“Venus（金星）” 是运行轨道距离地球最近的行星，与地球同属岩石行星。不过，由于离太阳更近，金星的地表环境和地球大不相同。然而，一些新研究表明，在金星极端的地表环境下可能隐藏着生命的摇篮。本文带你了解关于金星的最新研究成果及其揭示的新信息。

词汇：space exploration 太空探索

1  For years, astronomers have hypothesised about life beyond Earth, especially on the closest planet to Earth – Venus. Venus is often named the Earth's 'evil twin' because of its extremely hot temperature and greenhouse effect, which make it toxic and inhospitable. It is also similar in size, mass and rocky composition.

2  Though no organic molecules have been discovered on Venus, new findings from the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument on board NASA's Magellan spacecraft shows caves lurking beneath the surface. Researchers from Nature Communications add that these could offer us new ideas about the evolution of Venus – about how it might have possibly supported life in the past or could again in the future.

3  The caves suggest that lava tubes, otherwise known as pyroducts, could be prevalent. The search for pyroducts was challenging at first because the planet is shrouded in thick clouds of sulphur and carbon dioxide that not only contribute to the immense temperature but also block any view of the surface. However, the recent radar images suggest that a big pyroduct lies near Nyx Mons, a large volcano in the highlands of Venus's Bell Regio region.

4  In a 2026 study called 'Radar-based observation of a lava tube on Venus', it can be understood that, in the field of geoscience, volcanoes play an important role in the evolution of a planet. If we think about Earth billions of years ago, volcanoes released gases that helped form our oceans and our atmosphere. Volcanoes keep Earth warm, wet and habitable. So, we have evidence that there are many active volcanoes on Venus, but will we ever be able to live there?

5  Well, we would require an abundance of water, which is greatly lacking on Venus. But data gathered by the Venus Express orbiter, launched in 2005 by The European Space Agency, could hint toward the planet once having oceans. And though the clouds on Venus rain sulphuric acid, they could still support an exotic biochemistry that thrives in such conditions. There's also plenty of sunlight to serve as a power source for life.

测验与练习

一、为本文选择总结句。

a. Evidence tells us there is life on Venus.
b. There's evidence life may have been possible on Venus.
c. We will all move to Venus in the future.

二、根据文章内容选出正确的选项。

1. Which is not a reason for why we call Venus Earth's 'twin'?
a. They are made of rock.
b. They are similar in size.
c. They both have toxic atmospheres.

2. Proof of life has recently been discovered in Venus's caves.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

3. It's difficult to observe Venus's surface because the view is blocked by…
a. its clouds.
b. its highlands.
c. the Sun.

4. Which is not a reason for why volcanoes helped the evolution of Earth?
a. Volcanoes decreased the temperature so that life could grow.
b. Volcanoes helped form our oceans.
c. Volcanoes released the gases that make our atmosphere.

5. We don't need lots of water to survive.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

三、用下列单词完成对本文的总结。

So far, scientists have not discovered anything that is 1) _______ on Venus. It's no surprise as the planet is completely 2) _______. This is because of the 3) _______ heat, toxic gases and sulphuric rain. However, 4) _______ studies have revealed volcanic activity that could suggest, not only an evolution of the plane, but a specific 5) _______ that lives there.

biochemistry
geoscience
habitable
hint
inhospitable
immense
organic

（答案见词汇表后）

词汇表

hypothesise 假设，假定
greenhouse effect 温室效应
inhospitable 无法居住的，条件恶劣的
composition 组成，构成
organic 有机的
molecule 分子
radar 雷达
lurk 潜藏
prevalent 普遍存在的
shroud 笼罩，掩盖
immense 极高的
highland 高原
geoscience 地球科学
habitable 可居住的
an abundance of 大量的
lacking 缺乏的，不足的
hint 展现出…的迹象，暗示
exotic 奇特的
biochemistry 生物化学
thrive 茁壮成长

答案

一、为本文选择总结句。

b. There's evidence life may have been possible on Venus.

二、根据文章内容选出正确的选项。

1. c. It is also similar in size, mass and rocky composition.

2. b. False. Though no organic molecules have been discovered on Venus, new findings of caves lurking beneath the surface could offer us new ideas about the evolution of Venus.

3. a. The search for pyroducts was challenging at first because the planet is shrouded in thick clouds of sulphur and carbon dioxide…

4. a. If we think about Earth billions of years ago, volcanoes released gases that helped form our oceans and our atmosphere.

5. b. False. Well, we would require an abundance of water which that is greatly lacking on Venus.

三、用下列单词完成对本文的总结。

So far, scientists have not discovered anything that is organic on Venus. It's no surprise as the planet is completely inhospitable. This is because of the immense heat, toxic gases and sulphuric rain. However, geoscience studies have revealed volcanic activity that could suggest, not only an evolution of the plane, but a specific biochemistry that lives there.