Step by Step 3000 第2册 Unit11:Space(1)

 　　Step by Step 3000. Book Two.

　　Unit 11. News 3. Space.

　　Part 1. Warming up.

　　A. Keywords. the Earth, planet, the Sun, difference.

　　Vocabulary. circuit, luminous¹, contemptuous, celestial², glowworm, cosmically, thermonuclear, guise³, Eurasian, landmass.

　　You're going to hear a passage about the Sun, Supply the missing information.

　　Pay special attention to the numbers.

　　The Earth is a planet just under 8,000 miles in diameter, moving around the Sun at a distance of 93 million miles,

　　and completing one circuit in 365 and a quarter days.

　　The Sun itself is a star.

　　It is by no means distinguished⁴, and modern astronomers⁵ class it as a "yellow dwarf⁶".

　　It seems splendid to us only because it is relatively⁷ so near.

　　We know of stars which are at least a million times more luminous than the Sun,

　　at yet are so far away that telescopes are needed to see them at all.

　　The stars visible at night time, are immensely distant, which is why they appear only as tiny points of light.

　　Many of them may well have planet systems of their own.

　　All the same, we must not be contemptuous of the Sun.

　　It may not be a celestial searchlight, but neither is it a glowworm.

　　It is normally in every way, and cosmically it is far more important than our own insignificant⁸ world.

　　Its diameter is 864,000 miles.

　　So that it could contain more than a million globes the size of the earth.

　　Even at its surface, the temperature is around 6,000 degrees celsius⁹, 11,000 Fahrenheit¹⁰.

　　And in the solar "power-house" deep inside, the temperature must rise to well over 10 million degrees.

　　The sun is gaseous¹¹, and is not burning in the ordinary sense of the word,

　　since it produce its energy by means of thermonuclear processes near its core.

　　The essential difference between a star and a planet is that a star is a Sun in its own right,

　　whereas a planet shines only because it reflects the rays of our own particular Sun.

　　If we could observe from the surface of another world, Mars, for instance, the Earth, too, would appear in the guise of a starlike object.

　　And a telescope would be needed to show even large features such as the Pacific Ocean and Eurasian landmass.

　　B. Keywords. Space shuttle, crew, launched, pictures, surprises, new definition of planet, make repairs, small aircraft,

　　dock, 100 percent success, give up hope, get a closer look.

　　Vocabulary. sensor¹², hydrogen, helium, methane¹³, ammonia, dwarf, fledgling, outpost, checkout¹⁴, revive,

　　space probe, volcanic¹⁵. Discovery, International Space Station (ISS), Jupiter, Pluto¹⁶, Internation Astronomical¹⁷ Union,

　　Prague, Hubble Space Telescope, Endeavor, Unity¹⁸, Zvezda, Pathfinder, Galileo, IO.

　　You're going to hear ten brief news items. Focus your attention on who, what, when, where, why and how in each news item. And then answer the questions.

　　1. The American Space Shuttle returned to the skies on July 26th.

　　Discovery and its seven member crew were launched from the Kennedy Space Center, in Florida, to fly to the International Space Station.

　　The launch was supposed to have taken place on July 13th.

　　But Space Agency officials called it off just a few hours before the launch.

　　Because one of the Discovery's fuel tank sensors¹⁹ failed a test.

　　NASA officials investigated the system for several days, but they never learned the cause.

　　They decided²⁰ to set up another launch for last Tuesday.

　　Discovery is now connected to the Space Station, orbiting hundreds of kilometers above Earth.

　　2. The New Horizons spacecraft has made some of the most detailed²¹ pictures ever taken of the planet Jupiter.

　　Yet the American spacecraft is only passing by the planet.

　　New Horizons is attempting to become the first space vehicle to visit Pluto.

　　New Horizons' pictures of Jupiter and three of its moons are filled with surprises.

　　Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system.

　　The planet has a deep, thick atmosphere of clouds made of hydrogen, helium, methane and ammonia.

　　New Horizons use its long range reconnaissance imager camera to take pictures of a storm called the little red spot.

　　The pictures will help scientists learn how the storm developed.

　　3. In August, more than 2,000 members of the International Astronomical Union met in the Czech capital, Prague.

　　They agreed to a new definition of planet.

　　They also agreed that Pluto did not meet the terms of the new definition.

　　So now the solar system has 8 planets instead of 9.

　　But do not cry for the formal ninth planet.

　　The Astronomical Union says we should not think we have lost a planet, but that we have gained a new kind of space object, the dwarf planet, Pluto.

　　4. NASA announced it would fly a shuttle crew to the Space Telescope to make repairs and add new equipment.

　　The telescope orbits 600 kilometers above the Earth.

　　The Shuttle crew is expected to make the trip in May of next year.

　　They hope to fix Hubble, so it can continue operating until 2013.

　　Michael Bakich at Astronomy Magazine was among those very happy at NASA's decision.

　　He calls the Hubble Space Telescope one of the great machines of all time.

　　5. Make room for some new arrivals in the market for small aircraft.

　　The new airplanes are called very light jets.

　　They are also known by other names, including mini jets, micro-jets and air-taxis.

　　The Federal Aviation Administration in the United States expects nearly 5,000 to be in services by 2017.

　　The new planes will cost up to 50% less than business jets now on the market.

　　6. U.S Space Shuttle Endeavor has docked with the International Space Station, bearing a gift of energy.

　　The five-man shuttle team arrived to add a set of giant solar power panels to Unity to provide electricity for science experiments that will begin soon after the U.S laboratory arrives next month.

　　7. The International Space Station finally has a living room and a command center.

　　The Russian Zvezda module²² docked earlier today with the fledgling outpost, which is being assembled in space.

　　After a checkout period, it will be ready for the first crew to live in later this year.

　　8. The U.S Space Agency NASA has declared its Pathfinder spacecraft mission to the Mars a 100% success.

　　This week the Pathfinder completed its 30 day planned mission on Mars.

　　And U.S space official says this spacecraft has fulfilled all its objectives.

　　9. The United States Space Agency NASA says it's given up any real hope for reviving its space probe on Mars.

　　The spacecraft Pathfinder made its last transmission of scientifc data from the surface of Mars at the end of September, 83 days after the landing.

　　10. The U.S Galileo spacecraft is heading for another pass by Jupiter's fiery²³ moon Thursday to get a closer look at the most volcanic body in our solar system.

　　A pass just 600 kilometers away last month has provided a better understanding of just how active it is.

1 luminous   

adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的

参考例句：

• There are luminous knobs on all the doors in my house.我家所有门上都安有夜光把手。
• Most clocks and watches in this shop are in luminous paint.这家商店出售的大多数钟表都涂了发光漆。

2 celestial   

adj.天体的；天上的

参考例句：

• The rosy light yet beamed like a celestial dawn.玫瑰色的红光依然象天上的朝霞一样绚丽。
• Gravity governs the motions of celestial bodies.万有引力控制着天体的运动。

3 guise   

n.外表，伪装的姿态

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors.他们假装成视察员进了学校。
• The thief came into the house under the guise of a repairman.那小偷扮成个修理匠进了屋子。

4 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

5 astronomers   

n.天文学者，天文学家( astronomer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Astronomers can accurately foretell the date,time,and length of future eclipses. 天文学家能精确地预告未来日食月食的日期、时刻和时长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Astronomers used to ask why only Saturn has rings. 天文学家们过去一直感到奇怪，为什么只有土星有光环。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 dwarf   

n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小

参考例句：

• The dwarf's long arms were not proportional to his height.那侏儒的长臂与他的身高不成比例。
• The dwarf shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. 矮子耸耸肩膀，摇摇头。

7 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

8 insignificant   

adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的

参考例句：

• In winter the effect was found to be insignificant.在冬季，这种作用是不明显的。
• This problem was insignificant compared to others she faced.这一问题与她面临的其他问题比较起来算不得什么。

9 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

10 Fahrenheit   

n./adj.华氏温度；华氏温度计(的)

参考例句：

• He was asked for the boiling point of water in Fahrenheit.他被问到水的沸点是华氏多少度。
• The thermometer reads 80 degrees Fahrenheit.寒暑表指出华氏80度。

11 gaseous   

adj.气体的，气态的

参考例句：

• Air whether in the gaseous or liquid state is a fluid.空气，无论是气态的或是液态的，都是一种流体。
• Freon exists both in liquid and gaseous states.氟利昂有液态和气态两种形态。

12 sensor   

n.传感器，探测设备，感觉器（官）

参考例句：

• The temperature sensor is enclosed in a protective well.温度传感器密封在保护套管中。
• He plugged the sensor into a outlet.他把传感器插进电源插座。

13 methane   

n.甲烷，沼气

参考例句：

• The blast was caused by pockets of methane gas that ignited.爆炸是由数袋甲烷气体着火引起的。
• Methane may have extraterrestrial significance.甲烷具有星际意义。

14 checkout   

n.（超市等）收银台，付款处

参考例句：

• Could you pay at the checkout.你能在结帐处付款吗。
• A man was wheeling his shopping trolley to the checkout.一个男人正推着购物车向付款台走去。

15 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

16 Pluto   

n.冥王星

参考例句：

• Pluto is the furthest planet from the sun.冥王星是离太阳最远的行星。
• Pluto has an elliptic orbit.冥王星的轨道是椭圆形的。

17 astronomical   

adj.天文学的，（数字）极大的

参考例句：

• He was an expert on ancient Chinese astronomical literature.他是研究中国古代天文学文献的专家。
• Houses in the village are selling for astronomical prices.乡村的房价正在飙升。

18 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

19 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

20 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

21 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

22 module   

n.组件，模块，模件；(航天器的)舱

参考例句：

• The centre module displays traffic guidance information.中央模块显示交通引导信息。
• Two large tanks in the service module held liquid oxygen.服务舱的两个大气瓶中装有液态氧。

23 fiery   

adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的

参考例句：

• She has fiery red hair.她有一头火红的头发。
• His fiery speech agitated the crowd.他热情洋溢的讲话激动了群众。