C

　According to the Macmillan English Dictionary, alien is a word used to refer to a person or creature from a planet other than Earth. Aliens are beings that are believed to exist by many people. Is there evidence that aliens are real? Let us find out.

　Aliens have often been in the news. They have always been surrounded (包围) by mystery and interest of people all around the world. Some people have claimed (声称) to have been taken away by aliens. Some have claimed to have actually seen them. But there has been no certain evidence for the idea that aliens exist.

　Alien sightings have mostly involved sights of ape-like (类猿的) creatures or humanlike figures seen in the dark. At times, some people have even found blood or hair at the locations where aliens were seen. But it is likely that these sightings are of bears or apes. Possibly, people mistake bears or apes for aliens. Alien sightings could have probably been a result of human imagination（想象） followed with fear.

　Media (媒体) have always described aliens as having humanlike figures traveling in plate-shaped space vehicles. Aliens have long since appeared in films. The media image of aliens is perhaps deeply rooted in the minds of common people. It makes them believe in the reality of aliens. Aliens described in literature have always influenced young minds. But have media been able to produce any evidence that aliens exist? Probably, not!

　Alien sightings have mostly been followed with sightings of light in the night sky. People who claim to have seen aliens said they have witnessed mysterious lights in the sky. Some of them have also believed that the light came from the spaceships used by aliens. Plate-shaped objects traveling across the sky have often been taken as aliens' space vehicles. People have seen certain mysterious objects floating in the sky and called them aliens. Researchers say that some of these sightings might just be certain astronomical phenomena (天文现象).

　Unless aliens come to Earth and come into contact with us, we may not be able to say for sure that aliens are real. Don't you think so?

8. According to the third paragraph, alien sightings are most likely to be _____.

A. imaginary B. similar C. serious D. scientific

9. Why do many people believe in the reality of aliens?

A. Because humanlike figures have been seen in the dark.