题目内容
The ISS project is a partnership of five - the US, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada.
At the moment, no program for its use nor any money has been put in place to support the platform beyond 2015.
One of the biggest issues stopping an agreement on station-life extension(延长期) is the human spaceflight examination ordered by US President Barack Obama.
The Americans are developing a new vision for space exploration, and the rockets and spacecraft they will need to start it. The future of US joining in the ISS is closely tied to the result of the examination.
Mr Dordain, the European Space Agency's (Esa) Director General, said no one partner in the ISS project could alone call an end to the platform. A meeting would be held in Japan later in the year where he hoped the partners could get something clearly going forward. He said it was also necessary the benefits(成效) were increased and the costs were reduced. Increasing the benefits could include finding new uses for the station.
Esa has called for ideas on how to use the ISS as a platform for Earth observation(观测站). Mr Dordain said the agency had received about 20 very good proposals.
On the issue of reducing costs, there were many ideas on the table, he explained.
He also questioned whether it was necessary for the station to have six astronauts at all times. If there were periods when little maintenance(维修) was required or the experiment load was light, could the ISS run on a smaller group of people, he suggested.
Construction of the space station should finish this year. Next month, two components built in Europe - a connecting node and a robotic control room - will be flown to the platform by the US shuttle Endeavour.
Tranquility and the Cupola, as they are known, will complete the non-Russian side of the ISS.
1.Why will America joining in the ISS be tied to the result of the examination?
A.Because America is the greatest power among them
B.Because America provides most of the money
C.Because they need America’s rockets and spacecraft
D.Because Obama ordered the human spaceflight examination
2.According to Mr Dordain, how should they do to reduce costs?
A.To find new uses for the station
B.To make little maintenance
C.To reduce the experiment load
D.To have fewer astronauts sometimes
3.Where do you think you can read this passage?
A.In a story book B.In a handbook
C.In an advertisement D.In a newspaper
1.C
2.D
3.D
【解析】
试题分析:这是新闻报道,报导了国际空间站协议将停止,原因是对飞船和火箭进行检测,从而决定是否继续这个项目。
1.细节题:从第三段的句子:The Americans are developing a new vision for space exploration, and the rockets and spacecraft they will need to start it.可知他们需要美国的火箭和飞船。选 C
2.细节题:从第五段的句子:On the issue of reducing costs, there were many ideas on the table, he explained. He also questioned whether it was necessary for the station to have six astronauts at all times.可知减少宇航员是是减少太空站开销的方法。选D
3.这是一篇新闻报道,应该是报纸上的文章。选D
考点:考查新闻报道类短文
点评:这类阅读理解要求考生根据文章所述事件的逻辑关系,对未说明的趋势或结局作出合理的推断;或根据作者所阐述的观点理论,对文章未涉及的现象、事例给以解释。考生首先要仔细阅读短文,完整了解信息,准确把握作者观点。
Astronauts on shorter shuttle missions(使命)often work very long days. Tasks are scheduled so tightly that break times are often used to finish the day’s work. This type of schedule is far too demanding for long missions on the International Space Station(ISS). ISS crewmembers usually live in space for at least a quarter of a year. They work five days on and two days off to mimic the normal way they do things on Earth as much as possible. Weekends give the crew valuable time to rest and do a few hours of housework. They can communicate with family and friends by email , internet phone and through private video conferences.
While astronauts cannot go to a baseball game or a movie in orbit, there are many familiar activities that they can still enjoy . Before a mission, the family and friends of each ISS crewmember put together a collection of family photos, messages, videos and reading material for the astronauts to look at when they will be floating 370 kilometers above the Earth. During their mission, the crew also receives care packages with CDs, books, magazines, photos and letters . And as from early 2010, the internet became available on the ISS , giving astronauts the chance to do some “web surfing(冲浪)”in their personal time. Besides relaxing with these more common entertainments, astronauts can simply enjoy the experience of living in space.
Many astronauts say that one of the most relaxing things to do in space is to look out the window and stare at the universe and the Earth’s vast land mass and oceans.
【小题1】What does the word “mimic” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?
A.find | B.lose | C.change | D.copy |
A.They are caring and thoughtful. |
B.They are worried and upset. |
C.They are impatient and annoyed. |
D.They are excited and curious. |
A.get more pleasure in space than on the Earth |
B.love to see the Earth from space |
C.regard space life as common |
D.find living in space a bit boring and tiring |
A.work for longer missions in space |
B.connect with people on the Earth |
C.spend their free time in space |
D.observe the Earth from space |
MOSCOW(Reuters) – Russia hopes the United States will extend the deadline to retire its space shuttles beyond 2011 and has heard unofficially it is possible, the head of Russia"s space agency was quoted as saying on Friday.
The U.S. space agency NASA(美国宇航局) plans six more missions by its fleet of aging space shuttles by late next year or early 2011 after the construction of the $100 billion International Space Station (ISS) is completed. The shuttles will then be retired. But the head of Roscosmos, Russia"s space agency, said he would prefer to see further shuttle missions to the Space Station, now in orbit 360 km (225 miles) above Earth. "From some sources we have learned that it is possible to extend the life of the shuttle beyond 2011," Roscosmos chief Anatoly Perminov was quoted by RIA news agency as saying. Reuters was not invited to the briefing(简报会). "Then the situation would change substantially and it would be possible to work jointly with the Americans, unlike now, when the main burden (for the ISS) lies with the Russian side," Perminov was quoted as saying by Interfax. Perminov said he had not been told this through official channels, Interfax news agency reported. He added that NASA"s new chief and former astronaut Charles Bolden would visit Russia"s Baikonur cosmodrome on September 30 in his first foreign trip.
NASA"s future strategy is currently under review with the main focus on possible flights to Mars. It is also encouraging a private space taxi project to the ISS. NASA"s current plan, conceived under former President George Bush after the Columbia accident, is to complete the space station, retire the shuttles and build new spaceships. A new rocket and capsule to transport astronauts to the ISS is also being developed but will not be operational until about 2015. Until then, NASA will rely on Roscosmos and must pay $50 million per seat for flights to the ISS by Soyuz capsules.
The U.S., Russian and Chinese governments are the only entities currently capable of human orbital space flight, although several U.S. companies are developing vehicles and support services to do so.
【小题1】What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A.NASA agrees to extend the life of the shuttles beyond 2011. |
B.Reuters was not invited to the briefing. |
C.The US would work jointly with Russia. |
D.NASA’s new chief would visit Russia’s Baikonur cosmodrome. |
A.completing International Space Station |
B.flights to Mars |
C.retiring the current space shuttles |
D.building new spaceships |
A.International Space Station will be quit |
B.Roscosmos will have to build more spaceships |
C.NASA will have to quicken the development of the new rocket and capsule |
D.Roscosmos will be burdened with the transportation to ISS |
A.China has already been involved in the project of flights to Mars |
B.it is certain the NASA will retire the current space shuttles as planned |
C.NASA is considering Russia’s suggestion |
D.NASA will be able to provide a private space taxi project to the ISS by 2015. |