Question

    There’s no doubt that one of the greatest human achievements is the exploration of the space. Ever since astronaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to be sent into the orbit around the moon in 1961, scientists have been pushing the boundaries further and further. But until now the exploration into the unknown has been dominated (主导) by men.

Of course, in the past, women were also included in the space projects and played an active role on the ground and behind the scenes. For example, they worked as seamstresses (女裁缝师), sewing vital spaceflight components. In fact, many of NASA’s key works would never have been possible without them. Recently Hollywood produced a movie called Hidden Figures to focus on a group of American female mathematicians, especially the black women, who helped NASA send the first American into space. But this was not women’s only contribution. Back in 1963, Soviet astronaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to be sent into space. However, after that, space flight programs were slow to employ women. In the USA. NASA didn’t accept applications from women to become astronauts until 1978.

But attitudes have changed and leading officials at NASA say that the first person to set foot on Mars should be a woman. The space agency aims to have a sex-balanced workforce but can only achieve that if equal numbers of men and women are trained for science and technology jobs. As Allison McIntryre told the BBC, “My director is a woman. We have female astronauts. We haven’t put a woman on the moon yet. And I think that perhaps the first person to step on Mars should be a woman.”

1.What did Yuri Gagarin do in 1961?

A.He landed on the moon in success.

B.He discovered many new boundaries.

C.He led scientists to explore the moon.

D.He made the first journey into the space.

2.Why does the author mention the film Hidden Figures?

A.To show women are the true heroes of NASA’s first launch.

B.To stress that black people have won equal rights in NASA.

C.To prove women can do as well as men in NASA’ projects.

D.To present women’s contributions to NASA’s space programs.

3.What is Allison McIntryre’s attitude toward women astronauts?

A.Uncaring. B.Disapproving.

C.Supportive. D.Disappointed.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.Will the First Person to Step on Mars Be a Woman?

B.Great Achievements Have Been Made in Space Exploration?

C.Why Men Played an Important Role in Exploring the Unknown?

D.Men and Women Have Made Equal Contributions to NASA’s Projects?

Answer

1.D

2.D

3.C

4.A

【解析】

本文是一篇议论文。虽然太空探索迄今为止主要由男性主导，但是女性也一直在默默地发挥着重要作用。NASA也准备让女性在太空探索中走向前台，女性甚至可能成为登陆火星的第一人。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段中的Ever since astronaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to be sent into the orbit around the moon in 1961, scientists have been pushing the boundaries further and further. (自从1961年宇航员尤里·加加林成为第一个进入月球轨道的人以来，科学家们就一直在不断地突破这一极限)可知，1961年，尤里加加林成为第一个完成太空旅行的人。故选D。

2.推理判断题。根据第二段中的In fact, many of NASA’s key works would never have been possible without them. (事实上，如果没有她们，NASA的许多重要工作都是不可能完成的)然后举例Recently Hollywood produced a movie called Hidden Figures to focus on a group of American female mathematicians, especially the black women, who helped NASA send the first American into space.(最近，好莱坞制作了一部名为《隐藏的数字》的电影，讲述一群美国女数学家的故事，尤其是黑人女性，她们帮助美国宇航局将第一位美国人送入太空)可知，作者提到《隐藏人物》这部电影是为了举例说明在太空探索这一领域，女性曾做出过重大贡献。故选D。

3.推理判断题。根据最后一段中的My director is a woman. We have female astronauts. We haven’t put a woman on the moon yet. And I think that perhaps the first person to step on mars should be a woman.(我的主管是位女士。我们有女宇航员。我们还没有把女人送上月球。我认为第一个踏上火星的人应该是女人)可知，Allison Mclntyre不但认可自己的女性上司，也支持女性成为第一个登上火星的人。A. Uncaring.不关心的；B. Disapproving.不同意；C. Supportive.支持的；D. Disappointed.失望的。故选C。

4.主旨大意题。根据全文、尤其是最后一段But attitudes have changed and leading officials at NASa say that the first person to set foot on Mars should be a woman. The space agency aims to have a sex-balanced workforce but can only achieve that if equal numbers of men and women are trained for science and technology jobs.(但人们的态度已经发生了变化，美国宇航局的主要官员表示，第一个踏上火星的人应该是一名女性。航天局的目标是建立一个性别平衡的劳动力队伍，但只有在同等数量的男性和女性接受过科学技术工作培训的情况下才能实现这一目标)可知，尽管NASA官员已经表态希望女性成为登陆火星的第一人，但是由于女性在接受相关科技教育等方面存在的问题，NASA宣示的目标能否实现还是一个未知数。由此可知，A. Will the First Person to Step on Mars Be a Woman?(第一个登上火星的人会是女人吗？)适合做本文最佳标题。故选A。