Scientists have long wondered if life really does exist on Mars. And a new set of pictures released by NASA could appear to confirm that we are not alone in the universe. The images taken by a NASA navigation camera have been released and appear to show a human-like figure working on the Curiosity Rover, which is scanning the Red Planet.

The pictures seem to feature a human-shaped shadow over the Curiosity Rover as if they are repairing it. The shadow formed shows what looks like a male figure, who isn't wearing a helmet as his short hair is visible. It also looks like the figure is wearing an air tank on his back and a suit covering most of his body.

The pictures have been reported to the website UFO, with some claiming it is proof life does exist on Mars. However, others have claimed that the Curiosity Rover might not even be on Mars and that it has remained on Earth with humans cleaning it and performing maintenance.

But some insist the shadow is just coincidence and that theorists are only seeing the figure because it confirms their expectations and hopes. Nigel Watson, author of the UFO Investigations Manual, said: “This underlines the fact that such things lurk in the shadows and play with our imagination.”  

It comes after it was announced in December that an instrument on the Curiosity Rover had identified methane that scientists believe may have come from bacteria-like organisms on the surface of Mars. Experts suggested that its finding may be a sign of life on Mars.

The Mars Curiosity Rover, is designed to help with long-term exploration of the Red Planet. Its aim is to assess whether the planet has ever had an environment, which has been able to support small life forms and to determine whether the planet could be habitable.

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1.The “Red Planet” in the first paragraph may refer to ______.

A the NASA.

B the Universe.

C the Mars.

D the Curiosity Rover.

解析：选C。C。词语推测题。从文章第一段第一句的Scientists have long wondered if life really does exist on Mars可以得知红色星球指的就是“火星”。故该题的正确答案为C。

2.The shadow was considered a man’s because ______.

A it was wearing a helmet.

B it had short hair

C it was repairing

D it’s suit covered the body.

解析：选B。B。细节理解题。根据第二段第二句的who isn't wearing a helmet as his short hair is visible可以看到阴影的短发，据此可以推知该影子好像是一位男士的。

3.What conclusion did people draw from the picture?

A There is life existing on Mars.

B Humans are fixing the machine.

C The Curiosity Rover is gone.

D website UFO is telling the truth.

解析：选A。A。推理判断题。根据第三段第一句的with some claiming it is proof life does exist on Mars.可知，有人根据照片判断火星上有生命存在。

4.According to Nigel Watson, ______.

A theorists’ imagination is right

B the shadow can’t be human’s

C someone is in the shadows

D theorists play with our imagination

解析：选B。B。推理判断题。根据第四段第一句的because it confirms their expectations and hopes可知在他看来这只是人们的希望和预期，因此他认为那个影子不可能是人类的。

5.What did Curiosity Rover find?

A there was bacteria on Mars

B the Mars wasn’t habitable

C there was methane on Mars

D the life lived in a shadow.

解析：选C。C。细节理解题。 根据第五段第一句的in December that an instrument on the Curiosity Rover had identified methane可知好奇号能够确认的是在火星上发现了甲烷。故该题的正确答案为C。