MBA英语阅读理解练习三

    While scientists are searching the cause of the Columbia disaster, NASA is moving ahead with plans to develop a new craft that would replace shuttles on space station missions by 2012 and respond quickly to space station emergencies.
    The space agency released the first set of mission needs and requirements several days ago for the orbital space plane, which would be designed to transport a crew of four to and from the International Space Station.
    Although it includes few specifics, the plan stipulates the orbiter will be safer, cheaper and require less preparation than the shuttle. It would be able to transport four crewmembers by 2012 – though it would be available for rescue missions by 2010. NASA says the craft should be able to transport injured or ill space station crew members to “ definitive medical care” within 24 hours.
    The release of the requirements showed NASA remains focused on the long-term priorities of space exploration, even as questions linger concerning the loss of Columbia and its seven-member crew on February 1,2003.
    Experts at Marshall Space Fight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, have been working for years on a successor to the shuttle. The project, known as the Space Launch Initiative, was divided last year into two  parts – one focusing on a future launch vehicle, the other on a space station orbiter. The orbiter is expected to be ready sooner.
    The program’s managers say NASA officials have told them not to alter Space Launch Initiative in light of the Columbia disaster.
    U.S. Presidents George W. Bush asked Congress for about US $ 1 billion for Space Launch Initiative in 2004, funds that would be almost equally split between the Orbital Space Plans and Next Generation Launch Technology.
1. The orbital space shuttle has been designed for___.
    A. controlling the International Space Station
    B. carrying astronauts to the International Space Station
    C. transporting equipment to the International Space Station
    D. training astronauts in space flight
2. From the passage we know that the design of the orbiter indicates___.
    A. NASA’s determination to continue its space exploration projects
    B. the U.S. space technology superiorities
    C. a victory in space exploration
    D. the birth of an absolutely safe space craft
3. When did the scientists start working on a successor to the shuttle?
    A. Immediately after the Columbia disaster
    B. One year after the Columbia disaster
    C. Years after the exploration of Columbia
    D. Not mentioned in the passage
4. Besides the main missions stipulated by NASA, the orbiter would also be used as___.
    A. a space hospital
    B. a medical research center
    C. a medicine-transporting vehicle
    D. a space ambulance
5. According to the passage, the funds, if granted, would___.  
    A. be used for developing the orbiter only
    B. be equally shared by the two projects under Space Launch Initiative
    C. be given to Marshall Space Flight Center
    D. be mainly used to improve space launch technology

答案：
1. B. 答案依据在第2段“..which would be designed to transport a crew of four to and from the International Space Station/轨道航天飞机将被设计用于把四人的宇航员小组接送到国际太空站”
2. A. 答案的依据在第4段：该段提到“即使发生了哥伦比亚航天飞机失事，七名宇航员丧生的悲剧，NASA也不放弃宇宙探测项目”
3. C. 该题问“什么时候科学家开始致力于研究继轨道航天机后的新的航天飞机的研究的？”因为文章第1段说“哥伦比亚航天飞机失事的原因还在调查中”，第5段又提到the orbiter的研究已经进行了多年，所以C是答案。
4. D. 第3段提到2010年，the orbiter就能担负起接回在宇宙站工作的伤病员的任务，也就是说the orbiter起一种类似于space ambulance（太空救护车）的作用。
5. B. 最后一段说，如果10亿美圆的款项获得国会的批准，这笔款项基本上平分给Space Orbital Space Plane和 Next Generation Launch Technology这两个研究项目。