正文文本:

What is the term for a space rock that enters Earth's atmosphere and hits the ground? Meteor, meteoroid, meteorite, or meteoroid? Meteoroids become meteors when they enter our atmosphere and meteorites when they hit the ground.

Just like meteoroids are relatively small rocks that are zipping around in space, asteroids are bigger ones and two of those have been in the news recently. The first one passed very close by Earth on August 16th. It was about the size of a car and scientists say it probably wouldn't have hurt anyone if it had entered our atmosphere. But NASA missed it. The agency didn't pick up on the asteroid until after it had whizzed by less than 2,000 miles away. And researchers say that makes it the closest asteroid ever known to pass by Earth and not hit it.

NASA didn't miss another asteroid that's headed our way. This one's about six and a half feet in diameter and should zip by on November 2nd. Scientists say the chance of this rock hitting Earth is about 4/10 of 1%. They don't expect it to have a major impact or to disrupt the U.S. election the next day.

参考译文:

以下哪个是进入地球大气层并撞向地面的太空岩石的术语？流星、流星体、陨石还是陨星体？流星进入地球大气层时会变成流星，撞击地面时变成陨石。

流星体是在太空中快速移动的相对较小的岩石，而小行星是更大一些的岩石，其中两颗小行星近日出现在新闻中。第一颗小行星在8月16日与地球擦肩而过。其大小与小汽车差不多，科学家表示，即使其进入地球大气层，可能也不会造成任何伤害。但美国国家航空航天局（简称NASA）未观测到这颗小行星。该机构直到小行星飞到距地球2000多英里处时才发现它。研究人员表示，这是目前已知距离地球最近但并未发生撞击的小行星。

美国国家航空航天局没有错过另一颗逼近地球的小行星。这颗小行星的直径约为6.5英尺，应该会在11月2日与地球擦肩而过。科学家表示，这颗小行星撞击地球的几率约为0.4%。他们预计这不会产生重大影响也不会干扰第二天的美国大选。

重点讲解：

1. pass by 从…旁边走过；经过；

I see them pass by my house every day.

我每天看见他们从我家旁边经过。

2. pick up 发现，找到；

I picked up the faint sound of a car in the distance.

我听到远处传来微弱的汽车声。

3. in diameter 直径；对径；

This hole was a scant. 23 inches in diameter.

这个洞眼的直径只有0.23英寸。

4. expect sb. to do sth. 预料；预期；预计；

I didn't expect him to become a successful writer.

我没想到他会成为一个成功的作家。