While scientists are searching the cause of the Columbia disaster, NASA is moving ahead with plans to develop a new craft that would replace shuttles (航天飛機(jī)) on space station missions by 2012 and respond quickly to space station emergencies.
The space agency released the first set of mission needs and requirements several days ago for the orbital space plane (軌道航天飛機(jī)) , which would be designed to transport a crew of four to and from the International Space Station.
Although it includes few specifics, the plan states the orbiter (軌道航天飛機(jī)) will be safer,cheaper and require less preparation time than the shuttle. It would be able to transport four crew members by 2012--though it would be available for rescue missions by 2010. NASA says the craft should be able to transport injured or ill space station crew members to "definitive (決定性的) medical care" within 24 hours.
The release of the requirements showed NASA remains focused on the long-term priorities of space exploration, even as questions exist concerning the loss of Columbia and its seven-member crew on February 1st,2003.
Experts at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, have been working for years on a successor to the shuttle. The project, known as the Space Launch Initiative (倡議) , was divided last year into two parts--one focusing on a future launch vehicle, the other on a space station orbiter. The orbiter is expected to be ready sooner.
The program's managers say NASA officials have told them not to alter Space Launch Initiative in light of the Columbia disaster.
U. S. President George W. Bush asked Congress for about US$1 billion for Space Launch Initiative in 2004, funds that would be almost equally split between the Orbital Space Plane and Next Generation Launch Technology.
1.NASA plans to design the new space craft to__________.
A.control the International Space Station.
B.carry astronauts to the International Space Station.
C.transport equipment to the International Space Station.
D.train astronauts in space flights.
2.Besides its main mission, the orbiter would also be used as__________.
A.a medical research center.
B.a space station.
C.a space ambulance.
D.a passenger plane.
3.The design of the orbiter indicates__________.
A.NASA's determination to continue space exploration.
B.NASA's disadvantage in space technology.
C.the great pressure from Congress on NASA.
D.a heavy defeat for NASA.
4.When did NASA start working on a successor to the shuttle?
A.One year before the Columbia disaster.
B.One year after the Columbia disaster.
C.Immediately after the Columbia disaster.
D.Years before the Columbia disaster.
5.According to the passage, the 1 billion funds, if granted, would________.
A.be used to rebuild the International Space Station.
B.be awarded to the scientists working at NASA.
C.be shared by the two projects under the Space Launch Initiative.
D.be spent on the investigation of the Columbia disaster.
2017年職稱英語試題綜合B級(jí)閱讀理解模擬題答案
1.參考答案:B
參考解析:細(xì)節(jié)題。題干:NASA(美國國家航空航天局)設(shè)計(jì)新航天飛機(jī)的目的是什么?利用題干關(guān)鍵詞可以定位到文章第一段,此處指出研發(fā)這種新的航天器的目的是取代現(xiàn)有的航天飛機(jī),把航天員送到國際空間站去。故選B。
2.參考答案:C
參考解析: 細(xì)節(jié)題。題干:除了運(yùn)送航天員這一主要使命外,航天飛機(jī)還用來干什么?利用題干關(guān)鍵詞可以定位到原文第一段,可知它還被用做太空急救車,故選C。
3.參考答案:A
參考解析: 細(xì)節(jié)題。題干:這架航天飛機(jī)的設(shè)計(jì)表明了什么?利用題干關(guān)鍵詞可以定位到第四段,該段指出,新設(shè)備的發(fā)射表明NASA繼續(xù)關(guān)注長期太空勘探,盡管存在一些困難。所以選項(xiàng)A“NASA繼續(xù)探索太空的決心”為正確答案。
4.參考答案:D
參考解析: 細(xì)節(jié)題。題干:NASA什么時(shí)候開始著手設(shè)計(jì)后續(xù)的航天飛機(jī)?利用題干關(guān)鍵詞可以定位到倒數(shù)第三段第一句,該句提到研制工作很多年前就開始了,故選D。
5.參考答案:C
參考解析: 細(xì)節(jié)題。題干:10億美元的款項(xiàng)被批準(zhǔn)后用來干什么?利用題干關(guān)鍵詞可以定位到最后一段,該段提到,若10億美元的款項(xiàng)獲得國會(huì)批準(zhǔn),這筆款項(xiàng)基本上平分給the orbital Space Plane和Next Generation Launch Technology這兩個(gè)研究項(xiàng)目,故選C。
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