题目内容：

    NASA’s Curiosity vehicle recently recorded the largest level of methane(甲烷) ever measured during its seven-year Mars mission. The discovery is exciting because the existence of methane gas could support the case for life on Mars.

Methane has no color or smell. A special instrument on Curiosity’s Mars Science Laboratory recorded the increased gas level. The device, called a laser spectrometer, measures levels of chemical elements and gases in the Martian atmosphere. In addition to methane, the instrument can record levels of water and CO2. Nearly all the methane gas found in Earth’s atmosphere is produced by biological activity. It usually comes from animal and plant life. But it can also be formed by geological(地质的) processes, such as interactions between rocks and water. NASA said the increased methane was measured to be about 21 parts per billion by volume (ppbv). One ppbv means that if you take a volume of air on Mars, one billionth of the volume of air is methane.

It was not the first time Curiosity has found methane gas in the Martian atmosphere. About a year ago, NASA announced that Curiosity had discovered sharp seasonal increases in the gas. This time, NASA said the measured methane gas level was clearly larger than any others observed in the past. NASA officials even temporarily stopped Curiosity’s other activities to investigate further.

“It’s exciting because microbial(微生物的) life is an important source of methane on Earth,” NASA said in a statement announcing the discovery. However, Curiosity’s team carried out a follow-up methane experiment that showed a sharp drop in levels of the gas. The second examination found the level was less than one part per billion by volume. That number was close to the background levels Curiosity sees all the time. The rise and fall of the methane gas levels left NASA scientists with more questions than answers. The scientists are continuing to study possible causes for the sudden increase. The methane mystery continues.

Curiosity does not have instruments that can exactly identify whether the source of the methane is biological or geological. One leading theory is that methane is being released from underground areas created by possible life forms that disappeared long ago. Even though Mars has no active volcanoes, scientists believe it is also possible that methane is being produced by reactions involving carbon materials and water.

A clearer understanding of methane levels over time could help scientists determine where they’re located on Mars. Scientists hope this understanding will come as Curiosity continues to collect methane data in its search for possible life.

1.Curiosity discovered.

A.the largest methane gas level ever observed on Mars

B.the existence of life on Mars

C.the reason for the increased methane

D.interactions between rocks and water

2.Why did NASA officials once stop Curiosity’s other activities?

A.To further examine the methane gas level on Mars.

B.To seek possible life existing on Mars.

C.To check the quality of Curiosity’s mission.

D.To find seasonal increases in the methane gas.

3.What can we learn from the last three paragraphs?

A.Causes for the change of methane have been proved by Curiosity.

B.Curiosity has proved the location of methane by instruments.

C.Scientists think reactions involving carbon materials and water may produce methane.

D.Identifying the source of methane has helped scientists search for possible life on Mars.

4.The passage is probably taken from .

A.a geography textbook B.a science newspaper

C.a health magazine D.a travel brochure