Question

    This may sound like a joke about a lazy person's dream job. Earn big money by staying in bed and watching TV. But this is really happening, and it's a project of NASA and two European space agencies the Institute of Aerospace Medicine at the Cologne-based German Aerospace Center and the European Space Agency. It's called Artificial Gravity Bed Rest Study, aimed at studying how the body adapts to weightlessness in space.

Scientists are seeking 12 women to spend two full months in bed in the fall at a German lab, plus an additional month there for preparation and recovery. The first 12 test subjects, all men, already have started the study.

Participants spend two entire months in bed and remain lying down even to do everyday things like eating, drinking and exercising. They also answer nature's call and shower, but it's unclear from the NASA website how those tasks are accomplished in bed.

"Daily routine showering, getting dressed, eating, exercising takes much time when you cannot stand up to do them," says the website, adding that there is "continuous data collection", including blood pressure, heart rate, nutrient absorption and also the participants' feelings. Study subjects will spend the 60 days with their heads tilted(倾斜)down six degrees, which imitates(模仿)conditions in space.

Participants are encouraged to pass the time by watching TV, taking online courses, reading and any other activities they can perform while lying down alone in bed to relieve what could be boredom. Family and friends are allowed to visit.

The high $ 18,500 payment for two months of lazing about is probably a major motivation for people willing to go through something this extreme. However, if you're an American who really needs the money, you probably can't afford it. Candidates need to travel to Cologne four times at their own expense for the employment process between April and July. Plus, they need strong German-speaking skills. Also participants need to be nonsmokers between ages 24 and 55, in good health, with normal body weight.

1.What are participants expected to do during the study?

A.Report their feelings regularly. B.Complete their daily routines in bed.

C.Keep their bodies tilted down six degrees. D.Record their physical responses every day.

2.What data about the participants will the researchers collect?

A.The changes in their weight. B.Their behaviors to weightlessness.

C.The ways they do their daily things. D.Their physical and mental reactions

3.What will be a challenge for the participants?

A.The language skills they need. B.The difficulty meeting family.

C.The possibility that they feel dull. D.The slow discovery of their health.

4.The requirements for potential participants are        .

A.challenging for Americans B.tailored to thin persons

C.easy for the youth to satisfy D.suitable for most people

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.C

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要讲了这听起来像是一个关于懒人梦想工作的笑话：躺在床上看电视赚大钱。但这确实发生了，这是NASA和两个欧洲太空机构的一个项目。这叫做人工重力床休息研究，其目的是研究人体如何适应太空失重状态。

1.细节理解题。根据第三段Participants spend two entire months in bed and remain lying down even to do everyday things like eating, drinking and exercising.（参与者要在床上躺上整整两个月，即使是吃、喝、锻炼等日常活动也要保持平躺状态。）可知，在这个研究中，参与者要在床上完成他们的日常事情。故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据第四段“...adding that there is ‘continuous data collection’, including blood pressure, heart rate, nutrient absorption and also the participants’ feelings.”（ 他还补充说，他们会“持续收集数据”，包括血压、心率、营养吸收以及参与者的感受。）可知，研究者要收集的信息是参与者的身心反应。故选D。

3.推理判断题。根据第五段“...by watching TV, taking online courses, reading and any other activities they can perform while lying down alone in bed to relieve what could be boredom. Family and friends are allowed to visit.”（ 通过看电视、参加网络课程、阅读和其他任何他们可以在床上独自进行的活动来缓解无聊。允许家人和朋友来访。）可推断出，对参与者来说，他们可能感到无聊是他们面临的挑战。故选C。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段However, if you’re an American who really needs the money, you probably can’t afford it Candidates need to travel to Cologne four times at their own expense for the employment process between April and July. Plus, they need strong German-speaking skills.（然而，如果你是一个真正需要钱的美国人，你可能负担不起。在4月到7月期间，求职者需要自费去科隆四次。此外，他们还需要很强的德语技能。）可推断出，对于美国人来说这些潜在的要求是具有挑战性的。故选A。