existed.

　　First discovered in 2011, scientists now believe it covers some 27, 000 square miles and contains more than 100 billion tons of liquid(液体) water.

　　The melt-water reservoir (蓄水池) was discovered under the ice, in a south-eastern part of Greenland, by researchers from the University of Utah about two years ago. According to the BBC, at first the researchers expected to find waters stored in small spaces between the rocks. What they actually found was a massive reservoir of water trapped in the ice, kind of like the liquid in a snow-cone. Newser quotes lead study author Richard Forster saying, "we thought we had an understanding of how things work in Greenland, but here is this entire storage system of water we didn't realize was there."

　　OK, so snow water under the ice in Greenland; why is this a big deal? Well, researchers say it could provide new clues to understanding Greenland's ice melts and sea level rise in general. Voice of America quotes Forster saying, "of the present sea level rise, the Greenland ice sheet is the largest contributor, and it is melting at record levels, so understanding the aquifer's (地下蓄水层) capacity to store water from year to year is important, because it fills a major gap in the overall connection of melt-water runoff and sea levels." According to researchers, the water is 15 to 60 feet beneath the surface and likely stays fluid because it's covered by snow. They're unsure how old the reservoir is or whether it flows into the ocean.

8.What is true about the water newly found in Greenland?

A. It is probably in the form of liquid. B. It is widely stored between the rocks.

C. It finally flows into the ocean. D. It came into being only a few years ago.

9. The discovery of water in Greenland is very important because ______.

A. it confirms scientists' previous guess about the storage of water in Greenland

B. it throws new light on the relation between Greenland's melt water and sea level rise

C. it provides information about the possible amount of water storage in Greenland

D. it solves the problem of the shortage of fresh water in the world for good