Many people are aware of the beauty of a solar eclipse (日食), but are surprised to learn that lunar eclipses are often just as impressive. While total solar eclipse lasts only for a few minutes and can be seen only in a small area of a few kilometers, total lunar eclipse can last for several hours and can be seen over much of the planet. In fact, the beauty and stability of lunar eclipses make them a favorite of both amateur and professional photographers.
Lunar eclipses generally occur two or three times a year, and are possible only when the Moon is full. When we see the Moon, we are actually seeing sunlight reflected off the surface of the Moon When the Earth is positioned in between the Moon and the Sun, however, the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon, and a lunar eclipse occurs.
The type of lunar eclipse - total, partial, or penumbral (半影) - that occurs depends both on how much of the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow and through which part of the shadow it passes. A penumbral eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's outer shadow. This type of eclipse is brief and frequently goes unobserved by all but astronomers. By contrast, total and partial eclipses occur when all or part, respectively, of the Moon passes through the umbra（本影） shadow of the Earth. These eclipses are quite easy to see and are widely observed.
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to watch. Solar radiation that occurs during an eclipse of the Sun can cause a form of burns of one's eyes known as eclipse blindness. In fact, the only way to safely view a solar eclipse is by using specially designed equipment. However, since the Moon's light is reflected sunlight, it is pletely safe to watch a lunar eclipse without any special equipment, although a pair of binoculars can certainly help the viewer appreciate the beauty of this phenomenon
【小题1】The underlined word stability most probably means .A．strengthB．positionC．steadinessD．visibility【小题2】According to the passage, a partial lunar eclipse occurs .A．when the Moon passes between the Sun and the EarthB．when all of the Moon passes through the Earth's umbra shadowC．when only a part of the Moon passes through the Earth's outer shadowD．when only a part of the Moon passes through the Earth's umbra shadow【小题3】The passage implies that penumbral eclipses are .A．longer-lasting than most solar eclipsesB．more mon than partial or full lunar eclipseC．the result of the shadow cast by the Moon onto the EarthD．more difficult to observe than other types of lunar eclipse【小题4】According to the passage, it is safe to watch a lunar eclipse, unlike a solar eclipse, because .A．moonlight is less strong than sunlightB．a lunar eclipse is briefer than a solar eclipseC．a lunar eclipse lasts much longer than a solar eclipseD．special equipment can be employed to view a lunar eclipseC
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(答案→)C
解析：
本文介绍了月食发生的条件、月食的类型和观看。月食只能在满月时发生，有月全食、月偏食和半影月食三种情形：月全食指月球全部进入地球本影，月偏食指月球部分进入地球本影，半影月食指月球离地球较远、只是从地球本影最外缘掠过；观看月食是完全安全的，无需设备。
【小题1】词义推断题。第一段…total lunar eclipse can last for several hours and can be seen over much of the planet.说的是月全食时间上的持久性和可见区域的广阔性。这种特性使其成为专业摄影师和业余摄影爱好者的最爱。stability指的是月全食在时间上的持久稳定，词义与steadiness相近，故C项正确。
【小题2】细节题。如出现A项描述的情况，会发生日食；B项情况出现会发生月全食；C项情况出现发生半影月食，即月球从地球本影外缘经过，此时月球光线略略变暗，很难被人注意。由第三段…total and partial eclipses occur when all or part, respectively, of the Moon passes through the umbra shadow of the Earth. 可知，月球全部进入地球本影发生月全食，部分进入地球本影发生月偏食。故D项正确。
【小题3】细节题。由A penumbral eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's outer shadow. This type of eclipse is brief and frequently goes unobserved by all but astronomers.可知，半影月食时间短，经常不为人注意。故选择D项。
【小题4】细节题。最后一段…since the Moon's light is reflected sunlight, it is pletely safe to watch a lunar eclipse without any special equipment告诉我们，月光是太阳光的折射，所以观察月食是绝对安全的。原因只能是月光比太阳光线弱。选择A项。