2018-2019学年高中三维设计一轮复习英语人教话题版练习：topic2　astronomy：thescienceofthestars（book3unit4）word版含解析.docxVIP

Topic 2　Astronomy： the science of the stars (Book 3?Unit 4)Ⅰ.阅读理解A话题词数建议用时太空研究3267分钟If asked if space exploration should continue, most Americans would give an immediate response either in favor of continuing or in favor of ending space exploration. A common response would be that space exploration is a waste of money. An average American, uneducated on the subject, might believe that the government is wasting billions of dollars on the research that has no value. Someone strange to the subject might say that a space shuttle goes up once in a while and that is about all that happens. Research is ongoing and continues when there are no shuttles being launched. This also costs the government money. Does the extreme cost of space exploration make sense?One argument is that the government is wasting money on the research not being used on Earth. Actually, the money goes to workers and scientists that support National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) missions, and goes to major companies that play important roles in major sectors of the US economy. Boeing is a partner of NASA for aircraft, the same company that makes commercial aircraft for the airline industry.Another benefit to continuing space exploration is the many technologies it provides. The artificial (人造的) heart resulted from experiments on the space shuttle. The handheld Jaws of Life used to save victims from car accidents resulted from the system used to separate the space shuttle from its booster rockets. Insulation (隔热板) in homes that keeps them warm and energy efficient is based on the technology used to insulate the space shuttle.There are direct benefits to the economy provided by NASA missions as well as those technologies. These advances are found in food, building materials, medical procedures and the vehicles we drive. While it can be proven that billions of dollars that could be used elsewhere is being spent on space exploration, the benefits it provides outweigh the te