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　　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 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 reentry 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 lsraeli to fly on the shuttle, former combat pilot Collan Ramon. There were warnings that parts of a vast 120-milelong corridor of debris could be toxic because of poisonous rocket propellant (推进器).

　　“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 had 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 (吊慰) to the families of the dead astronauts.

1．The word“descent”in the passage means ________.

[　　]

2．Which is TRUE of the lsraeli astronaut Collan Ramon?

[　　]

A．He was the first lsraeli 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.

China’s second manned（人造的） space flight will be done by two astronauts（宇航员） over five days in 2005. “Shenzhou-VI will be sent into space sometime in 2005,” said Zuo Saichun, a spokesperson of the China Aerospace Science and Technology (CAST). “The spacecraft（宇宙飞船） will make new breakthroughs（突破性进展） in China’s manned space technology.”
Unlike Shenzhou-V, a little more than a year ago (in October, 2003), the next flight will see two astronauts fly in space for five days. Their capsule (太空舱) is designed to be capable（能够）of orbiting（绕轨道运行） for a whole week, the spokesperson said. “For the first time, astronauts will enter and live in the orbital module（舱） of the spacecraft to do scientific experiments,” said a statement from CAST. CAST did not say what those experiments will be.
In Shenzhou-VI, scientists have changed the spacecraft’s configuration (构形) to reduce its weight, and tried to improve the performance of on-board equipment. They have also worked to make sure of the energy supply of the spacecraft and further improve its safety. So far, scientists have worked out ways to solve problems on environmental control and life support. Shenzhou-VI will be sent into orbit atop（在……顶上） a Long March 2F rocket.
Meanwhile, a model of the Chang’e-1 satellite is expected to be sent to orbit the moon in two years. The satellite, part of the three-stage programme, would be followed by the landing of an unmanned vehicle on the moon in the second stage by 2010 and collecting samples（样品） of lunar soil by 2020 in the final stage, according to Sun Laiyan, director of the China National Space Administration.
【小题1】. Which of the following about Shenzhou-VI is NOT true?
　　  

A．It will be sent into space in 2005.

B．It is capable of orbiting for two weeks.

C．It will be sent into orbit atop a Long March 2F rocket.

D．It will be sent into space with two astronauts.

【小题2】. According to the passage, the following problems should be solved before Shenzhou-VI is sent into space EXCEPT ______.
　　  

A．environmental control

B．energy supply

C．life support

D．lunar soil collecting

【小题3】. Which of the following does NOT belong to the three-stage programme?
　　  

A．Shenzhou-VI’s being sent into space.

B．A model of the Chang’e-1 satellite will be sent to orbit the moon.

C．The landing of an unmanned vehicle on the moon.

D．Collecting samples of lunar soil.

【小题4】. The passage mainly tells us ______.
　　  

A．some problems need solving before Shenzhou-VI is sent into space

B．Shenzhou-VI will be sent into space in 2005

C．what China’s space programme is

D．how China’s three-stage programme is carried out

China has mapped out plans for its new launches in the Shenzhou program on the next flight. But one conclusion seems to have escaped most reports in the aerospace media．The flight of Shenzhou 7 could be timed to coincide（吻合）with the Beijing Olympics. Plans for 2008 Summer Olympics call for the events to be held between the 8th and 24th of August in that year. It’s reasonable to expect that China will use the event to display its achievements before the world, and human spaceflight is China’s most significant recent breakthrough.

Shenzhou 7, China’s next manned space mission, was originally advertised for 2007．This fit the pattern of staging a two-gap between crewed Shenzhou missions, which have previously launched in 2003 and 2005．But Chinese media statements have amended this to 2008．Chinese media have reported that the whole program is going well, more time is needed to work on spacesuit that will be used on this flight to stage China’s first spacewalk. It’s possible that Chinese engineers want to make best preparations for this complex mission.

China could intend to carry out the mission of Shenzhou 7 just as media attention is focused on the lead—up to the Olympics. The crew of the fight, and possibly China’s other flown astronauts, could then take part in the opening ceremony. China has previously honnoured her space travelers in great celebrations, such as the Hong Kong event that saw Yang Liwei singing with Jacky Chan.

1．From the first paragraph we can infer that___________.

A．China hasn’t made its plan for the Beijing Olympics

B．The new Shenzhou program is known to all.

C．China has planned to send up Shenzhou 7 in 2008

D．Beijing Olympics will be held during the flight in 2008

2．The underlined word “amended”means______.

A．mended　 　 B．altered 　 C．dated　 　　 D．amender

3．China has decided to carry out the human spaceflight in 2008 in order to________.

A．attract more athletes to take part in the Beijing Olympics

B．show its great achievements to the whole world

C．prove China has become a great developed country like the USA

D．introduce its technology to the world

4．Which on of the following is true according to the passage?

A．Yang Liwei—one the Chinese astronauts walked in space in 2003.

B．Yang Liwei—one the Chinese astronauts will be singing with Jacky Chan in space in 2008.

C．The spacesuit for the flight of Shenzhou 7 hasn’t been prepared well.

D．China will send its second manned spacecraft in 2008.

5．What would be the best title for this passage?

A．The Beijing Olympics

B．The Shenzhou Olympics

C．The Shenzhou Program

D．China’s Space Program in 2008