《全新版大学英语-听说教程第五册》听力原文 College English Listening and Speaking Course 5 - Unit 1
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Unit One Space Exploration
Part A Pre-listening Task (1)
Listen to the facts and opinions about Space Exploration twice and fill in the blanks with the words you hear from the recording. Pay attention to the sentence structures that you might find useful in your discussions.
Facts and Opinions
1. Space exploration is exciting. But it is very costly and risky.
2. The achievement of sending astronauts to the lunar surface and back
represents the summit of human space flight.
3. Since ancient times, people have dreamed of leaving our planet and
exploring other worlds.
4. Rockets were invented in China in about the 11th century.
5. China launched its first artificial satellite on April 24, 1970, but it hasn't put
piloted spacecraft into orbit yet.
6. The space age began with the launch of the first artificial satellite by the
Soviet Union in 1957.
7. The ability to take part in space exploration represents the level of a nation's
scientific and economic development.
8. Beginning in 1960 weather satellites have sent back television images of
parts of the earth.
9. Satellite systems have enabled us to see what is happening around the
world.
10. W ithout satellite services, we wouldn't be able to view a live transmission of
the Olympic Games.
11. C hina is one of the nations that have the ability to conduct large-scale space
exploration.
12. S pace exploration has brought about great changes in our lives, such as
weather prediction and environmental monitoring.
13. T he cameras on a spaceship or satellite can provide a wealth of useful data. 14. I t is reported that another spaceship, named Ariane, exploded in the air
three minutes after its launch.
15. I n the near future, our country will be able to send its first piloted spaceship
into space.
16. S oviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space in 1961. 17. O n July 20, 1969, American astronaut Neil Armstrong and others aboard
Apollo 11 made a successful landing on the moon.
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18. A rmstrong left the first human footprint on another world. His famous words
on the moon were, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
19. I n the future, commercial flights into Earth orbit may become available and
tourists can take a spaceship for sightseeing in space.
20. W e are concerned that one day a satellite going out of order may crash onto
the earth and hit us.
21. A man-made disaster may occur in the event of a malfunctioning (出故障的) spaceship crashing into a densely populated area.
22. T o some extent the ability to carry out a space program is a measure of a
nation's economic strength.
23. T he reusable space shuttles are designed to lower the cost of launching
satellites into Earth orbit.
24. I n 1986 the Soviets launched the first space station that consisted of distinct
units, or modules.
Part A Pre-listening Task (1)
Pair/ Group Work - Additional question for discussion 1. What are the significance/benefits of space exploration? 2. What are the potential dangers that astronauts face?
3. Do you think the day will come when tourists can sit in a spaceship to go
around the world or to visit distant planets?
4. Do you know any movie that describes the activities of space exploration?
Talk about that movie if possible.
Sample
1. What are the significance/benefits of space exploration?
At the end of the 50s of the last century, the United States and the former Soviet Union carried out space competition (注释：centered on lunar exploration), setting off the first space exploration upsurge (高涨). From 1958 to the end of August 1976, the two countries successfully launched 45 lunar probes (探测仪). In July 1969, the American Apollo spaceship realized the first human moon landing, making epoch-making (掀天揭地) achievement in lunar exploration. Through space exploration, esp ecially lunar probing (探索), we have greatly heightening human understanding of the moon, earth and solar systems, propelling (驱使) and bringing about a series of innovations (一系列的创新) and development in basic science, science and technology, forming a large batch (一批) of high-tech industrial groups and producing remarkable social-economic efficiency. 2. What are the potential dangers that astronauts face?
There are many potential dangers involved in space ex ploration. Any mistakes or errors made by the spaceship designers and manufacturers would result a catastrophe (大灾难). Remember the explosion of the space shuttle Colombia? Just
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the tiny piece of metal broke off from the surface of the ship and that caused an explosion of it when re-entering the earth ’s atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts on board.
Of cause there are other potential for the astronauts, such as weightlessness and harmful solar radiation. We know that long-time exposure to theultraviolet radiation
will lead to development of skin cancer .
3. Do you think the day will come when tourists can sit in a spaceship to go
around the world or to visit distant planets?
Yes. I think the day will soon come. On April 8, 2004, it was reported that the US government has issued the first license for a manned suborbital (亚轨道) rocket, a step toward opening commercial space flight for private individuals for the first time. The vehicle, named SpaceShipOne, will carry three passengers into space on a test flight. And the fare, I guess, will be less than $10 million. Part B
Listening Task
(A)
Work Bank
Dennis Tito (人名)
NASA abbr. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (美国) 国家航空和航天局
cosmonaut n. 字航员，航天员
the International Space Station 国际空间站 cosmodrome n. 人造卫星及宇宙飞船发射场 Kazakstan n. (独联体〉哈萨克斯坦 strike a deal 达成协议 Siberia 西伯利亚
the Soyuz spacecraft {前苏联〉联盟号宇宙飞船 coupled with 与……联系/连接
aerospace engineering 航天工程学
Notes
1. Background Information
Space exploration is our human response to curiosity about the earth, the moon, the planets, the sun and other stars, and the galaxies. Manned and unmanned space vehicles venture far beyond the boundaries of the earth to collect valuable information about the universe. Human beings have visited the moon and have lived in space stations for long periods. Space exploration helps us see the earth in its true relation to the rest of the universe. Such exploration could reveal how the sun, the planets, and the
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stars were formed and whether life exists beyond our own world.
the space age began on Oct. 4, 1957. On that day, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik (later referred to as Sputnik 1), the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth. The first manned space flight was made on April 12. 1961. When Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut, orbited the earth in the spaceship Vostok (later called Vostok 1).
2. ... the Russian space agency launched him and two Russian cosmonauts aboard a rocket …
Tito first took the Soyuz spaceship for a journey to the International Space Station and then backed to the earth by landing in Siberia.
3. cosmodrome The Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakstan. It was built during the time of the Soviet Union and now is well known as a Russian satellite and spaceship launching site
The World's First Space Tourist (Part One)
On May 6, 2001, Dennis Tito, a 61-year-old California millionaire and former NASA engineer, became the world's first paying space tourist when the Russian space agency launched him and two Russian cosmonauts aboard a rocket for a journey to the International Space Station.
Tito and the crew blasted off (发射) from the cosmodrome in Kazakstan on time. Tito appeared calm, wearing a space suit and a smile. The trip by the Russian crew was almost delayed due to concerns expressed by NASA that the space station would get too crowded while an American crew did some necessary computer repairs. Fortunately for Tito, NASA said Friday that it had struck a deal (达成协议) with the Russian Space Agency, allowing him to launch on time without interrupting the American crew's work on the ailing International Space Station.
Tito paid the Russian space agency $20 million to fly in space, but Russia's partners in the space station -- especially NASA -- objected, saying his lack of training would require additional safety measures.
Tito has been training at the Star City, Russia space center, for a year, learning the details of a Soyuz spacecraft and practicing how to survive a landing in Siberia. Just days before the launch, he proclaimed that he was well prepared. He said, "The training is what counts and I've had a significant amount of training. And that, I think, coupled with my aerospace engineering background, puts me in a very strong position, as far as being able to function in space. "
Tito has no duties during the mission. He told reporters: "I'm not a fighter pilot, I'm a businessman, and I want to be able to absorb as much of this experience and relate it to as many people as I can." He said he would take pictures and tell people about the experience upon his return. Tito says his launch aboard a Russian rocket and six-day stay on the International Space
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Station demonstrates that anyone can -- and should -- experience space.
Questions 1.:
Listen to the recording and write down short answers to the following questions.
1. Where was Tito born?
He was a 61-year-old American millionaire and former NASA engineer. 2. When did Tito first become fascinated with space travel? On May 6, 2001.
3. How many cosmonauts were on board the Russian spaceship? There were altogether three cosmonauts on board.
4. What did Tito wear?
Tito wore a space suit and smile.
5. What was the destination of Tito ’s trip? The International Space Station.
6. How much did Tito pay the Russian space agency t fly in space? He paid $20 million for the trip.
7. Where did Tito receive his training? At the Star City, a Russian space Center. 8. What was Tito ’s duty the mission?
He had no specific duties during the mission. 9. How long would Tito stay in space?
He would stay in space for about six days. 10. Where would Tito land? In Siberia.
Questions 2:
Listen to the recording again and complete the following sentences with the information you obtain.
1. Tito and the crew blasted off (发射) from the cosmodrome in Kazakstan on time. Tito appeared calm, wearing a space suit and a smile.
2. Fortunately for Tito, NASA said Friday that it had struck a deal with the
Russian Space Agency, allowing him to launch on time without interrupting the American crew's work on the ailing International Space Station.
3. NASA, Russia's partners in the space station objected, saying his lack of
training would require additional safety measures.
4. Just days before the launch, he proclaimed that he was well prepared. He
said, "The training is what counts and I've had a significant amount of training. And that, I think, coupled with my aerospace engineering
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background, puts me in a very strong position, as far as being able to function in space. "
5. Tito said he would take pictures and tell people about the experience
upon his return. Tito says his launch aboard a Russian rocket and six-day stay on the International Space Station demonstrates that anyone can -- and should -- experience space.
(B)
Work Bank
seamstress n. 女裁缝
Queens, N. Y. 纽约市皇后区
Sputnik 人造地球卫星{特指前苏联1957年发射的世界第一颗人造卫星〉 Jet Propulsion Laboratory 喷气机推进实验室 Pasadena (美国城市名)
Mariner Mars probe 水手号火星探测器 yearn for 渴望，向往 snapshot n. 快照 trillion num. 万亿
manor house n. 庄园大厦 Los Angeles 洛杉矶(美国城市) Suzanne (人名) disposable e. 可任意使用的 put ... on hold 暂时搁置
Mir n. (前苏联)和平号宇宙空间站
MirCorp joint venture 和平号合资公司 afloat a. 飘浮的
Parachute v. 用降落伞着陆
Notes
1. Sputnik On Oct. 4, 1957, the Soviets launched the world's first artificial satellite, called Sputnik (fellow traveler). Although it was only a simple 58-cm (23-in) aluminum sphere containing a pair of radio transmitters, Sputnik's successful orbits around Earth marked a huge step in technology and ushered in the space age.
2. Wilshire Associates Wilshire Associates Incorporated is a global investment advisory film that offers investment products and services, including investment consulting, asset management, mutual fund management and analytical tools, to clients in over 20 countries, representing over 400 organizations with assets totaling more than $2.5 trillion.
3. The Russians didn't cut any corners... The Russians didn ’t cut back on any necessary training or lower the requirements for Tito.
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The World's First Space Tourist (Part Two)
Dennis Tito is the oldest child of working-class Italian immigrants whose ancestors came from the town of Tito in southern Italy. His father was a printer , and his mother was a seamstress (女裁缝). While growing up in Queens, N.Y ., Tito became interested in space travel. He says he dreamed of space flight when he saw Sputnik launch as a teenager in 1957. Yes, it was Sputnik that sparked his teenage imagination.
Tito earned bachelor's and master's degrees in aerospace engineering and went to work in 1964 for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. He charted flight paths for NASA's Mariner Mars probes, earning $15,000 a year . But he yearned for more -- more money.
Tito founded his own company Wilshire Associates in the early 1970s, using the mathematical intelligence he developed during his NASA career to analyze the stock market instead. His firm produces the Wilshire 500 Total Market Index, which is watched by Federal Reserve officials as an overall snapshot of U.S. stock markets.
By age 40, he had made his first million. The millions kept piling up; the investment firm now manages more than $10 billion in assets and advises on $1 trillion in assets. His personal fortune is estimated at $200 million.
Tito's passions include opera, sailing and buying fast cars -- but driving them slowly. Most are housed in the eight-car garage of his 30,000-square-foot
manor house with ocean views that he built on top of a mountain in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Suzanne, divorced shortly after the house was completed. His three children are in their 20s.
With a large disposable income, Tito toyed with the idea of flying to Mir in the early 1990s. The Russians had just sent up a Japanese journalist and a British chemist for cash, and Tito wanted to be the next guest cosmonaut. But the Soviet Union's collapse forced him to put his dream on hold.
The space dream came alive again in April 2000, when the MirCorp joint venture called in April 2000, in hopes of keeping Mir afloat.
Tito put millions into an account that the Russian space program could access once he was launched to Mir , and went to the cosmonaut headquarters in the Star City, outside Moscow. There, the 5-foot-5, 140-pound, fit-looking
businessman threw himself into training. "The Russians didn't cut any corners," he boasted.
When Russia decided to sink its 15-year-old space station, officials offered Tito an alternative destination -- the International Space Station, barely 2 years old. Another Soyuz spacecraft was needed at the space station as a fresh lifeboat, and the third, empty seat was offered to him.
Tito was thrilled with the change in travel plans. "They're different star hotels," he said of the two space stations.
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He took special delight in launching from the same pad where Sputnik took off on Oct. 4, 1957, and where the world's first spaceman, Yuri Gagarin, took off on April 12, 1961.
Tito was the third American to be launched aboard a Russian rocket, but the first to land in a Russian spacecraft. The Soyuz capsule parachutes down into remote Kazakstan.
All three of Tito's children were at the Baikonur Cosmodrome for his launch. Tito insisted he was not afraid or even nervous about his flight.
"If you're going to die of natural causes, does it pay to sit at home and be afraid to cross the street?" Tito said. "The main thing is, I'm not crazy." Questions 1 :
Listen to the recording and choose the right answers to each questions you hear.
1. Where was Tito born? A. In southern Italy B. In the UK . C . In the U.S .
D . The passage does not say .
正确答案：D . The passage does not say .
2. When did Tito first become fascinated with space travel? A . In 1955 when he took his first f1ight to New York. B . I n 1957 when the Soviets l aunched Sputnik .
C. In 1964 when he was on his first job in a jet l aboratory .
D. In 1959 when the U.S . l aunched its first sate lli te .
正确答案：B . I n 1957 when the Soviets l aunched Sputnik .
3. What was Tito's major in university? A. Mathematics. B. Finance.
C. Electronic engineering.
D. Aerospace engineering.
正确答案：D. Aerospace engineering.
4. Which of the following may NOT be the business of Tito's firm? A. Manufacturing. B. Financial advisory. C. Investment consulting D. Stock market.
正确答案：A. Manufacturing.
5. Which of the following is NOT true about Tito's hobby?
A. He likes singing.
B. He loves sailing boats.
C. He likes speeding in fast cars.
D. He is fond of big houses.
正确答案：C. He likes speeding in fast cars.
6. What was the main cause of Tito's abandoning his plan to fly to Mir in the early 1990s?
A. The U.S. government prohibited him from paying the Russians.
B. The Soviet Union broke up.
C. The Russians were not interested in Tito's application.
D. Tito was busy with his divorce case.
正确答案：B. The Soviet Union broke up.
7. What can be inferred about Tito's training?
A. The Russians gave him a hard time.
B. Tito complained a lot about the strict training.
C. Tito received strict training from both Russians and NASA.
D. Tito's training was no different from that for Russian cosmonauts.
正确答案：D. Tito's training was no different from that for Russian cosmonauts. Questions 2:
Listen to the recording again and complete the following statements about Tito’s Personal information.
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Speaking Task (1)
You have just heart a story about the world ’s first space tourist, Dennis Tito. What is your opinion of him and his flight? Exchange views with your partner. Reflections:
You may wish to cover the following points in your discussion.
1. What is special about the space tourist Dennis Tito?
2. What is the significance of Tito's f1ying in space?
3. What are the prospects of the space tourism?
4. What do you think: of Tito's courage to fly in space?
Dennis Tito, an American millionaire from California, flew into space at his own expense and became the first space tourist in the world. He stayed in space for six days and then landed in Siberia.
Dennis was born into a poor Italian immigrant family. From childhood, he had a dream of flying into space. He worked hard and accumulated a large fortune. Though he was a very successful businessman and could fly to anywhere in the world, he never abandoned his youthful dream -- flying into space. He managed to fulfill his dream at the age of 61. Of course, he had to pay a lot of money to the Russians and endure the hardship of strict space training.
We should not underestimate the importance of Tito's flying in space. His trip marked the beginning of a new era in space exploration. As the technology of space exploration has matured, ordinary people now can fly in spaceships if they wish and commercial space travel will probably become popular in the next 20 or 50 years.
But still, space travel at present involves danger. The recent breakup of the space shuttle "Columbia" is an example. Any minor mechanical fault or mistake could end in a disaster. Dennis Tito surely knew this danger but he demonstrated an exceptional courage in facing the difficulty and danger. He set a good example not only to his three children but also to all who are pursuing their teenage dreams. Speaking Task (2)
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Debating
As you probably know, china has been conducting research and experiments that are aimed at sending cosmonauts into space. The successful launch and landing of the unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou IV has pushed China closer to its goal of manned space flight. Of course, to achieve this goal, China has to spend a huge amount of money estimated at 10 billion Yuan. We all know that China is still a developing country and its education still lags behind that of the developed countries. Many young Chinese are denied chances of receiving higher education because of insufficient educational facilities. So why not use this amount of money to build more universities across the country?
Suppose you are the policymakers and you have the right to vote either for the space program or for building more universities, which decision would you make? Give your reasons.
Topic: Argument for or against “using our limited resources on the manned space program ” Perspectives:
1. From the perspective of supporter of the manned spaceship (for)
2. From the perspective of those rejecting the space program (against) Demos
From the perspective of supporters of the manned spaceship (for)
If I were a policy maker, I would definitely support our space program. It ’s significance is manifold(有多种用途的).
First, the launch of the unmanned spaceship Shenzhou IV is deemed(认为，相信) a symbol of national prestige(威望). This shows that our country is strong both militarily and economically, and China would become the third nation in the world to achieve manned space flight. The manned spaceship would also inspire Chinese people to love, support and defend our country.
Second, the spaceship program requires the development of advanced technology, especially in the manufacturing sector. So it would contribute to the economic growth of our country.
Third, the space program is an integrated program. It combines many branches of science, such as medicine, aerospace, genetic engineering, biophysics and even agriculture. Many experiments done on the spaceship would prove the quality of our lives. So the enormous amount of money spent would pay off in the end.
From the perspective of those rejecting the space program(against)
I don't think it's wise to spend so much money on the space program. There would appear to be no direct link between the unmanned or manned spaceship program and the quality of our daily life. As we all know, China is a
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developing country with a large population. We have so many domestic
problems waiting for us to solve and our economy is relatively weak. We cannot compete with the U.S. in space exploration. Besides, education in China lags behind that of the major developed countries. According to some statistic, only about one fifth of youth can receive higher education in China because of insufficient educational facilities. Poverty is still a serious social problem in
China, especially in the western part, which not only deprives many children of opportunities of going to school, but also slows down the process of applying science to production.
So why not spend the limited funds available trying to improve the existing educational facilities and to build more universities? If more young people can receive higher education, China would have a better resource of manpower to compete with the U.S. Only science and education will save our country in the long run.
Part C Additional Listening
Mir's End
Mir was a testament to Russian technology. Built to last five years, operational for 13, it's been called an accident waiting to happen, for the space station has survived fires, decompression and problems ranging from mechanical and computer breakdowns to a collision with an unmanned cargo ship.
Since its launch in 1986, Mir has been home to over 25 crews from more than a dozen countries. It's been a base for astronomical observations and scientific experiments as well as giving astronauts invaluable experience of long-duration space flight. But Mir's end, though welcomed by many, could affect the pace of future space exploration.
Mir really brings to an end, the end of that space race, uh, really closes off space race now. And I think to a certain extent, we won't see the challenge, that ... that competition to push the technology. So I think, we might see the exploration of the space slowing down from now on.
Attempts to extend Mir's life by private and commercial funding have failed. So the current crew which includes a French astronaut from the European Space Agency will return inside the Soyuz spacecraft currently attached to Mir .
When the last crew leaves Mir , it will be the end of an era. But one final crucial part of the mission is the decommissioning process. An automatic navigational system is already on board for its final descent into the Pacific Ocean next year .
Questions 1:
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Listen to the recording and choose the right answers to each question you hear.
1. For how many years of operation was Mir designed to last? A. Five years. B. Eight years. C. Ten years.
D. Thirteen years.
正确答案：A. Five years.
2. What happened to Mir during its flight? A. Some astronauts lost their lives.
B. It survived fires, computer breakdowns, etc.
C. It ran out of control many times.
D. It orbited the earth very smoothly.
正确答案：B. It survived fires, computer breakdowns, etc.
3. What effect would Mir have if it descended onto the earth? A. It would cause a terrible explosion on the earth. B. It would put the astronauts in danger .
C. It would have a bad effect on the pace of future space programs.
D. It would explode in the air , affecting many countries.
正确答案：C. It would have a bad effect on the pace of future space programs.
4. What is the crucial part of Mir's last mission? A. It's about the safety of the last crew.
B. It concerns the possible explosion of Mir in a densely populated area.
C. It is the final descent into the ocean.
D. Efforts are made to save the spaceship.
正确答案：C. It is the final descent into the ocean.
Part C Leisure Time Humor
Dogs
There was a man who had two dogs, named "Commonsense" and “Trouble". He always brought his dogs to the park every evening. One day, he only brought Trouble to the park, and left Commonsense at home.
While the man was so happy playing Frisbee (飞碟) with his friends, Trouble
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disappeared. The man quickly became sad and panicky. He looked for his dog everywhere but could not find it.
A young lady, wishing to help, asked the man: 'What are you looking for?" The man replied: "I'm looking for Trouble ..." "Pardon ...," said the lady.
The man replied in a higher tone, "I am looking for TROUBLE."
The lady was annoyed and asked:”Where ’s your COMMONSENSE?” The man, his mind only on his dogs ，answered:”At home ” Part C Additional Listening Movie Time
Watch an excerpt of a film and choose the right answer to each of the following questions.
Notes
choose v. 决定 Houston 休斯墩 alloy n. 合金
stress n. 应力; 重力 precision n.精确
propulsion 提涯，推动 untried a. 未经尝试的 celestial a. 天体的 hazardous a. 危险的
elllbark (on) v. 登上{船只等} ，开始
For All Mankind
We choose to go to the moon.
We choose to go to the moon…
We choose to go to the moon, in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.
We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used … for the progress of all mankind.
We shall send to the moon, 240,000 miles away from the control station in Houston, a giant rocket more than 300 feet tall, made of new metal alloys, some of which have not yet been invented, capable of standing heat and stresses
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several times more than have ever been experienced, fitted together with a precision better than the finest watch, carrying all the equipment needed for propulsion, guidance, control, communications, food and survival, on an untried mission, to an unknown celestial body, and therefore, as we set sail, we ask God's blessing on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked. Question:
1. Where did President John F . Kennedy make this speech? A. At a press conference in Houston.
B. At a welcome meeting to the astronauts.
C. At the White House.
D. On the site where the mission (代表团) officially started.
正确答案：D. On the site where the mission (代表团) officially started.
2. What did he mean by "We set sail on this new sea"? A. Landing on the moon. B. Exploring the Universe.
C. Launching the rocket from the sea.
D. Flying into space.
正确答案：A. Landing on the moon.
3. What is one thing that the US wanted to do by going to the moon? A. Win new rights.
B. Discover new places for man to live.
C. Find new ways to travel on the sea.
D. Create new metals.
正确答案：A. Win new rights.
4. What is known about the rocket to be sent to the moon? A. It weighed over 300 tons. B. It was 3,000 feet tall.
C. It was to be launched from Houston.
D. It was 240,000 miles away from Houston.
正确答案：D. It was 240,000 miles away from Houston.
Part C Additional Listening Time to Talk
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Look at these pictures and describe them one by one. If possible, also try to find something relevant to talk about.
Hints: Picture 1
Space Shuttle Endeavour , the fifth and most recent NASA space shuttle, construction of Endeavour in 1987, to replace the Challenger , was first launched in 1992, captured and re-deployed (重新部署) a stranded communications satellite, in 1993 made the first service mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, in December 1998 delivered the Unity Module to the Intemationa1 Space Station; the orbiter is named after the first ship commanded by James Cook, the 18th century British explorer , navigator and astronomer , maiden voyage in August 1768, Cook sailed to the South Pacific ，that explains the British spelling "Endeavour".
Picture 2
Space Shuttle Endeavour , circling around the Earth, large blue patches, the Earth's vast oceans, the grey and green part, the cargo bay of Endeavour , open, Endeavour's first mission to capture and re-deploy a stranded communications satellite, be much impressed by, this beautiful view of our Earth from outer space.
Picture 3
This picture was taken, before they were sent into space, American flag, seven astronauts, aboard shuttle Challenger , exploded during liftoff on January 28, 1986, lost their lives, the third person on the left, school teacher Christa McAuliffe, a solid-fuel booster rocket leak, led to a massive liquid-fuel tank explosion, during lift off from the launch pad; millions of American students, watch television in classrooms, as Challenger exploded, plan to participate in the lessons, Christa McAuliffe was to give, by TV from orbit, later , people around the world, watch the accident replayed (重播) from NASA videotape
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Picture 1
This is a picture of Space Shuttle Endeavour . It is the fifth and most recent NASA space shuttle to be built. Construction of Endeavour began in 1987 to replace the Challenger , which was lost in an accident in 1986. Endeavour was first launched in 1992 and on its first mission captured and re-deployed a stranded communications satellite. In 1993 it made the first service mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. In December 1998 it delivered the Unity Module to the Interactional Space Station.
The orbiter is named after the first ship commanded by James Cook, the 18th century British explorer , navigator and astronomer . On Endeavour's maiden voyage in August 1768, Cook sailed to the South Pacific. That explains the British spelling "Endeavour".
Picture 2
This is a picture of Space Shuttle Endeavour circling around the Earth. The large blue patches in the picture are the Earth's vast oceans and the grey and green part is the land. This picture a1so shows that the cargo bay of Endeavour is open. Probably that was Endeavour's first mission to capture and re-deploy a stranded communications satellite. I am much impressed by this beautiful view of our Earth from outer space.
Picture 3
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This picture was taken before they were sent into space. We see an American flag in the background. Seven astronauts were aboard shuttle
Challenger when it exploded during liftoff on January 28, 1986. They all lost their lives. The third person on the left was school teacher Christa McAuliffe. She and six other astronauts onboard were killed when a solid-fuel booster rocket leak led to a massive liquid-fuel tank explosion during lift off from the launch pad.
Millions of American students were watching television in classrooms as Challenger exploded. They had been planning to participate in the lessons that Christa McAuliffe was to give by TV from orbit. Later , people around the world watched the accident replayed from NASA videotape.
Part D Home Listening
Listen to the recording and choose the right answers to each question you hear.
Note
USSR abbr. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1 922-1991) 苏联 habitable a. 可居住的
Salyut n. “礼炮号” (前苏联空间站)
predecessor n. 前任， (被取代的)原有事物 Vladimir Titov (人名) Musa Manarov (人名) Valeriy Polyakov (人名)
interplanetary a. 星际的, 行星间的 calamity n. 灾难
rendezvous n. 会合g 宇宙飞船的会合 dock v. 在外层空间对接 Shannon Lucid (人名) I. Mir Space Station
In 1986 the USSR launched the core of the first space station to be composed of distinct UNITS, or modules. This modular space station was named Mir , meaning Peace. Over the next ten years additional modules were launched and added to station. The first of these, called Kvant, contained telescopes for astronomical observations and reached the station in April, 1987. Another module, called Klystal, was devoted to experiments in processing materials in zero gravity. In 1996 Prioda, the last module, was added, bringing Mir's total habitable volume to about 380 cubic meters (about 13,600 cubic feet).
Cosmonauts have lived aboard Mir even longer than their Salyut predecessors did. In 1987 and 1988 Mir cosmonauts Vladimir Titov and Musa
R e c o r d e r C o l e W i n G a o
Manarov achieved the first year-long mission. In 1995 physician-cosmonaut Valeriy Polyakov completed a record of 14 months aboard the station. Such long-duration missions have helped researchers understand the problems posed by lengthy stays in space -- information vital to planning for piloted interplanetary voyages.
Then big changes took place. In 1991 Russia had taken over the Soviet space program after the collapse of the USSR. Beginning in 1995 Mir was the scene of joint U.S.-Russian missions. The joint missions were to pave the way for the planned international Space Station. U.S. space shuttles docked with Mir nine times ， and seven U.S. astronauts lived aboard Mir for extended periods. One of them, Shannon Lucid, set the U.S. space flight endurance record of 188 days in1996.
By 1997 the 11-yaer-old Mir was experiencing a series of calamities that included computer failures, an onboard fire, and a collision with an unpiloted Progress spacecraft during a rendezvous exercise. Subsequent repair missions returned the station to a relatively normal level of functioning. The Russian Space Agency plans to abandon Mir and cause it to reenter the earth ’s atmosphere in 1999.
Questions:
1. How many modules is Mir composed of? A. There B. Four C. Five D. Six
正确答案：B. Four
2. What is the record for the longest duration aboard the station? A. One year and 18 days B. 380 days. C. 188 days
D. One years and two months
正确答案：D. One years and two months
3. What is the significance of lengthy stays in the space station? A. More information about the earth can be obtained. B. More experiments can be conducted on board.
C. Their experience can be useful for future piloted interplanetary voyages.
D. Some experiments on plants are time-consuming.
正确答案：C. Their experience can be useful for future piloted interplanetary voyages.
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3. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A. Mir was in service for a total of 11 years.
B. The computer system on board the station once failed.
C. A disastrous fire broke out inside one of the modules.
D. Mir once collided with another unpiloted spacecraft during a rendezvous exercise.
正确答案：A. Mir was in service for a total of 11 years.
Listen to the passage twice and answer the following questions by filling in the blanks with the information you have hear.
II. Space Shuttle
Note
disintegrate v. (使) 分解 deploy v. 部署
remote manipulator arm 遥控操纵机械臂 cargo bay 货物舱
reusability n. 可重复使用 cost-effective 有成本效益的 rocket booster 火箭助推器
February 1, 2003 was surely another disastrous day that shocked the whole world and on this day, space shuttle "Columbia" apparently disintegrated (分解) in flames over Texas minutes before it was to land, killing all seven astronauts aboard.
On April 12, 1981 -- exactly 20 years after Gagarin's pioneering flight as the first human in space-the orbiter "Columbia" flew a near-perfect maiden voyage (首航) . Over-the next 17 months, 20 more shuttle missions were
accomplished. Shuttle astronauts deployed and retrieved satellites using the orbiter's remote manipulator arm. In space walks, astronauts repaired ailing satellites. They conducted a variety of scientific and medical research missions in a module called Spacelab, which was stored in the orbiter's cargo bay.
NASA had hoped that the reusability of the shuttle would make getting into space less expensive. The space agency expected that private companies would pay to have their satellites launched from the shuttle, which would provide a cost-effective alternative to launching by a conventional, "throw-away" rocket. However , the cost of developing and operating shuttle proved enormous, and NASA found it was still a long way from reducing the cost of reaching Earth orbit. To offset these costs ，the agency pushed for more frequent launches -- in 1986