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    How do the American people consider the existence of E.T. (Extra-Terrestrial) and UFO? Of late, the Gallup Poll has carried out an investigation on this subject, with American adults as its object. The results have shown that there are millions of people who believe in the existence of a “Third Contact” (which means not only those who have seen the UFO, but those who have seen the travelers of the UFO). The “Third Contact” is the original language used in the film An Encounter with the Unknown), and there is only one in every three who denies the existence of E.T. and UFO, they have become the minority as a result.
   
    The Gallup Poll in 1966 for the first time put forward a question to the general public. “Do you believe in the existence in other planets of the universe of organisms similar to those of human beings of the earth? 34% of the people of that time answered “Yes”, 46% answered “No”, the remaining 20% answered “Don’t know”. But in the more than twenty years since then, the number of people who believe in the existence in the universe of other intelligent organisms has gradually increased. This year there are already 50% of the people who answer that they believe in the existence of E.T.
   
    A representative of the Science Investigation Center of Abnormal Phenomenon has expressed the belief that this is due to the huge investment in the production of films and TV programs and the series of warmly welcomed SF (Science Fiction) films and TV programs which produce colossal impact on the audience. The representative further pointed out that “with the development of religious dissociation of the American society, the American people no longer regard the preaching of the “Bible” that the human beings on the earth are the only intelligent organisms of the universe as absolutely correct. On the other hand, scientific work has begun to show more concern over the probe of extra-terrestrials, which is also the reason for the creation of the above-mentioned situation”.

    As regards the investigation this time, 9% of the investigated people answered that they had seen things believed to be UFO. Compared with the statistics of the past, it is about the same as the values of 1973 and 1978 and slightly more than the 5% of 1965. But there is a small decline this year in the proportion of the people who believe in the existence of UFO. In 1973 it had increased to 54%, in 1978 to 57%, but the result of investigation this year has dropped to 50%.

    If the results of investigation are derived from the analysis of age, sex, and record of schooling of those who answer the questions, it may be said that those who believe in the existence of UFO and E.T. are noticeably numerous among the group of people relevant to the strata of college graduates over 50 years old. The proportion of men and women in the belief of UFO is almost similar, but as to the existence of E.T., the belief of the male is 60%, that of the female is 40%. If distinction is made according to regions, then those who live in the western regions are more inclined to be on the affirmative. (544 words)

Notes: Extra-Terrestrial外星人。 put forward 提出； as regards … 至于…。 dissociation 分离。 probe v./n. 探究；stratum  strata (pl.) 社会阶层 ；be inclined to do sth. 倾向于做某事；on the affirmative持肯定态度。

1. Which of the following best describes the content of the text?

  A. Recent Scientific Investigation
  B. Encounters with UFO and E.T.
  C. Mysterious Objects From Outer Space 
  D. Americans’ E.T. and UFO Consciousness

2. In the first paragraph the author most probably intends to convey to us the information that ____________.

  A. the majority of the American people, including children, believe in the existence of E.T. and UFO
  B. there are millions of people who have seen not only UFO but also the travelers of the UFO
  C. something like two thirds of adult subjects believe in the existence of E.T. and UFO
  D. the existence of E.T. and UFO is completely justifiable in the eyes of American people

3. According to the text, which of the following is not responsible for the universal belief in the existence of E.T.? 

  A. Greater interest in the studies of UFO in scientific work.
  B. The growth of religious dissociation of the American people.
  C. An explosion of films and TV programs relative to E.T.
  D. Abundant evidence in support of the existence of UFO.
   
4. It can be learned from the text that ____________.

A. the percentage of people who claimed to have seen UFO is greater in 1973 than this year
  B. the percentage of people who claimed to have seen UFO is smaller this year than in 1965
  C. there are proportionally as many believers of the existence of UFO in 1978 as in 1973
  D. the proportion of people who believe in the existence of UFO has diminished this year as compared with 1973

5. It can be seen from the text that ____________.

  A. there are more believers of UFO and E.T. among educated people
  B. people who live in the western regions tend to believe more in the existence of E.T. and UFO
  C. in terms of sex, more women believe in the existence of E.T. and UFO
  D. there are more children than adults who believe in the existence of UFO and E.T.