The announcements by the NASA, in the form of several Web site postings and a video posted on You Tube, were in response to worries that the world will end on Dec. 21,2012.
The doomsday(末日) rumour reached a high point with the release of the new movie “2012”, directed by Roland Emmerich. In the movie, Yellowstone blows up, showering the continent with black ash. Tidal waves wah over the Himalayas, where the governments of the planet have secretly built a ship which a select 400,000 people can ride out the storm. There are hundreds of books devoted to 2012, and millions of Web sites, depending on what combination of “2012” and “doomsday” you type into Google. All of it, astronomers say, is nonsense. “Most of what’s claimed for 2012 relies on wishful thinking and ignorance of astronomy.” Ed Krupp, an expert on ancient astronomy, wrote in an article in the November issue of Sky & Telescope.
“I get angry at the way people are being influenced and frightened to make money.” Morrison said. “There is no right to frighten children to make a buck.” Suggested David Morrison, an astronomer at the NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. He said he had been getting about 20 letters and e – mail messages a day from people as far away as India scared out of their wits. Morrison said he did not blame the movie for all this, as much as many other supporters of the Mayan prediction .but then, he said, “my doctorate is in astronomy, not psychology.”
In an e – mail exchange, Krupp said: “We are always uncertain about the future, and we always consume representations of it. We are always attracted by the romance of the ancient past.” A NASA spokesman, Dwayne Brown, said the agency did not comment on movies, leaving that to movie critics. But when it comets to science, brown said, “we felt it was careful to provide a resource.”
If you want to worry, most scientists say, you should think about global climate change or nuclear war. But if ancient prophecies (预言) get you going, here are some things Morrison and the others think you should know.
1Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A．Dr. Morrison blamed the Movie “2012” for the panic it aroused in the public around the
world.    
B．People who watched the movie were scared and firmly believed that the end of the world
was coming.  
C．In terms of science it was better to provide evidence and theory at the same time.     
D．Dr. Morrison thought it was not right to make money by frightening people. 
2It can be inferred from the text that         .
A．astronomers think that doomsday is likely to happen in the near future
B．the reason why the NASA posted web site postings was to make people interested in
astronomy     
C．scientists think we shouldn’t worry about doomsday but show concern about environment
protection      
D．most astronomers agree that the world is not ending – at least anytime soon
3Which of the following would be the best title?
A．A New Movie “2012”     B．Is Doomsday Coming?
C．End – of – the – World Stories       D．Astronomers Comment on Movies
4What would the author probably discuss in the paragraph that follows?
A．Evidence that the Mayans thought something special would happen in 2012.     
B．What will really happen in 2012.   
C．The reason why there is no need to worry about doomsday.
D．Ancient stories about the end of the world.

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