Scientists who study earth's moon have two big regrets about the six Apollo missions that landed a dozen astronauts on the lunar surface between 1969 and 1972. The biggest regret, of course, is that the emissions ended so abruptly, with so much of the moon still unexplored. But researchers also lament that the great triumph of Apollo led to a popular misconception: because astronauts have visited the moon, there is no compelling reason to go back. In the 1990s, however, two probes that orbited the moon raised new questions about Earth's airless satellite. One stunning discovery was strong evidence of water ice in the perpetually shadowed areas near the moon's poles. Because scientists believe that comets deposited water and organic compounds on both Earth and its moon, well-preserved ice at the lunar poles could yield clues to the origins of life.
The point made in the passage is that it may be possible to ____.
come to a better understanding of comets through the study of the moon
learn more about the beginnings of life from the ice at the moon's poles
resume Apollo missions as there is evidence of water on the moon
identify the origin of the organic compounds found on the moon
have a full knowledge of the moon without sending anymore astronauts there
As is pointed out in the passage, one significant outcome of the lunar probes in the 1990s was ____.
the staggering finding of evidence of water on the moon
the focusing of scientific attention on the comets
the resumption of lunar missions
the realization that life is possible on the moon
the realization that there were great similarities between earth and moon
According to the passage, even through there were six Apollo missions to the moon roughly thirty years ago, ____.
none of them could claim to be successful
man's knowledge of the moon has not increased at all
a very large proportion of the lunar surface remains to date unexamined
it was only the lunar poles that were explored fully
the idea of sending astronauts back to the moon seems even more far-fetched than formerly
As we understand from the passage, a great many people ____.
believe lunar missions should continue indefinitely
regard the Apollo missions as a scientific breakthrough
are sure the moon cannot support life
feel that the very fact that man has landed on the moon is enough
regard scientific investigations of the moon as unfeasible
A major point made in the passage is that ____.
the six Apollo missions to the moon were a great scientific success
the chances of finding water on the moon are very slim
the probes of the 1990s demonstrated that the lunar landings should have continued
the probes of the 1990s demonstrated that the lunar landings should have continued
scientists are agreed that there is nothing further to learn about the moon