• ESCOLA PREPARATÓRIA DE CADETES DO AR
- 16 MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) / 4 Options Each Question.
- Texto – | The search for life beyond Earth | www.science.org.au |
❑ TEXTO: Read the text below and answer questions 01 to 16 according to the text.
The search for life beyond Earth
We have always been fascinated by the thought of alien life elsewhere in the universe. The idea has provided the basis for a huge wealth of science fiction stories that have been limited only by our imaginations. But can other creatures exist in the vast reaches of space or on other planets or moons? And are there other intelligent forms of life out there—or are we more likely to find something much simpler?
Where are all the aliens?
Our Sun is just one star among billions in our galaxy. In the last few years, scientists have detected thousands of planets around other stars and it seems that most stars have planetary systems. It’s therefore likely that there will be large numbers of habitable planets in the Milky Way galaxy and beyond that are capable of supporting intelligent life. Some of these intelligent civilisations, if they’re out there, may have even developed interstellar travel.
Are there other intelligent forms of life out there — or are we more likely to find something much simpler?
But Earth hasn’t been visited by any intelligent aliens (yet?). This apparent high probability of life, combined with a lack of evidence for its existence, is called the Fermi Paradox, named for the physicist Enrico Fermi who first outlined1 the argument back in 1950. This begs the question: where is everybody?
Back in 1961, astronomer Francis Drake tried to rationalise this question by developing an equation that takes into account2 all the factors relevant to finding alien civilisations and gives an estimate of the number of civilisations out there in the galaxy that should be able to communicate with us. It considers factors such as the rate3 of new star formation, how many planets around those new and existing stars might be able to support life, the number of planets supporting intelligent life, how many of those civilisations might have technology we can detect, whether they’re likely to communicate with us here on Earth, and so on.
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence
Scientists and radio astronomers have started the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) in a systematic manner. Several international organisations, including the SETI Institute and the SETI League, are using radio telescopes to detect signals that might have been produced by intelligent life.
In 1995, the SETI Institute started Project Phoenix, which used three of the most powerful radio telescopes in the world: the Green Bank radio telescope in West Virginia, USA; the Arecibo telescope in Puerto Rico; and the Parkes radio telescope in NSW, Australia. During its initial phase, Project Phoenix used the Parkes telescope to search for signals coming from 202 Sun-like stars as distant as 155 light years away. By the end of its operations, Project Phoenix had scanned a total of 800 ‘nearby’4 (up to 240 light years away) stars for signs of life. The project detected some cosmic noises, but none of that could be attributed to aliens.
These days, anyone can become involved in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence through their personal computer.
While there’s currently excitement about sending human crews to Mars, missions beyond the Red Planet are at this stage pretty much not feasible5 the distances and travel times involved are simply too great. Basically, all exploration for life beyond Earth will need to be done using robotic space probes6 and landing rovers. These instruments can provide a huge wealth of information and are capable of exploring as far away as 70 75 Pluto, perhaps even beyond our solar system. But as for life beyond the solar system, the nearest stars are several light years away, and even communications by electromagnetic waves (which all travel at the speed of light) are essentially going to be a one-way message.
While we probably won’t find intelligent life too close to home, there’s a chance we may still find much simpler life forms. Do we have neighbours beyond Earth? Time will tell—and the search continues.
- (Adapted from https://www.science.org.au/curious/space-time/search-lifebeyond-earth – Access on 16/02/19)
Glossary:
1. to outline – describe or give the main fact about something
2. to take into account – consider something
3. rate – expansion
4. nearby – short distance away
5. feasible – appropriate; suitable
6. space probe – spy satellite
01 – The text states that
(A) other creatures have already visited us.
(B) scientists have searched smart aliens.
(C) we have neighbours beyond Earth.
(D) nobody has proved the existence of extraterrestrial life.
• Gabarito D
The text states that
O texto afirma que
(A) other creatures have already visited us. outras criaturas já nos visitaram.
(B) scientists have searched smart aliens. os cientistas procuraram alienígenas inteligentes.
(C) we have neighbours beyond Earth. temos vizinhos além da Terra.
(D) nobody has proved the existence of extraterrestrial life. ninguém provou a existência de vida extraterrestre.
►JUSTIFICATIVA:
• “[...] The project detected some cosmic noises, but none of that could be attributed to aliens.”
• O projeto detectou alguns ruídos cósmicos, mas nada disso pode ser atribuído a alienígenas.
►IDEIAS CONTEXTUAIS:
(1) But Earth hasn’t been visited by any intelligent aliens (yet?). Mas a Terra não foi visitada por nenhum alienígena inteligente (ainda?)
(2) The project detected some cosmic noises, but none of that could be attributed to aliens. O projeto detectou alguns ruídos cósmicos, mas nada disso pode ser atribuído a alienígenas. (Os cientistas pesquisaram SINAIS CÓSMICOS na busca de sinais de vida de alienígenas)
(3) While we probably won’t find intelligent life too close to home, there’s a chance we may still find much simpler life forms. Embora provavelmente não encontremos vida inteligente muito perto de casa, ainda há uma chance de encontrarmos formas de vida muito mais simples.
(4) Do we have neighbours beyond Earth? Time will tell — and the search continues. Temos vizinhos além da Terra? O tempo dirá - e a busca continua.
02 – Mark the alternative in which the highlighted word is used with the same meaning as in the sentence below.
- “We have always been fascinated by the thought of alien life elsewhere in the universe.” (lines 1 and 2).
(A) We didn't give any thought to her appearance.
(B) We thought about the time we spent in the army.
(C) We thought of a pretty good excuse for being late.
(D) We’d buy John's old car, but we thought better of it.
• Gabarito A
Mark the alternative in which the highlighted word is used with the same meaning as in the sentence below.
Marque a alternativa em que a palavra destacada é utilizada com o mesmo significado da frase abaixo.
“We have always been fascinated by the thought of alien life elsewhere in the universe.”
“Sempre fomos fascinados pela ideia de vida alienígena em outras partes do universo.”(NOUN)
(A) We didn't give any thought to her appearance. Nós não demos nenhum consideração na aparência dela.(NOUN)
(B) We thought about the time we spent in the army. Pensamos no tempo que passamos no exército.(VERB)
(C) We thought of a pretty good excuse for being late. Pensamos em uma boa desculpa para chegar atrasado.(VERB)
(D) We’d buy John's old car, but we thought better of it. Compraríamos o carro antigo de John, mas pensamos melhor.(VERB)
03 – “the basis for a huge wealth of science fiction stories” (lines 3 and 4).
The underlined word is a synonym for
(A) interesting.
(B) limited.
(C) important.
(D) enormous.
• Gabarito D
“the basis for a huge wealth of science fiction stories” (lines 3 and 4). The underlined word is a synonym for
“a base para uma enorme riqueza de histórias de ficção científica” (linhas 3 e 4). A palavra sublinhada é sinônimo de
(A) interesting. interessante.
(B) limited. limitada.
(C) important. importante.
(D) enormous. enorme.
04 – Mark the statement that is in DISAGREEMENT with the text.
(A) There’s a possibility of finding life in other places in the universe.
(B) Appropriate equipment will be necessary for the exploration.
(C) International organisations detected aliens’ signals.
(D) Francis Drake developed an equation to find alien civilisations.
• Gabarito C
Mark the statement that is in DISAGREEMENT with the text.
Marque a afirmação que está em DISCORDÂNCIA com o texto.
(A) There’s a possibility of finding life in other places in the universe. Existe a possibilidade de encontrar vida em outros lugares do universo.
(B) Appropriate equipment will be necessary for the exploration. Equipamento apropriado será necessário para a exploração.
(C) International organisations detected aliens’ signals. Organizações internacionais detectaram sinais de alienígenas.
(D) Francis Drake developed an equation to find alien civilisations. Francis Drake desenvolveu uma equação para encontrar civilizações alienígenas.
05 – Mark the alternative that is grammatically correct.
a) Have anyone the right of searching for intelligent life?
b) Is there any concrete evidence of life beyond Earth?
c) There are another intelligent forms of life be?
d) How many planets have to support life?
• Gabarito X
a) Have anyone the right of searching for intelligent life?
b) Is there any concrete evidence of life beyond Earth?
c) There are another intelligent forms of life be?
d) How many planets have to support life?
06 – Mark the alternative that is grammatically INCORRECT.
- Where are all the aliens? (line 9)
a) Nobody saw them.
b) There are some beyond Earth.
c) There aren't any in the universe.
d) There aren't none in our galaxy.
• Gabarito D
Mark the alternative that is grammatically INCORRECT.
- Where are all the aliens? (line 9)
a) Nobody saw them.
b) There are some beyond Earth.
c) There aren't any in the universe.
d) There aren't none in our galaxy.
07 – According to paragraph 2,
(A) there aren’t many stars in our galaxy.
(B) we may not be alone.
(C) scientists developed interstellar travel.
(D) our sun is the most important star among billions of planetary systems.
• Gabarito B
According to paragraph 2,
De acordo com o parágrafo 2,
(A) there aren’t many stars in our galaxy. não há muitas estrelas em nossa galáxia.
(B) we may not be alone. podemos não estar sozinhos.
(C) scientists developed interstellar travel. os cientistas desenvolveram viagens interestelares.
(D) our sun is the most important star among billions of planetary systems. nosso sol é a estrela mais importante entre bilhões de sistemas planetários.
08 – Mark the statement that is NOT mentioned in the text.
(A) The Fermi Paradox tries to answer the question of where the aliens are.
(B) Drake’s equation comes from Fermi’s question.
(C) The SETI Institute and the SETI League try to prove that aliens don’t exist.
(D) Project Phoenix has tried to detect signs of life.
• Gabarito C
Mark the statement that is NOT mentioned in the text.
Marque a afirmação que NÃO é mencionada no texto.
(A) The Fermi Paradox tries to answer the question of where the aliens are. O Paradoxo de Fermi tenta responder à questão de onde estão os alienígenas.
(B) Drake’s equation comes from Fermi’s question. A equação de Drake vem da pergunta de Fermi.
(C) The SETI Institute and the SETI League try to prove that aliens don’t exist. O Instituto SETI e a Liga SETI tentam provar que os alienígenas não existem.
(D) Project Phoenix has tried to detect signs of life.
Marque a afirmação que NÃO é mencionada no texto. O Projeto Phoenix tentou detectar sinais de vida.
09 – Considering the plural form of the nouns, mark the correct alternative.
a) Basis (line 3) – base.
b) Galaxy (line 11) – galaxyes
c) Life (line 36) – lives.
d) Search (line 39) – searchers.
• Gabarito C
a) Basis (line 3) – base.
b) Galaxy (line 11) – galaxyes
c) Life (line 36) – lives.
d) Search (line 39) – searchers.
10 – Mark the alternative that is grammatically INCORRECT.
a) Milky Way is the galaxy where there will probably be a large number of habitable planets.
b) 1961 is the year when the astronomer Francis Drake developed an equation.
c) Scientists and astronomers were the ones who started the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
d) Robotic space probes are instruments what can provide a huge wealth of information.
• Gabarito D
a) Milky Way is the galaxy where there will probably be a large number of habitable planets.
b) 1961 is the year when the astronomer Francis Drake developed an equation.
c) Scientists and astronomers were the ones who started the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
d) Robotic space probes are instruments what can provide a huge wealth of information.
11 – The word none (line 57) refers to
a) noises.
b) project.
c) aliens.
d) no one.
• Gabarito A
The word none (line 57) refers to
a) noises.
b) project.
c) aliens.
d) no one.
12 – Mark the alternative that completes the sentence below correctly
- All exploration will happen if they ___ robotic space probes.
a) will use
b) using
c) use
d) are going to use
• Gabarito C
a) will use
b) using
c) use
d) are going to use
- All exploration will happen if they use robotic space probes.
- Toda a exploração acontecerá se utilizarem sondas espaciais robóticas.
13 – “Do we have neighbours beyond Earth?” (lines 76 and 77).
One of the alternatives DOESN’T answer the question. Mark it.
a) No, we haven't.
b) Probably not.
c) I don't think so.
d) No, we don't.
• Gabarito A
One of the alternatives DOESN’T answer the question. Mark it.
- Do we have neighbours beyond Earth?”
a) No, we haven't.
b) Probably not.
c) I don't think so.
d) No, we don't.
14 – The content of the text is based on
(A) mistakes and denials.
(B) doubts and lies.
(C) truths and faults.
(D) facts and possibilities.
• Gabarito D
The content of the text is based on
O conteúdo do texto é baseado
(A) mistakes and denials. rros e negações.
(B) doubts and lies. dúvidas e mentiras.
(C) truths and faults. verdades e falhas.
(D) facts and possibilities. fatos e possibilidades.
15 – Read the sentences from the text and classify them. The underlined excerpts are examples of
- “Project Phoenix, which used three of the most powerful radio telescopes in the world:” (lines 46 to 48).
- “there’s a chance we may still find much simpler life forms.” (lines 75 and 76).
a) comparative and superlative.
b) superlative and comparative.
c) superlative of inferiority.
d) comparative of equality.
• Gabarito B
a) comparative and superlative.
b) superlative and comparative.
c) superlative of inferiority.
d) comparative of equality.
16 – The author concludes that
(A) the subject is still uncertain.
(B) our intelligent neighbours live nearby in the universe.
(C) the time for answers has already come.
(D) there’s no chance of finding new forms of life.
• Gabarito A
The author concludes that
O autor conclui que
(A) the subject is still uncertain. o assunto ainda é incerto.
(B) our intelligent neighbours live nearby in the universe. nossos vizinhos inteligentes vivem próximos no universo.
(C) the time for answers has already come. o momento das respostas já chegou.
(D) there’s no chance of finding new forms of life. não há chance de encontrar novas formas de vida.
