Question

“Yes, ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard NASA’s Space Elevator. We’re going to leave soon. The entire ride will take about five hours, so sit back and enjoy the trip. As we rise, be sure to look out the window. You’ll see the sky change from deep blue to black. It is one of the most wonderful views（景色）you will ever see! ”
Does this sound like the Sci-Fi Channel? Well, it’s not. Scientists are thinking that a “space elevator” will be possible toward the end of the 21st century. A space elevator will consist of a long cable (電纜) from the Earth’s surface into space to an altitude(高度) of about 35,786 km. “Elevators” will travel along the cable and move people and loads between Earth and space. One of the greatest advantages is that the cost will be much less. Researchers estimate (估計) that a passenger with baggage at 150 kg might cost only $222! Compare that to today’s cost of around $3.3 million for the same weight. It would make “cheap” space travel possible. Scientists believe carbon nanotubes (納米管) may be used to make high-strength materials for the cables, although they are still being studied.
It was Arthur C. Clarke who brought this idea to the general public. In his science fiction novel Fountains of Paradise, engineers build a space elevator on top of a mountain peak on an island. One day, Clarke was asked a question by a student during his speech. The student asked when the space elevator would become a reality. Clarke answered, “Probably about 50 years after everybody stops laughing.” He’s got a point. When we stop thinking of something as impossible, then we start working on its development.
小題1:Why should passengers in a space elevator look out the window while they are moving into space?

A．Because the blue sky is very beautiful.

B．Because the view outside is wonderful.

C．Because the sky changes from black to blue.

D．Because the trip will take about seven hours.

小題2:Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Scientists haven’t used carbon nanotubes to make the cables.

B．Traveling in space elevators will cost much less in the future.

C．Passengers will be able to travel in space elevators with baggage.

D．Space elevators will travel for 35,786 km around the Earth’s surface.

小題3:What is the best title for this passage?

A．Possible Now: Space Travel	B．Cheap Space Travel
C．Going into Space in an Elevator	D．Space Travel — Impossible

Answer 1

小題1:B
小題2:D
小題3:C

試題分析：短文大意：本文主要講述了人們稱作太空電梯進入太空需要注意的一些事項，及太空電梯的運行等問題。
小題1:細節理解題。根據第一段As we rise, be sure to look out the window. You’ll see the sky change from deep blue to black. It is one of the most wonderful views（景色）you will ever see! ”描述，可知人們向外看主要是為了看窗外的美景。故選B。
小題2:細節理解題。根據短文第二段A space elevator will consist of a long cable (電纜) from the Earth’s surface into space to an altitude(高度) of about 35,786 km. 描述，可知太空電梯將在地表35786千米的高度運行。故選D。
小題3:標題歸納題。閱讀短文可知，本文主要講述了人們稱作太空電梯進入太空需要注意的一些事項，及太空電梯的運行等問題。故選C，乘坐太空電梯入太空。