Two years ago, aerospace manufacturer SpaceX shocked the world by landing its reusable booster (助推器) engine — the biggest and most costly part of the rocket used to power spacecraft into low orbit — on an autonomous drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. Now, California-based startup Rocket Lab, has come up with an even more courageous idea: using parachutes and helicopters to capture the returning booster, or first stage as it is often called, in the air!
Rocket Lab’s decision to avoid the propulsive or vertical (垂直的) landing used by SpaceX comes from its business model to keep its Electron rockets small and cost-effective. Standing just 57 feet tall, they are designed to deliver smaller payloads (有效载重) of about 500 pounds for only $5 million a launch. In contrast, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket measuring 229 feet tall can lift up to 50,000 pounds, costs about $62 million a mission. “We’re not in the business of building medium-sized launch vehicles but small ones for customers to get on orbit frequently.” said Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck.
Similar to other rockets, the Electron divides into two once it reaches outer space. While the top part, carrying the load, continues on to its final destination, the booster engine falls back to Earth The company intends to fix a ballute — a parachute-like braking device — to quickly slow down the booster's supersonic speed (超声速) upon its return into the atmosphere. Once it slows down to a reasonable pace, a helicopter will grab the rocket from midair and put it onto an awaiting ship to transport to the company's headquarters. Beck said: “The grand goal here is that if we can capture the vehicle in wonderful condition, in theory, we should be able to put it back on the pad, charge the batteries up, and go again.”
The idea, still in the concept stage, will become one step closer to becoming a reality during Electron’s next launch, scheduled for sometime in 3 years, “Engineers will carefully monitor the first stage as it returns, testing its ability to guide its landing with the best way to slow down its speed,” said Beck.
1.We can infer from the first two paragraphs that ___________.
A.with a height of 229 feet, the Space X Falcon 9 rocket can deliver a load of 50,000 tons
B.small launch vehicles are designed by Rocket Lab to make its boosters economical
C.Space X once successfully captured its rocket before it landed on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean
D.an autonomous drone ship is used by Rocket Lab to transport the first stage
2.What distinguishes the Electron from other rockets?
A.It will be equipped with a ballute to reduce its landing speed.
B.Its booster engine falls back to the earth with the load.
C.It divides into two the instant it enters outer space.
D.It is loaded on a helicopter heading for the company’s headquarters.
3.What will Rocket Lab’s following research focus on?
A.How to capture the booster engine without damaging its function.
B.When to slow down the first stage as it returns.
C.How to cut the cost of each launch mission by calculation.
D.How to make its rockets smaller and more reusable.
4.In which column can you find this article in a piece of newspaper?
A.Books & Art. B.Business.
C.Science Fiction. D.Technology.
Strange ice rings in Siberia’s Lake Baikal have puzzled scientists for decades, but now the mystery apparently has been solved. The answer: the rings are caused by warm, circular currents of water under the ice, called eddies (漩涡).
The eddies’ strong currents melt the ice at the edge, but weaker ones keep the center frozen. “Results of our field surveys show that there are warm eddies that circulate in a clockwise (顺时针的) direction under the ice cover,” said Alexei Kouraev, a hydrologist at the University of Toulouse, in a NASA statement. “In the eddy center, the ice does not melt — even though the water is warm — because the currents are weak,” he said. “But on the eddy boundary, the currents are stronger, and warmer water leads to rapid melting.”
During field work, Kouraev and his colleagues drilled holes near ice rings and set sensors capable of measuring the temperature and salinity (盐浓度) of the water to a depth of 700 feet. They found that the water in the eddies was 2 to 4 ℉ warmer than the surrounding water.
Most of the rings appear in March or April and have a width of about 3 to 4 miles — too big to recognize from the ground but easily seen from satellites above. Some rings were ephemeral while others lasted for weeks or even months.
Lake Baikal is the world’s largest and deepest freshwater lake, according to Gizmodo. It’s home to many varieties of fish not seen anywhere else in the world, and even a population of freshwater seals.
Researchers are still investigating what causes Baikal’s eddies but think it’s likely because of wind patterns, rivers that flow into the lake and the shape of the lake’s coastline and bottom.
1.Which word can best replace the underlined word “ephemeral” in paragraph 4?
A.Steady. B.Current.
C.Fundamental. D.Temporary.
2.Why is the ice in the center of ice rings frozen while that at the edge is melted?
A.Because the center of ice rings is 2 to 4℉ warmer than the edge.
B.Because the currents in the center are less powerful.
C.Because it is too wide to be recognized or melted.
D.Because water in the center circulates in a clockwise direction.
3.Which of the following statements about Lake Baikal’s eddies is TRUE?
A.They are caused by hot and circular currents under the ice.
B.The ice in the center of Lake Baikal’s eddies melts faster than that of the edge.
C.Researchers are uncertain about the exact reason of the eddies’ existence.
D.Lake Beikal’s eddies can only be measured at the depth of 700 feet.
4.What maybe the best title for the passage?
A.What’s causing the giant ice rings in Siberia?
B.The mystery of the eddies' in the Lake Baikal uncovered.
C.The largest and deepest freshwater lake — Lake Baikal.
D.Why does the edge of an ice ring melt faster?
Time magazine’s tradition —“Person of the Year” originated in 1927, when it honored 25-year-old pilot Charles Lindbergh for the first nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean Though the magazine has recognized several young people for their global influence, it has never given the important honor to a teenager. But its 2019’s “Person of The Year” is the 16-year-old Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg.
Thunberg’s rise to global reputation is even more surprising given that just over a year ago, she was a shy 15-year-old anxious about the increasing threat of climate change. In August 2018, tired of the “refusal” of world leaders to take action, the young girl started camping out in front of the Swedish Parliament every Friday with a sign that said: “School Strike for Climate.”
The teen’s act of protest soon drew public attention, inspiring kids and adults worldwide to take action. By September 2018, her weekly strike became a global climate change movement called “Fridays for the Future”, with tens of thousands of students skipping school on this day to protest the inaction of the leaders of their respective countries. Her appeal for progress in environment protection also encouraged other young activists to begin their own climate change movements.
Varshini Prakash, co-founder of the US Youth-Led Sunrise Movement, says Thunberg “symbolizes the suffering, the frustration, the desperation, the anger — at some level, the hope — of many young people who won’t even be of age to vote by the time their futures are doomed.”
The teenager, who has single-handedly helped bring climate change to the forefront of the global conversation, owes her success to her Asperger’s syndrome (阿斯佩各综合征). She says, “I see the world in black and white, and I don’t like compromising. If I were like everyone else, I would have continued on and not seen this crisis. Right now, we have entered a new decade — a decade that will define our future. And I’ve seen hope, but it does not come from the governments or companies. It comes from the people.”
1.Why did Greta Thunberg camp out in front of Swedish Parliament every Friday?
A.To heighten public awareness of environmental protection.
B.To show her support for school strike for climate.
C.To condemn the government’s inaction on climate change.
D.To win a global reputation as a teenager climate change activist.
2.Where can we find the direct influence of Greta Thunberg’s behavior?
A.In paragraph2. B.In paragraph3.
C.In paragraph4. D.In paragraph5.
3.What kind of girl is Greta Thunberg according to the passage?
A.Positive and sensitive. B.Uncaring but reliable.
C.Selfish but intelligent. D.Brave and determined.
4.We can learn from the passage that _____________.
A.Charles Lindbergh is the first adolescent “Person of the Year” of Time magazine
B.on account of Asperger’s syndrome, Greta Thunberg has suffered a lot
C.all governments haven’t already taken effective measures to deal with climate change
D.Varshini Prakash thinks little of Thunberg and her strike for climate change
Boma International Hospitality College(BIHC), in partnership with the Business & Hotel Management School, Switzerland(BHMS), is a hospitality (酒店管理) college based in Nairobi, Kenya. It is focused on developing the next generation of world-class hospitality professionals. The college is devoted to offering students state of the art study programs, designed to promote access to demanding, but rewarding careers.
BIHC is currently seeking for a College Principal whose key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
•Reporting to the BIHC Board of Directors for meeting the college’s overall objectives and plans;
•Providing leadership and carrying out academic and operational excellence across the institution;
•Developing and carrying out the college’s strategic plan;
•Establishment and improvement of standard operating policies and procedures to ensure academic and operational excellence;
•Management of budgets and financial performance;
•Encouraging continued improvement in curriculum and teaching methods;
•Promoting the reputation of the College, locally and internationally.
Our ideal candidate has the following key characteristics:
•Possesses a thorough understanding of international hospitality standards;
•Has 10+ years’ experience in an institution of higher learning;
•Passionate about the hospitality industry and developing themselves and the people within it.
If interested, please ensure to submit the following documents:
•A cover letter;
•Curriculum Vitae;
•Copies of relevant diplomas and corresponding transcripts.
Professional references, with contact details may also be submitted.
Interested candidates are welcome to submit their applications to the following e-mail address; recruitment@preferredpersonnel.co.ke no later than April 24th, 2020.
1.An ideal candidate should have some necessary qualities EXCEPT _____________.
A.loving the hospitality industry
B.having over 10 year`s experience of teaching
C.being familiar with international hospitality standards
D.keeping improving himself or herself
2.What can we learn from the passage?
A.BIHC aims to develop world-class hospitality principals.
B.Applications mailed on April 25th, 2020 are also valid.
C.College Principal should design art study programs for students.
D.An applicant must hand in copies of his or her certificates.
3.What’s the purpose of the passage?
A.To advertise for a college principal in BIHC.
B.To list responsibilities of a college principal.
C.To briefly introduce BIHC, a hospitality college.
D.To recommend a hotel-BIHC to visitors.
假定你是李华，你从某网站上得知陕西省博物馆正在招募暑假英语讲解员，请你根据以下提示给博物馆负责外国游客接待的Mr. Charles写一封英文自荐信。内容包括：
1.表达意愿；
2.自荐理由；
3.恳请获准。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：讲解员, Interpreter
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假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。作文中共有10处语言误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅沙及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：再错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Recently we had a class meeting on the topic of my dream. Some mention the Chinese Dream. And others talked enthusiastically about his understanding of the Chinese Dream. We are all believe that this dream will come true in the future. I also talked about my own dream. I had always wanted to be a doctor. Not only can doctors save people's life, but also they are doing a respectably job. Doctors can help people to live a better life without their professional knowledge. To realize my dream, I should try to study hardly from now on, I must learn as much as I can get into a good medical college, which I can prepare myself fully for the job of a doctor.
