Question

【题目】

Return to the moon

It might not be long until humans uncover the secrets of the far side of the moon. China’s Chang’e 4 robotic probe (探测器), which is set to become the first probe to land on the moon’s far side, was launched successfully on Dec 8, Xinhua reported.

The moon rotates (自转) at the same speed that it orbits (绕…运行) Earth. Therefore, the same side of the moon always faces Earth. The far side of the moon is the side that we cannot see. We don’t know much about it so far.

However, the far side of the moon is an ideal (理想的) place for scientific research(研究). It is exposed (暴露) to solar winds that may have formed unique minerals (矿物质) and other resources. And since the far side is less affected by Earth’s gravity, scientists can make clearer observations of deep space from there, according to China Daily.

But it is hard to land on the far side of the moon. Spacecraft that land there cannot receive any radio signals(信号) from Earth. To solve this problem, China launched a relay satellite (中继卫星) called Queqiao into space in May. Through Queqiao, scientists can control and operate Chang’e 4 and make sure it will land in a specific(特定的) area.

The probe’s travel time is also important. Chang’e 4 is expected to land on the moon on Jan 2, China Daily reported. It will travel through space for more than 20 days before landing. This is longer than Chang’e 3, which was in space for about 12 days before landing.

The travel time was changed because scientists want Chang’e 4 to land on the moon when it is daytime. This way, the spacecraft’s solar panels ( 太 阳 能 板 ) can receive energy from the sun and allow the probe to start working. A single day on the moon is about 28 days on Earth. Therefore, Chang’e 4 will keep orbiting the moon before landing as it waits for daytime, according to Sun Zezhou, chief designer of Chang’e 4.

Did you know? Chang’e 4 took some plant seeds and eggs to the moon. It was hoped that Chang’e 4 was able to do experiments with them. These were the first biological experiments to take place on the moon.

【1】Is Chang’e 4 the first probe to land on the far side of the moon?

【2】What does the far side of the moon refer to(指代)?

【3】Why does the same side of the moon always face Earth?

【4】How did Chinese scientists solve the problem of no signals?

【5】Why do scientists want Chang’e 4 to land in daytime?

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】Yes, it is.

【2】It refers to the side that we can’t see and know little about it so far.

【3】Because the moon rotates at the same speed that it orbits Earth.

【4】They launched a relay satellite to control and operate Chang’e 4 when it is on the far side of the moon.

【5】So that the spacecraft’s solar panels can receive energy from the sun and allow the probe to start working.

【解析】

本文的内容是人类不久之后将会揭开月球另一面的秘密。

【1】根据第一段“China’s Chang’e 4 robotic probe (探测器), which is set to become the first probe to land on the moon’s far side, was launched successfully on Dec 8, Xinhua reported.”可知，中国的嫦娥四号机器人探测器将成为第一个登陆月球远端的探测器。故答案为Yes, it is.

【2】根据第二段“The far side of the moon is the side that we cannot see. We don’t know much about it so far.”可知月亮的另一面是我们看不到的那面。到目前为止，我们对此知之甚少。故答案为It refers to the side that we can’t see and know little about it so far.

【3】根据第二段“The moon rotates (自转) at the same speed that it orbits (绕…运行) Earth. Therefore, the same side of the moon always faces Earth.”可知月亮以绕地球运行的相同速度自转。因此，月球的同一侧始终面向地球。故答案为Because the moon rotates at the same speed that it orbits Earth.

【4】根据第四段“Spacecraft that land there cannot receive any radio signals from Earth. To solve this problem, China launched a relay satellite called Queqiao into space in May. Through Queqiao, scientists can control and operate Chang’e 4 and make sure it will land in a specific area.”可知降落在那里的航天器无法从地球接收任何无线电信号。为了解决这个问题，中国于5月向太空发射了名为Queqiao桥的中继卫星。通过Queqiao，科学家可以控制和操作嫦娥四号，并确保它将降落在特定的区域中。故答案为They launched a relay satellite to control and operate Chang’e 4 when it is on the far side of the moon.

【5】根据倒数第二段“The travel time was changed because scientists want Chang’e 4 to land on the moon when it is daytime. This way, the spacecraft’s solar panels can receive energy from the sun and allow the probe to start working.”可知科学家希望嫦娥四号在白天降落在月球上。这样，航天器的太阳能板可以从太阳接收能量，并允许探针开始工作。故答案为So that the spacecraft’s solar panels can receive energy from the sun and allow the probe to start working.