An astronomer is making a case for launching pop singer Justin Bieber into suborbital(亚轨道的)space aboard a private rocket ship. The idea is not to rid the world of the Canadian teenager — he would come back down to Earth eventually, after all — but rather to help jump-start the emerging suborbital spaceflight industry.
It would generate a lot of public interest, which would help commercial spaceflight pick up some much-needed momentum, said Seth Shostak, senior astronomer at the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute in Mountain View, California. “If there’s more interest, there are more customers. If there are more customers, there's more technical development. It's a positive feedback loop, and obviously that's good.”
Such missions would return to Earth without completing a full lap around the planet. Instead, the flights would hit the edge of space about 62 miles (100 kilometers) above Earth, experience a few minutes of weightlessness, then re-enter the atmosphere and land back at a spaceport.
None of these firms are ready to fly customers yet, but some are getting close. For instance, Virgin Galactic hopes to begin powered test flights of its SpaceShipTwo vehicle later this year, with commercial operations perhaps beginning in 2013 or 2014. It is SpaceShipTwo that reportedly grabbed the attention of Beyonce and Jay-Z.
Virgin Galactic has collected deposits from nearly 500 customers willing to pay $200,000 for a ride aboard SpaceShipTwo, and both Virgin and XCOR have inked deals to fly scientists and their experiments on research flights. So a suborbital market already exists — but Shostak is thinking about ways to make it grow.
A celebrity launch isn't Shostak’s only idea. Suborbital firms should also promote their activities aggressively via social media, Shostak said, and they should make sure their spaceships are bristling(充满)with cameras both inside and out, to give the public dramatic views of every mission.
Some observers view commercial suborbital spaceflight as a potentially transformative industry, saying it could serve as a stepping stone to the exploration and exploitation of space on an unprecedented scale. While the industry’s success is far from assured, Shostak offered some reason for optimism: The American public remains keen on space.
1.Why may Justin Bieber be sent into suborbital space?
A.To show his bravery and make him a role model for teenagers.
B.To arouse the American public’s interest.
C.To help reform the spaceflight industry.
D.To film an advertisement about space.
2.What can we learn about suborbital spaceflight?
A.A trip will return to Earth before finishing a lap.
B.The whole trip will leave passengers weightless.
C.Each trip can take 500 passengers.
D.The trip will be too expensive even for celebrities.
3.What can we infer from the text?
A.SpaceShipTwo will be the first to fly.
B.Famous people will be the main passengers in the future.
C.The space trip is still in preparation.
D.Every space trip will be made into a film.
4.The last paragraph suggests that _________.
A.space is too mysterious to explore
B.the suborbital market is promising
C.the spaceflight industry is more successful than people think
D.developing the industry is risky
5.What is the main purpose of the text?
A.To predict a change in the space market.
B.To discuss a recent launch.
C.To introduce the status of the spaceflight industry.
D.To remove public doubt about the spaceflight industry.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
An astronomer is making a case for launching pop singer Justin Bieber into suborbital(亚轨道的)space aboard a private rocket ship. The idea is not to rid the world of the Canadian teenager — he would come back down to Earth eventually, after all — but rather to help jump-start the emerging suborbital spaceflight industry.
It would generate a lot of public interest, which would help commercial spaceflight pick up some much-needed momentum, said Seth Shostak, senior astronomer at the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute in Mountain View, California. “If there’s more interest, there are more customers. If there are more customers, there's more technical development. It's a positive feedback loop, and obviously that's good.”
Such missions would return to Earth without completing a full lap around the planet. Instead, the flights would hit the edge of space about 62 miles (100 kilometers) above Earth, experience a few minutes of weightlessness, then re-enter the atmosphere and land back at a spaceport.
None of these firms are ready to fly customers yet, but some are getting close. For instance, Virgin Galactic hopes to begin powered test flights of its SpaceShipTwo vehicle later this year, with commercial operations perhaps beginning in 2013 or 2014. It is SpaceShipTwo that reportedly grabbed the attention of Beyonce and Jay-Z.
Virgin Galactic has collected deposits from nearly 500 customers willing to pay $200,000 for a ride aboard SpaceShipTwo, and both Virgin and XCOR have inked deals to fly scientists and their experiments on research flights. So a suborbital market already exists — but Shostak is thinking about ways to make it grow.
A celebrity launch isn't Shostak’s only idea. Suborbital firms should also promote their activities aggressively via social media, Shostak said, and they should make sure their spaceships are bristling(充满)with cameras both inside and out, to give the public dramatic views of every mission.
Some observers view commercial suborbital spaceflight as a potentially transformative industry, saying it could serve as a stepping stone to the exploration and exploitation of space on an unprecedented scale. While the industry’s success is far from assured, Shostak offered some reason for optimism: The American public remains keen on space.
1.Why may Justin Bieber be sent into suborbital space?
A.To show his bravery and make him a role model for teenagers.
B.To arouse the American public’s interest.
C.To help reform the spaceflight industry.
D.To film an advertisement about space.
2.What can we learn about suborbital spaceflight?
A.A trip will return to Earth before finishing a lap.
B.The whole trip will leave passengers weightless.
C.Each trip can take 500 passengers.
D.The trip will be too expensive even for celebrities.
3.What can we infer from the text?
A.SpaceShipTwo will be the first to fly.
B.Famous people will be the main passengers in the future.
C.The space trip is still in preparation.
D.Every space trip will be made into a film.
4.The last paragraph suggests that _________.
A.space is too mysterious to explore
B.the suborbital market is promising
C.the spaceflight industry is more successful than people think
D.developing the industry is risky
5.What is the main purpose of the text?
A.To predict a change in the space market.
B.To discuss a recent launch.
C.To introduce the status of the spaceflight industry.
D.To remove public doubt about the spaceflight industry.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Taylor Alison Swift is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress.
Swift was born on December 13, 1989, in Reading, Pennsylvania, and raised in Wyomissing. Pennsylvania. She is the daughter of Andrea Gardner, a housewife who previously worked in finance, and Scott Kingsley Swift, a stockbroker. Her grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, was an opera singer. Swift has a younger brother, Austin. She grew up on a Christmas-tree farm.
When Swift was in fourth grade, she won a national poetry contest with a three-page poem, “Monster in My Closet”. At the age of ten, a computer repairman showed her how to play three chords (和弦) on a guitar, arousing her interest in learning the instrument. Afterwards, Swift wrote her first song, “Lucky You”. When Swift was 12, she devoted an entire summer to writing a 350-page novel, which remains unpublished. She began writing songs regularly and used it as a way to help her with her pain from not fitting in at school. Swift was a victim of bullying (欺凌), and spent her time writing songs to express her emotions. She also started performing at local karaoke contests, festivals, and fair.
Swift began to regularly visit Nashville, Tennessee, and work with local songwriters. When she was 14, her family moved to Nashville. Her first major show was a well-received performance at the Bloomsburg Fair. In Tennessee, Swift attended Hendersonville High School, but was then homeschooled for her junior and senior years. In 2008, she earned her high school diploma.
Swift’s greatest musical influence is Shania Twain. Her other influences include Leann Rimes, Tina Turner, Dolly Parton, and Swifts grandmother. Although her grandmother was a professional opera singer, Swifts tastes always leaned more toward country music. In her younger years, she developed a love for Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton. She also credits her love for music in her teens to the influence of the Dixie Chicks.
1.What can we know about Swift from the passage?
A.Her first novel came out in 2001.
B.She showed her music talent in her teens.
C.Her first major show was in Hendersonville High School.
D.Her mother influenced her a lot in her later music career.
2.Which word can best describe Swift’s school life?
A.Colorful. B.Busy.
C.Successful. D.Unhappy.
3.We can infer that Shania Twain in the last paragraph is a famous ________.
A.film star B.novelist
C.opera singer D.country music star
4.The passage is mainly about the ________ of Taylor Alison Swift.
A.family life B.achievements
C.early life D.contributions
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
EBay will launch an online group gift-buying service today designed to make it easier for several people to chip in, buy and pay for gifts using their social-network and e-mail contacts.
EBay North America Vice President Christopher Payne says it is going to be a major step forward in social commerce, which is the still-small practice of selling products through social networks.Online retail experts aren't as certain, but eBay says the new tool makes it easier for friends and relatives to chip in (凑钱) for gifts because it eliminates the headache of collecting contributions.It can also be used for family members to pitch in to buy, say, an expensive child seat for a mother.
Anything on eBay that's available immediately, rather than up for bid, can be purchased this way starting today at groupgifts.eBay.com.If members of an extended family wanted to buy a gift for one member, one person would choose a gift — or have one recommended by eBay — and invite family members to chip in using Facebook or e-mail.Those who wanted to join in would choose an amount to contribute (or agree to pay a requested amount) and pay using either PayPal or a credit card.They could also add a personal note.
If enough people don't chip in, the organizer can ask people to contribute more or choose a less expensive gift.
"I see myself using this most in cases when I typically might not buy someone what they want because of price," says Nitzan Shaer of Boston, who was part of an online test of the site.
EBay, with its 200 million products, millions of sellers and mobile commerce proficiency, is a logical place to pull together the products, groups of buyers and payment tools, Payne says.
At least 12 sites, such as FrumUs.com and eDivvy.com, facilitate (便于,利于) group purchases but don't sell products.Although a handful of retailers, including Victoria's Secret and 1-800-Flowers, sell products through Facebook, Payne says he expects social commerce will take off as rapidly as shopping using mobile devices.EBay did more than $600 million in sales on mobile devices last year and expects mobile sales to increase to $1.5 billion this year.
Although one in five consumers surveyed said they'd used Facebook for shopping in the past year, 88% said they would not be buying holiday gifts through a social network, mobile phone or smartphone.Of these, 26% were reluctant because of security or privacy concerns, and 20% were unclear about the benefits of using phones or Facebook to shop.
1.What procedure should be followed if your extended family intends to buy your grandpa an 80th birthday gift?
①Asking family members to contribute more money if enough members don’t chip in
②Choosing a gift at groupgifts.eBay.com
③Paying using PayPal or a credit card
④Contributing or agreeing to pay a requested amount of money via Facebook or e-mail
A.②-①-③-④ | B.①-③-②-④ |
C.②-④-①-③ | D.②-③-④-① |
2.Where can we most probably read this text?
A.In a research paper | B.In a travel magazine |
C.In a microblog | D.On a website |
3.What does “it” mean in the 2nd paragraph?
A.The online group gift-buying service |
B.People’s social-network and e-mail contacts |
C.A major step forward in social commerce |
D.The still-small practice of selling products through social networks |
4.It can be inferred from the text that ______.
A.through eBay’s new tool, 200 million products on eBay are available to online shoppers |
B.social commerce can eliminate the headache of collecting contributions |
C.eBay’s new tool will gain mass adoption by online shoppers |
D.with the help of eBay’s new tool, FrumUs.com and eDivvy.com will also sell products |
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
EBay will launch an online group gift-buying service today designed to make it easier for several people to chip in, buy and pay for gifts using their social-network and e-mail contacts.
EBay North America Vice President Christopher Payne says it is going to be a major step forward in social commerce, which is the still-small practice of selling products through social networks.Online retail experts aren't as certain, but eBay says the new tool makes it easier for friends and relatives to chip in (凑钱) for gifts because it eliminates the headache of collecting contributions.It can also be used for family members to pitch in to buy, say, an expensive child seat for a mother.
Anything on eBay that's available immediately, rather than up for bid, can be purchased this way starting today at groupgifts.eBay.com.If members of an extended family wanted to buy a gift for one member, one person would choose a gift — or have one recommended by eBay — and invite family members to chip in using Facebook or e-mail.Those who wanted to join in would choose an amount to contribute (or agree to pay a requested amount) and pay using either At least 12 sites, such as FrumUs.com and eDivvy.com, facilitate (便于,利于) group purchases but don't sell products.Although a handful of retailers, including Victoria's Secret and 1-800-Flowers, sell products through Facebook, Payne says he expects social commerce will take off as rapidly as shopping using mobile devices.EBay did more than $600 million in sales on mobile devices last year and expects mobile sales to increase to $1.5 billion this year.
Although one in five consumers surveyed said they'd used Facebook for shopping in the pastPayPal or a credit card.They could also add a personal note.
If enough people don't chip in, the organizer can ask people to contribute more or choose a less expensive gift.
"I see myself using this most in cases when I typically might not buy someone what they want because of price," says Nitzan Shaer of Boston, who was part of an online test of the site.
EBay, with its 200 million products, millions of sellers and mobile commerce proficiency, is a logical place to pull together the products, groups of buyers and payment tools, Payne says.
year, 88% said they would not be buying holiday gifts through a social network, mobile phone or smartphone.Of these, 26% were reluctant because of security or privacy concerns, and 20% were unclear about the benefits of using phones or Facebook to shop.
1.What procedure should be followed if your extended family intends to buy your grandpa an 80th birthday gift?
①Asking family members to contribute more money if enough members don’t chip in
②Choosing a gift at groupgifts.eBay.com
③Paying using PayPal or a credit card
④Contributing or agreeing to pay a requested amount of money via Facebook or e-mail
A.②-①-③-④ B.①-③-②-④
C.②-④-①-③ D.②-③-④-①
2.Where can we most probably read this text?
A.In a research paper B.In a travel magazine
C.In a microblog D.On a website
3.What does “it” mean in the 2nd paragraph?
A.The online group gift-buying service
B.People’s social-network and e-mail contacts
C.A major step forward in social commerce
D.The still-small practice of selling products through social networks
4.It can be inferred from the text that ______.
A.through eBay’s new tool, 200 million products on eBay are available to online shoppers
B.social commerce can eliminate the headache of collecting contributions
C.eBay’s new tool will gain mass adoption by online shoppers
D.with the help of eBay’s new tool, FrumUs.com and eDivvy.com will also sell products
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
A teddy bear from Cumbria is launching into space to raise cash for charity(慈善)
Terence,an experienced traveller who has been to Iraq,will be the guest of honour on aviation(飞行)legend Burt Rutan’s Spaceship One when it flies above Earth.The mission takes off from California on September 29, and on his return the loveable toy will be auctioned off(拍卖)in aid of the North AIR Ambulance Appeal(北部空中救护服务中心).
Spaceship One is the world’s first private spacecraft,and is competing for a prestigious space travel prize.Chief executive of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS),Graham Pickering,said”flying officer”Terence had been handed over to the RAF six months ago and staff had been receiving postcards from him ever since.
He said,“Terence was a fundraising idea that really took off. We have received pictures of him in a U2 craft,trying parachuting and even looking drunk and disorderly.When the RAF finally discharege him he will be a very rare bear indeed‑--we just hope he does not bum up on re‑entry to Earth”.
GNAAS,which needs charitable donations of more than £2m a year,has three air ambulances(空中救护机).
Peter Bond,spokesman for the Royal Astronimical Society,said Terence’s safety was not guaranteed. He said,“This is a new experimental craft and this will only be the second time it has flown.During its first voyage it developed technical problems but hopefully they have now been resolved.”
Since May,Terence has spent time with members of 100 squadron(空军中队)based at RAF Leeming Basra.Iraq,and at air shows with performing fighter planes.
Spaceship One will fly 100km(62 miles) above the Earth’s surface,just breaking through the planet’s atmosphere.
If it repeats the feat(技艺)inside two weeks,it will claim the $ 10 million Ansari X-Prize set up to encourage the private space flight business.
1.Which of the following is the best title?
A、The Toy Bear Will Be Auctioned Off
B、Space Flight
C、Spaceship One to Lift Off
D、Teddy Bear Astronaut to Lift Off
2.Terence is .
A、an experienced astronaut
B、a toy bear
C、a real bear living in England
D、an air force officer
3.Which of the following is true of Speaceship One?
A、Spaceship One is the world’s first speacecraft.
B、The purpose of its flight is to collect money for the charity.
C、The purpose of its flight is to comepete for a prestigious space travel prize.
D、Spaceship One has never flown.
4.We can infer that .
A、after this space flight,Spaceship One will get the $ 10 million Ansari X-prize
B、it is dangerous for a spaceship to re-entre the earth atmosphere
C、Terence will be very safe on the flight
D、Spaceship One is just an ordinary plane
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Still waiting for little green men to make contact? Don't hold your breath.
A leading astronomer has concluded there probably aren't any aliens out there – meaning we are absolutely alone in the universe.
Even though there may be tens of thousands of other distant planets similar in size to Earth, the conditions on them are likely to be too hard to support life-forms such as ET.
Dr Howard Smith, a senior astrophysicist at Harvard University, believes there is very little hope of discovering aliens and, even if we did, it would be almost impossible to make contact.
So far astronomers have discovered a total of 500 planets in distant solar systems – known as extrasolar systems – although they believe billions of others exist.
But Dr Smith points out that many of these planets are either too close to the sun or too far away, meaning their surface temperatures are so bad that they could not support life. Others have unusual orbits which cause vast temperature variations, making it impossible for water to exist – the most important thing for life.
Dr Smith said, "We have found that most other planets and solar systems are wildly different from our own. It means it is highly unlikely there are any planets with intelligent life close enough for us to make contact." But his suggestions contradict other leading scientists who have claimed aliens almost certainly exist.
Only last month Professor Stephen Hawking said the fact that there are billions of galaxies out there made it reasonable to think there were other life-forms in the universe.
Researchers from the University of London have recently suggested that aliens could be living on as many as 40,000 other planets. But Dr Smith said: "Any hope of contact has to be limited to a relatively tiny space around the Earth, reaching maybe 1,250 light years out from our planet, where aliens might be able to pick up our signals or send us their own. But communicating would still take decades or centuries."
1.By saying "don’t hold your breath", the author advised the reader not to _____.
A.keep silent B.give up C.expect so D.be afraid
2.Dr Smith concludes there probably aren’t any aliens because other planets _____.
A.are too far away from the earth
B.are different from the Earth in size
C.don’t have rich natural resources
D.don’t have a suitable living environment
3.Researchers from the University of London are mentioned to show that ______.
A.they have better explanations about aliens
B.aliens certainly exist on many planets
C.they disagree with Dr Smith’s suggestion
D.aliens can pick up signals from the earth
4.What’s the main idea of the text?
A.There must be other life forms in the universe.
B.We can communicate with aliens in decades.
C.The chances of finding aliens are slight.
D.Many other planets are quite different from the Earth.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Outside the exit, many fans waited for the great pop singer, ____to take a picture with him.
A. hoping B. hope C. hoped D. to hope
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Outside the exit, many fans waited for the great pop singer, ____to take a picture with him.
A. hoping B. hope C. hoped D. to hope
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Because of his devotion music, he has become friendly with Mrs.Keith, a pop singer.
A.to B.for C.in D.at
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
Because of his devotion music, he has become friendly with Mrs.Keith, a pop singer.
A.to B.for C.in D.at
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析