【Atlas101托福背景知識】土星環之謎

在托福考試中，考生會遇到各式各樣的學術型題目。今天Atlas101將和大家分享天文學（Astronomy）相關的背景知識，一起認識「土星環」（Saturn’s Rings）！！閱讀本篇文章，希望能夠幫助托福（TOEFL iBT）托福考生多認識不同領域的知識，累積更多的單字。

如果您想更有系統性地學習托福的背景知識，讓閱讀和聽力進步，歡迎進一步Atlas101線上托福課程。課程不僅可以強化您的閱讀和聽力能力，還有專業老師提供一對一的指導，幫助你的托福口說和寫作進步，更輕鬆、更有信心地拿下托福考試。馬上聯絡我們！

Table of Contents

主題摘要與托福單字

Saturn’s Ring Structure（土星環的結構）:

Saturn’s ring system, composed of water ice particles, exhibits a complex structure with seven main rings that extend beyond the distance between the Earth and the Moon.（由水冰微粒構成的土星環系統呈現出複雜的結構，包括七個主要環，其範圍超越了地球和月球之間的距離。）

Origin of Saturn’s Rings（土星環的起源）:

A collision event between two moons hundreds of millions of years ago is suggested as one plausible explanation for the origin of Saturn’s rings.（數億年前，兩顆衛星之間的碰撞事件被提出作為土星環形成的一種合理解釋。）

Saturn’s Rings Disappearance Phenomenon（土星環的消失現象）:

In 2025, Saturn’s rings will seemingly vanish from Earth’s view due to the planet’s rotation, linked to changes in its axial tilt occurring every 13 to 15 years.（2025年，由於土星的自轉，土星的環將似乎從地球的視野中消失，這與土星軸傾角每13到15年發生變化有關。）

grandeur (n.) – 宏偉，壯麗
concentric (adj.) – 同心的
variations (n.) – 變化
intricate (adj.) – 複雜的
phenomena (n.) – 現象
collision (n.) – 碰撞
outermost (adj.) – 最外側的
particle (n.) – 顆粒
orbital (adj.) – 軌道的
induce (v.) – 引起，導致
destabilization (n.) – 不穩定
axial (adj.) – 軸的
align (v.) – 排列，調整
edge-on (adj.) – 邊緣排列的
tilt (n.) – 傾斜

延伸閱讀：The Enigma of Saturn’s Rings

When we delve into the diversity of the plant kingdom, flowering plants (Angiosperms) and non-flowering plants (Gymnosperms) emerge as two major classifications, primarily distinguished by their unique reproductive systems and modes of reproduction.

Flowering plants are renowned for their exquisite floral structures, encompassing petals, sepals, stamens, and pistils. These structures form an efficient reproductive system. However, the origin and earliest form of flowering plants remain a subject of debate.

Most scholars trace the origin of flowering plants back to approximately 140 million years ago in the Cretaceous period, with the earliest flowering plants believed to be simple monocots. Over time, the flowers of flowering plants gradually evolved into complex structures, a process closely linked to the evolution of animals. Flowers are not merely visually attractive but also functional structures evolved for the effective dissemination of seeds.

The seeds of flowering plants develop within the fruit, formed when pollen fertilizes the pistil. This unique evolutionary mechanism enhances the efficient dispersal of seeds through various means such as wind, water, and animals, contributing to the successful growth of new plants. The evolution of flowers primarily aims to facilitate plant reproduction, providing a centralized location for pollen and ovules to unite and form seeds. The evolution of fruits further increases seed dispersal efficiency, concurrently establishing a coevolutionary relationship with pollinators, enhancing the success of reproduction.

In stark contrast to flowering plants, non-flowering plants are distinguished by their primitive characteristics. This category includes conifers such as pine, spruce, and fir trees, along with ferns. The reproductive structures of these plants are relatively simplified, typically featuring cones or pine structures that expose seeds, rather than floral forms.

Ferns reproduce through spores located beneath their leaves. When the spores mature, they rupture, releasing dark brown powdery substances. Once in contact with warm, moist soil, the reproductive process commences. Given suitable humidity, light, and temperature conditions, new ferns begin to grow. The reproductive strategy of ferns is comparatively primitive, relying on the dispersal and germination of spores.