Pluto is a dwarf planet. It was discovered in 1930. Scientists are still learning about it.
一、Reading 時事雙語閱讀
Pluto is a dwarf planet. It was discovered a long time ago.
At first, people thought it was a planet. But now we know it is a dwarf planet.
Scientists are still learning about Pluto. They are studying its atmosphere.
A spacecraft visited Pluto in 2015. It took pictures of the dwarf planet.
二、Vocabulary 核心時事字彙庫
dwarf planet (noun) [C] /dwɔːrf ˈplænɪt/ 矮行星
- 例句：Pluto is a dwarf planet.
- 中譯：冥王星是一顆矮行星。
discovered (verb) /dɪˈskʌvərd/ 發現
- 例句：The scientist discovered a new type of flower.
- 中譯：科學家發現了一種新的花。
astronomer (noun) [C] /əˈstrɑːnəmər/ 天文學家
- 例句：The astronomer studies the stars.
- 中譯：天文學家研究星星。
telescope (noun) [C] /ˈtɛlɪskoʊp/ 望遠鏡
- 例句：I use a telescope to look at the moon.
- 中譯：我用望遠鏡觀察月球。
classified (verb) /ˈklæsɪfaɪd/ 分類
- 例句：The books in the library are classified by subject.
- 中譯：圖書館裡的書是按主題分類的。
planet (noun) [C] /ˈplænɪt/ 行星
- 例句：Earth is a planet.
- 中譯：地球是一顆行星。
considered (verb) /kənˈsɪdərd/ 認為
- 例句：She is considered to be a great artist.
- 中譯：她被認為是一位偉大的藝術家。
size (noun) [C/U] /saɪz/ 尺寸
- 例句：What size shoes do you wear?
- 中譯：你穿幾號的鞋子？
orbit (noun) [C] /ˈɔːrbɪt/ 軌道
- 例句：The Earth orbits the sun.
- 中譯：地球繞著太陽運行。
atmosphere (noun) [C] /ˈætməsfɪr/ 大氣層
- 例句：The Earth's atmosphere protects us from the sun's rays.
- 中譯：地球的大氣層保護我們免受太陽光線的傷害。
三、Q&A 閱讀理解問答
Q: What is Pluto?
A: Pluto is a dwarf planet.
Q: When was Pluto discovered?
A: Pluto was discovered in 1930.
Q: What is Pluto's atmosphere like?
A: Scientists are still learning about Pluto's atmosphere.
四、Discussion 深度思辨與口說練習
Q: What do you know about dwarf planets?
A: I know that dwarf planets are smaller than planets and orbit the sun.
Q: Why do you think it is important to study space?
A: I think it is important to study space because it helps us learn more about the universe and our place in it.
Q: Would you like to travel to space? Why or why not?
A: Yes, I would like to travel to space because it would be an amazing adventure.
五、Conclusion 總結與省思
Pluto, once considered a planet, is now classified as a dwarf planet. It is a fascinating object that scientists are still learning about. The New Horizons mission provided valuable information about Pluto's atmosphere and surface, and future research will continue to expand our understanding of this distant world.
六、Quiz 牛刀小試自我檢測
讀完上方短文與核心單字後，歡迎動腦挑戰以下 3 題標準測驗題，點擊即可展開查看正解與考點解析：
Q1. (主旨題) What is Pluto classified as today?
- (A) A giant star
- (B) A dwarf planet
- (C) A moon of Earth
- (D) A burning asteroid
點我看正解與解析
【正解】 (B) A dwarf planet
【解析】 短文第一段明確提到 "Pluto is a dwarf planet"（冥王星是一顆矮行星），過去曾被視為太陽系九大行星之一，現科學家將其分類為矮行星。
Q2. (細節題) What did a spacecraft do when it visited Pluto in 2015?
- (A) It landed astronauts on Pluto.
- (B) It took pictures of the dwarf planet.
- (C) It brought back rocks from Pluto.
- (D) It destroyed Pluto's surface.
點我看正解與解析
【正解】 (B) It took pictures of the dwarf planet.
【解析】 短文最後一段指出 "A spacecraft visited Pluto in 2015. It took pictures of the dwarf planet."（無人太空船於 2015 年飛掠造訪冥王星並拍攝了大量珍貴照片）。
Q3. (字彙理解) What are scientists studying around Pluto?
- (A) Its atmosphere
- (B) Its ocean animals
- (C) Its green trees
- (D) Its tall buildings
點我看正解與解析
【正解】 (A) Its atmosphere
【解析】 短文第三段指出 "They are studying its atmosphere."（科學家目前正深入研究它的大氣層結構）。atmosphere 意為「大氣層」。