Unless we spend money spotting and preventing asteroids now, one might crash into Earth an

d destroy life as we know, say some scientists.

Asteroids are different forms of the meteoroids that race across the night sky. Most orbits the sun far from Earth and don't threaten us. But there are also thousands of asteroids whose orbits put them on a violent coming course together with Earth.

Buy $ 50 million worth of new telescopes right now. Then spend $10 mil]ion a year for the next 25 years to locate most of the space rocks. By the time we spot a fatal one, the scientists say, we'll have a way to change its course.

Some scientists favor pushing asteroids off course with nuclear weapons. But the cost wouldn't be cheap.

Is it worth it？ Two things experts consider when judging any risk are: 1) How likely the event is; and 2) How bad the consequences if the event occurs. Experts think asteroids big enough to destroy lots of life might strike Earth once every 500,000 years. Sounds pretty rare but if one did fall it would be the end of the world. "If we don't take care of these big asteroids, they'll take care of us. "Says one scientist. "Its that simple."

The cure, though, might be worse than the disease, Do we really want fleets of nuclear weapons silting around on Earth？ "The world has less to fear from doomsday rocks than from a great nuclear fleet set against them. "Said a New York Times article.

What does the passage say about asteroids and meteoroids？

A．They are heavenly bodies similar in nature.

B．There are more asteroids than meteoroids.

C．They are heavenly bodies different in composition.

D．Asteroids are more mysterious than meteoroids.