【成人自考】【英语阅读（二）】【00596】2023年10月考试真题
(1).Geophysicist Dr. Andrea Donnellan of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., remembers the morning of January 17, 1994, like few others. Like millions of other Southern California residents, she was shaken from her sleep in her normally tranquil foothill community home as a large earthquake caused a mountain, located just 30 miles away, to grow nearly 15 inches higher, all in a matter of seconds.
"Large earthquakes are always disconcerting," she said. "Being a geophysicist I was immediately interested in how large the earthquake was and where it had occurred."
Less than two months before that fateful day, Donnellan and colleagues from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology had published a landmark paper in the journal Nature on ground distortion north of LA's San Fernando Valley. Six years of relatively sparse data from a fledgling network of Global Positioning System (GPS) deformation monitors, that had been developed and installed around Southern California by scientists at JPL and other organizations, had detected that Earth's crust was being squeezed closed across the Ventura Basin. The data showed the area's faults were accumulating strain, and they gave the scientists clear indications of the style and relative size of an earthquake that might strike there, even though the faults there do not all break the surface. They placed no time frame on when such a temblor might occur, however.
"The Northridge GPS measurements solidified in many scientists" minds how valuable data from space-based instruments could be for collecting precise measurements of Earth's crustal movements," said Donnellan. "We knew that something was up because an earthquake had not occurred there historically and yet a large amount of strain needing to be released had accumulated. After the earthquake, additional GPS data made it possible to rapidly and uniquely determine where the fault ruptured and to measure how the earthquake had deformed Earth's surface."
In the decade since Northridge, a high-tech, GPS-based ground deformation network was installed within Southern California. Called the Southern California Integrated GPS Network, it provides a continuous measurement of ground deformation at 250 locations with a precision of a few millimeters, measuring the slow buildup of deformation along faults. In addition, advances in satellite-based radar Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and lidar are now used in combination with the GPS measurements to provide images of ground deformation for the entire Southern California earthquake region. These new technologies, coupled with powerful new computer modeling capabilities, have revitalized research in understanding earthquakes and earthquake processes. The new technologies will substantially refine earthquake hazard maps.
The sentence "Large earthquakes are always disconcerting." means that______.
A.large earthquakes are usually unpredictable正确答案A
B.Dr. Donnellan is bewildered by large earthquakes
C.large earthquakes always cause mountain moves
D.geophysicists should take more interest in large earthquakes
(2).Geophysicist Dr. Andrea Donnellan of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., remembers the morning of January 17, 1994, like few others. Like millions of other Southern California residents, she was shaken from her sleep in her normally tranquil foothill community home as a large earthquake caused a mountain, located just 30 miles away, to grow nearly 15 inches higher, all in a matter of seconds.
"Large earthquakes are always disconcerting," she said. "Being a geophysicist I was immediately interested in how large the earthquake was and where it had occurred."
Less than two months before that fateful day, Donnellan and colleagues from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology had published a landmark paper in the journal Nature on ground distortion north of LA's San Fernando Valley. Six years of relatively sparse data from a fledgling network of Global Positioning System (GPS) deformation monitors, that had been developed and installed around Southern California by scientists at JPL and other organizations, had detected that Earth's crust was being squeezed closed across the Ventura Basin. The data showed the area's faults were accumulating strain, and they gave the scientists clear indications of the style and relative size of an earthquake that might strike there, even though the faults there do not all break the surface. They placed no time frame on when such a temblor might occur, however.
"The Northridge GPS measurements solidified in many scientists" minds how valuable data from space-based instruments could be for collecting precise measurements of Earth's crustal movements," said Donnellan. "We knew that something was up because an earthquake had not occurred there historically and yet a large amount of strain needing to be released had accumulated. After the earthquake, additional GPS data made it possible to rapidly and uniquely determine where the fault ruptured and to measure how the earthquake had deformed Earth's surface."
In the decade since Northridge, a high-tech, GPS-based ground deformation network was installed within Southern California. Called the Southern California Integrated GPS Network, it provides a continuous measurement of ground deformation at 250 locations with a precision of a few millimeters, measuring the slow buildup of deformation along faults. In addition, advances in satellite-based radar Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and lidar are now used in combination with the GPS measurements to provide images of ground deformation for the entire Southern California earthquake region. These new technologies, coupled with powerful new computer modeling capabilities, have revitalized research in understanding earthquakes and earthquake processes. The new technologies will substantially refine earthquake hazard maps.
Which of the following statements is true based on Paragraph 3?
A.Earth's crust was destroyed across the Ventura Basin.正确答案D
B.The faults in Massachusetts broke Earth's surface.
C.There were vague signs of the style of an earthquake recently.
D.Data indicated faults were accumulating strain in the Ventura Basin.
(3).Geophysicist Dr. Andrea Donnellan of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., remembers the morning of January 17, 1994, like few others. Like millions of other Southern California residents, she was shaken from her sleep in her normally tranquil foothill community home as a large earthquake caused a mountain, located just 30 miles away, to grow nearly 15 inches higher, all in a matter of seconds.
"Large earthquakes are always disconcerting," she said. "Being a geophysicist I was immediately interested in how large the earthquake was and where it had occurred."
Less than two months before that fateful day, Donnellan and colleagues from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology had published a landmark paper in the journal Nature on ground distortion north of LA's San Fernando Valley. Six years of relatively sparse data from a fledgling network of Global Positioning System (GPS) deformation monitors, that had been developed and installed around Southern California by scientists at JPL and other organizations, had detected that Earth's crust was being squeezed closed across the Ventura Basin. The data showed the area's faults were accumulating strain, and they gave the scientists clear indications of the style and relative size of an earthquake that might strike there, even though the faults there do not all break the surface. They placed no time frame on when such a temblor might occur, however.
"The Northridge GPS measurements solidified in many scientists" minds how valuable data from space-based instruments could be for collecting precise measurements of Earth's crustal movements," said Donnellan. "We knew that something was up because an earthquake had not occurred there historically and yet a large amount of strain needing to be released had accumulated. After the earthquake, additional GPS data made it possible to rapidly and uniquely determine where the fault ruptured and to measure how the earthquake had deformed Earth's surface."
In the decade since Northridge, a high-tech, GPS-based ground deformation network was installed within Southern California. Called the Southern California Integrated GPS Network, it provides a continuous measurement of ground deformation at 250 locations with a precision of a few millimeters, measuring the slow buildup of deformation along faults. In addition, advances in satellite-based radar Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and lidar are now used in combination with the GPS measurements to provide images of ground deformation for the entire Southern California earthquake region. These new technologies, coupled with powerful new computer modeling capabilities, have revitalized research in understanding earthquakes and earthquake processes. The new technologies will substantially refine earthquake hazard maps.
Northridge GPS can be used to______.
A.define the faults of Earth's crust正确答案C
B.forecast the potential earthquake
C.provide valuable data for scientists
D.detect the eruption of a volcano
(4).Geophysicist Dr. Andrea Donnellan of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., remembers the morning of January 17, 1994, like few others. Like millions of other Southern California residents, she was shaken from her sleep in her normally tranquil foothill community home as a large earthquake caused a mountain, located just 30 miles away, to grow nearly 15 inches higher, all in a matter of seconds.
"Large earthquakes are always disconcerting," she said. "Being a geophysicist I was immediately interested in how large the earthquake was and where it had occurred."
Less than two months before that fateful day, Donnellan and colleagues from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology had published a landmark paper in the journal Nature on ground distortion north of LA's San Fernando Valley. Six years of relatively sparse data from a fledgling network of Global Positioning System (GPS) deformation monitors, that had been developed and installed around Southern California by scientists at JPL and other organizations, had detected that Earth's crust was being squeezed closed across the Ventura Basin. The data showed the area's faults were accumulating strain, and they gave the scientists clear indications of the style and relative size of an earthquake that might strike there, even though the faults there do not all break the surface. They placed no time frame on when such a temblor might occur, however.
"The Northridge GPS measurements solidified in many scientists" minds how valuable data from space-based instruments could be for collecting precise measurements of Earth's crustal movements," said Donnellan. "We knew that something was up because an earthquake had not occurred there historically and yet a large amount of strain needing to be released had accumulated. After the earthquake, additional GPS data made it possible to rapidly and uniquely determine where the fault ruptured and to measure how the earthquake had deformed Earth's surface."
In the decade since Northridge, a high-tech, GPS-based ground deformation network was installed within Southern California. Called the Southern California Integrated GPS Network, it provides a continuous measurement of ground deformation at 250 locations with a precision of a few millimeters, measuring the slow buildup of deformation along faults. In addition, advances in satellite-based radar Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and lidar are now used in combination with the GPS measurements to provide images of ground deformation for the entire Southern California earthquake region. These new technologies, coupled with powerful new computer modeling capabilities, have revitalized research in understanding earthquakes and earthquake processes. The new technologies will substantially refine earthquake hazard maps.
Satellite-based radar InSAR can______.
A.study the structure and evolution of North American continent正确答案B
B.continuously provide information of Earth's surface deformation
C.control earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
D.substantially refine the images of Earth
(5).Geophysicist Dr. Andrea Donnellan of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., remembers the morning of January 17, 1994, like few others. Like millions of other Southern California residents, she was shaken from her sleep in her normally tranquil foothill community home as a large earthquake caused a mountain, located just 30 miles away, to grow nearly 15 inches higher, all in a matter of seconds.
"Large earthquakes are always disconcerting," she said. "Being a geophysicist I was immediately interested in how large the earthquake was and where it had occurred."
Less than two months before that fateful day, Donnellan and colleagues from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology had published a landmark paper in the journal Nature on ground distortion north of LA's San Fernando Valley. Six years of relatively sparse data from a fledgling network of Global Positioning System (GPS) deformation monitors, that had been developed and installed around Southern California by scientists at JPL and other organizations, had detected that Earth's crust was being squeezed closed across the Ventura Basin. The data showed the area's faults were accumulating strain, and they gave the scientists clear indications of the style and relative size of an earthquake that might strike there, even though the faults there do not all break the surface. They placed no time frame on when such a temblor might occur, however.
"The Northridge GPS measurements solidified in many scientists" minds how valuable data from space-based instruments could be for collecting precise measurements of Earth's crustal movements," said Donnellan. "We knew that something was up because an earthquake had not occurred there historically and yet a large amount of strain needing to be released had accumulated. After the earthquake, additional GPS data made it possible to rapidly and uniquely determine where the fault ruptured and to measure how the earthquake had deformed Earth's surface."
In the decade since Northridge, a high-tech, GPS-based ground deformation network was installed within Southern California. Called the Southern California Integrated GPS Network, it provides a continuous measurement of ground deformation at 250 locations with a precision of a few millimeters, measuring the slow buildup of deformation along faults. In addition, advances in satellite-based radar Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and lidar are now used in combination with the GPS measurements to provide images of ground deformation for the entire Southern California earthquake region. These new technologies, coupled with powerful new computer modeling capabilities, have revitalized research in understanding earthquakes and earthquake processes. The new technologies will substantially refine earthquake hazard maps.
In Paragraph 5, the word "revitalized" means______.
A.spread the knowledge of正确答案D
B.enriched the idea of
C.caused to return to
D.gave vigor to
(6).I have three kids under 10 who don't expect—or even want-to play with me. It took some practice, but over time, we've all learned we're better off doing our own thing: the kids, without stodgy parental interference, and my husband and I, unhooked from the assumption that we have to play to be present.
It wasn't always this way. As a toddler, if my first child wasn't digging in the trash or chewing on the couch cushions, he was rampaging through the house with an imaginary weapon. He never listened. He tried to run into traffic. The constant wrangling and vigilance were so exhausting that my husband and I didn't have the energy to play the way my son preferred. Instead, I said no and stopped all day long, and when my scolding seeped into the playing, I felt guilty and frustrated. I was a terrible playmate, a tired mother who did little beyond obstructing.
But when my son was about 3, I realized his fictive worlds were vivid enough to continue without me. All he needed, at first, was a listener. After a while, he would head into his bedroom, alone, to transform it into the place that lived in his mind. It was freedom—for all of us. Thus began an experiment with expectation. Little by little, my husband and I would stretch the time our son could safely play by himself.
My daughter was born a year after that. She is shy and moody, and she has been content to play on her own since she could crawl. I've never met a more self-possessed child—she used to tell me when she needed a nap. She has never liked the sorts of games her brother prefers, and play between them has always been a negotiation. The games they've created combine his love of fantasy and drama with her need for realism; when they set up their pretend yak farm with pillows and stuffed animals, she enjoys an imagined sunset, while her brother worries about predators who have yet to grace this earthly plane.
In the past, if they couldn't agree on a game's direction, I would try to help, only to make it worse. When Mom is there to listen, they turn defensive and mean; when I say, "Figure it out," they do. I know I'm lucky they have each other to play with, and so I've taught myself to hold back. I tell myself they're learning about compromise and boundaries. I have a bad temper. I can be critical. And I don't like to play, especially pretend, or anything with dolls or figures, or any games that ask me to hide or wield a Nerf gun. My motto is "Moms don't play." Our third child joined the family with this system in place, and he is, as most third children are, remarkably independent.
From bringing up her first child, the mom learned that______.
A.a child's imagination may help him play by himself正确答案A
B.parents should let their child play safely outside
C.a child's fictive worlds need his mother
D.parents should be the first listeners
(7).I have three kids under 10 who don't expect—or even want-to play with me. It took some practice, but over time, we've all learned we're better off doing our own thing: the kids, without stodgy parental interference, and my husband and I, unhooked from the assumption that we have to play to be present.
It wasn't always this way. As a toddler, if my first child wasn't digging in the trash or chewing on the couch cushions, he was rampaging through the house with an imaginary weapon. He never listened. He tried to run into traffic. The constant wrangling and vigilance were so exhausting that my husband and I didn't have the energy to play the way my son preferred. Instead, I said no and stopped all day long, and when my scolding seeped into the playing, I felt guilty and frustrated. I was a terrible playmate, a tired mother who did little beyond obstructing.
But when my son was about 3, I realized his fictive worlds were vivid enough to continue without me. All he needed, at first, was a listener. After a while, he would head into his bedroom, alone, to transform it into the place that lived in his mind. It was freedom—for all of us. Thus began an experiment with expectation. Little by little, my husband and I would stretch the time our son could safely play by himself.
My daughter was born a year after that. She is shy and moody, and she has been content to play on her own since she could crawl. I've never met a more self-possessed child—she used to tell me when she needed a nap. She has never liked the sorts of games her brother prefers, and play between them has always been a negotiation. The games they've created combine his love of fantasy and drama with her need for realism; when they set up their pretend yak farm with pillows and stuffed animals, she enjoys an imagined sunset, while her brother worries about predators who have yet to grace this earthly plane.
In the past, if they couldn't agree on a game's direction, I would try to help, only to make it worse. When Mom is there to listen, they turn defensive and mean; when I say, "Figure it out," they do. I know I'm lucky they have each other to play with, and so I've taught myself to hold back. I tell myself they're learning about compromise and boundaries. I have a bad temper. I can be critical. And I don't like to play, especially pretend, or anything with dolls or figures, or any games that ask me to hide or wield a Nerf gun. My motto is "Moms don't play." Our third child joined the family with this system in place, and he is, as most third children are, remarkably independent.
What do you know about the daughter?
A.She is obedient and quiet.正确答案C
B.She lives in her own world.
C.She has her own favor in games.
D.She likes fantasy when playing games.
(8).I have three kids under 10 who don't expect—or even want-to play with me. It took some practice, but over time, we've all learned we're better off doing our own thing: the kids, without stodgy parental interference, and my husband and I, unhooked from the assumption that we have to play to be present.
It wasn't always this way. As a toddler, if my first child wasn't digging in the trash or chewing on the couch cushions, he was rampaging through the house with an imaginary weapon. He never listened. He tried to run into traffic. The constant wrangling and vigilance were so exhausting that my husband and I didn't have the energy to play the way my son preferred. Instead, I said no and stopped all day long, and when my scolding seeped into the playing, I felt guilty and frustrated. I was a terrible playmate, a tired mother who did little beyond obstructing.
But when my son was about 3, I realized his fictive worlds were vivid enough to continue without me. All he needed, at first, was a listener. After a while, he would head into his bedroom, alone, to transform it into the place that lived in his mind. It was freedom—for all of us. Thus began an experiment with expectation. Little by little, my husband and I would stretch the time our son could safely play by himself.
My daughter was born a year after that. She is shy and moody, and she has been content to play on her own since she could crawl. I've never met a more self-possessed child—she used to tell me when she needed a nap. She has never liked the sorts of games her brother prefers, and play between them has always been a negotiation. The games they've created combine his love of fantasy and drama with her need for realism; when they set up their pretend yak farm with pillows and stuffed animals, she enjoys an imagined sunset, while her brother worries about predators who have yet to grace this earthly plane.
In the past, if they couldn't agree on a game's direction, I would try to help, only to make it worse. When Mom is there to listen, they turn defensive and mean; when I say, "Figure it out," they do. I know I'm lucky they have each other to play with, and so I've taught myself to hold back. I tell myself they're learning about compromise and boundaries. I have a bad temper. I can be critical. And I don't like to play, especially pretend, or anything with dolls or figures, or any games that ask me to hide or wield a Nerf gun. My motto is "Moms don't play." Our third child joined the family with this system in place, and he is, as most third children are, remarkably independent.
The mom's motto "Moms don't play."______.
A.shows that the mom is lucky to have two kids to play with each other正确答案B
B.makes the kids get rid of the idea of having mom to accompany them
C.tells the kids that moms are occupied with housework
D.indicates that moms are not good game players
(9).I have three kids under 10 who don't expect—or even want-to play with me. It took some practice, but over time, we've all learned we're better off doing our own thing: the kids, without stodgy parental interference, and my husband and I, unhooked from the assumption that we have to play to be present.
It wasn't always this way. As a toddler, if my first child wasn't digging in the trash or chewing on the couch cushions, he was rampaging through the house with an imaginary weapon. He never listened. He tried to run into traffic. The constant wrangling and vigilance were so exhausting that my husband and I didn't have the energy to play the way my son preferred. Instead, I said no and stopped all day long, and when my scolding seeped into the playing, I felt guilty and frustrated. I was a terrible playmate, a tired mother who did little beyond obstructing.
But when my son was about 3, I realized his fictive worlds were vivid enough to continue without me. All he needed, at first, was a listener. After a while, he would head into his bedroom, alone, to transform it into the place that lived in his mind. It was freedom—for all of us. Thus began an experiment with expectation. Little by little, my husband and I would stretch the time our son could safely play by himself.
My daughter was born a year after that. She is shy and moody, and she has been content to play on her own since she could crawl. I've never met a more self-possessed child—she used to tell me when she needed a nap. She has never liked the sorts of games her brother prefers, and play between them has always been a negotiation. The games they've created combine his love of fantasy and drama with her need for realism; when they set up their pretend yak farm with pillows and stuffed animals, she enjoys an imagined sunset, while her brother worries about predators who have yet to grace this earthly plane.
In the past, if they couldn't agree on a game's direction, I would try to help, only to make it worse. When Mom is there to listen, they turn defensive and mean; when I say, "Figure it out," they do. I know I'm lucky they have each other to play with, and so I've taught myself to hold back. I tell myself they're learning about compromise and boundaries. I have a bad temper. I can be critical. And I don't like to play, especially pretend, or anything with dolls or figures, or any games that ask me to hide or wield a Nerf gun. My motto is "Moms don't play." Our third child joined the family with this system in place, and he is, as most third children are, remarkably independent.
What message can we get from the passage?
A.Parents are often good playmates of their kids.正确答案B
B.Parents may give their kids more freedom to play.
C.Caring parents are usually problem solvers.
D.Strict parents will bring up independent kids.
(10).I have three kids under 10 who don't expect—or even want-to play with me. It took some practice, but over time, we've all learned we're better off doing our own thing: the kids, without stodgy parental interference, and my husband and I, unhooked from the assumption that we have to play to be present.
It wasn't always this way. As a toddler, if my first child wasn't digging in the trash or chewing on the couch cushions, he was rampaging through the house with an imaginary weapon. He never listened. He tried to run into traffic. The constant wrangling and vigilance were so exhausting that my husband and I didn't have the energy to play the way my son preferred. Instead, I said no and stopped all day long, and when my scolding seeped into the playing, I felt guilty and frustrated. I was a terrible playmate, a tired mother who did little beyond obstructing.
But when my son was about 3, I realized his fictive worlds were vivid enough to continue without me. All he needed, at first, was a listener. After a while, he would head into his bedroom, alone, to transform it into the place that lived in his mind. It was freedom—for all of us. Thus began an experiment with expectation. Little by little, my husband and I would stretch the time our son could safely play by himself.
My daughter was born a year after that. She is shy and moody, and she has been content to play on her own since she could crawl. I've never met a more self-possessed child—she used to tell me when she needed a nap. She has never liked the sorts of games her brother prefers, and play between them has always been a negotiation. The games they've created combine his love of fantasy and drama with her need for realism; when they set up their pretend yak farm with pillows and stuffed animals, she enjoys an imagined sunset, while her brother worries about predators who have yet to grace this earthly plane.
In the past, if they couldn't agree on a game's direction, I would try to help, only to make it worse. When Mom is there to listen, they turn defensive and mean; when I say, "Figure it out," they do. I know I'm lucky they have each other to play with, and so I've taught myself to hold back. I tell myself they're learning about compromise and boundaries. I have a bad temper. I can be critical. And I don't like to play, especially pretend, or anything with dolls or figures, or any games that ask me to hide or wield a Nerf gun. My motto is "Moms don't play." Our third child joined the family with this system in place, and he is, as most third children are, remarkably independent.
What do we know about the mom from this passage?
A.She is tolerant and considerate.正确答案D
B.She is violent and moody.
C.She is blue and frustrated,
D.She is impatient and critical.
(11).What to do after retirement? That's the question most retirees ask themselves. Since my retirement two years ago, I too have been trying to find an answer to the question, among other things, by observing what other retirees are doing to adjust to their new daily routine.
Since Chinese people have strong family bonds, many retirees take care of their grandchildren. Although fewer and fewer parents and their grownup children live together in cities, the parents still consider it their duty to take care of their grandchildren. In rural areas, on the other hand, many people leave their children in the care of their elderly parents and move to cities to get better-paying jobs.
As exhausting as looking after a child is, many grandparents seem to enjoy it. In the elevator of my apartment building, I once overheard an old couple complaining that their daughter-in-law's parents were not skilled or experienced enough to take care of their grandson, and therefore they should let them take care of the child.
But a more meaningful choice would be to attend a university course for senior citizens. China has thousands of such colleges where subjects such as literature, music, dancing, calligraphy, painting and handicraft are taught. According to data, more than 8 million elderly people have enrolled in government-sponsored universities. For about 150 yuan, a senior citizen can enroll in a one-year course. But since the waiting list in such universities is long owing to too many applicants, local communities run classrooms offering free courses to meet the needs of the elderly.
However, square dancing is by far the most popular recreational activity for veterans. Senior citizens gather in parks, squares and other open spaces any time between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm to practice and enjoy group dancing-from waltz to rumba and yangko to Uygur dance. Dancing helps the elderly not only to get enough physical exercise but also gives them an opportunity to chat with their peers, which adds some color to their otherwise lonely life.
Also, many retirees love traveling. They can do so freely before they reach 70, because many travel agencies refuse to include people aged above 70 in tour groups to avoid dealing with medical and other emergencies. In many cases, overseas tours for the elderly are booked and paid for by their grownup children, and about half of the outbound group travelers are senior citizens, So big is the market that many travel agencies organize chartered flights and trains for elderly people, including those above 70.
Some retirees think taking care of their grandchildren is ______.
A.a task given by their grownup children正确答案C
B.a wise choice in their retiring life
C.their responsibility
D.their life goal
(12).What to do after retirement? That's the question most retirees ask themselves. Since my retirement two years ago, I too have been trying to find an answer to the question, among other things, by observing what other retirees are doing to adjust to their new daily routine.
Since Chinese people have strong family bonds, many retirees take care of their grandchildren. Although fewer and fewer parents and their grownup children live together in cities, the parents still consider it their duty to take care of their grandchildren. In rural areas, on the other hand, many people leave their children in the care of their elderly parents and move to cities to get better-paying jobs.
As exhausting as looking after a child is, many grandparents seem to enjoy it. In the elevator of my apartment building, I once overheard an old couple complaining that their daughter-in-law's parents were not skilled or experienced enough to take care of their grandson, and therefore they should let them take care of the child.
But a more meaningful choice would be to attend a university course for senior citizens. China has thousands of such colleges where subjects such as literature, music, dancing, calligraphy, painting and handicraft are taught. According to data, more than 8 million elderly people have enrolled in government-sponsored universities. For about 150 yuan, a senior citizen can enroll in a one-year course. But since the waiting list in such universities is long owing to too many applicants, local communities run classrooms offering free courses to meet the needs of the elderly.
However, square dancing is by far the most popular recreational activity for veterans. Senior citizens gather in parks, squares and other open spaces any time between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm to practice and enjoy group dancing-from waltz to rumba and yangko to Uygur dance. Dancing helps the elderly not only to get enough physical exercise but also gives them an opportunity to chat with their peers, which adds some color to their otherwise lonely life.
Also, many retirees love traveling. They can do so freely before they reach 70, because many travel agencies refuse to include people aged above 70 in tour groups to avoid dealing with medical and other emergencies. In many cases, overseas tours for the elderly are booked and paid for by their grownup children, and about half of the outbound group travelers are senior citizens, So big is the market that many travel agencies organize chartered flights and trains for elderly people, including those above 70.
What is true about government-sponsored universities for the elderly?
A.They run one-year courses for the elderly.正确答案B
B.They provide diversified courses for the elderly.
C.They can hold all the elderly who want to enroll in.
D.They offer free courses to meet the needs of the elderly.
(13).What to do after retirement? That's the question most retirees ask themselves. Since my retirement two years ago, I too have been trying to find an answer to the question, among other things, by observing what other retirees are doing to adjust to their new daily routine.
Since Chinese people have strong family bonds, many retirees take care of their grandchildren. Although fewer and fewer parents and their grownup children live together in cities, the parents still consider it their duty to take care of their grandchildren. In rural areas, on the other hand, many people leave their children in the care of their elderly parents and move to cities to get better-paying jobs.
As exhausting as looking after a child is, many grandparents seem to enjoy it. In the elevator of my apartment building, I once overheard an old couple complaining that their daughter-in-law's parents were not skilled or experienced enough to take care of their grandson, and therefore they should let them take care of the child.
But a more meaningful choice would be to attend a university course for senior citizens. China has thousands of such colleges where subjects such as literature, music, dancing, calligraphy, painting and handicraft are taught. According to data, more than 8 million elderly people have enrolled in government-sponsored universities. For about 150 yuan, a senior citizen can enroll in a one-year course. But since the waiting list in such universities is long owing to too many applicants, local communities run classrooms offering free courses to meet the needs of the elderly.
However, square dancing is by far the most popular recreational activity for veterans. Senior citizens gather in parks, squares and other open spaces any time between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm to practice and enjoy group dancing-from waltz to rumba and yangko to Uygur dance. Dancing helps the elderly not only to get enough physical exercise but also gives them an opportunity to chat with their peers, which adds some color to their otherwise lonely life.
Also, many retirees love traveling. They can do so freely before they reach 70, because many travel agencies refuse to include people aged above 70 in tour groups to avoid dealing with medical and other emergencies. In many cases, overseas tours for the elderly are booked and paid for by their grownup children, and about half of the outbound group travelers are senior citizens, So big is the market that many travel agencies organize chartered flights and trains for elderly people, including those above 70.
Square dancing is widely accepted by the elderly because______.
A.it is the only physical exercise they can do正确答案C
B.it enables them to contribute more to the community
C.it gives them the chance to relax and make friends
D.it is the most popular recreational activity in their view
(14).What to do after retirement? That's the question most retirees ask themselves. Since my retirement two years ago, I too have been trying to find an answer to the question, among other things, by observing what other retirees are doing to adjust to their new daily routine.
Since Chinese people have strong family bonds, many retirees take care of their grandchildren. Although fewer and fewer parents and their grownup children live together in cities, the parents still consider it their duty to take care of their grandchildren. In rural areas, on the other hand, many people leave their children in the care of their elderly parents and move to cities to get better-paying jobs.
As exhausting as looking after a child is, many grandparents seem to enjoy it. In the elevator of my apartment building, I once overheard an old couple complaining that their daughter-in-law's parents were not skilled or experienced enough to take care of their grandson, and therefore they should let them take care of the child.
But a more meaningful choice would be to attend a university course for senior citizens. China has thousands of such colleges where subjects such as literature, music, dancing, calligraphy, painting and handicraft are taught. According to data, more than 8 million elderly people have enrolled in government-sponsored universities. For about 150 yuan, a senior citizen can enroll in a one-year course. But since the waiting list in such universities is long owing to too many applicants, local communities run classrooms offering free courses to meet the needs of the elderly.
However, square dancing is by far the most popular recreational activity for veterans. Senior citizens gather in parks, squares and other open spaces any time between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm to practice and enjoy group dancing-from waltz to rumba and yangko to Uygur dance. Dancing helps the elderly not only to get enough physical exercise but also gives them an opportunity to chat with their peers, which adds some color to their otherwise lonely life.
Also, many retirees love traveling. They can do so freely before they reach 70, because many travel agencies refuse to include people aged above 70 in tour groups to avoid dealing with medical and other emergencies. In many cases, overseas tours for the elderly are booked and paid for by their grownup children, and about half of the outbound group travelers are senior citizens, So big is the market that many travel agencies organize chartered flights and trains for elderly people, including those above 70.
Many retirees like overseas traveling because______.
A.they can afford the expensive journey all on their own正确答案B
B.they are offered well-organized trips by travel agencies
C.they are encouraged to go abroad by travel agencies
D.their grownup children organize the trip for them
(15).What to do after retirement? That's the question most retirees ask themselves. Since my retirement two years ago, I too have been trying to find an answer to the question, among other things, by observing what other retirees are doing to adjust to their new daily routine.
Since Chinese people have strong family bonds, many retirees take care of their grandchildren. Although fewer and fewer parents and their grownup children live together in cities, the parents still consider it their duty to take care of their grandchildren. In rural areas, on the other hand, many people leave their children in the care of their elderly parents and move to cities to get better-paying jobs.
As exhausting as looking after a child is, many grandparents seem to enjoy it. In the elevator of my apartment building, I once overheard an old couple complaining that their daughter-in-law's parents were not skilled or experienced enough to take care of their grandson, and therefore they should let them take care of the child.
But a more meaningful choice would be to attend a university course for senior citizens. China has thousands of such colleges where subjects such as literature, music, dancing, calligraphy, painting and handicraft are taught. According to data, more than 8 million elderly people have enrolled in government-sponsored universities. For about 150 yuan, a senior citizen can enroll in a one-year course. But since the waiting list in such universities is long owing to too many applicants, local communities run classrooms offering free courses to meet the needs of the elderly.
However, square dancing is by far the most popular recreational activity for veterans. Senior citizens gather in parks, squares and other open spaces any time between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm to practice and enjoy group dancing-from waltz to rumba and yangko to Uygur dance. Dancing helps the elderly not only to get enough physical exercise but also gives them an opportunity to chat with their peers, which adds some color to their otherwise lonely life.
Also, many retirees love traveling. They can do so freely before they reach 70, because many travel agencies refuse to include people aged above 70 in tour groups to avoid dealing with medical and other emergencies. In many cases, overseas tours for the elderly are booked and paid for by their grownup children, and about half of the outbound group travelers are senior citizens, So big is the market that many travel agencies organize chartered flights and trains for elderly people, including those above 70.
We may conclude from the passage that retired life in China can be______.
A.colorful and enjoyable正确答案A
B.exhausting and bitter
C.adventurous and peaceful
D.disordered and painful
(16).City air is in a sorry state. It is dirty and hot. Outdoor pollution kills 4.2m people a year, according to the World Health Organization. The relentless spread of buildings and roads turns urban areas into heat islands, discomforting residents and exacerbating dangerous heatwaves, which are in any case likely to become more frequent as the planet warms.
A possible answer to the twin problems of pollution and heat is trees. Their leaves may destroy at least some chemical pollutants (the question is debated) and they certainly trap airborne particulate matter, which is then washed to the ground by rain. And trees cool things down. Besides transpiration, they provide shade. Their leaves have, after all, evolved to intercept sunlight, the motor of photosynthesis.
To cool an area effectively, though, trees must be planted in quantity. In 2019 researchers at the University of Wisconsin found that American cities need 40% tree coverage to cut urban heat back meaningfully. Unfortunately, not all cities are blessed with parks, private gardens or even ornamental street trees in sufficient numbers. And the problem is likely to get worse.
One group of botanists believe they have at least a partial solution to this lack of urban vegetation. It is to plant miniature forests, ecologically engineered for rapid growth. Over the course of a career that began in the 1950s their leader, Miyawaki Akira, a plant ecologist at Yokohama National University, in Japan, has developed a way to do this starting with even the most unpromising abandoned areas. And the Miyawaki method is finding increasing favor around the world.
Dr. Miyawaki's insight was to deconstruct and rebuild the process of ecological succession, by which bare land develops naturally into mature forest. Usually, the first arrival is grass. Shrubs sprout later, followed by small trees and, finally, larger ones. The woodlands therefore contain different species. The Miyawaki method skips some of the early phases and jumps directly to planting the kinds of species found in a mature wood.
Using a wide mix of species, not all of them trees, is important. But trees, shrubs and ground-covering herbs all coexist in natural forests, and the Miyawaki versions therefore have this variety from the start. Not only does that pack more greenery into a given space, it also encourages the plants to grow faster-for there are lots of positive ecological relations in a natural forest. Vines rely on trees for support. Trees give shade to shrubs. And, beneath the surface, plants' roots interact with each other, and with soil fungi, in ways that enable a nutrient exchange which is only now beginning to be understood.
The word "exacerbating" in Paragraph 1 means ______.
A.worsening正确答案A
B.alleviating
C.mitigating
D.degrading
(17).City air is in a sorry state. It is dirty and hot. Outdoor pollution kills 4.2m people a year, according to the World Health Organization. The relentless spread of buildings and roads turns urban areas into heat islands, discomforting residents and exacerbating dangerous heatwaves, which are in any case likely to become more frequent as the planet warms.
A possible answer to the twin problems of pollution and heat is trees. Their leaves may destroy at least some chemical pollutants (the question is debated) and they certainly trap airborne particulate matter, which is then washed to the ground by rain. And trees cool things down. Besides transpiration, they provide shade. Their leaves have, after all, evolved to intercept sunlight, the motor of photosynthesis.
To cool an area effectively, though, trees must be planted in quantity. In 2019 researchers at the University of Wisconsin found that American cities need 40% tree coverage to cut urban heat back meaningfully. Unfortunately, not all cities are blessed with parks, private gardens or even ornamental street trees in sufficient numbers. And the problem is likely to get worse.
One group of botanists believe they have at least a partial solution to this lack of urban vegetation. It is to plant miniature forests, ecologically engineered for rapid growth. Over the course of a career that began in the 1950s their leader, Miyawaki Akira, a plant ecologist at Yokohama National University, in Japan, has developed a way to do this starting with even the most unpromising abandoned areas. And the Miyawaki method is finding increasing favor around the world.
Dr. Miyawaki's insight was to deconstruct and rebuild the process of ecological succession, by which bare land develops naturally into mature forest. Usually, the first arrival is grass. Shrubs sprout later, followed by small trees and, finally, larger ones. The woodlands therefore contain different species. The Miyawaki method skips some of the early phases and jumps directly to planting the kinds of species found in a mature wood.
Using a wide mix of species, not all of them trees, is important. But trees, shrubs and ground-covering herbs all coexist in natural forests, and the Miyawaki versions therefore have this variety from the start. Not only does that pack more greenery into a given space, it also encourages the plants to grow faster-for there are lots of positive ecological relations in a natural forest. Vines rely on trees for support. Trees give shade to shrubs. And, beneath the surface, plants' roots interact with each other, and with soil fungi, in ways that enable a nutrient exchange which is only now beginning to be understood.
Trees can be a possible solution to the problems of pollution and heat because______.
A.they can interrupt photosynthesis正确答案D
B.they can help people to cool down
C.they can help wash particular pollutants
D.they can trap particles carried in the air
(18).City air is in a sorry state. It is dirty and hot. Outdoor pollution kills 4.2m people a year, according to the World Health Organization. The relentless spread of buildings and roads turns urban areas into heat islands, discomforting residents and exacerbating dangerous heatwaves, which are in any case likely to become more frequent as the planet warms.
A possible answer to the twin problems of pollution and heat is trees. Their leaves may destroy at least some chemical pollutants (the question is debated) and they certainly trap airborne particulate matter, which is then washed to the ground by rain. And trees cool things down. Besides transpiration, they provide shade. Their leaves have, after all, evolved to intercept sunlight, the motor of photosynthesis.
To cool an area effectively, though, trees must be planted in quantity. In 2019 researchers at the University of Wisconsin found that American cities need 40% tree coverage to cut urban heat back meaningfully. Unfortunately, not all cities are blessed with parks, private gardens or even ornamental street trees in sufficient numbers. And the problem is likely to get worse.
One group of botanists believe they have at least a partial solution to this lack of urban vegetation. It is to plant miniature forests, ecologically engineered for rapid growth. Over the course of a career that began in the 1950s their leader, Miyawaki Akira, a plant ecologist at Yokohama National University, in Japan, has developed a way to do this starting with even the most unpromising abandoned areas. And the Miyawaki method is finding increasing favor around the world.
Dr. Miyawaki's insight was to deconstruct and rebuild the process of ecological succession, by which bare land develops naturally into mature forest. Usually, the first arrival is grass. Shrubs sprout later, followed by small trees and, finally, larger ones. The woodlands therefore contain different species. The Miyawaki method skips some of the early phases and jumps directly to planting the kinds of species found in a mature wood.
Using a wide mix of species, not all of them trees, is important. But trees, shrubs and ground-covering herbs all coexist in natural forests, and the Miyawaki versions therefore have this variety from the start. Not only does that pack more greenery into a given space, it also encourages the plants to grow faster-for there are lots of positive ecological relations in a natural forest. Vines rely on trees for support. Trees give shade to shrubs. And, beneath the surface, plants' roots interact with each other, and with soil fungi, in ways that enable a nutrient exchange which is only now beginning to be understood.
Which of the following statements is true based on Paragraphs 3 and 4?
A.In order to reduce urban heat effectively, we need to plant trees in quantity.正确答案A
B.In cities, parks and private gardens contribute to 40 per cent tree coverage.
C.The problem of lack of vegetation in poor countries can be changed soon.
D.The Miyawaki team is gaining increasing support around the world.
(19).City air is in a sorry state. It is dirty and hot. Outdoor pollution kills 4.2m people a year, according to the World Health Organization. The relentless spread of buildings and roads turns urban areas into heat islands, discomforting residents and exacerbating dangerous heatwaves, which are in any case likely to become more frequent as the planet warms.
A possible answer to the twin problems of pollution and heat is trees. Their leaves may destroy at least some chemical pollutants (the question is debated) and they certainly trap airborne particulate matter, which is then washed to the ground by rain. And trees cool things down. Besides transpiration, they provide shade. Their leaves have, after all, evolved to intercept sunlight, the motor of photosynthesis.
To cool an area effectively, though, trees must be planted in quantity. In 2019 researchers at the University of Wisconsin found that American cities need 40% tree coverage to cut urban heat back meaningfully. Unfortunately, not all cities are blessed with parks, private gardens or even ornamental street trees in sufficient numbers. And the problem is likely to get worse.
One group of botanists believe they have at least a partial solution to this lack of urban vegetation. It is to plant miniature forests, ecologically engineered for rapid growth. Over the course of a career that began in the 1950s their leader, Miyawaki Akira, a plant ecologist at Yokohama National University, in Japan, has developed a way to do this starting with even the most unpromising abandoned areas. And the Miyawaki method is finding increasing favor around the world.
Dr. Miyawaki's insight was to deconstruct and rebuild the process of ecological succession, by which bare land develops naturally into mature forest. Usually, the first arrival is grass. Shrubs sprout later, followed by small trees and, finally, larger ones. The woodlands therefore contain different species. The Miyawaki method skips some of the early phases and jumps directly to planting the kinds of species found in a mature wood.
Using a wide mix of species, not all of them trees, is important. But trees, shrubs and ground-covering herbs all coexist in natural forests, and the Miyawaki versions therefore have this variety from the start. Not only does that pack more greenery into a given space, it also encourages the plants to grow faster-for there are lots of positive ecological relations in a natural forest. Vines rely on trees for support. Trees give shade to shrubs. And, beneath the surface, plants' roots interact with each other, and with soil fungi, in ways that enable a nutrient exchange which is only now beginning to be understood.
What can we learn about the Miyawaki forest from this passage?
A.Trees, shrubs and vines all grow independently in the forest.正确答案D
B.Plants in the forest need additional chemical fertilizers.
C.The forest first starts with big trees and then grass.
D.The forest contains a wide variety of species.
(20).City air is in a sorry state. It is dirty and hot. Outdoor pollution kills 4.2m people a year, according to the World Health Organization. The relentless spread of buildings and roads turns urban areas into heat islands, discomforting residents and exacerbating dangerous heatwaves, which are in any case likely to become more frequent as the planet warms.
A possible answer to the twin problems of pollution and heat is trees. Their leaves may destroy at least some chemical pollutants (the question is debated) and they certainly trap airborne particulate matter, which is then washed to the ground by rain. And trees cool things down. Besides transpiration, they provide shade. Their leaves have, after all, evolved to intercept sunlight, the motor of photosynthesis.
To cool an area effectively, though, trees must be planted in quantity. In 2019 researchers at the University of Wisconsin found that American cities need 40% tree coverage to cut urban heat back meaningfully. Unfortunately, not all cities are blessed with parks, private gardens or even ornamental street trees in sufficient numbers. And the problem is likely to get worse.
One group of botanists believe they have at least a partial solution to this lack of urban vegetation. It is to plant miniature forests, ecologically engineered for rapid growth. Over the course of a career that began in the 1950s their leader, Miyawaki Akira, a plant ecologist at Yokohama National University, in Japan, has developed a way to do this starting with even the most unpromising abandoned areas. And the Miyawaki method is finding increasing favor around the world.
Dr. Miyawaki's insight was to deconstruct and rebuild the process of ecological succession, by which bare land develops naturally into mature forest. Usually, the first arrival is grass. Shrubs sprout later, followed by small trees and, finally, larger ones. The woodlands therefore contain different species. The Miyawaki method skips some of the early phases and jumps directly to planting the kinds of species found in a mature wood.
Using a wide mix of species, not all of them trees, is important. But trees, shrubs and ground-covering herbs all coexist in natural forests, and the Miyawaki versions therefore have this variety from the start. Not only does that pack more greenery into a given space, it also encourages the plants to grow faster-for there are lots of positive ecological relations in a natural forest. Vines rely on trees for support. Trees give shade to shrubs. And, beneath the surface, plants' roots interact with each other, and with soil fungi, in ways that enable a nutrient exchange which is only now beginning to be understood.
This passage is mainly about______.
A.how ecological engineering find favor around the world正确答案C
B.how Miyawaki starts his career as a gardener
C.how miniature forests can help air-condition cities
D.how bare land develops into private gardens
(21).Q. There's a lot of talk about putting up manned orbital stations. What does this mean, concretely?
A. It is very important to have scientific stations in space. A space telescope with a mirror slightly over six and a half feet in diameter will be placed in orbit, and there will be more and more of these. A few years ago, our group at Saclay, in collaboration with a number of other European Laboratories, orbited a telescope that revolutionized our knowledge of gamma-ray emissions by celestial objects.
Life aboard manned space stations won't be as exciting as we might suppose. It will probably be comparable to the life people lead aboard deep-sea oil rigs.
Q. What scientific interest will these stations offer?
A. Observation is much more precise beyond the atmosphere, because the sky is darker. You see many more stars and objects that are concealed by the earth's luminescence.
Q. What objects?
A. We know pretty well how stars are born because we can observe them. Two or three new stars appear in our galaxy every year. But nearly all the galaxies were born at the same time, when the universe was constituted 15 billion years ago. No new ones are thought to exist.
To observe the birth of a galaxy that happened so long ago, you have to see a very long way. At present we can go back 10 to 12 billion years. We have to go a bit farther back still, and maybe catch them in the act of birth. Distant objects are necessarily very dim, so ideal conditions are needed to observe them. Orbital stations provide such conditions.
Q. Would orbital stations be choice places from which to try to communicate with extraterrestrial intelligences?
A. Not particularly through radio communication, except on certain wave lengths that are absorbed by the atmosphere. But as points of departure for exploration they'll be very useful.
Q. How far would such exploration go?
A. In 1989 the satellite Voyager II will reach Neptune after a journey of three and a half years. In addition, five probes were sent to rendezvous with Halley's comet. So exploration of the solar system is more or less under way. We've put people on the moon, sent probes to Mars and Venus, lofted satellites near the sun (within a few tens of millions of miles), and one satellite even left the solar system a few years ago.
But visiting the stars is something else again. Light takes four years to reach the nearest stars, so you can see that it would take a satellite hundreds of thousands of years.
Of course, if the earth were to become overpopulated, we can imagine sending families in space vessels to colonize the nearest stars. But it's their great-great-great-grandchildren who would finally reach those stars. And they wouldn't even know where to stop.
practically (Para. 1)
concretely
(22).Q. There's a lot of talk about putting up manned orbital stations. What does this mean, concretely?
A. It is very important to have scientific stations in space. A space telescope with a mirror slightly over six and a half feet in diameter will be placed in orbit, and there will be more and more of these. A few years ago, our group at Saclay, in collaboration with a number of other European Laboratories, orbited a telescope that revolutionized our knowledge of gamma-ray emissions by celestial objects.
Life aboard manned space stations won't be as exciting as we might suppose. It will probably be comparable to the life people lead aboard deep-sea oil rigs.
Q. What scientific interest will these stations offer?
A. Observation is much more precise beyond the atmosphere, because the sky is darker. You see many more stars and objects that are concealed by the earth's luminescence.
Q. What objects?
A. We know pretty well how stars are born because we can observe them. Two or three new stars appear in our galaxy every year. But nearly all the galaxies were born at the same time, when the universe was constituted 15 billion years ago. No new ones are thought to exist.
To observe the birth of a galaxy that happened so long ago, you have to see a very long way. At present we can go back 10 to 12 billion years. We have to go a bit farther back still, and maybe catch them in the act of birth. Distant objects are necessarily very dim, so ideal conditions are needed to observe them. Orbital stations provide such conditions.
Q. Would orbital stations be choice places from which to try to communicate with extraterrestrial intelligences?
A. Not particularly through radio communication, except on certain wave lengths that are absorbed by the atmosphere. But as points of departure for exploration they'll be very useful.
Q. How far would such exploration go?
A. In 1989 the satellite Voyager II will reach Neptune after a journey of three and a half years. In addition, five probes were sent to rendezvous with Halley's comet. So exploration of the solar system is more or less under way. We've put people on the moon, sent probes to Mars and Venus, lofted satellites near the sun (within a few tens of millions of miles), and one satellite even left the solar system a few years ago.
But visiting the stars is something else again. Light takes four years to reach the nearest stars, so you can see that it would take a satellite hundreds of thousands of years.
Of course, if the earth were to become overpopulated, we can imagine sending families in space vessels to colonize the nearest stars. But it's their great-great-great-grandchildren who would finally reach those stars. And they wouldn't even know where to stop.
amounts of light that are sent out (Para.2)
emissions
(23).Q. There's a lot of talk about putting up manned orbital stations. What does this mean, concretely?
A. It is very important to have scientific stations in space. A space telescope with a mirror slightly over six and a half feet in diameter will be placed in orbit, and there will be more and more of these. A few years ago, our group at Saclay, in collaboration with a number of other European Laboratories, orbited a telescope that revolutionized our knowledge of gamma-ray emissions by celestial objects.
Life aboard manned space stations won't be as exciting as we might suppose. It will probably be comparable to the life people lead aboard deep-sea oil rigs.
Q. What scientific interest will these stations offer?
A. Observation is much more precise beyond the atmosphere, because the sky is darker. You see many more stars and objects that are concealed by the earth's luminescence.
Q. What objects?
A. We know pretty well how stars are born because we can observe them. Two or three new stars appear in our galaxy every year. But nearly all the galaxies were born at the same time, when the universe was constituted 15 billion years ago. No new ones are thought to exist.
To observe the birth of a galaxy that happened so long ago, you have to see a very long way. At present we can go back 10 to 12 billion years. We have to go a bit farther back still, and maybe catch them in the act of birth. Distant objects are necessarily very dim, so ideal conditions are needed to observe them. Orbital stations provide such conditions.
Q. Would orbital stations be choice places from which to try to communicate with extraterrestrial intelligences?
A. Not particularly through radio communication, except on certain wave lengths that are absorbed by the atmosphere. But as points of departure for exploration they'll be very useful.
Q. How far would such exploration go?
A. In 1989 the satellite Voyager II will reach Neptune after a journey of three and a half years. In addition, five probes were sent to rendezvous with Halley's comet. So exploration of the solar system is more or less under way. We've put people on the moon, sent probes to Mars and Venus, lofted satellites near the sun (within a few tens of millions of miles), and one satellite even left the solar system a few years ago.
But visiting the stars is something else again. Light takes four years to reach the nearest stars, so you can see that it would take a satellite hundreds of thousands of years.
Of course, if the earth were to become overpopulated, we can imagine sending families in space vessels to colonize the nearest stars. But it's their great-great-great-grandchildren who would finally reach those stars. And they wouldn't even know where to stop.
similar (Para. 3)
comparable
(24).Q. There's a lot of talk about putting up manned orbital stations. What does this mean, concretely?
A. It is very important to have scientific stations in space. A space telescope with a mirror slightly over six and a half feet in diameter will be placed in orbit, and there will be more and more of these. A few years ago, our group at Saclay, in collaboration with a number of other European Laboratories, orbited a telescope that revolutionized our knowledge of gamma-ray emissions by celestial objects.
Life aboard manned space stations won't be as exciting as we might suppose. It will probably be comparable to the life people lead aboard deep-sea oil rigs.
Q. What scientific interest will these stations offer?
A. Observation is much more precise beyond the atmosphere, because the sky is darker. You see many more stars and objects that are concealed by the earth's luminescence.
Q. What objects?
A. We know pretty well how stars are born because we can observe them. Two or three new stars appear in our galaxy every year. But nearly all the galaxies were born at the same time, when the universe was constituted 15 billion years ago. No new ones are thought to exist.
To observe the birth of a galaxy that happened so long ago, you have to see a very long way. At present we can go back 10 to 12 billion years. We have to go a bit farther back still, and maybe catch them in the act of birth. Distant objects are necessarily very dim, so ideal conditions are needed to observe them. Orbital stations provide such conditions.
Q. Would orbital stations be choice places from which to try to communicate with extraterrestrial intelligences?
A. Not particularly through radio communication, except on certain wave lengths that are absorbed by the atmosphere. But as points of departure for exploration they'll be very useful.
Q. How far would such exploration go?
A. In 1989 the satellite Voyager II will reach Neptune after a journey of three and a half years. In addition, five probes were sent to rendezvous with Halley's comet. So exploration of the solar system is more or less under way. We've put people on the moon, sent probes to Mars and Venus, lofted satellites near the sun (within a few tens of millions of miles), and one satellite even left the solar system a few years ago.
But visiting the stars is something else again. Light takes four years to reach the nearest stars, so you can see that it would take a satellite hundreds of thousands of years.
Of course, if the earth were to become overpopulated, we can imagine sending families in space vessels to colonize the nearest stars. But it's their great-great-great-grandchildren who would finally reach those stars. And they wouldn't even know where to stop.
clear and accurate (Para. 5)
precise
(25).Q. There's a lot of talk about putting up manned orbital stations. What does this mean, concretely?
A. It is very important to have scientific stations in space. A space telescope with a mirror slightly over six and a half feet in diameter will be placed in orbit, and there will be more and more of these. A few years ago, our group at Saclay, in collaboration with a number of other European Laboratories, orbited a telescope that revolutionized our knowledge of gamma-ray emissions by celestial objects.
Life aboard manned space stations won't be as exciting as we might suppose. It will probably be comparable to the life people lead aboard deep-sea oil rigs.
Q. What scientific interest will these stations offer?
A. Observation is much more precise beyond the atmosphere, because the sky is darker. You see many more stars and objects that are concealed by the earth's luminescence.
Q. What objects?
A. We know pretty well how stars are born because we can observe them. Two or three new stars appear in our galaxy every year. But nearly all the galaxies were born at the same time, when the universe was constituted 15 billion years ago. No new ones are thought to exist.
To observe the birth of a galaxy that happened so long ago, you have to see a very long way. At present we can go back 10 to 12 billion years. We have to go a bit farther back still, and maybe catch them in the act of birth. Distant objects are necessarily very dim, so ideal conditions are needed to observe them. Orbital stations provide such conditions.
Q. Would orbital stations be choice places from which to try to communicate with extraterrestrial intelligences?
A. Not particularly through radio communication, except on certain wave lengths that are absorbed by the atmosphere. But as points of departure for exploration they'll be very useful.
Q. How far would such exploration go?
A. In 1989 the satellite Voyager II will reach Neptune after a journey of three and a half years. In addition, five probes were sent to rendezvous with Halley's comet. So exploration of the solar system is more or less under way. We've put people on the moon, sent probes to Mars and Venus, lofted satellites near the sun (within a few tens of millions of miles), and one satellite even left the solar system a few years ago.
But visiting the stars is something else again. Light takes four years to reach the nearest stars, so you can see that it would take a satellite hundreds of thousands of years.
Of course, if the earth were to become overpopulated, we can imagine sending families in space vessels to colonize the nearest stars. But it's their great-great-great-grandchildren who would finally reach those stars. And they wouldn't even know where to stop.
hidden (Para. 5)
concealed
(26).Q. There's a lot of talk about putting up manned orbital stations. What does this mean, concretely?
A. It is very important to have scientific stations in space. A space telescope with a mirror slightly over six and a half feet in diameter will be placed in orbit, and there will be more and more of these. A few years ago, our group at Saclay, in collaboration with a number of other European Laboratories, orbited a telescope that revolutionized our knowledge of gamma-ray emissions by celestial objects.
Life aboard manned space stations won't be as exciting as we might suppose. It will probably be comparable to the life people lead aboard deep-sea oil rigs.
Q. What scientific interest will these stations offer?
A. Observation is much more precise beyond the atmosphere, because the sky is darker. You see many more stars and objects that are concealed by the earth's luminescence.
Q. What objects?
A. We know pretty well how stars are born because we can observe them. Two or three new stars appear in our galaxy every year. But nearly all the galaxies were born at the same time, when the universe was constituted 15 billion years ago. No new ones are thought to exist.
To observe the birth of a galaxy that happened so long ago, you have to see a very long way. At present we can go back 10 to 12 billion years. We have to go a bit farther back still, and maybe catch them in the act of birth. Distant objects are necessarily very dim, so ideal conditions are needed to observe them. Orbital stations provide such conditions.
Q. Would orbital stations be choice places from which to try to communicate with extraterrestrial intelligences?
A. Not particularly through radio communication, except on certain wave lengths that are absorbed by the atmosphere. But as points of departure for exploration they'll be very useful.
Q. How far would such exploration go?
A. In 1989 the satellite Voyager II will reach Neptune after a journey of three and a half years. In addition, five probes were sent to rendezvous with Halley's comet. So exploration of the solar system is more or less under way. We've put people on the moon, sent probes to Mars and Venus, lofted satellites near the sun (within a few tens of millions of miles), and one satellite even left the solar system a few years ago.
But visiting the stars is something else again. Light takes four years to reach the nearest stars, so you can see that it would take a satellite hundreds of thousands of years.
Of course, if the earth were to become overpopulated, we can imagine sending families in space vessels to colonize the nearest stars. But it's their great-great-great-grandchildren who would finally reach those stars. And they wouldn't even know where to stop.
a large system of stars (Para.7)
galaxy
(27).Q. There's a lot of talk about putting up manned orbital stations. What does this mean, concretely?
A. It is very important to have scientific stations in space. A space telescope with a mirror slightly over six and a half feet in diameter will be placed in orbit, and there will be more and more of these. A few years ago, our group at Saclay, in collaboration with a number of other European Laboratories, orbited a telescope that revolutionized our knowledge of gamma-ray emissions by celestial objects.
Life aboard manned space stations won't be as exciting as we might suppose. It will probably be comparable to the life people lead aboard deep-sea oil rigs.
Q. What scientific interest will these stations offer?
A. Observation is much more precise beyond the atmosphere, because the sky is darker. You see many more stars and objects that are concealed by the earth's luminescence.
Q. What objects?
A. We know pretty well how stars are born because we can observe them. Two or three new stars appear in our galaxy every year. But nearly all the galaxies were born at the same time, when the universe was constituted 15 billion years ago. No new ones are thought to exist.
To observe the birth of a galaxy that happened so long ago, you have to see a very long way. At present we can go back 10 to 12 billion years. We have to go a bit farther back still, and maybe catch them in the act of birth. Distant objects are necessarily very dim, so ideal conditions are needed to observe them. Orbital stations provide such conditions.
Q. Would orbital stations be choice places from which to try to communicate with extraterrestrial intelligences?
A. Not particularly through radio communication, except on certain wave lengths that are absorbed by the atmosphere. But as points of departure for exploration they'll be very useful.
Q. How far would such exploration go?
A. In 1989 the satellite Voyager II will reach Neptune after a journey of three and a half years. In addition, five probes were sent to rendezvous with Halley's comet. So exploration of the solar system is more or less under way. We've put people on the moon, sent probes to Mars and Venus, lofted satellites near the sun (within a few tens of millions of miles), and one satellite even left the solar system a few years ago.
But visiting the stars is something else again. Light takes four years to reach the nearest stars, so you can see that it would take a satellite hundreds of thousands of years.
Of course, if the earth were to become overpopulated, we can imagine sending families in space vessels to colonize the nearest stars. But it's their great-great-great-grandchildren who would finally reach those stars. And they wouldn't even know where to stop.
made up (Para. 7)
constituted
(28).Q. There's a lot of talk about putting up manned orbital stations. What does this mean, concretely?
A. It is very important to have scientific stations in space. A space telescope with a mirror slightly over six and a half feet in diameter will be placed in orbit, and there will be more and more of these. A few years ago, our group at Saclay, in collaboration with a number of other European Laboratories, orbited a telescope that revolutionized our knowledge of gamma-ray emissions by celestial objects.
Life aboard manned space stations won't be as exciting as we might suppose. It will probably be comparable to the life people lead aboard deep-sea oil rigs.
Q. What scientific interest will these stations offer?
A. Observation is much more precise beyond the atmosphere, because the sky is darker. You see many more stars and objects that are concealed by the earth's luminescence.
Q. What objects?
A. We know pretty well how stars are born because we can observe them. Two or three new stars appear in our galaxy every year. But nearly all the galaxies were born at the same time, when the universe was constituted 15 billion years ago. No new ones are thought to exist.
To observe the birth of a galaxy that happened so long ago, you have to see a very long way. At present we can go back 10 to 12 billion years. We have to go a bit farther back still, and maybe catch them in the act of birth. Distant objects are necessarily very dim, so ideal conditions are needed to observe them. Orbital stations provide such conditions.
Q. Would orbital stations be choice places from which to try to communicate with extraterrestrial intelligences?
A. Not particularly through radio communication, except on certain wave lengths that are absorbed by the atmosphere. But as points of departure for exploration they'll be very useful.
Q. How far would such exploration go?
A. In 1989 the satellite Voyager II will reach Neptune after a journey of three and a half years. In addition, five probes were sent to rendezvous with Halley's comet. So exploration of the solar system is more or less under way. We've put people on the moon, sent probes to Mars and Venus, lofted satellites near the sun (within a few tens of millions of miles), and one satellite even left the solar system a few years ago.
But visiting the stars is something else again. Light takes four years to reach the nearest stars, so you can see that it would take a satellite hundreds of thousands of years.
Of course, if the earth were to become overpopulated, we can imagine sending families in space vessels to colonize the nearest stars. But it's their great-great-great-grandchildren who would finally reach those stars. And they wouldn't even know where to stop.
fairly dark (Para. 8)
dim
(29).Q. There's a lot of talk about putting up manned orbital stations. What does this mean, concretely?
A. It is very important to have scientific stations in space. A space telescope with a mirror slightly over six and a half feet in diameter will be placed in orbit, and there will be more and more of these. A few years ago, our group at Saclay, in collaboration with a number of other European Laboratories, orbited a telescope that revolutionized our knowledge of gamma-ray emissions by celestial objects.
Life aboard manned space stations won't be as exciting as we might suppose. It will probably be comparable to the life people lead aboard deep-sea oil rigs.
Q. What scientific interest will these stations offer?
A. Observation is much more precise beyond the atmosphere, because the sky is darker. You see many more stars and objects that are concealed by the earth's luminescence.
Q. What objects?
A. We know pretty well how stars are born because we can observe them. Two or three new stars appear in our galaxy every year. But nearly all the galaxies were born at the same time, when the universe was constituted 15 billion years ago. No new ones are thought to exist.
To observe the birth of a galaxy that happened so long ago, you have to see a very long way. At present we can go back 10 to 12 billion years. We have to go a bit farther back still, and maybe catch them in the act of birth. Distant objects are necessarily very dim, so ideal conditions are needed to observe them. Orbital stations provide such conditions.
Q. Would orbital stations be choice places from which to try to communicate with extraterrestrial intelligences?
A. Not particularly through radio communication, except on certain wave lengths that are absorbed by the atmosphere. But as points of departure for exploration they'll be very useful.
Q. How far would such exploration go?
A. In 1989 the satellite Voyager II will reach Neptune after a journey of three and a half years. In addition, five probes were sent to rendezvous with Halley's comet. So exploration of the solar system is more or less under way. We've put people on the moon, sent probes to Mars and Venus, lofted satellites near the sun (within a few tens of millions of miles), and one satellite even left the solar system a few years ago.
But visiting the stars is something else again. Light takes four years to reach the nearest stars, so you can see that it would take a satellite hundreds of thousands of years.
Of course, if the earth were to become overpopulated, we can imagine sending families in space vessels to colonize the nearest stars. But it's their great-great-great-grandchildren who would finally reach those stars. And they wouldn't even know where to stop.
perfect (Para. 8)
ideal
(30).Q. There's a lot of talk about putting up manned orbital stations. What does this mean, concretely?
A. It is very important to have scientific stations in space. A space telescope with a mirror slightly over six and a half feet in diameter will be placed in orbit, and there will be more and more of these. A few years ago, our group at Saclay, in collaboration with a number of other European Laboratories, orbited a telescope that revolutionized our knowledge of gamma-ray emissions by celestial objects.
Life aboard manned space stations won't be as exciting as we might suppose. It will probably be comparable to the life people lead aboard deep-sea oil rigs.
Q. What scientific interest will these stations offer?
A. Observation is much more precise beyond the atmosphere, because the sky is darker. You see many more stars and objects that are concealed by the earth's luminescence.
Q. What objects?
A. We know pretty well how stars are born because we can observe them. Two or three new stars appear in our galaxy every year. But nearly all the galaxies were born at the same time, when the universe was constituted 15 billion years ago. No new ones are thought to exist.
To observe the birth of a galaxy that happened so long ago, you have to see a very long way. At present we can go back 10 to 12 billion years. We have to go a bit farther back still, and maybe catch them in the act of birth. Distant objects are necessarily very dim, so ideal conditions are needed to observe them. Orbital stations provide such conditions.
Q. Would orbital stations be choice places from which to try to communicate with extraterrestrial intelligences?
A. Not particularly through radio communication, except on certain wave lengths that are absorbed by the atmosphere. But as points of departure for exploration they'll be very useful.
Q. How far would such exploration go?
A. In 1989 the satellite Voyager II will reach Neptune after a journey of three and a half years. In addition, five probes were sent to rendezvous with Halley's comet. So exploration of the solar system is more or less under way. We've put people on the moon, sent probes to Mars and Venus, lofted satellites near the sun (within a few tens of millions of miles), and one satellite even left the solar system a few years ago.
But visiting the stars is something else again. Light takes four years to reach the nearest stars, so you can see that it would take a satellite hundreds of thousands of years.
Of course, if the earth were to become overpopulated, we can imagine sending families in space vessels to colonize the nearest stars. But it's their great-great-great-grandchildren who would finally reach those stars. And they wouldn't even know where to stop.
outside the planet Earth (Para. 9)
extraterrestrial
(31).Q. There's a lot of talk about putting up manned orbital stations. What does this mean, concretely?
A. It is very important to have scientific stations in space. A space telescope with a mirror slightly over six and a half feet in diameter will be placed in orbit, and there will be more and more of these. A few years ago, our group at Saclay, in collaboration with a number of other European Laboratories, orbited a telescope that revolutionized our knowledge of gamma-ray emissions by celestial objects.
Life aboard manned space stations won't be as exciting as we might suppose. It will probably be comparable to the life people lead aboard deep-sea oil rigs.
Q. What scientific interest will these stations offer?
A. Observation is much more precise beyond the atmosphere, because the sky is darker. You see many more stars and objects that are concealed by the earth's luminescence.
Q. What objects?
A. We know pretty well how stars are born because we can observe them. Two or three new stars appear in our galaxy every year. But nearly all the galaxies were born at the same time, when the universe was constituted 15 billion years ago. No new ones are thought to exist.
To observe the birth of a galaxy that happened so long ago, you have to see a very long way. At present we can go back 10 to 12 billion years. We have to go a bit farther back still, and maybe catch them in the act of birth. Distant objects are necessarily very dim, so ideal conditions are needed to observe them. Orbital stations provide such conditions.
Q. Would orbital stations be choice places from which to try to communicate with extraterrestrial intelligences?
A. Not particularly through radio communication, except on certain wave lengths that are absorbed by the atmosphere. But as points of departure for exploration they'll be very useful.
Q. How far would such exploration go?
A. In 1989 the satellite Voyager II will reach Neptune after a journey of three and a half years. In addition, five probes were sent to rendezvous with Halley's comet. So exploration of the solar system is more or less under way. We've put people on the moon, sent probes to Mars and Venus, lofted satellites near the sun (within a few tens of millions of miles), and one satellite even left the solar system a few years ago.
But visiting the stars is something else again. Light takes four years to reach the nearest stars, so you can see that it would take a satellite hundreds of thousands of years.
Of course, if the earth were to become overpopulated, we can imagine sending families in space vessels to colonize the nearest stars. But it's their great-great-great-grandchildren who would finally reach those stars. And they wouldn't even know where to stop.
taken in (Para. 10)
absorbed
(32).Q. There's a lot of talk about putting up manned orbital stations. What does this mean, concretely?
A. It is very important to have scientific stations in space. A space telescope with a mirror slightly over six and a half feet in diameter will be placed in orbit, and there will be more and more of these. A few years ago, our group at Saclay, in collaboration with a number of other European Laboratories, orbited a telescope that revolutionized our knowledge of gamma-ray emissions by celestial objects.
Life aboard manned space stations won't be as exciting as we might suppose. It will probably be comparable to the life people lead aboard deep-sea oil rigs.
Q. What scientific interest will these stations offer?
A. Observation is much more precise beyond the atmosphere, because the sky is darker. You see many more stars and objects that are concealed by the earth's luminescence.
Q. What objects?
A. We know pretty well how stars are born because we can observe them. Two or three new stars appear in our galaxy every year. But nearly all the galaxies were born at the same time, when the universe was constituted 15 billion years ago. No new ones are thought to exist.
To observe the birth of a galaxy that happened so long ago, you have to see a very long way. At present we can go back 10 to 12 billion years. We have to go a bit farther back still, and maybe catch them in the act of birth. Distant objects are necessarily very dim, so ideal conditions are needed to observe them. Orbital stations provide such conditions.
Q. Would orbital stations be choice places from which to try to communicate with extraterrestrial intelligences?
A. Not particularly through radio communication, except on certain wave lengths that are absorbed by the atmosphere. But as points of departure for exploration they'll be very useful.
Q. How far would such exploration go?
A. In 1989 the satellite Voyager II will reach Neptune after a journey of three and a half years. In addition, five probes were sent to rendezvous with Halley's comet. So exploration of the solar system is more or less under way. We've put people on the moon, sent probes to Mars and Venus, lofted satellites near the sun (within a few tens of millions of miles), and one satellite even left the solar system a few years ago.
But visiting the stars is something else again. Light takes four years to reach the nearest stars, so you can see that it would take a satellite hundreds of thousands of years.
Of course, if the earth were to become overpopulated, we can imagine sending families in space vessels to colonize the nearest stars. But it's their great-great-great-grandchildren who would finally reach those stars. And they wouldn't even know where to stop.
the act of leaving (Para. 10)
departure
(33).Q. There's a lot of talk about putting up manned orbital stations. What does this mean, concretely?
A. It is very important to have scientific stations in space. A space telescope with a mirror slightly over six and a half feet in diameter will be placed in orbit, and there will be more and more of these. A few years ago, our group at Saclay, in collaboration with a number of other European Laboratories, orbited a telescope that revolutionized our knowledge of gamma-ray emissions by celestial objects.
Life aboard manned space stations won't be as exciting as we might suppose. It will probably be comparable to the life people lead aboard deep-sea oil rigs.
Q. What scientific interest will these stations offer?
A. Observation is much more precise beyond the atmosphere, because the sky is darker. You see many more stars and objects that are concealed by the earth's luminescence.
Q. What objects?
A. We know pretty well how stars are born because we can observe them. Two or three new stars appear in our galaxy every year. But nearly all the galaxies were born at the same time, when the universe was constituted 15 billion years ago. No new ones are thought to exist.
To observe the birth of a galaxy that happened so long ago, you have to see a very long way. At present we can go back 10 to 12 billion years. We have to go a bit farther back still, and maybe catch them in the act of birth. Distant objects are necessarily very dim, so ideal conditions are needed to observe them. Orbital stations provide such conditions.
Q. Would orbital stations be choice places from which to try to communicate with extraterrestrial intelligences?
A. Not particularly through radio communication, except on certain wave lengths that are absorbed by the atmosphere. But as points of departure for exploration they'll be very useful.
Q. How far would such exploration go?
A. In 1989 the satellite Voyager II will reach Neptune after a journey of three and a half years. In addition, five probes were sent to rendezvous with Halley's comet. So exploration of the solar system is more or less under way. We've put people on the moon, sent probes to Mars and Venus, lofted satellites near the sun (within a few tens of millions of miles), and one satellite even left the solar system a few years ago.
But visiting the stars is something else again. Light takes four years to reach the nearest stars, so you can see that it would take a satellite hundreds of thousands of years.
Of course, if the earth were to become overpopulated, we can imagine sending families in space vessels to colonize the nearest stars. But it's their great-great-great-grandchildren who would finally reach those stars. And they wouldn't even know where to stop.
sent into space (Para. 12)
lofted
(34).Q. There's a lot of talk about putting up manned orbital stations. What does this mean, concretely?
A. It is very important to have scientific stations in space. A space telescope with a mirror slightly over six and a half feet in diameter will be placed in orbit, and there will be more and more of these. A few years ago, our group at Saclay, in collaboration with a number of other European Laboratories, orbited a telescope that revolutionized our knowledge of gamma-ray emissions by celestial objects.
Life aboard manned space stations won't be as exciting as we might suppose. It will probably be comparable to the life people lead aboard deep-sea oil rigs.
Q. What scientific interest will these stations offer?
A. Observation is much more precise beyond the atmosphere, because the sky is darker. You see many more stars and objects that are concealed by the earth's luminescence.
Q. What objects?
A. We know pretty well how stars are born because we can observe them. Two or three new stars appear in our galaxy every year. But nearly all the galaxies were born at the same time, when the universe was constituted 15 billion years ago. No new ones are thought to exist.
To observe the birth of a galaxy that happened so long ago, you have to see a very long way. At present we can go back 10 to 12 billion years. We have to go a bit farther back still, and maybe catch them in the act of birth. Distant objects are necessarily very dim, so ideal conditions are needed to observe them. Orbital stations provide such conditions.
Q. Would orbital stations be choice places from which to try to communicate with extraterrestrial intelligences?
A. Not particularly through radio communication, except on certain wave lengths that are absorbed by the atmosphere. But as points of departure for exploration they'll be very useful.
Q. How far would such exploration go?
A. In 1989 the satellite Voyager II will reach Neptune after a journey of three and a half years. In addition, five probes were sent to rendezvous with Halley's comet. So exploration of the solar system is more or less under way. We've put people on the moon, sent probes to Mars and Venus, lofted satellites near the sun (within a few tens of millions of miles), and one satellite even left the solar system a few years ago.
But visiting the stars is something else again. Light takes four years to reach the nearest stars, so you can see that it would take a satellite hundreds of thousands of years.
Of course, if the earth were to become overpopulated, we can imagine sending families in space vessels to colonize the nearest stars. But it's their great-great-great-grandchildren who would finally reach those stars. And they wouldn't even know where to stop.
with too many people living in a place (Para. 14)
overpopulated
(35).Q. There's a lot of talk about putting up manned orbital stations. What does this mean, concretely?
A. It is very important to have scientific stations in space. A space telescope with a mirror slightly over six and a half feet in diameter will be placed in orbit, and there will be more and more of these. A few years ago, our group at Saclay, in collaboration with a number of other European Laboratories, orbited a telescope that revolutionized our knowledge of gamma-ray emissions by celestial objects.
Life aboard manned space stations won't be as exciting as we might suppose. It will probably be comparable to the life people lead aboard deep-sea oil rigs.
Q. What scientific interest will these stations offer?
A. Observation is much more precise beyond the atmosphere, because the sky is darker. You see many more stars and objects that are concealed by the earth's luminescence.
Q. What objects?
A. We know pretty well how stars are born because we can observe them. Two or three new stars appear in our galaxy every year. But nearly all the galaxies were born at the same time, when the universe was constituted 15 billion years ago. No new ones are thought to exist.
To observe the birth of a galaxy that happened so long ago, you have to see a very long way. At present we can go back 10 to 12 billion years. We have to go a bit farther back still, and maybe catch them in the act of birth. Distant objects are necessarily very dim, so ideal conditions are needed to observe them. Orbital stations provide such conditions.
Q. Would orbital stations be choice places from which to try to communicate with extraterrestrial intelligences?
A. Not particularly through radio communication, except on certain wave lengths that are absorbed by the atmosphere. But as points of departure for exploration they'll be very useful.
Q. How far would such exploration go?
A. In 1989 the satellite Voyager II will reach Neptune after a journey of three and a half years. In addition, five probes were sent to rendezvous with Halley's comet. So exploration of the solar system is more or less under way. We've put people on the moon, sent probes to Mars and Venus, lofted satellites near the sun (within a few tens of millions of miles), and one satellite even left the solar system a few years ago.
But visiting the stars is something else again. Light takes four years to reach the nearest stars, so you can see that it would take a satellite hundreds of thousands of years.
Of course, if the earth were to become overpopulated, we can imagine sending families in space vessels to colonize the nearest stars. But it's their great-great-great-grandchildren who would finally reach those stars. And they wouldn't even know where to stop.
send people to settle in a foreign land (Para. 14)
colonize
(36).I'm the Customer. 46. I have lots of money and I'm going to spend it. Take care of me and I'll take care of you. I'll encourage my friends to come to see you. I'll come back when I need more of what you sell. All you've got to do is to satisfy me. Do you think I'm demanding too much? Hey, all I want is people to:
Greet me and make me feel comfortable.
Value me and let me know they think I'm important.
Ask how they can help me.
Listen to me and understand my needs.
Help me get what I want or solve my problem.
Invite me back and let me know I'm welcome anytime.
Most of us form quick first impressions. 47. We often decide whether we like people, want to do business with them, in the first few seconds, whether in face-to-face contact or over the telephone. Someone once told me people form 11 impressions of us in the first seven seconds of contact.
Not long ago, I needed new business telephone lines and numbers. 48. I called and was greeted by one of the friendliest voices I'd ever heard. Immediately. I felt comfortable. The person thanked me and put me completely at ease. Her greeting was most effective.
Yours can be, too. All you have to do is to be aware of the importance of greeting people and then learn some simple techniques:
Thank customers for coming in, contacting you, or seeing you. This is not what a new receptionist did the last time I went into the dental office. I walked in and stood at the counter for at least a minute. She knew I was there, but she didn't acknowledge me. Finally she looked up, showed no reaction-no smile, no warmth-and said, "Sign in!" Her inattentiveness left me feeling less than thrilled about being there.
Tune the world out then in. 49. Another technique is to tune the world out and customers in. How often do you talk to yourself when you should be focusing on your customers? It's easy to do this and it can be damaging to customer relations.
"Let Me Know I'm Important!"
Good customer service isn't just painting a smile on your face and performing certain actions. People quickly see through thinly veiled attempts at niceness.
Think:
"You're the customer—you pay my salary!”
"There's something about you I like!"
"You make my job possible!"
50. Once you have these values, you will see your job differently. Most people who work with people don't really know what business they're in. Most think they're in business to deliver products or services. They don't know they're in business to give benefits to people.
Many in retailing, telemarketing, medical offices, or other places where people spend money, don't know how to identify the real needs customers have.
51. How do you go about identifying people's needs? First, understand people's needs aren't for the product or service, but for what that will do for them. Customers don't buy cars to have a vehicle to drive. They do it so they can keep up with the Joneses, get good gas mileage, or save money.
46.我有很多钱，我要花掉这些钱。照顾好我，我也会照顾好你。我会鼓励朋友们来你这里买东西。当我想买更多东西时，也还会再来。
47.在我们与他人接触时，无论是面对面还是通过电话联系，在最初的几秒内我们通常就会决定是否喜欢他们，是否想与他们做生意。有人曾经告诉我，在与我们接触的前7秒内，人们即会形成对我们的11个印象。
48.我打电话联系，电话里的声音是我听到过最友好的声音之一。我立刻感到很舒服。那个人感谢了我，使我感到很自在。她的问候方式极为有效。
49.另一个技巧就是抛开世界上的一切，聆听顾客的声音。有多少次你在本该关注顾客的时候却想着自己的事情？这样的事很容易发生，并且会损害客户关系。
50.一旦你具有了这些价值观，便会对自己的工作另眼相看。大多数从事与人打交道的工作的人并不真正了解他们的职责所在。多数人认为他们的职责就是交付产品或服务。
51.你如何识别人们的需求呢？首先，要知道人们需要的并不是产品或服务，而是这些能为他们做什么。顾客买车不仅仅是为了有车可开。他们这样做是为了能与人攀比，是为了获得低油耗，或者是为了省钱。
(37).We're choosing to follow the Sentiero Italia because it really is a path linking every part of Italy, passing from some of the ancient and storied paths used since the time of Romans, Greeks and even before. The Sentiero dei Parchi will open up new opportunities not only to explore these ancient routes, but to connect small villages along the way.
The r______ to follow the Sentiero Italia hiking path.
reason
(38).The last nine poverty-stricken counties in southwest China's Guizhou Province have been officially removed from the poverty list. They were also the last remaining poverty-stricken counties in China. China has vowed to eradicate absolute poverty by 2020-a major task in its drive to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
China d______ all remaining poverty-stricken counties.
delisted
(39).This growing and dependent old population means that there is an increased demand for health and social care. Governments will struggle to provide satisfactory pensions, which are ultimately funded by taxes paid by the working population. And long-term, a smaller population of economically-active people may be a problem for companies trying to recruit staff.
Problems of the a______ society.
ageing /aging
(40).In traditional Chinese medicine, it's believed eating bitter food in summer can help relieve inner heat in the human body. When the weather is sizzling and people lose their appetite for hot dishes, cold dishes such as a plate of sliced bitter melon in the sauce can be a soothing choice. The vegetable is also able to improve blood circulation and help decrease blood sugar levels.
Bitter food may help d______ inner heat.
money
(41).Weddings are expensive affairs—there's nothing new or surprising in that statement. When we talk about the costs of a wedding, we often think about the financial toll on the person paying for it. The outlay on tiered cakes, the dress with a long train, appliques and veil, and canapes at the reception can all add up.
Weddings can cost a lot of m______.
defeat
(42).In recent years, there has been an explosion of research into meditation, which has been shown to reduce blood pressure, boost recovery, strengthen the immune system, slow age-related decline of the brain, and relieve the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Studies also show meditation can reduce violence in prisons, increase productivity in the workplace, and improve both the behavior and the grades of school children.
Changes that meditation b______ to a person.
brings
(43).Science fiction, I've always felt, is part of that fantastical tradition. It's a modern variant of it, for a world in which things that once would have been thought of as magic are now part of everyday life. Currently it's a minority interest, but a time may well come when the fantastical fiction is the dominant form.
The d______ of science fiction.
development
(44).Chinese smartphone makers are increasing budgets to unveil new products to coincide with the peak sales season that starts in the July-August summer vacation and extends through the third quarter of every year. The summer vacation is a prime time for smartphone sales as many students may want to upgrade their phones. Smartphone companies are keen to pounce on the time window to grow their businesses.
The best season for s______ smartphones.
selling
(45).The trend rate of GDP growth is likely to be lower than it was in the past. Part of the slowdown is due to the rapid ageing of the European population. Part may be due to increasing competition from developing countries: their growing prowess puts pressure on many Western businesses and workers. Part may also be down to environmental constraints.
What c______ the low GDP growth in Europe.
causes
(46).Data shows that Chinese brands are winning increasingly more consumers in recent years, especially among the younger generation. The percentage of keyword searches for Chinese brands surged to more than two thirds among all the searches on Baidu, up from only about one third 10 years earlier, according to a report jointly released by the search engine and the Research Institute of People.cn.
China's younger generation e______ domestic brands.
embrace
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