英語聽力材料《地球之外有生命嗎》

地球之外有無生命直到今天都沒有得到一個全體信服的答案。你認為呢?接下來，讓我們走進下面的英語聽力材料。

Since early times, people have been fascinated with the idea of life existing somewhere else besides earth. Until recently, scientists believed that life on other planets was just a hopeful dream. But now they are beginning to locate places where life could form.

很久以來，人們就被地球以外存在生命的觀點強烈地吸引。直到近期，科學家們都堅信外星生命的想法只不過是個有希望的夢想。但是現在他們開始定位外星生命形成的位置。

In 1997, they saw evidence of planets near other stars like the sun. But scientists now think that life could be even nearer in our own solar system. One place scientists are studying very closely is Europa, a moon of Jupiter.

在1997年，他們在像太陽這類其他恆星的行星上發現了證據。可是，現在科學家認為外星生命甚至更接近我們，就存在於我們太陽系中。科學家們正在仔細研究的這個地方是歐羅巴，是木星的衞星。

Space probes have provided evidence that Europa has a large ocean under its surface. The probes have also made scientists think that under its surface Europa has a rocky core giving off volcanic heat. Water and heat from volcanic activity are two basic conditions needed for life to form.

太空探索提供的證據表明在歐羅巴的表層下藴藏着一個巨大的海洋。太空探索還使科學家們相信在歐羅巴的表層下有一個巖層核心，釋放出火山般的熱量。火山活動的水和熱是生命形式所需的兩個基本條件。

A third is certain basic chemicals such as carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. Scientists believe there might be such chemicals lie at the bottom of Europa's may have already created life or may be about to. You may wonder if light is also needed for life to form. Until recently, scientists thought that light was essential.

第三個條件是某些基本的化學元素，如：碳、氧、氮。科學家相信在歐羅巴的海底可能存在這些物質。它們或許已經創造了生命，也許將來會產生生命。你或許想知道光對於生命的形成是否必要。直到最近，他們都認為光是必須的`。

But now, places have been found on earth that are in total blackness such as caves several miles beneath the surface. And bacteria, primitive forms of life have been seen there. So the lack of light in Europa's sub-surface ocean doesn't automatically rule out life forming.

但是，現在地球上完全黑暗的地方也有生命，如在地表下數公里的洞穴中。生命原始形式的細菌就存在於那兒。因此，在歐羅巴表層以下缺少陽光的海洋中無法自動排除生命存在的可能。