Passage A

                                                          It's All Downhill from Here

Jerry Linenger

Cultural Notes:

Jerry Linenger (1955–) is a retired United States Navy flight surgeon in the United States Navy Medical Corps, as well as a former NASA astronaut who flew on the Space Shuttle and Space Station Mir in the 1990s. He retired from NASA and the U.S. Navy in January 1998.

（译文）从这里开始一直在下降

1      Dear John,

Whenever someone has eaten some unusual meat, the question “what did it taste like?” is asked. People usually say chicken; but they know that it really did not taste just like chicken. Try this one yourself. What does beef taste like? Yourreply? Pork? Chicken? No. Beef tastes like beef. What is a spacewalk like? Like a spacewalk. But let me give you the “sorta like chicken” answer, so that you at least have a feel for it.

pork n. 猪 肉

spacewalk n. move in space outside a space craft 太空漫步，太空行走

But let me give you the “sorta like chicken” answer, so that you at least have a feel for it.

Paraphrase: Let me give you a description. Although it's still far from experiencing it yourself, at least you can have a feel for it.

sorta ad. an informal contractionof “sort of”, meaning “kind of”, “a little” 近似，有几分

（译文）亲爱的约翰：

要是有人吃了一些不同寻常的肉，别人会问：“这肉是什么味道呢？”人们通常会说像鸡肉；但是，他们心里清楚，这肉尝起来真的不像鸡肉。你自己也试一下。牛肉尝起来是什么味道呢？你的回答是？猪肉？鸡肉？不。牛肉尝起来就像牛肉。太空行走是什么样子呢？就像太空行走。但是，让我给你一个“有点像鸡肉”的答案，这样你就至少对它有点感觉。

2      Imagine you are in scuba gear.Your vision is restricted by the size of your underwater mask. Your fins, wetsuit, and gloves make you clumsy and heavy. The water is frigid; in fact it is thickly frozen overhead with only one entry-exit hole drilled. Your life depends on your gear functioning properly the entire time. The further away you venture, the further away the escape hole in the ice, and the less you can tolerate any failure.

scuba gear水中呼吸装置；自给潜水装备；潜水设备

mask n . 面具；口罩

fin n. 鳍；鱼翅

wetsuit n. 潜水服；防寒泳衣

clumsy a . awkward in movement or in handling things笨拙的

e.g. He felt very clumsy like a bull in a china shop.

他感到非常笨手笨脚，就像一头闯入瓷器店的公牛。

As Mary had stage fright, she was very clumsy in the show.

玛丽很怯场，所以在表演中显得不灵活。

frigid a. very cold 寒冷的；严寒的

e.g. She can hardly breathe in such a frigid environment.

在如此寒冷的环境中，她几乎无法呼吸。

She is allergic to the frigid air and can't help sneezing.

她对寒冷的空气过敏，不停打喷嚏。

drill v. to make a hole in something using a drill 钻（孔）；打（眼）

e.g. On Saturday morning, my neighbor was drilling a hole at his home and it was annoying.

星期六早上，我的邻居在他家打孔，这很烦人。

Robots are used to drill for oil in that region.

机器人用来钻探该地区的石油。

Your life depends on your gear functioning properly the entire time.

Note: 该处 “your gear” 是动名词结构 “functioning properly” 的逻辑主语。

gear n. the equipment or clothing needed for a particular activity（某种活动的）设备，用具，衣服

functionv. to work in the correct way 起作用；正常工作

e.g. Interns will know how a hospital functions in the first few weeks.

实习生将在最初的几周内了解医院的运作方式。

The bus doesn't function normally.

这辆公交车不能正常工作。

The further away you venture, the further away the escape hole inthe ice, and the less

you can tolerate any failure.

Note: 该句结构为 “the more...themore...the more...”，意思为“越…越…越…”。

（译文）设想你穿着潜水装备。水下面罩的尺寸限制了你的视野。你的脚蹼、潜水衣和潜水手套让你又笨又重。水非常寒冷；事实上，上面的水已经冻成厚厚的一层，只钻了一个用于进出的冰洞。你的生死取决于你的装备在这整段时间内是否能正常运行。你冒着风险走得越远，冰层中的逃生洞就离你越远，你就越无法承受任何的失败。

3     There is no bottom. Up and down are confused. Your path is not straight, but rather around obstacles on a convex, falling away surface. As you round one obstacle, another appears, and soon itis difficult to determine from where you came.

obstacle n . something that makes it difficult toachieve something 障碍，阻碍

e.g. Her father's opposition remains the only obstacle to their marriage.

她父亲的反对仍然是他们婚姻的唯一障碍。

Her decision removed the obstacle to the reform in the legal system.

她的决定消除了司法制度改革的障碍。

convexa. having a surface or outline like the exterior of a circle 凸面的

e.g. The image on the convex mirror is distorted.

凸面镜上的图像失真。

The windshield has a convex shape.

挡风玻璃是凸起的形状。

... it is difficult to determine from where you came.

Note: 该句使用了形式主语，真正主语是不定式结构 “to determine...”。“from where you

came” 是名词性从句做 “determine” 的宾语，介词 from 提前。

（译文）深不见底。上面和下面都是未知的混沌。你的道路不是笔直的，而是在一个不断凸起、塌陷的表面上绕过各种障碍物。你绕过了一个障碍物，另一个又出现了，没过多久，就难以确定你来自哪里了。

4     You are not in water, buton a cliff. Crawling, gripping, reaching. The cliff is falling and you are on it. You decide that it is okay for the cliff to be falling because when you look out you see no bottom. You just fall and fall.

cliff n. a steep rock face 悬崖，峭壁

crawl v. to move along on your hands and knees with your body close to the ground 爬行 ，

匍匐行进

e.g. On the end of an exhausting day, all I want to do is to crawl into bed.

疲惫的一天结束后，我只想爬上床睡觉。

When the country is deep in debt, it should be creative to crawl out of the red.

一个负债累累的国家应该想办法走出赤字。

grip v . to hold something very tightly 紧握，紧抓

e.g. I was moved to tears when my son gripped my finger for the first time.

当我的儿子第一次抓住我的手指时，我感动得流下了眼泪。

The migrant worker gripped his bag tightly while waiting for the train in the midnight.

午夜等火车的时候，农民工紧紧抓住他的包。

（译文）你不是在水中，而是在悬崖上。一直在爬啊，握紧，伸手。悬崖在坠落，你在悬崖上。你断定悬崖的坠落并不可怕，因为当你看出去，根本看不到底。你只是一直在坠落，坠落，坠落。

5      The sun sets swiftly. Absolute black. You see nothing. You grip the handhold more tightly. You convince yourself that it is okay to be falling, alone in the blackness. You loosen your grip.

swiftly ad. quickly 迅 速 地

e.g. The manager walked into the meeting room swiftly.

经理迅速地走进会议室。

Police swiftly arrived on scene amid the crowd.

警方迅速赶到现场，四周围满了人。

handhold n . a part of something that you can hold onto when climbing it 攀爬时手可抓的东西（地方）

（译文）太阳转眼就落山了。一片漆黑。你什么也看不见。你更加用力地抓住把手。你让自己相信，在黑暗之中，独自一人坠落并不可怕。你放松了你紧握的双手。

6     Your eyes adjust, and you can make out forms. Another human being silhouetted against the heavens. When it first got dark, you were feet first falling. Five minutes later, as the cliff rotates, you feel as if you have reached the crest of the roller coaster, and are now barreling down steeply toward Earth. You come out of your seat, and are falling headfirst. You decide it is okay to be diving headfirst into nothing.

make out   to manage with difficulty to see or hear（费力地）看出；理解

e.g. The boy spent a whole day trying to make out the riddle.

这个男孩花了一整天的时间想来猜出这个谜语。

It's so dark that he couldn't make out the stranger's face.

天很黑，他无法看清陌生人的脸。

silhouette (against) v./n. to make sth. appear as a silhouette 使出现轮廓；轮廓

e.g. The girl's mother was silhouetted in the dim light of the porch.

这个女孩母亲的身影映衬在门廊昏暗的灯光下。

Farmers working in the field were silhouetted against the setting sun.

在田地劳作的农民们的身影映衬着夕阳。

The silhouette of the cottage was clear against the blue sky.

小屋的轮廓与蓝天相映成趣。

crest  n. the highest point of something 顶部；山顶

roller coaster  过山车

barrel v . to move very fast, especially in an uncontrolled way 高速行驶，飞奔

steeply ad. rising or falling quickly, not gradually 陡峭地；险峻地

（译文）你眨眨眼睛适应光线，终于可以辨别物体的外形了。天空中又一个人类的轮廓。当天色第一次变黑时，你双脚朝下坠落。五分钟之后，随着悬崖开始旋转，你仿佛到达了过山车的顶端，现在开始飞速地向地球坠落。你离开你的座椅，头朝下坠落。你断定，一头扎进一无所有的空间，这没什么问题。

7     You need to work with yourhands. You let go. You rotate, twist, and float. Still the cliff is falling and rotating. You know you are falling with it. You feel as if you are at the end of a fishing pole, which gets longer and longer and thinner at the end, and you are the fish hooked to its flimsy end. It sways back and forth; you sway back and forth.

twist v. to turn your body with quick sharp movements and change direction often （猛地将

身体）旋转，扭动

e.g. When the pills took effect, her body twisted in agony.

当药生效的时候，她的身体因痛苦而扭曲。

It is more frequent for an elderly person to fall down and twist his ankle.

老年人摔倒并扭伤脚踝更常见。

float v . to move slowly on water or in the air浮动；漂流

e.g. He finds it very relaxing to float on the swimming pool.

他发现在游泳池漂浮很放松。

The logs floated in the river for many days and finally arrived at the destination.

这些木头在河里漂浮了很多天，终于抵达终点。

fishing pole  钓鱼竿

hook v. to catch, suspend, or connect with ahook 用钩子抓、吊或连接

e.g. He has his car hooked to a trailer.

他把车挂在拖车上。

The other day I hooked a huge fish.

前天，我吊上来一条大鱼。

flimsy a. lacking solidity or strength 脆弱的，缺乏硬度或力度的

e.g. The table is flimsy, so the customer makes a complaint.

桌子不结实，因此顾客提出投诉。

He is writing ona flimsy piece of paper.

他在一张薄薄的纸上写字。

...and you are the fish hooked to its flimsy end.

Note: 该处 “hooked to its flimsy end” 是过去分词结构做后置定语，修饰 fish。

sway v . to move slowly from one side to another 摇摆，摆动

e.g. Her long dress was swaying in the wind.

她的长裙在风中摇曳。

He drank too much and couldn't help swaying in the middle of the street.

他喝太多了，不禁在马路中间摇摇晃晃。

back and forth  moving from one placeto another and back again 反复地，来回地

e.g. The waiters went back and forth to bring drinks for the guests.

服务生来回穿梭，给客人拿饮料。

The mother rocked the child back and forth to get him to sleep.

妈妈来回晃着孩子，哄他入睡。

（译文）你必须用你的双手工作，那就放手吧。你旋转、扭动和漂浮。悬崖仍然在下降和旋转。你知道你随它一起坠落。你觉得自己就像是在一根鱼竿的末端，鱼竿的末端越伸越长，越来越细，而你就是鱼竿纤细末端钩着的那条鱼。它晃来晃去；你也晃来晃去。

8      In the midst of all of this, you carry out your work calmly, methodically. You snap a picture or two, and below notice the Straitsof Gibraltar narrowly opening to the Mediterranean.

methodically ad. in a methodical manner 有方法地；有条不紊地

snap v. to take a photograph 拍照；摄影

e.g. As a good photographer, he was often invited to snap photos on big occasions.

作为一名优秀的摄影师，他经常被邀请在大型场合拍摄照片。

The audience are not supposed to snap photos during the concert.

观众不应在音乐会期间拍照。

...and below notice the Straits of Gibraltar narrowly opening to the Mediterranean.

Note: 该 处 使 用了“notice+ 宾语 + 宾补” 结 构， 其 中 现 在 分 词 结 构 “opening tothe Mediterranean” 充当宾补成分。

Straits of Gibraltar 直布罗陀海峡

Mediterranean n. 地中海

（译文）在此过程中，你平静地、有条不紊地开展你的工作。你拍摄一两张照片，在下方注意到直布罗陀海峡通向地中海的狭小通道。

9      That is how it felt, best as I can describe it. What did I do actually?

（译文）这就是我竭尽所能描述的感受。我实际上在做什么呢？

10      Exited the airlock and climbed out onto a horizontal ladder. With my partner, we transferred a dresser-sized optical properties monitor(OPM) along the surface of the space station module, to the long telescoping pole. We then attached OPM and myself to the end of the pole. My partner, using a three-foot-diameterring that encircled the pole, slid along the pole to its base, which was located on a different module of station. The hand crank controls for moving and extending the pole were located here.

Exited the airlock and climbed out onto a horizontal ladder.

Note: 该句省略了主语 “we”。要注意到本文多处地方省略主语。

airlock n. （航天器或潜艇等的）气闸室 

horizontal a . flat and level 水平的；横的ladder n. 梯 子

optical properties monitor (OPM) 光学性能监测器

module n . （航空器的）舱

telescope v. to become shorter, ormake sth. shorter by sliding sections inside one another可伸缩；叠套缩短，叠缩 n. 望远镜

attach (to) v. to fasten or join one thing to another 把…固定，把…附在

e.g. We have attached an invitation letter to this e-mail.

我们在这封电子邮件里加了邀请函作为附件。

There are three hospitals attached to the medical university.

这所医科大学有三所附属医院。

My partner, using a three-foot-diameter ring that encircled the pole, slid along the pole to itsbase, which was located on a different module of station...

Note: 该句中现在分词结构 “using...” 做伴随状语。

diameter n. 直径；对径

encircle v. to surround sb./sth. completely in acircle 环绕；围绕

e.g. Her house was encircled by giant trees.

她的房子四周都是大树。

The scientist was encircled by many respectful students on campus.

这位科学家周围围着很多充满敬意的学生。

crank n. 曲柄（一个传递转动的部件，包括一个手柄或把手与一个轴直角相连）

（译文）我从气闸室出来，爬到一个水平的梯子上。我与我的搭档一起，沿着空间站舱体的表面， 把一个梳妆台大小的光学特性监视器（OPM）搬到一根长长的伸缩杆那里。然后我们把光学特性监视器和我自己系在伸缩杆的一端。我的搭档，用一个三英尺直径的环围绕着伸缩杆，沿着杆滑到了它的底座，这个底座位于空间站另一个舱体上。用于移动和伸展这根杆的手动曲柄控制器就在这里。

11      The OPM and myself were then swung away on the tip of the pole, telescoped out further, and then translated to the end of another, even more distant module.

（译文）然后，光学特性监视器和我自己就在杆子顶端上摇摆，杆子继续伸长，抵达更远处的另一个舱体。

12     Upon arrival, I attached the pole to its new location, we rejoined atmy end, and installed the OPM. A third cosmonaut, inside the space station, confirmed that our cable connections were good. We returned by the same means to the original module, where we detached two large cosmic dust/space debris collector panels for return, attached a radiation dosimeter, and re-entered the airlock with the panels.

rejoin v . to join sb./sth. again after leavingthem 重新加入；和…重新在一起

e.g. She rejoined her family in Beijing after finishing her work.

完成工作后，她去北京和家人团聚。

She arrived home earlier and rejoined her husband at the table.

她早早回到家，和她的丈夫一起吃饭。

cosmonaut n. an astronaut 宇航员，航天员，太空人

We returned bythe same means to the original module, where we detached two large cosmicdust/space debris collector panels for return,

Note: 该句中 where 引导的是定语从句，修饰 “the original module”。

detach v. to disengage one thing from another 分开；使不连

e.g. We need to detach the myth from reality.

我们需要将神话从现实中分离出来。

The stressed white-collars need to detach from computer screens after work.

工作后，倍感压力的白领们需要离开电脑屏幕。

cosmica. connected with the whole universe 宇宙的

e.g. There are many cosmic mysteries waiting to be unveiled.

有许多宇宙之谜在等着被揭开面纱。

debris n. scattered pieces of waste or remains 碎片；残骸

panel n. 方格板；金属板

radiation dosimeter【物】放射性剂量仪；辐射剂量计

（译文）到达后，我把竿子系在新的位置上，我们在我这一头汇合，安装好光学特性监视器。在空间站内部的第三位宇航员确认我们的电缆连接正确。我们以相同的方式返回最初的那个舱体，在那里我们拆下两个大大的宇宙尘埃 / 太空碎片收集器面板，装上一个辐射剂量计，然后带着面板重新进入气闸室。

13     Closed the outer hatch. Repressurized the airlock. Opened the inner hatch. Yanked ourselves out of our space suits. Opened the second inner hatch. Ate dinner. Did some required post-spacewalk work inthe airlock. Went to bed. Slept soundly, contentedly—all tasks accomplished flawlessly.

Note:该段所有句子均省略了主语。

hatch n. a door in an aircraft, spacecraft, or submarine 舱盖

yank v. to suddenly remove someone or something突然移动；突然用力拉出或移开

e.g. The man yanked the door open.

男人猛地拉开门。

He was yarking the cork out of a bottle.

他正在使劲拔出瓶塞。

spacesuit n. 航天服

flawlessly ad . 完美无缺地；无瑕地

（译文）关闭外舱门。给气闸室增压。打开内舱门。钻出宇航服。打开第二道内舱门。吃晚饭。在气闸室做了一些太空行走之后的规定工作。去睡觉。睡得很香，心满意足——所有任务都完成得十分完美。

14      Good night, John. I hope that you aren't awakened by a nightmare where you are falling, falling. Shuttle will be coming soon—it is all downhill from here.

Note: 此处 where 引导的是定语从句，修饰 “nightmare”。

shuttle n. 航天飞机

（译文）晚安，约翰。我希望你并没有因为做了个一直在坠落的噩梦而惊醒。航天飞机即将抵达——它从这里开始一路下降。

       15      Love, Dad.

（译文）爱你的爸爸！

Understanding the Reading

Task 1      Identifying main ideas

Complete the summary with key information from the passage. More than one answer may be possible.

Anastronaut writes a letter to his son John explaining what a 1. spacewalk feels like. He describes his uncomfortable suit, and how frigid outer spacefeels. His gear must 2. function properly all the time, as there is no room on a mission for failure. In space, up and down are confused. He constantly feels as though 3. he is falling. Meanwhile, he must work. After his job is complete, he and hiscrew return to 4. the airlock, where they eat dinner, do morework, and then go to bed, and where 5. they sleep soundly—all tasks accomplished.

 Task 2Reading for details

The following statements about the details in the passage are incorrect. Correct them on the lines according to your understanding.

1.     Spacesuits make astronauts light and graceful in outer space.

Spacesuits make astronauts clumsy and heavy in outer space.

2.     Astronauts' lives depend on how healthy their diet is when they are in space. 

Astronauts' lives depend on their gear functioning properly when they are in space.

3.     On a spacewalk, an astronaut's path is straight and clear ofobstacles on a flat surface.

On a spacewalk, an astronaut's path is not straight, but rather around obstacles on a convex surface.

4.     The author compares the feeling of being in space to being pulled along by a racecar.

The author compares the feeling of being in space to being attached to the end of a fishing pole.

5.     The author attached a small OPM to a satellite by himself.

The author attached a dresser-sized OPM to the telescoping pole of a space station module with his partner.

Task 3Note answers to the questions below. Discuss with a partner.

1.    Why is it so important that an astronaut's gear functions properly in outer space?

Suggested answer:

It is so important that an astronaut's gear functions properly in outer space because there is no air to breathe in outer space, and one malfunction could cost the astronaut his/her life.

2.     Why is an astronaut constantly floating while in outer space?

Suggested answer:

An astronaut is constantly floating while in outer space, because inouter space there is no gravity to pull the astronaut towards the Earth.

3.     What do you think is one quality that someone who wants to be an astronaut should possess?Why?

Suggested answer:

I think that someone who wants to be an astronaut should be a calm person. Being an astronaut is a dangerous job, and space flight is uncomfortable to the body. Therefore, I think that someone who wants to be an astronaut should be able to remain calm in stressful situations and when experiencing discomfort.

Exploring Vocabulary

Task 4These sentences are about the passage. Complete them with the target words and phrases in the box. Change the form when necessary.

1.    The astronauts rejoined in order to install the OPM together.

2.    The gear worn by astronauts is designed to keep them alive in outer space.

3.    An astronaut cannot stay still in outer space, but instead sways back andforth.

4.    Outer space is not warm, but frigid.

5.     Being an astronaut in outer space feels like being hooked on the end of a long fishing pole.

6.     The astronauts were silhouetted against the heavens.

7.    An astronaut needs to crawl around obstacles while working in outer space.

8.     Astronauts' space suits make them clumsy and heavy.

9.     A radiation dosimeter was attached to the space station module.

10.  Pieces of old satellites are an example of space debris.

Task 5These sentences use the target words and phrases in new contexts. Complete them with the words and phrases in the box. Change the form when necessary.

1.    I attach my keys to mybelt so that I do not lose them.

2.    Debris was swept onto the shore by the huge ocean waves.

3.    The silhouette of the bare tree on the hill was clear against the winter sky.

4.    Few plants can grow in sucha(n) frigid environment.

5.     I promised to rejoin my friends in an hour.

6.     The tree branches sway gently in the warm breeze.

7.     Early mobile phones were very heavy and clumsy touse.

8.     All of our camping gear was put into the trunk of thecar.

9.    A child learns how to crawl before it learns how to walk.

10. You can hook up the dress in the back.

Task 6Word forms

Look back over the passage, or consult your dictionary to find the missing word forms in the chart. After completing the chart, for each sentence below, look at the row in the chart with the same number, and choose the correct word form to complete the sentence.

1.     The baby horse clumsily walked over to its mother.

2.     I prefer functional furniture to fancy furniture.

3.     Rhonda's email was met with a swift response.

4.     The flimsiness of my father's bones has increased as he has gotten older.

5.     The ground was horizontal to the flag pole.

6.    Make sure that a photo is attached to your application.

7.     The film is flawed by the poor casting of its lead actor.

Task 7Collocations

Use collocations from the reading to complete the sentences below. Some of the words or phrases are given in the brackets. More than one answer may be possible. Example:

I can't come over tonight, because I need to get over this mountain of math homework. (mountain)

1.     During the winter, the sun sets more swiftly than it does during the summer. (the sun)

2.     As the sun began to set, the city skyline was silhouetted against the heavens. (the heavens)

3.     The tree branches swayed back and forth wildly during the storm last night. (back and forth)

4.     My brother attaches his wallet to a chain on his belt so that his wallet does not get lost.(attach)

5.     I feel very well rested because I slept soundly on the comfortable new mattress. (sleep)

Task 8Reading in depth

There is a short passage with 10 blanks. You are required to selectone word for each blank from a list of choices given in the box following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.

From initially looking up and gazing at the stars, man has invented tools like the  1. telescope to magnify and clearly see the yet unseen. While we think of 2. astronomy, the study of celestial objects and outer space as a completely modern field of study, our interest in the worlds beyond the Earth can be traced back to ancient times.

Datingback to 1,800 B.C., the Babylonians were among the first 3. civilization to document the movements of the sun and the moon. They maintained a very detailed  4.record of these motions including a daily, monthly, and yearly position of the celestial bodies. It is said that the first appearances of the famous Hailey's 5. comet were documented by the Babylonians.

The ancient Greeks are popularly known as the fathers of ancient space study, as they formulated theories and mathematical 6. equations in an attempt to explain the universe. One of the most well-known of these pioneers was Pythagoras, a mathematician who postulated that the earth is 7. spherical inshape as other celestial bodies are. He came up with this idea when he saw ships disappear past the 8. horizon as they sail.

Ancient Egyptians also made significant 9. contributions to the study of outer space. For example, they built huge pyramids based on the positions of the moon and stars, such as the Great Pyramid of Giza. It was built to 10. align with the North Star, which at that time was Thuban instead of Polaris.

Sentence Structures

Task 9Construct the sentences with the given words or phrases, following the model.

Model 1:

Whenever someone has eaten some unusual meat, the question “what did it taste like?” is asked.

【whenever,wherever, whatever, whoever, whichever... 引导的从句】

 1.    responsible for, break the window, punish

→ Whoever is responsible for breaking the window will be punished.

2.    player, scores the highest number of points, get the prize

→ Whichever player scores the highest number of points will get the prize.

3.    return home, a long trip, feeltired

→ Whenever I return home from a long trip, I feel tired.

Model 2:

Five minutes later, as the cliff rotates, you feel as if you have reached the crest of the roller coaster.

【...later, 表示“…时间以后”】

1.      three hours, finally finish, clean the kitchen

→ Three hourslater, we finally finished cleaning the kitchen.

2.       half an hour, dress, ready to go to the party

→ Half an hour later, I was dressed and ready to go to the party.

3.       three days, missing cat, come back home

→ Three days later, our missing cat came back home.

Task10    Sentence translation

Translate the following sentences into English, using the words and phrases in the brackets.

1.    我如何能搬动这么大又笨重的电视机？ (clumsy)

How can I move such a big and clumsy TV set?

2.     飞机在突然失事前一直运转正常。(function)

The plane had been functioning normally before the sudden crash.

3.     孩子发现把头晃前晃后很有趣。(back and forth)

The child found it funny to shake his head back and forth.

4.    湖被樱桃树环绕。(encircle)

The lake is encircled by the cherry trees.

5.    当你向雇主发送申请信时，请将简历附在电子邮件中。(attach)

Please attach the resume to the email when you send an application letter to the employer.

Task11    Passage translation

Translate the following passage into English. Try to use the words and phrases from Passage A as many as possible.

在 20 世纪 50 年代和 60 年代，苏联和美国率先进行现代空间探索，中国基本上是局外者。直到 2003 年，中国才将一名宇航员送入太空，但现在它正在迎头赶上。2019年 1 月，嫦娥 4号探测器（the Chang'e-4 probe）首次在月球远端进行软着陆。这不是中国月球探索的结束，它将进一步探索未知领域。中国还计划在 2020 年在火星上发射探测器（probe），成为世界上首个实行该计划的国家。到 2030年，中国已经设定了目标——将火星样品带回地球并将中国宇航员送上月球。这些计划将推动中国成为太空探索的主要参与者。

For your reference:

In the 1950s and '60s, the Soviet Union and the United States pioneered modern space exploration. China was largely uninvolved in this endeavor. The country didn'ts end an astronaut into space until 2003. But now China is making strides in space exploration. In January 2019, the Chang'e-4 probe made the first-ever soft landing on the far side of the moon. Rather than end its lunar exploration, China will continue to venture further into the unknown. China is also planning to launch a probe to Mars in 2020, becoming the first country to do so. In addition, China has planned to bring samples from Mars back to Earth, and send Chinese astronauts to the moon by 2030. These programs will establish China as a major force in space exploration.

Critical Thinking and Discussion

Task12    Work in a small group

Discuss the question: What are the pros and cons of colonizing and living on Mars? Write your supporting ideas in the chart. Use the words or phrases in the passage when discussing in your group.