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If you’ve ever dreamed of building a rocket and sending it skyward, dream no more! Maybe just dream a little smaller. Scientific American Custom Media and our partners at Bayer are hosting the BUILD — YOUR — OWN ALKA ROCKET COMPETITION for backyard craft powered by water and effervescent tablets (泡腾片). The winner will become famous overnight and walk away with a $1,000 prize. So pick up some effervescent tablets and get busy building. History awaits you.
Entry: Going for the prize is easy. Build an Alka Rocket. Send it skyward with fuel made only of effervescent tablets and water. And record it all in a video, which you share over social media with the Alka Rocket Challenge. So we can keep track. Please also email the links to your social media posts to alkarocket@sciam. com.
Entry Period: From November 1st, 2020 until December 31st, 2020.
Rocket Requirements: Rockets must be less than one foot in height and six inches in width. They must use only effervescent tablets and water as fuel.For more on how to build a basic Alka Rocket, you can watch the handy video.
Judging Criteria; The judges will award the winner and two runners-up on the basis of creativity of rocket design, the launch and video submission.
Safety (super important!!!): Rockets can be dangerous—even ones powered by effervescent tablets. Any project considered remotely dangerous to humans or the environment will be immediately disqualified.
Notes: Competitors must be American citizens and aged 13 or older. And any competitor under the age of 18 needs to email us a signed parental permission form when he or his team sends us the links to social posts.
If you have questions, submit them to alkarocket@sciarn.com and we’ll do our best to get back to you. Enter and reach for the stars!
1. What is required for the competition?
A. Sharing the rocket launch video over social media.
B. Building Alka Rockets less than one meter high.
C. Launching Alka Rockets in front of the judges.
D. Emailing signed parental permission
2. What is the advantage of Alka Rockets over other rockets?
A. They are heavier. B. They are riskier.
C. They are faster. D. They are safer.
3. Who can enter the competition?
A. A 12-year-old American. B. An American teenager.
C. An English engineer. D. An English parent.
【答案】1. A 2. D 3. B
【解析】
这是一篇应用文。文章介绍了参加Alka火箭挑战赛的一些要求。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据文章第二段“And record it all in a video, which you share over social media with the Alka Rocket Challenge.”（然后录成视频，通过社交媒体分享Alka火箭挑战赛。）可知，比赛的要求是在社交媒体上分享火箭发射的视频。故选A项。
【2题详解】
推理判断题。倒数第三段“Rockets can be dangerous—even ones powered by effervescent tablets. Any project considered remotely dangerous to humans or the environment will be immediately disqualified.”（火箭可能是危险的——即使是由泡腾片驱动的火箭。任何被认为对人类或环境有轻微危险的项目将立即被取消资格。）可知，Alka 火箭赛非常强调安全的问题。所以它的优势之一就是更安全。故选D项。
【3题详解】
细节理解题。根据文章倒数第二段“ Competitors must be American citizens and aged 13 or older. And any competitor under the age of 18 needs to email us a signed parental permission form when he or his team sends us the links to social posts.”（参赛者必须是13岁以上的美国公民。任何年龄在18岁以下的参赛者，在他或他的团队向我们发送社交帖子链接时，都需要通过电子邮件向我们发送一份签名的家长许可表格。）可知，来自美国的少年可以参赛。故选B项。
