Question

As we know, it is not easy to build a satellite(卫星). Building a traditional satellite usually takes years. The costs can be as high as $250 million or more. Most members of the design teams have worked in the field for a long time. They hold advanced degrees(学历) in math, science, or engineering.

But things are changing. High costs, unusual educational needs and long start-up times are no longer an obstacle(障碍) to space exploration. The scientists have developed a new type of tiny, inexpensive earth-orbiting(轨道) satellite.

So far, college students have built and launched(发射) several cube-shaped satellites, or CubeSats. At least 15 more are ready to go. Those already in orbit take pictures, collect information and send it back to the earth, just as regular satellites do.

But you might not even have to wait until you get to college to start designing and building your own satellite. A new program called KatySat aims to get teenagers to take part in. When kids understand what satellites can do, the kinds of ideas they’ll come up with may be countless.

Education isn’t the only aim of CubeSats because these tiny, technology-filled boxes are inexpensive to build and can be put together quickly, they’re perfect for testing new technologies that might one day be used on major space tasks.

The biggest challenge now is to find ways to bring the satellites back to the earth after a year or two. Or space junk could gradually increase because CubeSats become more popular.

Nowadays, college and high school students are getting a chance to learn what it takes to explore in space. Someday—perhaps a lot sooner that you imaging—you might get to design, build and launch your own satellite. If you do, you’re sure to have fun. And you might also get crazy about science for life.

1.Building a traditional satellite __________.

A. costs $250,000

B. needs college students

C. takes quite a long time

2.Compared with the traditional ones, the new satellites __________.

A. need long start-up times

B. are cheap and small-sized

C. collect more junk in orbit

3.The underlined word “countless” in Paragraph 4 probably means “__________”.

A. 无用的B. 无价值的C. 无数的

4.According to the passage, which of the following is true?

A. CubeSats could possibly cause pollution in space.

B. Scientists designed CubeSats for kids to play with.

C. Students can’t design satellites without college education.

5.The purpose of the author writing the passage is __________.

A. to tell us that satellite technology can also be learned by kids

B. to show that high technology brings a big change in kids’ life

C. to tell us that kids must study hard to learn satellite technology

 

Answer 1

1.C

2.B

3.C

4.A

5.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文介绍的是新型的卫星，它比传统卫星的造价低，省时，省钱。但是由于太空垃圾越来越多，可能对环境造成影响，这项技术也会在学校被学生们所学习。

1.根据原文Building a traditional satellite usually takes years.可知建造一个传统的卫星要花费好多年，故选C。

2.根据原文The scientists have developed a new type of tiny, inexpensive earth-orbiting(轨道) satellite.可知新的卫星即便宜有迷你。故选B。

3.countless意为“无数的”，故选C。

4.根据原文Or space junk could gradually increase because CubeSats become more popular.空间垃圾可能会增加。故选A。

5.根据原文Nowadays, college and high school students are getting a chance to learn可知这项技术在学校也可以被孩子们所学习。故选A。

考点：科普环保类短文阅读。