gre阅读200篇讲解（GRE阅读解析Passage20长文章详细解析）

长文章里很简单的一篇。

但是：如果短文章没练到轻松读懂轻松做对的程度，不要急着看长文章，意义不大。

In 1995 the Galileo spacecraft captured data about Jupiters atmosphere—namely, the absence of most of the predicted atmospheric water—that challenged prevailing theories about Jupiters structure. The unexpectedness of this finding fits a larger pattern in which theories about planetary composition and dynamics have failed to predict the realities discovered through space exploration. Instead of normal planets whose composition could be predicted by theory, the planets populating our solar system are unique individuals whose chemical and tectonic identities were created through numerous contingent events. One implication of this is that although the universe undoubtedly holds other planetary systems, the duplication of the sequence that produced our solar system and the development of life on Earth is highly unlikely.

Recently planetary scientists have suggested that the external preconditions for the development of Earth’s biosphere probably included four paramount contingencies. First, a climate conducive to life on Earth depends upon the extraordinarily narrow orbital parameters that define a continuously habitable zone where water can exist in a liquid state. If Earths orbit were only 5 percent smaller than it is, temperatures during the early stages of Earths history would have been high enough to vaporize the oceans. If the Earth-Sun distance were as little as 1 percent larger, runaway glaciation on Earth about 2 billion years ago would have caused the oceans to freeze and remain frozen to this day. Second, Jupiter’s enormous mass prevents most Sun-bound comets from penetrating the inner solar system. It has been estimated that without this shield, Earth would have experienced bombardment by comet-sized impactors a thousand times more frequently than has actually been recorded during geological time. Even if Earth‘s surface were not actually sterilized by this bombardment, it is unlikely that any but the most primitive life-forms could have survived. This suggests that only planetary systems containing both terrestrial planets like Earth and gas giants like Jupiter might be capable of sustaining complex life-forms.

Third, the gravitational shield of the giant outer planets, while highly efficient, must occasionally fail to protect Earth. Paradoxically, while the temperatures required for liquid water exist only in the inner solar system, the key building blocks of life, including water itself, occur primarily beyond the asteroid belt. Thus the evolution of life has depended on a frequency of cometary impacts sufficient to convey water, as well as carbon and nitrogen, from these distant regions of the solar system to Earth while stopping short of an impact magnitude that would destroy the atmosphere and oceans.

Finally, Earth’s unique and massive satellite, the Moon, plays a crucial role in stabilizing the obliquity of Earth’s rotational axis, this obliquity creates the terrestrial seasonality so important to the evolution and diversity of life. Mars, in contrast, has a wildly oscillating tilt and chaotic seasonality, while Venus, rotating slowly backward, has virtually no seasonality at all.

1. The passage is primarily concerned with

A. enumerating conditions that may have been necessary for a particular development

B. outlining the conditions under which scientists may be able to predict certain events

C. explaining how a particular finding affected scientists understanding of a phenomenon

D. suggesting reasons why a particular outcome was more likely to occur than other possible outcomes

E. assessing the relative significance of factors that contributed to a particular occurrence

答案：A

2. It can be inferred from the passage that the planetary scientists would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements concerning the development of complex life forms on Earth?

A. It might have occurred earlier in Earths history if cometary impacts had been less frequent than they were.

B. It could have occurred if Earths orbit were 1 percent larger than it is but not if Earths orbit were 5 percent smaller

C. It probably follows a pattern common on other terrestrial planets that occupy planetary systems containing gas giants.

D. Its dependence on the effect that Jupiters gravitational shield has on Earth was difficult to recognize prior to 1995.

E. It has been contingent on conditions elsewhere in Earths solar system as well as on conditions on Earth itself.

答案：E

3. The author of the passage most likely mentions Mars oscillating tilt primarily in order to

A. provide evidence for a proposition about the potential effects of cometary impacts

B. emphasize the absence from our solar system of normal planets

C. contrast the rotational axis of Mars with that of Venus

D. characterize the role of other planets in the solar system in earths development

E. emphasize the importance of the Moon to the development of life on Earth

答案：E

4. The passage suggests each of the following about water on Earth EXCEPT:

A. It was conveyed to Earth by comets.

B. It appeared on Earth earlier than did carbon and nitrogen.

C. Its existence in a liquid state is contingent on Earths orbital parameters.

D. Much of it came from a part of the solar system where water cannot exist in a liquid state.

E. It is unlikely that there would be much of it available to support life if the gravitational shield of the outer planets did not limit the frequency with which comets strike Earth.

答案：B

解析见下。

【第一段】In 1995 the Galileo spacecraft captured data about Jupiters atmosphere—namely, the absence of most of the predicted atmospheric water—that challenged prevailing theories about Jupiters structure.

第1句：1995年，伽利略号航天器捕获了关于木星大气层的数据——也就是说，没有（此前）预测的大部分大气水——这些数据挑战了关于木星结构的主流理论。

可以看出，以前人们关于木星结构想出了一些主流理论。根据这些理论，人们预测木星大气层应该有不少大气水。但是真的派伽利略号航天器上去抓数据，却发现只有很少一点水，和之前的预测不符，也就说明人们之前关于木星结构的主流理论很可能有问题。

The unexpectedness of this finding fits a larger pattern in which theories about planetary composition and dynamics have failed to predict the realities discovered through space exploration.

第2句：这一发现的出乎意料恰能与一个（比现有的模型）更大的模型相匹配，在其（指更大的模型）中（已有的）关于行星构成和动力学的理论未能预测到通过空间探索发现的现实。

这句话包含很多信息。

人们在空间探索之前，就已有关于行星构成和动力学的理论。

空间探索探明了一些关于行星的事实，而这些事实和行星构成和动力学的理论所做的推测是不符的。也就是说，这些老的理论有问题。

但是，虽然现在发现的事实不能和旧有理论匹配，却能够和更大的一个模型匹配。

显然，文章接下来要讲这个更大的模型是什么啦。

Instead of normal planets whose composition could be predicted by theory, the planets populating our solar system are unique individuals whose chemical and tectonic identities were created through numerous contingent events.

第3句：我们太阳系中的行星不是通过理论就能预测其组成的普通行星，而是通过大量偶然事件创造出其化学和构造特征的独特个体。

文章终于具体了一点。旧有的理论显然是一些解释行星如何形成的理论。但是，我们太阳系的行星不符合这些理论，而是在一系列的随机事件中偶然产生的。这也是为什么太空探索获得的数据与旧理论的预测不符。因此，我们太阳系的行星不符合旧理论预测的模型，而符合更大的，包容性更强的模型。

One implication of this is that although the universe undoubtedly holds other planetary systems, the duplication of the sequence that produced our solar system and the development of life on Earth is highly unlikely.

第4句：这（发现）的一个可能的影响是，虽然宇宙无疑拥有其他的行星系统，但是复制（导致）我们的太阳系的产生与地球上生命的出现的（事件发生的）序列是不太可能的。

如果太阳系的行星是一系列偶然事件造成的，那就意味着宇宙中不太可能有一个和太阳系类似的星系，所以像太阳系一样产生生命也就不太可能了。因为不太可能那么多偶然事件又一个不差地按顺序发生了一次。

注意，从这里开始，作者叙述的重点变了～不再说行星构造啦，太空探索的证据啦，而是把重点挪到了生命的产生。作者想告诉我们，我们太阳系产生生命是一串偶然的巧合，所以生命在宇宙另一个地方产生是非常不可能的。出现生命是很困难的。

接下来，文章要讲，出现生命为啥困难，也就是需要满足哪些苛刻条件。

【第二段】Recently planetary scientists have suggested that the external preconditions for the development of Earth’s biosphere probably included four paramount contingencies.

第1句：最近，地球科学家们认为，地球生物圈发展的外部前提可能包括四个最重要的偶然事件。

地球上要产生生命，需要满足四个苛刻的外在条件。同理，别的行星要想产生生命，也得满足这四个。所以产生生命很不可能。

First, a climate conducive to life on Earth depends upon the extraordinarily narrow orbital parameters that define a continuously habitable zone where water can exist in a liquid state.

第2句：首先，有利于地球上生命的气候取决于非常狭窄的轨道参数，这些参数决定了水可以以液态存在的一个连续的适宜居住的地区。

这句话的潜台词是，首先，有生命就必须要有液态水。要有液态水，就意味着气候必须适宜，不然水要么就结冰了要么就气化了，不是液态了。要温度适宜，就意味着该行星距离其恒星的距离要处在某一个范围之内，也就是该行星绕恒星公转的轨道的参数有个范围。出了范围，就维持不了合适气候温度，就没有液态水，就产生不了生命。

If Earths orbit were only 5 percent smaller than it is, temperatures during the early stages of Earths history would have been high enough to vaporize the oceans.

第3句：如果地球轨道只比它现有的小5％，地球历史早期的温度就足以蒸发海洋。

地球的轨道的参数太巧妙了。稍微小5%，就没有液态水，就不可能产生生命了。

If the Earth-Sun distance were as little as 1 percent larger, runaway glaciation on Earth about 2 billion years ago would have caused the oceans to freeze and remain frozen to this day.

第4句：如果地球与太阳之间的距离仅仅大1％，那么大约20亿年前地球上的失控冰川将导致海洋冻结并保持冻结状态到如今。

地球距太阳的距离，也就是地球公转的轨道稍微大1%也不行，那就冻上了，也没有液态水，也就不能产生生命了。

地球的轨道恰好就是那么大，刚好可以产生生命，稍微大一点小一点都不行。第一个条件已经很难满足了。

Second, Jupiter’s enormous mass prevents most Sun-bound comets from penetrating the inner solar system.

第5句：其次，木星的巨大体量阻止了大多数太阳彗星（可能指向日彗星）穿透太阳系内部。

这句话的潜台词是，正常情况下太阳系会有很多向日彗星，也就是很多小星星会飞进太阳系。如果有很多这样的彗星砸到地球，恐怕就产生不了生命了。幸亏正好有个大个子木星在前面挡着，挡住了很多这样的彗星。

It has been estimated that without this shield, Earth would have experienced bombardment by comet-sized impactors a thousand times more frequently than has actually been recorded during geological time.

第6句：据估计，如果没有这个盾牌，地球就会经历彗星大小的撞击物的轰炸，比地质时期实际记录的要多千倍。

要是没有木星那个大个子挡着，气球就会被多轰炸一千倍。被彗星撞击很可怕，因为不仅仅是撞击就完事，而是会发生爆炸，冲击波，大火……大灾难，所以叫做bombardment，轰炸。

Even if Earth‘s surface were not actually sterilized by this bombardment, it is unlikely that any but the most primitive life-forms could have survived.

第7句：即使地球表面没有被这种轰炸真的灭绝生命，除了最原始的生命形式之外，别的东西也非常不可能存活下来。

轰炸有多可怕呢？就算轰炸本身没把地球上的生命全部炸死烧死，在这种老是轰炸的环境里，最多也只可能存活下来最原始的生命形式（比如一个最最最原始的细胞）。不可能发展出那么繁荣的生物圈，出现各种各样的生物。

This suggests that only planetary systems containing both terrestrial planets like Earth and gas giants like Jupiter might be capable of sustaining complex life-forms.

第8句：这表明只有包含地球这样的陆地性行星与木星这样的巨型气体行星的行星系统，才能够维持复杂的生命形式。

所以，一个星系，必须得又有地球这种陆地性的行星，同时还有个巨大的气体行星当掩护，才可能保住复杂的生命形式。

【第三段】Third, the gravitational shield of the giant outer planets, while highly efficient, must occasionally fail to protect Earth.

第1句：第三，巨大的外行星的引力屏障虽然高效，但必须偶尔不能保护地球。

还有条件。第三个条件，外面的大个子当掩护要在大多数时候很高效，挡住大多数彗星冲击。但是又不能太高效了，不能把全部冲击都挡住。必须偶尔失败一回，漏过个别彗星。

为啥？下一句。

Paradoxically, while the temperatures required for liquid water exist only in the inner solar system, the key building blocks of life, including water itself, occur primarily beyond the asteroid belt.

第2句：矛盾的是，虽然液态水所需的温度只存在于太阳系内圈the inner solar system，但包括水本身在内的生命的关键构件主要发生在小行星带之外。

注意，文章把【太阳系内圈the inner solar system】和【小行星带之外】对立着写了，说明【太阳系内圈the inner solar system】就等于【小行星带】，出了小行星带，温度就低得没有液态水了。

因为生命产生需要液态水，液态水需要两个条件：水元素 适宜的温度。虽然【太阳系内圈the inner solar system】有适宜的温度（地球温度适宜），但是【太阳系内圈the inner solar system】竟然没有水。不止没有水，还缺乏别的构成生命的关键元素。

根据这句话的意思，构成生命的关键元素中的大部分，【太阳系内圈the inner solar system】或者说小行星带内都没有。都必须来自小行星带之外。

那就只能靠彗星撞击带来这些元素了……

Thus the evolution of life has depended on a frequency of cometary impacts sufficient to convey water, as well as carbon and nitrogen, from these distant regions of the solar system to Earth while stopping short of an impact magnitude that would destroy the atmosphere and oceans.

第3句：因此，生命的演变取决于彗星影响的频率足以将太阳系遥远地区的水以及碳和氮输送到地球，同时停留在能够造成破坏大气和海洋的影响量级之外。

所以彗星撞击的频率也要非常巧妙。不能太多，不然撞击太频繁太严重，会破坏大气层和海洋，就不能产生/维持生命了。又不能太少，太少了就不能带来构成生命的必备元素：水，碳，氮。

注意，跟上一句结合，能让我们发现，地球估计是属于小行星带之内的。小行星带应该是相对太阳比较近的。相对太阳比较远的，就算是“太阳系遥远地区”了。

【第四段】Finally, Earth’s unique and massive satellite, the Moon, plays a crucial role in stabilizing the obliquity of Earth’s rotational axis, this obliquity creates the terrestrial seasonality so important to the evolution and diversity of life.

第1句：最后，地球的独特且巨大的卫星——月球，在稳定地球旋转轴倾角方面起着至关重要的作用，这种倾角创造了对于生命演化和多样性如此重要的地球的季节性。

还有条件四！必须有个像月球这么给力的卫星才行。这个卫星的质量要足够大，这样才有足够的万有引力能够把它的行星——也就是地球——的旋转轴稳定地拉歪一个合适的角度。也就是让地球的旋转轴一直保持着这个倾角。有了这个倾角，才有了四季。有了四季，地球生物才有这么大的物种多样性，才会产生物种的进化。

Mars, in contrast, has a wildly oscillating tilt and chaotic seasonality, while Venus, rotating slowly backward, has virtually no seasonality at all.

第2句：相比之下，火星有一个狂野地震荡的倾角和混乱的季节，而金星慢慢向后转动，几乎没有季节。

没有给力卫星的其他太阳系行星就不行了。火星的倾角不是稳定的，而是狂野混乱的，来回震荡，导致它的季节也是混乱的。那生物就很难产生，产生了也很难分化成不同物种。金星就没有季节，一潭死水，没有变化。

可以总结了：作者觉得出现生命非常困难，因为要满足这么多苛刻条件。

1. The passage is primarily concerned with

这篇文章主要关心的是

A. enumerating conditions that may have been necessary for a particular development

A.列举某一特定发展可能需要的条件

这文章不就是在介绍出现生命要满足的各个条件么？A对。

B. outlining the conditions under which scientists may be able to predict certain events

B.概述令科学家可以预测某些事件的条件

文章叙述的是出现生命要满足的各个条件，没有说要去预测什么事件。B错。

C. explaining how a particular finding affected scientists understanding of a phenomenon

C.解释一个特定的发现如何影响科学家对现象的理解

文章开头讲了一点点这个，但是后面再没说了，去讲别的了。C错。

D. suggesting reasons why a particular outcome was more likely to occur than other possible outcomes

D.提出为什么一个特定的结果比其他可能的结果更可能发生的原因

D可能指的是“为什么产生不了生命”比“为什么能产生生命”更容易发生的原因。但是仍然不对。因为作者的目的不是去讲“原因”，而是去讲“为什么能产生生命”的条件。D错。

E. assessing the relative significance of factors that contributed to a particular occurrence

E.评估促成特定事件的因素的相对重要性

也就是“为什么能产生生命”的各个条件。但是作者没评估、比较各个条件的相对重要性呀。没说哪个最重要哪个最不重要。E错。

2. It can be inferred from the passage that the planetary scientists would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements concerning the development of complex life forms on Earth?

从这篇文章中可以推断，行星科学家最可能同意以下关于地球上复杂生命形式发展的论述？

A. It might have occurred earlier in Earths history if cometary impacts had been less frequent than they were.

A.它可能发生在地球历史上的早期，如果彗星的影响不如以前那么频繁。

胡扯，如果如果彗星的影响不如以前那么频繁，那就没有足够构成生命的元素了，那就连原始生命都产生不了，还想有复杂生命？A错。

B. It could have occurred if Earths orbit were 1 percent larger than it is but not if Earths orbit were 5 percent smaller

B.如果地球轨道比现在大1％，可能会发生，但是如果地球轨道小5％，就不会发生

胡扯。大1%，小5%，都不会发生。B错。

C. It probably follows a pattern common on other terrestrial planets that occupy planetary systems containing gas giants.

C.它可能遵循其他陆地性行星上常见的模式，占据含有气体性巨星的行星系统。

？？？除了地球，还有哪个行星有生命？我们都不知道还有哪个行星有生命，怎么可能存在一个“其他陆地性行星上常见的（生命）模式“？C错。

D. Its dependence on the effect that Jupiters gravitational shield has on Earth was difficult to recognize prior to 1995.

D.它对于木星引力盾在地球上的影响的依赖性在1995年之前难以（被）识别。

1995年的研究在第一段第一句，是关于木星大气层有没有水的，和木星的保护作用没关系啊。D错。

E. It has been contingent on conditions elsewhere in Earths solar system as well as on conditions on Earth itself.

E.它取决于地球太阳系（相对地球来说）其他地方的条件以及地球本身的条件。

地球的轨道参数，是地球本身的条件。地球外面有没有一个大个子行星当盾牌，这是地球太阳系（相对地球来说）其他地方的条件。生命产生需要的四个条件，都属于这两个类别。E对。

3. The author of the passage most likely mentions Mars oscillating tilt primarily in order to

这篇文章的作者提到火星的摆动倾斜，最可能主要是为了

A. provide evidence for a proposition about the potential effects of cometary impacts

A.为一个关于彗星的潜在影响的假设提供证据

跟彗星没关系，讨论的是卫星的作用。A错。

B. emphasize the absence from our solar system of normal planets

B.强调我们的太阳系没有正常的行星

什么鬼，强调的是太阳系的其他行星没有月球这么给力的卫星。B错。

C. contrast the rotational axis of Mars with that of Venus

C.对比火星的旋转轴和金星的旋转轴

不是为了对比它们两个倒霉鬼，是为了把它们和地球的旋转轴对比，突出地球的幸运。C错。

D. characterize the role of other planets in the solar system in earths development

D.描绘太阳系中其他行星在地球发展中的作用

什么鬼。不是为了说其他行星对地球多有帮助，是为了对比出地球多幸运，其他行星就没地球这么幸运，有月球这么给力的卫星了。D错。

E. emphasize the importance of the Moon to the development of life on Earth

E.强调月球对地球上生命发展的重要性

不就是作者意思么。没有月球这样的卫星，可能也没有物种进化、物种多样性了。E对。

4. The passage suggests each of the following about water on Earth EXCEPT:

这段话提出了关于地球上水的以下各项，除了：

注意这是个选【错误选项】的题。四个对的，一个错的，把错的选出来。

A. It was conveyed to Earth by comets.

A.它被彗星传送到地球。

对的吧？不选。

B. It appeared on Earth earlier than did carbon and nitrogen.

B.它早于碳和氮出现在地球上。

文章没比过这三个元素哪个先来。错了。就选B。

C. Its existence in a liquid state is contingent on Earths orbital parameters.

C.它以液态存在取决于地球轨道参数。

文章讲了吧？因为参数决定了气候，所以水能以液态存在。对的，不选。

D. Much of it came from a part of the solar system where water cannot exist in a liquid state.

D.其中大部分来自太阳系的一部分，水不能以液态存在。

对的吧？地球没那么多水，地球所在的小行星带都没那么多水，水主要是彗星从太阳系的遥远地方运过来的。既然是遥远地方，其轨道条件肯定和地球不一样，那那些地方的水就不是液态的。对的，不选。

E. It is unlikely that there would be much of it available to support life if the gravitational shield of the outer planets did not limit the frequency with which comets strike Earth.

E.如果外行星的引力屏障不限制彗星撞击地球的频率，那么不太可能存在足够量的能够支持生命的它（水）。

这个选项比较难。如果彗星轰炸太多，为什么会缺水？因为文章第三段第3句“因此，生命的演变取决于彗星影响的频率足以将太阳系遥远地区的水以及碳和氮输送

到地球，同时停留在能够造成破坏大气和海洋的影响量级之外”。这句话能看出，太多的彗星轰炸会破坏掉海洋和大气。为什么会破坏掉海洋？因为轰炸会带来高温，冲击波，大火，火山爆发，地球陷入一片火海，温度巨高，导致海洋的液态水很难保留，八成都得气化消失。所以，如果海洋都被破坏（气化）了，那地球就没有足够孕育生命的液态水了。毕竟我们都知道，地球生命是起源于海洋的。E对的，不选。

,