Urlock skillfully guided his spaceship toward an open area with little vegetation.The disk-shaped vehicle landed with great force, digging into the soft desert sand.Relieved, Urlock signaled the landing party, which was made up of intergalacticscientists and adventurers from throughout the sector. They hoped this unchartedplanet would yield discoveries beneficial to all. They remained unaware that thisplanet, Earth, was inhabited with a species protective of its resources.Why does the author set this science-fiction scene in the desert?A desert is the most logical place for a spaceship to land because there is little vegetation.Deserts are sparsely populated and for a time this will allow the aliens to continue to believe Earth is uninhabited.By landing in the desert, the spaceship is less likely to be detected by humans who would be afraid of the crew.
By setting the scene in the desert, the author creates a sense of isolation and desolation. Deserts are often seen as empty and inhospitable, making it an ideal location for a secret landing. It suggests that the spaceship has intentionally chosen a remote and hidden spot to avoid detection. Additionally, the lack of vegetation in the desert makes it easier for the spaceship to land without causing significant damage to its surroundings.
answer?
The correct answer is:
By landing in the desert, the spaceship is less likely to be detected by humans who would be afraid of the crew.
One must disregard an abundance of evidence when asserting that the probabilityof life on other planets is low. Our Sun is merely one of the more than 100 billion stars inour galaxy, and there are billions of galaxies overall. So yes, it seems probable thatamong all those stars someone is also wondering if anyone is looking back at them. Orperhaps extraterrestrials are on their way here to make first contact. Whether that wouldbe a congenial meeting is a far different postulation.Why does the author include the last sentence about meeting extraterrestrials?to indicate that finding definitive proof of life on other planets may not necessarily be a good thingto suggest that people on Earth would never be able to believe proof of life on other planetsto convince readers to support space travel in search of proof of life beyond Earth
The author includes the last sentence about meeting extraterrestrials to suggest that the nature of the encounter with extraterrestrial life is uncertain. This statement introduces the idea that while the existence of extraterrestrial life may be probable, the outcome and nature of any potential interaction with them is unknown. It leaves room for speculation and allows the reader to consider both positive and negative possibilities for contact with extraterrestrial beings.
Based on the given passage, the author sets this science-fiction scene in the desert for a specific reason. To understand why, we can analyze the provided options:
1. Deserts are the most logical place for a spaceship to land because there is little vegetation.
This option suggests that deserts are chosen as landing sites due to the lack of vegetation. However, the passage does not explicitly state this as the reason. While it is true that deserts have less vegetation, there could be other factors influencing the decision.
2. Deserts are sparsely populated, and for a time, this will allow the aliens to continue to believe Earth is uninhabited.
This option implies that the sparse population in deserts would help the aliens to maintain their belief in Earth's uninhabited state. Although it is mentioned that the landing site is in an open area with little vegetation, it does not directly link this choice to the aliens' assumption about Earth's population. Therefore, this option does not align with the context provided.
3. By landing in the desert, the spaceship is less likely to be detected by humans who would be afraid of the crew.
This option suggests that the spaceship lands in the desert to avoid detection by humans who may be fearful of the aliens. Considering the harsh and less inhabited nature of deserts, it is plausible that the crew chooses this location to remain undetected. This option aligns with the context given, as it implies a strategic choice by the characters.
Taking all of this into account, option 3 seems to be the most reasonable explanation based on the passage. The author sets the scene in the desert to emphasize the crew's intention to go undetected by landing in a remote, less populated area.