confidence in their findings…

答案

一、听第一遍音频，回答问题。

1. b. Now, researchers have used a new approach to create what they believe to be the most detailed map of the landscape.

二、用一分钟阅读下列问题，然后听第二遍音频并回答问题。

1. a. True. In fact, more is known about the surface of some planets in our solar system than much of what's under the continent's ice. 

2. b. Yet the ridges, mountains, and channels shape how fast the glaciers above move.

3. a. … understanding the topography could help scientists work out how quickly the ice might retreat in a warming climate.

4. c. Not given. Scientists hope that they will be able to understanding the impacts of melting ice better, but not necessarily how much ice will melt.

三、听第三遍音频，将句子补充完整。（提示：可以反复听，直到听清楚每一个词）

1. Thanks to data collected by satellites, scientists have a good understanding of Antarctica's icy surface, but what lies beneath has remained more of a mystery.

2. The scientists say more research is needed to give greater confidence in their findings…