A
For your next out-of-this-world vacation, you now have the option of literally going out of this world—but it’ll cost you $40 million. Then again, can you really put a price tag on having the time of your life? According to a new report from Popular Mechanics, Russia is looking to build a luxury hotel in outer space. There you will wake up to see a breathtaking blue planet—the earth! The hotel is expected to be stationed on the International Space Station (ISS).
While space tourism itself isn’t exactly a novel idea, the notion of building a hotel out there hasn’t been raised before. Really, other companies are still focused on the transportation part of the puzzle—after all, a trip to space is enough for most folks.
According to Popular Mechanics, the hotel will include a luxury orbital suite with big windows, personal hygiene (卫生) facilities, exercise equipment, and yes, WiFi. Because if you can’t share your experience on social media, did it really even happen?
Of course, the reasons behind the hotel aren’t just for fun and games. Apparently, space tourism might be able to help the Russians pay for another module to add to the International Space Station. Russian space contractor RKK Energia is currently building the first such module, which will give scientists a laboratory and power supply station from which to conduct tests.
If any of this is going to happen, however, Russia is going to have to hurry. With the ISS expected to be out of use in 2028, there’s little time to build the hotel and find wealthy tourists to actually pay for a trip into outer space.
So if you’ve recently come into a fortune and are interested in investing in what could be the time of your life, ISS is calling your name.
【文章大意】本文为说明文, 主要介绍了未来的太空旅游。
1. What do we know about the hotel from the first paragraph?
A. It is quite affordable.
B. It will be built in Russia.
C. It will offer an amazing view.
D. It costs $40 million to build.
【解析】选C。细节理解题。根据第一段中的“There you will. . . the earth”可知, 在这个旅馆你可以看到令人惊叹的蓝色星球——地球, 这一令人惊叹的景色。
2. What does the underlined phrase “the puzzle” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A. An orbital suite. B. Space tourism.
C. Space exploration. D. A creative idea.
【解析】选B。词义猜测题。根据第二段中的“While space tourism itself isn’t exactly a novel idea”及“after all, a trip to space is enough for most folks”可知, puzzle指“太空旅行”, 即文中的“space tourism”或“a trip to space”。
3. What can be inferred from Paragraph 3?
A. Hotel guests won’t be able to see into space.
B. Visitors are required to take exercise each day.
C. Space travel is not possible without the Internet.
D. Tourists tend to share traveling experiences online.
【解析】选D。推理判断题。根据第三段中的“Because if you can’t. . . really even happen”可知, 如果你不能在社交媒体上分享你的太空旅行经历, 你就像没来过一样, 因此可以推断游客会在网上分享旅行经历。
4. The hotel will be built to provide Russian scientists with _________.
A. fun and games B. financial support
C. space contractors D. more time in space
【解析】选B。细节理解题。根据第四段中的“Apparently, space tourism. . . International Space Station”及“which will give. . . tests”可知, 建立旅馆让人们到太空旅行会给科学家提供经济支持。
