四、用括号中所给动词的正确时态填空,完成短文
Many centuries ago, people were afraid of comets (彗星) because they $^{(1)}$
(not understand) them. People $^{(2)}$
(think) comets a sign of bad luck. Thanks to scientists, so far people $^{(3)}$
(learn) about what comets truly are. A comet $^{(4)}$
(be) a big ball of ice and dust. One famous comet is Halley's Comet (哈雷彗星), which $^{(5)}$
(come) round every 75 or 76 years. It is named after English astronomer (天文学家) Edmond Halley, who first predicted (预测) the comet's return. He was right. It last $^{(6)}$
(appear) in the solar system (太阳系) in 1986 and $^{(7)}$
(return) again sometime in 2061.
Comets are fun to look at, and they are also very important. Now scientists $^{(8)}$
(make) further studies on comets to better understand our universe (宇宙).
解析:
1. 根据时间状语"Many centuries ago",此处用一般过去时的否定形式,填didn't understand。
2. 结合"Many centuries ago"的过去语境,此处用一般过去时,填thought。
3. "so far"是现在完成时的标志词,主语people是复数,填have learned。
4. 描述彗星的本质属性是客观事实,用一般现在时,主语a comet是单数,填is。
5. 哈雷彗星的回归规律是客观事实,用一般现在时,关系代词which指代单数的Halley's Comet,填comes。
6. 根据时间状语"in 1986",此处用一般过去时,填appeared。
7. 根据时间状语"in 2061",是将来时间,用一般将来时,填will return。
8. "Now"表明现阶段正在进行的动作,用现在进行时,主语scientists是复数,填are making。