The space shuttle Columbia flared and broke up in the skies over Texas on Saturday,February 1,2003,killing the seven astronauts on board in what NASA(美国宇航局) and President Bush called a tragedy for the entire nation.NASA launched an investigation into the disaster and began searching for the astronauts’ remains.It said that although there had been some data failures it was too early to nail down a precise cause.The break-up,16 minutes before the shuttle was due to land at Kennedy Space Center in Florida,spread possibly toxic debris(有毒的残骸) over a wide swath of Texas and neighboring states.
Dramatic television images of the shuttle’s descent clearly showed several white trails(痕迹) streaking through blue skies after the shuttle suddenly fell apart.It was almost 17 years to the day that the Challenger shuttle exploded on Jan.28,1986,killing all seven astronauts on board.
Take-off and re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere are the most dangerous parts of a space mission.In 42 years of US’ human space flight,there had never been an accident in the descent to Earth or landing.Challenger exploded just after take-off.
Rescue teams scrambled to search for the remains of the crew,which included the first Israeli to fly on the shuttle,former combat pilot Col.Ilan Ramon.There were warnings that parts of a vast 120-mile-long corridor of debris could be toxic because of poisonous rocket propellant(推进剂).
“We are not ready to confirm that we have found any human remains,” Nacogdoches County Sheriff Thomas Kerrs said.He added that among the roughly 1,000 calls reporting debris,some people said they found remains of crew members.
“The Columbia is lost.There are no survivors...Their mission was almost complete and we lost them so close to home...America’s space program will go on,” said a grim-faced Bush in a message broadcast on television,which included condolences to the families of the dead astronauts.
1.The underlined word “descent” in the passage means .
A.taking off B.landing C.orbiting D.walking down
2.Which is true of the Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon?
A.He was the first Israeli astronaut to fly on the shuttle.
B.He was the first foreign astronaut to fly on the American shuttle.
C.He used to be a passenger plane pilot.
D.He was the only survivor in the Columbia disaster.
3.The Columbia disaster and the Challenger disaster were similar in that .
A.there were seven astronauts killed on board
B.both the shuttles exploded when they took off
C.both the shuttles exploded when they were about to land
D.no human remains were found
4.Which of the following is wrong according to the news?
A.The U.S.A.will give up the space program because of the accident.
B.NASA hasn’t found the cause of the Columbia disaster.
C.Before the Columbia disaster,no shuttles had exploded in the course of landing.
D.Take-off and re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere are the most dangerous parts of a space mission.
语篇解读:本文讲述了美国航天飞机“哥伦比亚”号失事的情况。
答案及剖析:
1.B 词义猜测题。第三段第二句中的in the descent to Earth or landing中的landing 即是对 descent的解释。
2.A 细节理解题。从第四段第一句中的which included the first Israeli to fly on the shuttle,former combat pilot Col.Ilan Ramon.可以知道,Ilan Ramon是以色列第一位乘坐航天飞机的宇航员。
3.A 细节理解题。从文中可以了解到两起灾难都有7位宇航员丧生。“挑战者”号是在升空时失事的,而“哥伦比亚”号是在返回地面的过程中失事的,故可排除B 和 C。而选项 D 与原文不符,故选 A。
4.A 细节理解题。根据最后一段中的America’s space program will go on 可知选项 A错误。
