Passage 2
Astronaut Jim Voss has enjoyed many memorable moments in his career, including three space flights and one space space walk. But be recalls with special fondn ess a decidedly earthbound(为地球引力所束缚的) experience in the summer of 1980 when he participated in the NASAASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program. Voss, then a science teacher at West Point, was assigned to the Marshall Space Flight Center's propulsion lab in Alabama to analyze why a hydraulic fuel pump seal on the space shuttle was working so well when previous seals had failed. It was a s eemingly tiny problem among the vast complexities of running the space program. Yet it was important to NASA because any crack in the seal could have led to des tructive results for the astronauts who relied on them.
“I worked a bit with NASA engineers,” says Voss, “but I did it mostly by an alysis. I used a handheld calculator, not a computer, to do a thermodynamic(热力 学的) analysis.” At the end of the summer, he, like the other NASAASEE fellow s working at Marshall, summarized his findings in a formal presentation and deta iled paper. It was a valuable moment for Voss because the ASEE program gave him added understanding of NASA, deepened his desire to fly in space, and intensifie d his application for astronaut status.
It was not an easy process. Voss was actually passed over when he first applie d for the astronaut program in 1978. Over the next nine years he reapplied repea tedly, and was finally accepted in 1987. Since then he has participated in three space missions. The 50yearold Army officer, who lives in Houston, is now in training for a fourmonth mission as a crew member on the International Space Station starting in July 2000.
Voss says the ASEE program is wonderful for all involved. “It brings in peopl e from the academic world and gives NASA a special property for a particular per iod of time. It brings some fresh eyes and fresh ideas to NASA, and establishes a link with our colleges and universities,” Voss explains. “There's an exchang e of information and an exchange of perspectives that is very important.”
For the academic side, Voss says, the ASEE program also “brings institutions of higher learning more insight into new technology. We give them an opportunity to work on realworld problems and take it back to the classroom.”
36. Why was the hydraulic fuel pump seal important for the space shuttle?
A) Because previous seals all failed.
B) Because it was very complex in running the space program.
C) Because great care has to be taken of the hydraulic fuel pump sealing.
D) Because any crack in the seals would cause disastrous results for the astro nauts.
37.The great significance of Voss's findings lies in .
A) strengthening his determination to join in space flights
B) furthering his understanding of NASA
C) consolidating his astronaut status in NASA programs
D) Both A and B
38. How many flights will Voss have finished if his fourmonth mission s tarting in July 2000 ends up successfully?
A) Three.
B) Two.
C) Four.
D) Five.
39. Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to what Voss said on the ASEE program?
A) Fresh members from the academic world participate in the program.
B) The program brings new outlooks to NASA space programs.
C) It is important for the space scientists to exchange information and perspe ctives.
D) American colleges and universities are a special property of NASA.
40. What does Voss want to stress in the last paragraph?
A) The technological significance of the program.
B) The educational significance of the program.
C) The philosophical significance of the program.
D) The historical significance of the program.
Passage 2
生词助记
crack n.裂缝
destructive adj.破坏性极大的，毁灭性的
presentation n.陈述，表述
intensify v.强化，加强
perspective n.观点，看法
insight n.洞察，理解
难句释疑(见下划线句子)
【框架分析】 本句主干结构为：Voss...was assigned to...to analyze why... . why从句做analyze的宾语。〖ZK)〗
【难句直击】本句中的术语为难点，如：propulsion推进;a hydraulic fuel p ump seal液压燃料泵的密封圈;a space shuttle航天飞机。
【参考译文】 〖ZK〗Voss那时在西点军校担任科学教师，被派去阿拉马马州的马歇尔航 天飞行中心的推进实验室，分析为什么这次航天飞机的液压燃料泵的密封圈没出问题，而以 前的密封圈出了问题。
答案精解 提纲挈领：本文为记叙文。主要讲述美国教师Voss从事空间飞行研究工作的情况。他一生共进行了三 次宇宙飞行和一次太空行走。最后一段谈到Voss对利用太空研究成果对青少年进行教育的看 法。
36. C)。细节题。题意是：为什么液压燃料泵对航天飞机那么重要。
迷途点津 A)因为以前的密封圈都出了问题;B)因为在实施航天项目时它非常复杂;C )因为必须十分注意液压燃料泵的密封性;D)因为密封圈上的任何裂缝对宇航员都会带来灾难性的后果。第一段最后一句的后半句为本题依据。原文中的destructive对应选项C)中的d isastrous。
37. D)。细节题。题意是：Voss研究结果的重要意义是什么。
迷途点津 A)加强他加入太空飞行的决心;B)进一步理解NASA;C)巩固他在NASA项目中的宇航员的地位;D)A和B。由第二段可知，暑假快完时，他像其他的在马歇尔航天飞行中心的NASAASEE工作人员一样用正规的陈述和详细的论文总结了他的发现，对于Voss来说那是一个珍贵的时刻，因为ASEE项目比他对NASA有了更多的了解，增强了他对翱游太空的渴望 ，同时也使他申请宇航员的申请书的份量加重，所以C)为错误选项，因为当时他并没有被录 取成为宇航员。
38. C)。稚断题。题意是：如果Voss成功完成始自2000年7月的四个月的飞行，他 一共进行了几次飞行。
迷途点津 A)三次;B)两次;C)四次;D)五次。由第三段可知，自1978年以来，Voss 已经三次参与太空项目，目前他正在接受训练，准备作为宇航员从2000年7月起被送往国际站并在那里逗留四个月。文中提到的那个50岁的，住在休斯顿的老军官指的就是Voss,所以 这是第四次。
39. D)。细节题。题意是：根据Voss在ASEE项目中所说的一翻话来看，下列哪一 选项不对。
迷途点津 A)学术圈子中的新成员参加了这次项目;B)这个项目给NASA太空项目带来了新的视角;C)航天科学家们交流信息和观点是非常重要的;D)美国的大学是NASA的一笔特殊财富。在第四段中，Voss说，ASEE项目对所有参与者对很有意义。这个项目将学述界的人聚集在一起，于是在一定时间内，这些人成为NASA的一笔特殊的财富。其中的special propevty指的是人而不是大学，所以D)不对。
40. B)。主旨题。题意是：Voss在最后一段想要强调什么。
迷途点津 A)这个项目的技术意义;B)这一项目的教育意义;C)这一项目的哲学意义;D)这一项目的历史意义。最后一段中，Voss评价道：对大学来说，ASEE计划可使它们更深刻地了解新技术，并有机会接触实际问题，并把这些问题带回课堂里。由此可见，本段是在 谈这一项目的教育意义。
