内容正文:
课时冲关21 UNIT 12 INNOVATION
Ⅰ.阅读理解
主题语境:人与社会
体裁:说明文
话题:正在研发的新宇航服EEMU
What will astronauts wear in the future? A brandnew spacesuit is developing. Called the Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EEMU), the spacesuit protects astronauts from the tough environment of the moon surface, which is quite different from that astronauts have been exploring for the past few decades in low Earth orbit.
Progress on the suit has been disappointing. “The EEMU represents the first new spacesuit that NASA has developed in over 40 years,” George Nield, previously the associate administrator for commercial space transportation at the Federal Aviation Administration, said, “Now, it looks like things are on schedule.”
Nield outlined the agency's plan to build five EEMU suits in the initial (最初的) group. One for design tests is almost done and should be completed in December. A second will be built for qualification tests and a third will be tested in orbit on the International Space Station. The final two suits of the set will walk on the moon in 2024 on a mission called Artemis 3.
In addition to the main spacesuits, each astronaut will also require an internal cooling garment, and NASA has now completed the first prototype (原型) of that undergarment, according to Nield. And the agency also needs to upgrade the backpacklike Portable Life Support System astronauts carry to stay alive.
Meanwhile, NASA got a sense of how the new suit will perform on the moon by testing the design underwater. Underwater, astronauts can get a feel for moving around in a spacesuit and using the tools they will operate during a spacewalk. Lately, NASA has been using the pool to study movements like collecting moon rock and dust and planting a flag in the moon surface.
1.What is the text mainly about?
A.A new spacesuit is being developed.
B.Astronauts will soon be sent to the moon.
C.Movements on the moon are being studied.
D.Astronauts are testing a new spacesuit on the moon.
2.What will the second EEMU suit be used for?
A.Design tests.
B.Qualification tests.
C.Testing on the International Space Station.
D.Walking on the moon.
3.What does the underlined word “upgrade” in Paragraph 4 mean?
A.Invent. B.Choose.
C.Improve. D.Design.
4. Why did scientists test the suit underwater?
A.To test its quality.
B.To learn how to use it.
C.To show its abilities.
D.To see its performance.
[语篇解读] 这是一篇说明文。文章讲述了NASA正在研发的一款新的宇航服EEMU。
1.A [主旨大意题。由第一段“What will astronauts wear in the future? A brandnew spacesuit is developing. Called the Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EEMU), the spacesuit protects astronauts from the tough environment of the moon surface, which is quite different from that astronauts have been exploring for the past few decades in low Earth orbit.[宇航员将来会穿什么?一种全新的宇航服正在研制中。这种宇航服被称为Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EEMU),可以保护宇航员免受月球表面恶劣环境的影响,这与宇航员过去几十年在近地轨道上探索的环境截然不同。]”和下文关于该宇航服研发进展、五套宇航服EEMU套装的计划、其内部构造和水下测试该新宇航服的设计可知,文章讲述了NASA正在研发的一款新的宇航服EEMU。]
2.B [细节理解题。由第三段中“A second will be built for qualification tests and a third will be tested in orbit on the International Space Station.(第二套将用于资格测试,第三套将在国际空间站的轨道上进行测试。)”可知,第二套EEMU套装的用途是资格测试。]
3.C [词义猜测题。由第四段中“And the agency also needs to upgrade the backpacklike Portable Life Support System astronauts carry to stay alive.(该机构还需要upgrade宇航员携带的像背包样的便携式生命支持系统以维持生命。)”可知,also提示生命系统以前就有,现在是需要改进、提升,推测划线词是“提升”的意思。]
4.D [细节理解题。由最后一段中“Meanwhile, NASA got a sense of how the new suit will perform on the moon by testing the design underwater.(与此同时,美国国家航空航天局通过在水下测试新宇航服的设计,了解了它在月球上的表现。)”可知,科学家要在水下测试这套宇航服是因为想看看它的表现。]
Ⅱ.七选五
主题语境:人与自然
体裁:说明文
话题:科学技术在农业中的应用
Agriculture has come a long way from its ancient beginnings. Long ago, farmers would work hard on their individual plots of land, using simple tools or even their bare hands. They tended to their crops for many hours each day so that the crops grew well. __1__ For example, a single storm could destroy a whole year's work, while a summer of good weather could ensure a good harvest.
Modern science and technology have helped to greatly reduce the backbreaking labour involved in farming, along with the reliance on luck and guesswork. __2__
Probably one of the most beneficial innovations is drip irrigation, which has made it possible to develop big, green farms in the middle of the desert. Simcha Blass, an Israeli scientist, discovered this new way of irrigation in the 1930s. Through this discovery, farmers can now produce crops on dry land without needing much water. __3__ The limited and focused use of just the right amount of water also denies moisture (水分) to weeds, keeping them from harming the crops.
__4__ However, what if an area has plenty of water, but little usable soil? As it turns out, it is possible to grow plants without using soil at all. With hydroponics (水培), plant roots are supported by rocks or a fiber mat. Nutrientrich water is then provided so that the plants can grow. Recent research has centered on vertical hydroponics farming. With a vertical farm, the crops are planted in containers that are piled into plant skyscrapers. __5__
With such technological advances, the image of a farmer pushing a plough will eventually become a thing of the past.
A.Luck played a great part in farming.
B.Some areas would be too dry to grow crops.
C.Drip irrigation deals with a lack of water in an area.
D.There have been experiments to make drip irrigation a reality.
E.This irrigation method uses far less water than other methods.
F.Furthermore, nearly all hydroponic farms partially or fully automated.
G.Farmers have benefited greatly from innovations in crop production.
[语篇解读] 这是一篇说明文。文章介绍了科学技术在农业中的应用,介绍了滴灌和水培农业及其优点。
1.A [根据上文“They tended to their crops for many hours each day so that the crops grew well.(他们每天花好几个小时照料庄稼,以便庄稼长得好。)”指出农民们为了庄稼长得好,每天要花好几个小时照料庄稼,下文“For example, a single storm could destroy a whole year's work, while a summer of good weather could ensure a good harvest.(例如,一场暴风雨可以毁掉一整年的工作,而一个好天气的夏天可以保证丰收。)”以具体例子说明,突发天气状况会影响收成,由此可推知,空处应该是指出古代农业收成好坏也靠运气,A项“Luck played a great part in farming.(运气在农业中起了很大的作用。)”符合。]
2.G [根据上文“Modern science and technology have helped to greatly reduce the backbreaking labour involved in farming, along with the reliance on luck and guesswork.(现代科学技术大大减少了农业劳动的负担,同时也减少了对运气和猜测的依赖。)”指出现代科技给农业带来的好处,空处也应该承接上文,继续描写现代科技给农业带来的好处,G项“Farmers have benefited greatly from innovations in crop production.(农民从农作物生产的创新中获益匪浅。)”符合。]
3.E [根据上文“Through this discovery, farmers can now produce crops on dry land without needing much water.”指出滴灌的优点,农民不仅可以在旱地上种植,而且不需要太多水,下文“The limited and focused use of just the right amount of water also denies moisture (水分) to weeds, keeping them from harming the crops.”指出滴灌使用有限而集中的水对农业的好处,由此可知,空处应承接上文,继续描写滴灌用水少这一优点,E项“This irrigation method uses far less water than other methods.(这种灌溉方法比其他方法用水少得多。)”符合。]
4.C [根据由下文“However, what if an area has plenty of water, but little usable soil? As it turns out, it is possible to grow plants without using soil at all. With hydroponics (水培), plant roots are supported by rocks or a fiber mat. Nutrientrich water is then provided so that the plants can grow.”的However可知,空处和下文是对比关系,且结合上段提到用水少的滴灌可知,空处应该是对上文进行总结,同时和下文进行对比,即用滴灌能解决缺水地区的农业问题和水培能解决水多地区的问题做对比,C项“Drip irrigation deals with a lack of water in an area.(滴灌解决了一个地区缺水的问题。)”符合。]
5.F [根据上文“Recent research has centered on vertical hydroponics farming. With a vertical farm, the crops are planted in containers that are piled into plant skyscrapers.”提出最近的研究都在垂直水培农业上,同时描述了垂直水培农作物的一些情况,空处应该继续描写垂直水培农作物的一些相关内容,F项“Furthermore, nearly all hydroponic farms partially or fully automated.(此外,几乎所有的水培农场都部分或全部自动化。)”符合语境。]
Ⅲ.应用文写作(建议信)◄
假定你是某国际学校校广播台“Teen Time”英语节目的主持人李华,学生Laura写信给你,抱怨父母管理太严格,从不同意她在空闲时间里与朋友们出门,这让她感到十分苦闷。请你给她回信,内容包括:
1.表示安慰;
2.你的建议;
3.表达祝愿。
注意:1.词数80左右;
2.可适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
Dear Laura,
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
[参考范文]
Dear_Laura,
It's sad to hear that your parents are so strict with you. But it's a very common phenomenon so you shouldn't worry too much about it. My advice is as follows.
First, try to put yourself in their shoes. What they ask about is reasonable because they worry about you. So don't get angry with them. Then, why not sit down and have a talk with them peacefully so that you are able to communicate with each other? Last but not least, find some convincing reasons, which may help you persuade them to give you some privacy. I'm sure they will agree with you if you can ensure your security.
Hope my advice is worth taking and you can reach a pleasant agreement.
Yours,
Li_Hua
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