研究人员在宇宙中发现了一个 “ 完美的太阳系 ” ，它是在没有发生剧烈碰撞的条件下形成的。而地球所在的太阳系正是因为在形成时发生剧烈碰撞而成为了由不同大小的行星构成的大杂烩。新发现的行星系统距离地球 100 光年，由六颗大小基本一致的行星构成。这些行星自 120 亿年前形成 以来几乎没有发生过改变。

Our solar system had a violent beginning. Worlds crashed into each other as they formed, disturbing their orbits and eventually leading to the planets of vastly different sizes that we know today.

我们所在的太阳系的初始环境充斥着剧烈运动。太阳系中的天体在相互碰撞中形成了各个星球，并扰乱了彼此的运行轨道，最终形成了我们今天所知的大小截然不同的行星。

But a hundred light years away, astronomers have discovered another solar system – one that was created in much calmer conditions without so many violent collisions.

但在100光年之外，天文学家在那里发现了另一个太阳系 —— 这个行星系统是在更平静的条件下形成的，没有发生过如此多的剧烈碰撞。

As a result, all six of its planets are of similar size, between two and three times the size of the Earth, and their orbits are in perfect sync with each other. It also has a bright star that makes it easier to study their atmospheres for signs of life.

正因如此，这个行星系统中的六颗行星大小相仿，基本都是地球大小的两至三倍，而且这六颗行星是以一种完美的轨道共振方式在进行公转。新发现的行星系统中还有一颗明亮的恒星，这有助于人们研究这些行星的大气层以寻找生命迹象。

词汇表

solar system 太阳系
crashed into 碰撞，撞击到
orbits （星球运行的）轨道
vastly 非常地，大幅度地
light years 光年
astronomers 天文学家
collisions 碰撞，相撞
in sync 同步的
atmospheres 大气层
signs of life 生命迹象

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

1. Why are the planets in our solar system vastly different sizes?

2. How far away is the newly discovered solar system?

3. What is similar about the new planets?

4. How can the bright star in the newly discovered solar system help the astronomers?

答案

1. Why are the planets in our solar system vastly different sizes?

Because our solar system had a violent beginning. Worlds crashed into each other as they formed, disturbing their orbits.

2. How far away is the newly discovered solar system?

It's a hundred light years away.

3. What is similar about the new planets?

All six of them are of similar size.

4. How can the bright star in the newly discovered solar system help the astronomers?

The bright star makes it easier to study the planet's atmospheres for signs of life.