科學傢們發現，我們對推動著宇宙膨脹的神秘能量 “暗能量” 的認識可能正在發生改變，甚至挑戰我們對時間和空間的理解方式。其中一些科學傢認為，他們可能即將迎來這一代天文學研究最重大的發現之一。
The discovery of Dark Energy in 1998 was in itself a shocking discovery. Up until then, the view had been that after the Big Bang, the expansion of the universe would eventually slow down under the force of gravity. But observations found that they were accelerating away from each other because of an unknown force.
1998 年 “暗能量” 的發現本身就令人震驚。在此之前，科學界普遍認為，在宇宙大爆炸之後，宇宙的膨脹速度會在引力作用下逐漸減慢。然而觀測結果卻顯示，宇宙中的天體還在加速遠離彼此，像是受到瞭一種未知的力的影響。
More shocking still would be confirmation that this Dark Energy force fluctuates, as suggested by these new results. That’s because it can’t be explained and would require a completely new theory of cosmology.
可能會更令人震驚的，是確認 “暗能量” 產生的力存在波動，而最新的實驗結果顯示出瞭這一結論的可能性。這一結論令人震驚的原因是這些波動尚不能被解釋，可能需要一套全新的宇宙學理論來對此進行說明。
The evidence has not reached the threshold of a discovery yet, but the evidence has been mounting, so much so that some of the most conservative and respected scientists involved in the programme are describing these results as a dramatic moment, which may lead to a paradigm shift in our understanding of the universe.
目前的證據還沒有達到科學發現的最低限度，但證據的數量正在不斷增加，以至於該項目中的一些最為保守且備受尊敬的科學傢都稱這些觀測結果的出現是一個激動人心的時刻，並且可能會使我們對宇宙的理解產生根本性轉變。
詞匯表
Big Bang 宇宙大爆炸，大爆炸理論認為的宇宙起點
accelerating 加速
fluctuates 波動
cosmology 宇宙學
threshold 最低限度，門檻
mounting 增加，增多
so much so …以至於
paradigm shift 范式轉移，指通常的想法或做法被新方式所取代
聽力練習
一、聽第一遍音頻，回答問題。
1. What is the main topic of this audio?
a. The Big Bang theory and the universe’s expansion
b. Evolving theories about Dark Energy
c. The role of gravity in the universe’s expansion
二、用一分鐘閱讀下列問題，然後聽第二遍音頻並回答問題。
1. Before 1998, scientists thought that the force of gravity would slow down the expansion of the universe.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given
2. Results from the new study suggest that the Dark Energy force _______.
3. Why are the results shocking?
a. because they can’t be explained
b. because they would require a new theory of cosmology
c. both
4. The new evidence has proven that previous theories about the universe were wrong.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given
三、聽第三遍音頻，將句子補充完整。（提示：可以反復聽，直到聽清楚每一個詞）
1. The discovery of Dark Energy in 1998 was ________________ a shocking discovery.
2. That’s because it can’t be explained and ________________ a completely new theory of cosmology.
答案
一、聽第一遍音頻，回答問題。
1. What is the main topic of this audio?
b. Evolving theories about Dark Energy.
二、用一分鐘閱讀下列問題，然後聽第二遍音頻並回答問題。
1. a. True. Up until [1998], the view had been that after the Big Bang, the expansion of the universe would eventually slow down under the force of gravity.
2. Results from the new study suggest that the Dark Energy force fluctuates.
3. c. both. The results would be shocking because they can’t be explained and would require a completely new theory of cosmology.
4. b. False. The evidence has not reached the threshold of a discovery yet.
三、聽第三遍音頻，將句子補充完整。（提示：可以反復聽，直到聽清楚每一個詞）
1. The discovery of Dark Energy in 1998 was in itself a shocking discovery.
2. That’s because it can’t be explained and would require a completely new theory of cosmology.
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