Ⅰ.阅读理解
A
(2023·沈阳市郊联体联考)
Earth is far more alive than we previously thought, according to “deep life” studies that reveal a rich ecosystem beneath our feet that is almost twice the size of all the world's oceans.Despite extreme heat, no light and intense pressure, scientists estimate it has between 15 billion and 23 billion tonnes of microorganisms.“It's like finding a whole new reservoir(储藏) of life on Earth，” said Karen Lloyd, an associate professor at the University of Tenesse.
Results suggest 70 percent of Earth's bacteria and archaea exist in the subsurface.One organism found 2.5 kilometers below the surface has been buried for millions of years and may not rely at all on energy from the sun.Also, the methanogen(产甲烷菌) has found a way to create methane in this environment, which it may not use to reproduce or divide, but use to replace or repair broken parts.Lengths of their lives were completely different.Some microorganisms have been alive for thousands of years, barely moving except with shifts in earthquakes or eruptions.They're just active inside, with less energy than people thought possible to support life.
The team consists of 1,200 scientists from 52 countries in disciplines ranging from geology and microbiology to chemistry and physics.A year before the conclusion of their study, they will present the findings before the American Geophysical Union's annual meeting opens this week, which they say are made possible by technical advances on drills and microscopes.
The scientists have been wondering about the point beyond which life cannot exist, but the deeper they dig, the more life they find.There is a temperature maximum—currently 122 ℃， but they believe this record will be broken if they keep exploring and developing more advanced instruments.
Questions remain, including how the microbes interact with chemical processes, and what this might reveal about how life and Earth coevolved.
语篇导读：本文介绍了科学家们进行了“深海生命”研究，在寻找生命的深度极限的过程中，他们发现在地下有一个丰富的生态系统。
1．What do the scientists find about the underground organisms？ D
A．They can't reproduce and divide.
B．They're the oldest living things.
C．Some of them consume no energy.
D．Some of them almost always keep still.
解析：细节理解题。根据第二段中的“Some microorganisms have been alive for thousands of years, barely moving except with shifts in earthquakes or eruptions.”可知，有些微生物已经存活了数千年，除了在地震或火山爆发时出现移动外，几乎不动。因此，一些地下生物几乎总是保持静止状态。故选D。
2．What can we learn about the research from Paragraph 3？ B
A．It lasts for around one year.
B．It involves efforts from multiple fields.
C．It promotes technical development.
D．It is conducted in 52 countries.
解析：推理判断题。根据第三段中的“The team consists of 1,200 scientists from 52 countries in disciplines ranging from geology and microbiology to chemistry and physics.”可知，该团队由来自52个国家的1 200名科学家组成，涉及从地质学、微生物学到化学和物理学等学科。因此，多个领域的科学家们共同参与了这个研究。故选B。
3．Why does the scientists drill deep？ B
A．To break their previous record.
B．To find the depth limit of life.
C．To discover more ancient microorganisms.
D．To detect the highest subsurface temperature.
解析：细节理解题。根据第四段中的“The scientists have been wondering about the point beyond which life cannot exist, but the deeper they dig, the more life they find.”可知，科学家们一直想知道生命存在的极限，但他们挖掘得越深，发现的生命越多。因此，科学家们挖掘得深是在寻找生命的深度极限。故选B。
4．What is the best title for the text？ A
A．Earth's Depths Are Full of Life
B．Organisms Live Better Underground
C．Earth Is Far Beyond Human Exploration
D．Subsurface Life Differs From That on Land
解析：标题归纳题。根据第一段中的“Earth is far more alive than we previously thought... that is almost twice the size of all the world's oceans.”可知，根据“深海生命”研究，地球远比我们之前认为的更有活力。该研究揭示，在我们脚下有一个丰富的生态系统，其规模几乎是世界上所有海洋体积的两倍。因此，地球的深处蕴含着丰富的生命。故选A。
