Question

Is it your dream to fly and to work in space? Do you want to be a NASA astronaut? Like many jobs, the first thing would be to fill out the application. A record-breaking 18,300 people filled out applications recently when NASA announced it was filling its 2017 Astronaut Candidate program. But out of those 18.300 applicants, just eight to 14 will be hired by the U.S. space agency.

It will take 18 months to decide who will be in the new class of astronauts. NASA will review all of the files, which will later go to its current team of astronauts, to make sure they meet the basic qualifications.

The first requirement is the applicants must be U.S. citizens. They need a college degree in engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics. They also need at least three years of experience in a similar field or at least 1,000 hours as a jet airline pilot.

There are requirements to pass a physical test. And then there are personality qualities tests as well. What kinds of personalities is NASA looking for in an astronaut? NASA’s Selection Manager Anne Roemer said, “I think leadership , teamwork, the ability to not only work on a team, lead a team, but also follow, be a follower on a team. Communication certainly plays a role, so it’s some pretty common skills that I think translate into even other professions.”

About 120 applicants will be invited to the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, for a first round of interviews, about half of whom will go back for a second round. Once selected, they must complete two years of training in everything about spaceflight-things like learning about all the systems used by NASA, walking in space and Russian language training. Until the U.S. has a working vehicle to launch into space, NASA still depends on Russia to get astronauts into space.

1.What is the percentage of employment among the applicants?

A. About half of them    B. About 8 to 14

C. About 120 applicants    D. Less than 0.08 percent

2.Which do you think is the most important personality quality according to NASA’S Selection Manager?

A. Devotion    B. Team spirit

C. Communication    D. Perseverance

3.Which is NOT the basic requirement the applicants have to meet?

A. A college degree in required areas.

B. Related experience.

C. Speaking Russian fluently.

D. Passing physical and personality tests.

4.Which may be the best title for the passage?

A. What is takes to be an astronaut?

B. What an astronaut should train in?

C. NASA welcome its most applicants ever.

D. NASA 2017 Astronaut Candidate program.

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.C

4.A

【解析】文章主要讲述了美国国家航空航天局甄选宇航员，提出宇航员必须具备条件：他们需要工程学、生物科学、物理科学、计算机科学或数学的大学学位。他们还需要至少三年在类似领域的经验以及必备品质：具有领导力，团队合作能力以及沟通能力。

1.细节理解题。根据“But out of those 18.300 applicants, just eight to 14 will be hired by the U.S. space agency.” 但在这18300名申请者中，只有八到14人将被美国航天局聘用。根据计算聘用比率为0.077%。根据题意，故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据“I think leadership , teamwork, the ability to not only work on a team, lead a team, but also follow, be a follower on a team.”我认为领导力，团队合作带领一个团队不仅仅在团队中起作用，在团队中作为追随者同样重要。可知团队合作是申请者最重要的性格素质。根据题意，故选B。

3.细节理解题。根据文章“They need a college degree in engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics. They also need at least three years of experience” 他们需要取得工程学、生物科学、物理科学、计算机科学或数学的大学学位。他们还需要至少三年在类似领域的经验。可排除选项A、B；根据“There are requirements to pass a physical test. And then there are personality qualities tests as well.” 通过物理测试的要求。还有人格素质测试。可排除选项D。选项C文章没有提及。根据题意，故选C。

4.主旨大意题。文章主要讲述了美国国家航空航天局甄选宇航员，提出宇航员必须具备条件：他们需要工程学、生物科学、物理科学、计算机科学或数学的大学学位。他们还需要至少三年在类似领域的经验以及必备品质：具有领导力，团队合作能力以及沟通能力。根据题意，故选A。