英语泛读教程（第2册）参考答案Unit OneComprehension Points1.Every year at the same time the stars were in the same place in the sky.2.They are the planets.3.He thought that … (Page 2, parag. 12)4.The idea was that the stars and the sun did not turn around the earth. Instead, it was the earththat was turning. The sun and the stars were not really moving.5.Because they would upset the whole science of astronomy and cause cruel persecution by theChurch.6.Content/details.mon.8.Because radio telescopes find out new stars by picking up radio waves from them.9.It means the group of stars that our earth is a member of.10.The implication is that probably by then the earth has already been melted.11.Every three days it gets very dim. It stays dim for a few hours, then it gets bright again.12.Because a comet isn’t solid. It is thin like a cloud. Its tail is nothing but glowing gas. And itshead is made of small pieces that could not hurt the earth.ExercisesI. True or false1. F2. F3. T4. F5. T6. F7. T8. T9. T 10. FII.1.略。

2.Four stages. Childhood, manhood, old age, and the last stage.3.The very hottest ones are blue. Those not quite so hot are white, and those less hot than thewhite ones are yellow and red.4.略。

5.They help sailors to find their way and they help us to tell time.Unit TwoComprehension Points1.It means to function properly.2.电气史上最伟大的人物之一迈克尔·法拉第写了一篇报告，介绍了一种叫做gutta percha的类似橡胶的物质，这种物质是从生在在马来西亚的一种树上提取出来的。

3.It means to bring out of the water on to the land.4.To lay a cable under the Atlantic.5.To become weaker.6.第一个it指的是the telegraph failed，第二个it指的是it ever worked，第三个it指的是the cable.7.Because a big ship can’t carry the end of the cable on to the shore, it will get stranded.8.To honor him even more highly.9.An operator.10.Probably in late 20th century.ExercisesI.1. A2. B3. A4. C5. C6. A7. B8. AII.1.Because the only form of communication between countries separated by sea was still by shipand it was very slow.2.The success of Wheatstone’s experiment and the discovery of gutta percha by Faraday.3.First the Niagara’s cable caught in the machinery and was damaged. Then when Niagara raninto rough sea, the men broke the cable again when they tried to stop the machine. By the time they reached home to start again, it was nearly winter and the weather was getting bad. So they had to wait for the next year.4.First Agamemnon ran into one of the worst Atlantic storms in history, and the ship nearly sank.Then when the two ships met and started to lay the cables, faults of different kinds developed and they failed for three times. After that they returned to Valencia for more cable, food and coal and made another attempt. This time Agamemnon ran into another severe storm and again nearly lost her cable. Finally, after unyielding efforts, on Aug. 5th, the cable was laid. 5.The company collected another large amount of money, used a very much stronger cable,hired a ship large enough to carry the whole of their cable, and loaded the ship with enough food supplies.6.All five continents were connected. Two more Atlantic cables have been laid between Europeand USA, and 22 telephone cables between Britain and Europe.Unit ThreeComprehension points1.It means the shaking ship made many people fall off balance.2.To follow the movements.3.Space.4.The British government asked Watson-Watt to do something which he did not considerpossible, so he developed radar instead.5.Because radio waves, which are basis of radar, were known to scientists all over the world.There was therefore a danger that scientists in other countries might also start to experiment with radar. The Government was afraid that the clever German scientists, whom they respected greatly, might develop radar before the British scientists.6.No. He actually wanted her to tell that “secret” to everyone in the village so that they wouldstop asking questions.7.Gradually.8. A very small one weighing only a few pounds to fit into an aeroplane.9.1937.10.The British shores.11.Aeroplanes.ExercisesI.1. B2. B3. C4. C5. A6. B7. B8. BII.1.P 29, paragraph 8.2.P 33, the last paragraph.3.Modern ships of all nations carry radar to help them to sail safely in bad weather. Radar helpsto guide aeroplances across the world. In many countries police use radar to control the speed of cars on roads where there is a speed limit. Radar is also used to forecast the weather, and to study moon and stars.Unit FourComprehension points1.Because the clerks worked very hard during the rush of Christmas business.2.The scene described in the fist paragraph.3.Spending a quiet afternoon leisurely with her husband without the festival excitement4.Very likely.5.Very close to the street.6.Because in their view, a house is not really old until it has lasted 150 years.我是新英格兰地区的人。