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Until modern times, no one knew what comets were. They were feared as signs warning some sad events.The very word“comet" comes from the Greek“kometes", which means“the long-haired one." The Greeks and Romans believed that comets were evil spirits with flowing beards. In the Middle Ages, the Church declared that comets were sent by God to punish man. An astronomer of the Middle Ages said the comet of 1531“was the color of blood. An ugly spirit with long hair rode at its head. It looked so terrible and produced such fear in the common people that some were frightened to death and others fell sick." These views prevailed until late into the seventeenth century, when the English astronomer Edmund Halley noticed similarity in the paths of the comets of 1456, 1531, 1607 and 1683. Halley became certain that these comets were one and the same comet turning round and round the sun like a planet. He predicted that this comet would return about the end of 1758 or early in 1759, since it had been seen regularly every seventy-five or six years. Halley himself did not live long enough to see his comet return. But his prediction proved to be correct, for on march 12, 1759 a comet was seen blazing across the sky. This was the first time in history that a comet had been definitely expected. Since 1759, it will return in 1985 or 1986. The comet is named Halley.s Comet, after the man who accurately predicted its appearance. 29. The best title for this passage is A. Understanding Comets B. Halley.s FindingsC. Halley.s Predictions D. The Composition of Comets 30. Comets are like planets in that they, A. have moons of their own B. can be seen at regular intervals C. blaze across the sky D. orbit the sun 31. The Romans believed that comets were A. stars shining brightly in the sky B. planets turning round and round the sun C. evil spirits with long beards D. signs predicting some cheerful events 32. In the Middle Ages an astronomer described the comet of 1531 as A. something of red color B. something sent by God to punish man C. an evil spirit that would bring illness to people D. something riding the back of a bloody colored horse 33. According to the passage, the comets of 1456, 1531, 1607 and 1682 were A. different comets B. the same comet C. first seen by Edmund Halley D. named by Halley
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