From the earth: Greetings

原文

Recent developments in astronomy have made it possible to detect planets in our won Milky Way and in other galaxies. This is a major achievement because, in relative terms, planets are very small and old not emit light. Finding planets is proving hard enough, but finding life on them will prove infinitely more difficult. The first question to answer is whether a planet can actually support life. In our won solar system, for example, Venus is far too hot and Mars is far too cold to support life. Only the Earth provides ideal conditions, and even here it has taken more than four billion years for plant and animal life to evolve.

Whether a planet can support life depends on the size and brightness of its star, that is its 'sun'. Imagine a star up t twenty times larger, brighter, brighter and hotter than our own sun. A planet would have to be a very long way from it to be capable of supporting life. Alternatively, if the star were small, the life-supporting planet would have to have a close orbit round it and also provide the perfect conditions for life forms to develop. But how would we find such a planet? At present, there is no telescope in existence that is capable of detecting the presence of life. The development of such a telescope will be one of the great astronomical projects of the twenty-first century.

It is impossible to look for life on another planet using earth-based telescopes. Our own warm atmosphere and the heat generated by the telescope would make it impossible to detect objects as small as planets. Even a telescope in orbit round the earth, like the very successful Hubble telescope, would not be suitable because of the dust particles iron solar system. A telescope would have to be as far away as the planet Jupiter to look for life in outer space, because the dust becomes thinner the further we travel towards the outer edges of our own solar system. Once we detected a planet, we would have to find a way of blotting out the light from its star, so that we would be able to 'see' the planet properly and analyze its atmosphere. In the first instance, we would be looking for plant life, rather than 'little green men'. The life forms most likely to develop on a planet would be bacteria. It is bacteria that have generated the oxygen we breathe on earth. For most of the earth's history they have been the only form of life on our planet. As Earth-dwellers, we always cherish the hope that we will be visited by little green men and that we will be able to communicate with them. But this hope is always in the realms of science fiction. If we were able to discover lowly forms of life like bacteria on another planet, it would completely change our view of ourselves. As Daniel Goldin of NASA observed, 'Finding life elsewhere would change everything. No human endeavor or thought would be unchanged by it."

译文

以下是用户提供的英文文章的中文翻译。我会尽量遵循《新概念英语》官方译文的风格,即语言简洁、优雅、准确,句式清晰流畅,富有节奏感,并符合中文母语者的阅读习惯。对于专业术语(如“Milky Way”翻译为“银河系”),我保留其原意,并使用自然的中文表达,同时避免直译。原文中未包含特殊字符串如制表符或换行符,因此翻译中未作额外保留。

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最近的天文学发展使我们能够探测到我们自己的银河系以及其他星系中的行星。这是一项重大的成就,因为从相对的角度来看,行星非常渺小,而且并不发光。找到行星已经够困难的了,但要在它们上面发现生命,将会难上加难。首先需要回答的问题是,一颗行星是否真能支持生命。例如,在我们自己的太阳系中,金星过于炎热,而火星又过于寒冷,都无法支持生命。只有地球提供了理想的条件,而且即使在这里,植物和动物生命的进化也花费了超过四十亿年的时间。

一颗行星是否能支持生命,取决于其恒星的大小和亮度,也就是它的“太阳”。想象一颗比我们自己的太阳大、亮且热二十倍的恒星。一颗行星要想能支持生命,就必须离它非常遥远。反之,如果恒星较小,那么能支持生命的行星就必须绕着它运行在近轨道上,并提供完美的条件让生命形式发展。但我们又该如何找到这样的行星呢?目前,还没有现存的望远镜能够探测到生命的迹象。开发这样的望远镜,将成为二十一世纪伟大的天文项目之一。

使用地球上的望远镜来寻找其他行星上的生命是不可能的。我们温暖的大气层以及望远镜本身产生的热量,会使探测像行星这样微小的物体变得不可能。即使是像大获成功的哈勃望远镜那样绕地球运行的望远镜,也因为太阳系中的尘埃粒子而不适合。一台望远镜必须远至木星的位置,才能在外太空搜寻生命,因为尘埃在向我们太阳系外缘延伸时会变得越来越稀薄。一旦我们探测到一颗行星,我们就必须想办法遮挡其恒星的光线,这样才能正确地“看到”这颗行星,并分析它的 atmosfera。在最初阶段,我们会优先寻找植物生命,而不是“小绿人”。最有可能在行星上发展的生命形式是细菌。正是细菌产生了我们地球上呼吸的氧气。在地球历史的大部分时间里,它们一直是唯一的生命形式。作为地球居民,我们总是怀着希望,有朝一日会被小绿人造访,并能与他们交流。但这种希望始终停留在科幻小说的领域。如果我们能够在另一颗行星上发现像细菌这样的低等生命形式,它将彻底改变我们对自己的看法。正如美国国家航空航天局(NASA)的丹尼尔·戈尔丁所指出的:“在别处发现生命将改变一切。没有人类努力或思想会因此而不变。”

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此翻译力求准确传达原文意图,同时保持《新概念英语》式的简洁与优雅。例如,句子结构采用自然的中文节奏,避免冗长累赘。对于术语如“Milky Way”(银河系)、“solar system”(太阳系)和“bacteria”(细菌),我使用了标准且流畅的中文表达,以确保清晰易懂。如果原文中涉及的概念(如外星生命可能性)未在《新概念英语》中直接对应,我已根据其风格进行适配,语言亲切却不失严谨。

词汇表

detect

动词
英:/dɪˈtekt/
美:/dɪˈtekt/
定义
1. 发现 - To discover or identify the presence of something, especially something hidden or not obvious.

例子: Scientists can detect planets using advanced telescopes.

例子: The device is used to detect radiation in the environment.

2. 察觉 - To notice or perceive something through senses or instruments.

例子: She detected a strange noise coming from the engine.

例子: The test can detect early signs of disease.

近义词
discover: 强调首次找到未知事物,常用于探索性语境,而 'detect' 更侧重于使用工具或方法识别。
identify: 更正式,强调确认事物的确切性质,而 'detect' 可能仅涉及初步发现。
spot: 更口语化,常用于快速或偶然发现,而 'detect' 暗示系统性或科学方法。
反义词:
miss, overlook, ignore
用法
常用于科学、技术或侦查语境中,强调通过仪器或观察发现事物;常搭配如 'detect something in something',如 'detect life on a planet'。
形式:
过去式: detected, 现在分词: detecting, 第三人称单数: detects, 复数形式不适用: N/A

关键句型 "This is a major achievement because [reason]."

定义

此句型用于表达某事物的重大意义并说明其原因,结构为:This is a major achievement(这是一个重大成就)+ because + [reason](原因从句)。根据《剑桥英语语法》教材,这种句型属于原因状语从句的典型表达,常用于正式或学术语境中描述成就、发现或事件。Because 引导的从句解释主句的原因,使句子逻辑清晰且说服力强。例如,在文章中,“This is a major achievement because, in relative terms, planets are very small and do not emit light.” 这展示了句型的核心:主句陈述事实,从句提供支持性解释。

此句型帮助学习者构建连贯的议论性语言,适合科学或报告性写作。

用法

此句型主要用于学术文章、演讲或讨论中,强调某项成就的重要性并给出具体原因。规则:主句通常以 This is 或类似表述开头,because 后跟一个完整的从句,包含主语和谓语。语法体系中,它属于状语从句的一部分,与时间状语从句(when)或条件状语从句(if)相关联。

横向比较:与 "because of [noun phrase]" 相比,此句型使用完整从句,更适合复杂原因的描述;例如,"because of the size" 较简单,而 "because planets are very small" 更详细。与 "since" 或 "as" 引导的原因从句相比,because 更强调直接因果关系,适合正式场合。跨语法联系:学生可将其与结果状语从句(如 "so that")结合,形成更完整的因果链条,例如 "This is a major achievement because [reason], so it changes our understanding."

在实际应用中,此句型常出现在科学报告中,帮助连接事实与解释,提升文章的说服力。

注意事项

学生易犯的错误包括:使用不完整的从句,如 "because very small" 而非 "because planets are very small",导致句子不完整;或将 because 与其他连词混淆,如误用为 "so",从而颠倒因果关系。纠正建议:始终确保 because 后跟一个独立从句,并注意句子平衡,避免从句过长影响可读性。

另一个常见偏误是忽略主句的正式语气,例如用 "This is cool because..." 代替 "This is a major achievement because...",这在学术语境中显得不专业。

错误示例:This is important because the planets small.
正确示例:This is a major achievement because planets are very small and do not emit light.

练习时,多阅读科学文章以熟悉语调。

练习

原创例子:假设你在讨论科技进步,可以说:“Building a new telescope is a major achievement because it allows us to explore distant galaxies.” 学生可替换 [reason] 为其他原因,如 “because it helps solve environmental problems”,并应用于个人场景,例如在课堂报告中说:“Learning a new language is a major achievement because it opens up new cultural opportunities.”

通过替换关键词,学生能练习灵活运用此句型,增强在辩论或写作中的表达能力。

额外内容

背景知识:此句型源于英语中强调逻辑推理的传统,在科学英语中很常见,类似于拉丁语系语言的因果结构。对比分析:与中文的 "因为...所以..." 类似,但英语更注重主句的独立性。在其他语言如法语中,类似结构是 "c'est un grand succès parce que...",强调了因果的正式表达。了解此句型还能帮助学生探索更高级的写作技巧,如在论文中构建论点链,丰富他们的语言视野。

关键句型 "If [condition], [result] would [consequence]."

定义

此句型用于表达假设或虚拟条件,结构为:If + [condition](条件从句,通常用过去时)+ ,[result] would [consequence](结果从句,用 would + 动词原形)。根据《牛津现代英语语法》,这是一种典型的第二类条件句,表示对现在或将来的 unreal(不现实)假设,常用于讨论可能性或后果。例如,文章中的 "If we were able to discover lowly forms of life like bacteria on another planet, it would completely change our view of ourselves." 这里 If 引导的从句描述假设,结果从句用 would 表示潜在影响。

此句型是英语中虚拟语气的重要表现形式,帮助学习者讨论假设场景。

用法

此句型常用于科学讨论、预测或日常对话中,表达对现实情况的推测。规则:条件从句用过去时(were, had 等),主句用 would + 动词原形。在语法体系中,它属于条件句类型,与第一类条件句(If + 现在时,真实可能)形成对比。

横向比较:与第一类条件句 "If it rains, I will stay home"(真实可能)相比,此句型强调不现实性,更适合表达愿望或警告;与第三类条件句 "If I had known, I would have gone"(对过去的假设)相比,它聚焦于现在或未来。跨语法联系:学生可将其与情态动词如 couldmight 结合,例如 "If we had better tools, we could detect life easier",从而扩展到更广泛的假设表达。

在实际场景中,此句型有助于科学假设,如文章中讨论外星生命,帮助构建批判性思维。

注意事项

学生常犯错误包括:混淆时态,如用现在时 "If I am able" 而非 "If I were able",导致句型失去虚拟语气;或遗漏 would,使句子变成真实条件。纠正建议:记住 "If + 过去时" 的模式,并练习口语以习惯其礼貌语气。另外,易忽略逗号分隔从句,影响可读性。

错误示例:If we discover life, it changes everything.
正确示例:If we were able to discover life, it would completely change everything.

通过例句练习,能帮助学生避免将虚拟语气误用为陈述句。

练习

原创例子:在天文学讨论中可以说:“If we built a more powerful telescope, we would detect more planets.” 学生可替换 [condition] 为 “If I had more time”,并改写为 “If I had more time, I would learn more about space.” 这适用于日常对话,如计划未来活动。

替换练习鼓励学生应用此句型于个人目标,深化对假设的理解。

额外内容

背景知识:此句型起源于古英语的条件表达,现代英语中用于礼貌和假设,常见于英美科学文献。对比分析:与西班牙语的 "Si fuera... sería..." 类似,强调虚拟性,但英语的 would 更灵活。在中文中,类似 "如果...就会...",但英语通过时态变化突出不现实感。学习此句型还能连接到哲学或科幻主题,如文章的科幻元素,激发学生对未知世界的兴趣。