Can you imagine traveling to work in a one-man submarine?

Scientists believe that someday one-man submarines will be as numerous as automobiles today. One says,  “One day soon,  men will walk on the ocean floor as they do on the street. ” Perhaps during your life time,  people will travel,  work and live under the sea.

Ships carrying oil and articles of trade will move beneath the ocean. Passenger ships will be built to travel underwater,  where storms cannot delay them or make people seasick. Special underwater ships will be designed for mining,  fishing,  and exploring unknown areas. For military use,  there may be submarines that can fly and then dive underwater to approach the battle area without being seen.

First, however, the human problems associated with living in the ocean will need to be studied in detail. Many of these problems are the same as the problems of living in outer space: pressure, lack of oxygen, and weightlessness. Already scientists have begun to study these problems.

In 1963 and 1964 scientists and navy divers lived and worked underwater for several days in two projects which were called Sealab Ⅰ and Sealab Ⅱ. The Sealab Ⅱ experiment kept the scientists and divers 215 feet below the surface for thirty days, studying marine biology,  temperature,  pressure,  currents,  and ocean bottom geology.

Many puzzling questions remain unanswered,  however. Man’s warm blood makes it difficult for him to live long in the sea without some kinds of warmth. Can our blood be changed to fit new water surroundings?  What will happen to our muscles if we live in the water very long?  Will they become soft away from our usual land existence?  Will bones become weak and our blood pressure change?  Scientists are searching for answers.

By studying plants and animals deep in the ocean,  scientists may find a cure for some of our most serious human diseases. We may learn to use plants to increase our world food supply. Engineers may learn to use the power of the sea by building huge walls to catch the force of the tides.

61. In the passage, the author is talking to us about the problems of______ .

A. pressure, lack of oxygen, and weightlessness in the sea

B. living, working below the ocean

C. underwater submarine

D. walking on the ocean floor

62. According to the author, in future, passenger ships might be the ones that can_______ .

A. be used for mining, fishing and exploring unknown areas

B. carry oil and articles of trade

C. travel underwater, not be affected by storm

D. fly and then dive underwater

63. Whether we live in the sea or in outer space, first of all we should think of______

A. health and food

B. safety and temperature

C. temperature and oxygen

D. pressure,  oxygen and gravity

64. Which of the following is TRUE?

A. Sealab I worked for more than thirty days below the surface.

B. Sealab Ⅱ worked for thirty days under the sea for exploring unknown areas.

C. Sealab Ⅱ kept the scientists over 200 feet below the surface,  studying temperature,  pressure and so on.

D. Sealab I and Sealab Ⅱ kept the scientists 215 feet below the surface for thirty days.

65. To become used to living in the sea, we should try to_______ .

A. increase the amount of our blood

B. keep our blood warm

C. soften our muscles

D. warm our bones

Why should mankind explore space?  Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth?  These are questions that,  understandably,  are very often asked.

Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup(基因构成) as human beings. What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains,  and on into all possible areas and environments?  The wider the spread of a species,  the better its chance of survival. Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.

Nearly every successful civilization has explored,  because by doing so,  any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge,  we may be completely destroyed by the danger. With knowledge,  we can lessen its effects.

Exploration also allows minerals and other potential(潜在的)resources to be found. Even if we have no immediate need of them,  they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more than physical possessions. Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration. The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives. We have already benefited from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction,  in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems. Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products(副产品)of technological developments in the space industry!

While many resources are spent on what seems a small return,  the exploration of space allows creative,  brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works,  it also holds dangers. The danger exists,  but knowledge can help human beings to survive. Without the ability to reach out across space,  the chance to save ourselves might not exist.

While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets. It is true that the lifestyle would be different,  but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future.

56. Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraph 1?

A. To express his doubts.

B. To compare different ideas.

C. To introduce points for discussion.

D. To describe the conditions on Earth.

57. What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph 2?

A. Humans are nature-born to do so.

B. Humans have the tendency to fight.

C. Humans may find new sources of food.

D. Humans don’t like to stay in the same place.

58. The underlined word “spin-offs” in Paragraph 4 probably refers to­­_______ .

A. survival chances

B. potential resources

C. unexpected benefits

D. physical possessions

59. What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets?

A. Our genetic make up.

B. Resources on the earth.

C. The adaptive ability of humans.

D. By-products in space exploration.

60. Which of the statements can best sum up the passage? 

A. Space exploration has created many wonders.

B. Space exploration provides the best value for money.

C. Space exploration can benefit science and technology.

D. Space exploration may help us avoid potential problems on Earth.

For thousands of millions of years the moon has been going round the earth. At that time, the moon was the  36 satellite(卫星)of the earth. Today,  37 , the earth has many other satellites. All of them are 38 by man. These man-made satellites are very much smaller than the moon. However, some of them will still be going 39 the earth thousands of years from now.

Man-made satellites don’t 40 because they are going too fast to do so. As they speed along, they 41 to go straight off into space. They 42 out of the earth, or its gravity, which 43 them from doing this. As a result, they travel in an orbit(轨道)round the earth.

If a man-made satellite travels about at a certain height, it can keep going 44 round the earth, just like the moon. This is 45 it is above the atmosphere(大气), and there is nothing to 46 it down. If it travels 47 than that, it will be slowed down so much that it will 48 the earth.

Men have 49 spaceships to the moon and to the two 50 planets Mars(火星) and Venus(金星). By putting a camera on 51 the spaceship to the moon, men have been able to 52 photographs of the other side of the moon. This side is always 53 from us as the moon 54 the earth. The 55 were later transmitted by radio to the earth. They showed that the other side of the moon is very much the same as the side that turns towards us.

36. A. first       B. second         C. last           D. only

37. A. then      B. however        C. though         D. so

38. A. found     B. discovered      C. made          D. sent

39. A. with      B. round          C. behind         D. after

40. A. fall       B. rise            C. break         D. stop

41. A. want     B. wish          C. hope          D. tend

42. A. pull      B. push           C. take           D. launch

43. A. protects  B. keeps          C. makes         D. discourages

44. A. in and in  B. on and on       C. out and out     D. up and up

45. A. because  B. why            C. whether        D. when

46. A. hand     B. force          C. slow           D. bring

47. A. higher    B. longer           C. more          D. lower

48. A. leave away      B. fall to   C. go after         D. knock over

49. A. gave     B. offered          C. sent          D. drove

50. A. nearest   B. smallest         C. biggest       D. closest

51. A. board    B. right           C. left           D. top

52. A. form     B. film            C. catch        D. take

53. A. far       B. hidden         C. different       D. separated

54. A. leads      B. obeys          C. circles        D. pursues

55. A. information  B. letters         C. sounds       D. photos

 0  42595  42603  42609  42613  42619  42621  42625  42631  42633  42639  42645  42649  42651  42655  42661  42663  42669  42673  42675  42679  42681  42685  42687  42689  42690  42691  42693  42694  42695  42697  42699  42703  42705  42709  42711  42715  42721  42723  42729  42733  42735  42739  42745  42751  42753  42759  42763  42765  42771  42775  42781  42789  151629 

违法和不良信息举报电话:027-86699610 举报邮箱:58377363@163.com

精英家教网