阅读理解

The "Thumbs-Up"

　　While Western culture has become used to the thumbs-up as a good signal(probably coming from World War II pilots using the signal to show that they were "good to go" with ground crews), there are cultures where a thumbs-up may land you in trouble．In West Africa, as well as Greece, Italy and Middle East, the thumbs-up is pretty much the biggest insult(侮辱)．

　　Rather more interesting is a thumbs-up in Germany and in parts of Japan－they just see it as the hand signal for the number one．

The "A-OK"

　　This sign is mainly used by divers(潜水员)to mean "OK"(to prevent being confused with the thumbs-up sign, which means "rise")．Basically the meaning comes out as "great", or "completely fine"．However, in a few countries in Europe, people may think you抮e telling them that you think they抮e a 'zero挘?/P>

The "V Sign"

　　The sign comes in two formats：one with the palm(手掌)faced outwards, and one with the palm inwards．In America they mean the same thing －"victory"．However, if the outside of your hand is facing your target(目标), you抮e giving somebody a long-built insult in Great Britain and many English-speaking countries such as Australia, Ireland and New Zealand．Winston Churchill famously used the "incorrect" version of the V sign during the early years of the war, turning the outside inside later．The V sign is also considered rude in Italy．

The "Corna"

　　The corna hand gesture has most recently been adopted by fans of rock and heavy metal music．Nowadays many Americans use the gesture simply to mean "rock on", or in support of the University of Texas in Austin(known as the "Hook抏m Horns")．Today it is still popular in Spain, Brazil and Slovakia．Historically, however, the symbol possibly dates back to Ancient Greece．

阅读理解

　　Encouraged by the success of its first manned space mission, China says it is looking to launch(发射)another Shenzhou spacecraft within "one or two years' time" and is pushing ahead with plans to develop a permanently manned presence iu space．

　　In comments reported just hours after the Shenzhou V's safe return to Earth, the official Xinhua news agency quoted(引用)a leading space official as saying China's next steps would be to work on launching a space laboratory and then a space station into orbit(轨道)．

　　"The successful mission of Shenzhou V is the first step of China's space program．" the agency quoted Zhang Qingwei as saying．

　　Although Zhang gave few details and no specific timescale for the plans, the announcement is the clearest official statement to date concerning China's plans for space exploration．

　　Speaking later at a Beijing news conference, Xie Mingbao, director of the manned space office, said he expected to launch another Shenzhou capsule before the end of 2005．

　　"In one or two years' time, I think Shenzhou VI will be launched．" Xie said in response to a reporter's question．

　　Zhang, the second most senior officer in charge of the country's space program, said the next major tasks to tackle would be to perfect orbital docking technologies and procedures．

　　Precise docking between spacecraft and orbiting modules is essential to placing a space lab in orbit, Xinhua quoted Zhang as saying．

　　He did not say whether the proposed space lab would be manned or conduct experiments using automated equipment．

　　Beijing has not been involved in the U．S．and Russian-led International Space Station(ISS), although there has been speculation(思索)that China may be invited to join in the near future．Although earlier reports in Chinese media have speculated on the future course of the space program, Zhang's comments are the clearest indication yet that such plans have high level official support．

　　Aside from the space station, Chinese scientists are also reported to be working on plans to send unmanned probes to the moon with a view to eventually landing a Chinese astronaut on the lunar surface．