太阳是我们最重要的恒星，是万物生长的基础。虽然太阳对地球万物相当重要，但同时它也放射出危险的射线，其中的solar flare危险系数极高。为了减少它的危害并了解其发生规律，科学家们对太空展开了一系列的探索！

　　The sun is our most important star. It can be dangerous to humans both here on the earth and in outer space. We need to find out all we can about its dangers.

　　Many stars are larger than our sun. However, the sun is about 250,000 times closer to the earth than any other star. Most of our energy comes from the sun's rays①. We can trace② electricity, wind, water power, and even the energy in our bodies back to the sun.

　　Not all kinds of solar③ rays reach the earth. The earth is wrapped in a blanket④ of air that keeps out rays that might harm us. Now people are exploring space. They are going outside their blanket of air. They have become interested in the dangerous solar rays.

　　Sometimes there are storms in the sun's hot gases. These storms are called solar flares⑤. During solar flares, the sun puts out heavy rays that move at faster speeds than usual. The rays can make spacecraft engines break down. They might cause people in space to become ill or die.

　　There is no way to tell when a solar flare will take place. Before it is safe for humans to go on long trips through space, we need to know more about solar flares. We must find better ways to protect people from the sun's dangerous rays.

　　Choose the best answer to each question.

　　1. The storms caused by the sun's hot gases are called ________ .

　　A. heavy rays

　　B. blankets of air

　　C. solar flares

　　D. dust storms

　　2. The story does not say so, but it makes you think that ________ .

　　A. the sun's rays are not important to us

　　B. dangerous solar rays do not reach the earth

　　C. solar flares are caused by electricity

　　3. The earth is wrapped in ________ .

　　A. a blanket of air

　　B. solar rays

　　C. dangerous solar flares

　　4. On the whole, this story is about ________ .

　　A. spacecraft going to the sun

　　B. the sun's dangerous rays

　　C. electricity, wind and water power