It is the second-brightest object in our night sky after the moon. It is one of man’s greatest scientific achievements. It’s the International Space Station (ISS) .
Nov 20 marks the station’s 20th birthday. In 1998, the first piece of the ISS was sent into space. Since then, 230 people from 18 countries have visited it.
Five space agencies – those of the United States, Russia, Canada, Europe and Japan – worked together to build it. Weighing about 450 tons, it contains many different parts, including labs and solar panels (太阳能板).
Generally, the ISS holds three to six people at one time. Astronauts living there work on a variety of different science projects. The ISS has hosted over 1,500 such projects, according to NASA.
But the station’s hardware (硬件) is aging. In 2011, Russia announced that the ISS will be retired (退役) in 2020 in order to prevent it from becoming dangerous “space junk”. But the US later said it would use repairs to extend (延长) its service life to 2025, the International Business Times reported.The ISS costs $3-4 billion (21-28 billion yuan) to operate (运行) each year. Many have argued that this money could be better spent improving conditions on Earth.
In February, US President Donald Trump announced plans to end support for the ISS by 2025. The US will use its money for other projects, like next-generation rockets and deep-space missions, The Washington Post reported.
What will happen to the ISS after 2025 is unknown. “There are lots of potential (可能的) uses,” former astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman told NBC News. “Other ISS partners could continue scientific experiments on it. Private companies could turn it into a space hotel.”
1.What do we know about the International Space Station?
A.It’s the third-brightest object in our sky.
B.It’s a spacecraft where astronauts can live and work
C.Over 450 people have visited the ISS in the past 20 years.
D.It was built to provide solar energy for other spacecraft.
2.According to the US, after being repaired, how many years will the ISS have served when it retires?
A.5 years. B.20 years C.22 years D.27 years.
3.What do we know from the story?
A.The ISS is built by the USA and Russia. B.The US will not stop exploring space after 2025
C.The ISS will become dangerous “space junk”. D.The ISS will be used as a hotel for space travelers.
Nowadays more and more people ask for help on the Internet. Here is one from BBS.
Lady May | Got low marks, afraid to show my parents Report cards are going out this Friday, and I realized I had failed in Maths. My parents are going to shout at me for that. What should I do? |
Butterfly | It is better to be honest with them and tell them it is a very difficult course and you are trying your best. Promise them you will work harder. Study a little every night so when your next test comes you’ll be much more prepared. |
Tom | Let me guess, you have always been a great student and slipped up (失误) just this one time? Explain that to your parents. |
Male T | You should learn from insects—when they try to cross a wall, they fall down again and again until at some time they get success. |
Roger | Do what I did…show your parents your report cards and then simply ask them…“Didn’t I fail a test?” |
Flower | I never showed my parents my test scores. It’s none of their business! |
1.Lady May put her question here to ____________.
A.ask for help B.draw others’ attention
C.please her parents D.share her grades with others
2.How many people advised Lady May to tell the truth?
A.Five B.Four C.Three D.Two
3.What can we learn from Male T’s suggestion?
A.The early bird catches the worm. B.No pain, no gain.
C.Failure is the mother of success. D.Actions speak louder than words .
Sixteen years ago a boy gave me an important gift. It was a ______.
It was the early autumn of my _____ year at a middle school, and my old school was far away. _____, no one knew who I was. I was very lonely, and ______ to make friends with anyone.
Every time I heard the other students talking and laughing, I felt my heart break. I could talk with ___ about my problems.
Then one day, my ______ were talking happily with their friends, but I was sitting at my desk unhappily as usual. At that moment, a boy entered the classroom. I didn’t know who he was. He walked _____ me and then turned back. He looked at me, with a smile.
Suddenly, I felt the touch of something bright and friendly. It made me _____ happy and warm. That smile ____ my life. I started to talk with _______ students and made friends. Day _______ day, I became closer to everyone in my class. The boy with the lucky smile has become my best friend now.
One day I asked him why he smiled, _______ he couldn’t remember it at all!
It doesn’t matter _______ all the dark days have gone. I believe that the world is ______ you think it is. If you think it is lonely, you _______ always be alone. So smile at world and it will smile back.
1.A.friend B.desk C.smile D.laugh
2.A.first B.second C.third D.last
3.A.At last B.As a result C.So far D.At once
4.A.nervous B.able C.frightened D.afraid
5.A.anybody B.somebody C.everybody D.nobody
6.A.teachers B.friends C.classmates D.neighbours
7.A.through B.past C.across D.towards
8.A.feel B.make C.have D.take
9.A.created B.changed C.destroyed D.chose
10.A.other B.any other C.another D.others
11.A.to B.for C.by D.in
12.A.and B.but C.so D.or
13.A.although B.when C.because D.while
14.A.why B.what C.how D.that
15.A.might B.could C.must D.should
—Thank you for reporting something unusual to the police.
— __________.
A.With pleasure B.Better not C.Of course not D.It's my pleasure
The film _______ real-life events ________ by Li An. It’s moving.
A.based upon, directed B.based upon, was directed
C.was based upon, directed D.was based upon, was directed
— Do you know our new manager?
— Yes. He _______ to be a friend of my brother’s.
A.turns up B.turns on
C.turns off D.turns out
