Question

4．Europe on Thursday launched the first satellite of its Copernicus Earth observation project that will supply valuable images in the event of natural disasters or even a plane crash．
     The Sentinel-la satellite，which was sent into Earth's orbit from Europe's spaceport in French Guiana9 will be used to monitor sea ice，oil spills and land use and to respond to emergencies such as floods and earthquakes．
The Copernicus proiect，for which the European Union and the-European Space Agency （ESA） have committed funding of around 8.4 billion euros （_$_11.5 billion） until 2020，is described by the _ESA as the most ambitious earth observation program  to date．
"The big step forward is that we can now cover every place on Earth every three to six days，"Volker Liebig，director of ESA's Earth Observation program，said ahead of the launch．"If you want to use images for disaster management support or to find a plane，then you want the images to be as fresh as possible．"But he cautioned you would first need to know roughly where a plane had crashed，which is not the case with the missing Malaysian Airlines jet．
    Copernicus also offers new business opportunities．Images can be downloaded free of charge，meaning companies can then use them to help deliver data to farmers on soil conditions or pest infestation，help oil companies decide where to drill new wells or make it easier for insurers to assess the risk of costly floods and fires．
     Sentinel-la，which will operate with a second satellite，Sentinel-1b，to be launched next year，has high-tech instrurnents that will allow it to record radar images of Earth's surface，even when the skies are cloudy or dark．As part of the Copernicus program，there will be 17 launches over the next decade．
61．For what purpose was the Sentinel-la satellite sent up into space？A
A．To improve observation of the earth．
B．To search for some missing planes．
C．To download free valuable images．
D．To predict floods and earthquakes．
62．What do we know about Copernicus Earth observation project，C？
A．It can cover every place on Earth at the same time．
B．It makes a profit by offering downloaded images．
C．It is financed by the European Union and ESA．
D：It has put two satellites into Earth's orbit successfully．
63．According to Volker Liebig，the Sentine-la satelliteB．
A．can locate the missing Malaysian Airlines jet
B．has advanced but limited functions
C．may cause some safety problems
D．doesn't work on cloudy days or at night
64．How does the Copernicus project benefit farmers？A
A．By supplying data on soil conditions．
B．By calculating the loss of costly floods．
C．By drilling oil wells in proper places．
D．By controlling the risk of potential fires．
65．What does the last paragraph mainly tell us about the Sentinel-1a satellite？D
A．Its operation
B．Its appearance
C．Its instruments
D．Its future．

Answer 1

分析 本文主要讲的是欧洲星期四发射的第一颗卫星的哥白尼地球观测项目，将提供有价值的图象在自然灾害或甚至飞机坠毁事件．

解答 61．A．推理判断题．根据第一段中的"its Copernicus Earth observation project that will supply valuable images in the event of natural disasters or even a plane crash"及第三段的内容可知，发射该卫星是为了提高对地球的观测能力．故选A．
62．C．细节理解题．根据第三段中的"The Copernicus project，for which the European Union and the European Space Agency （ESA） have committed funding of around 8.4 billion euros （$11.5 billion） until 2020"可知，C项的说法正确．故选C．
63．B．推理判断题．根据第四段的内容可知，我们现在每三到六天就可以对地球上的每一个地方进行观测，说明该卫星已经很先进了，但该段最后指出，要找到坠毁的飞机，需要首先知道飞机坠毁的大致区域，这说明该卫星的功能仍有限．故选B．
64．A．细节理解题．根据倒数第二段中的"Images can be downloaded free of charge，meaning companies can then use them to help deliver data to farmers on soil conditions or pest infestation"可知，哥白尼项目可通过提供关于土壤状况或害虫侵扰的数据来帮助农民．故选A．
65．D．段落大意题．最后一段主要介绍了Sentinel-1a将与以后发射的卫星一起工作，因此该段主要介绍了该卫星的未来．故选D．

点评 本文是新闻报道类阅读理解文章，阅读此类文章主要是要了解：
①新闻报道了什么事件；②事件是因为什么而发生的，相关背景如何；③文段中指出的事件发生过程中的突出细节是 什么；④事件造成的后果是什么；⑤事件的本质是什么，透过事件的表面现象，我们看到了什么社会问题．通过这样的梳理，我们就可以把新闻的脉络理清楚．这类材料命题点往往落在事实细节上．