Listen to part of a lecture in an astronomy class.
Professor: Today we're going to talk about the possibility of life on Europa, one of Jupiter's moons. Now, Europa is covered by a thick layer of ice, but beneath that ice, scientists believe there's a vast ocean of liquid water. Because water is essential for life as we know it, this makes Europa a prime candidate in the search for extraterrestrial life. However, there's a problem: the ocean is completely dark and cut off from the surface. How could life survive without sunlight? Well, on Earth, we've found ecosystems in deep-sea hydrothermal vents that thrive in darkness, using chemicals for energy. Scientists think similar vents might exist on Europa's ocean floor. If so, microbes could potentially survive there. But there's a catch. The ice shell is incredibly thick, maybe several kilometers. To test this, NASA is planning a mission called Europa Clipper, which will fly by Europa and analyze its ice shell and ocean chemistry. It won't land, but it will give us crucial data about whether the conditions for life are present.
❓ 문제 What is the main purpose of the lecture?
A. To explain why Europa's thick ice makes it difficult to study
B. To discuss the possibility of life on Europa and plans to investigate it
C. To compare Europa's ocean with Earth's deep-sea environments
D. To describe the challenges of sending a spacecraft to Jupiter
✅ 정답
To discuss the possibility of life on Europa and plans to investigate it
TOEFL Listening Tips
Skim the questions first to predict the content
Watch for signal words in lectures and conversations (however, actually, in fact)
For main idea questions, focus on the beginning; for detail questions, focus on examples and data
For attitude questions, pay attention to the speaker's tone and word choice
Take notes on keywords; don't try to write down every word
