Question

【題目】 Most of us probably dreamed about becoming an astronaut when we were little. But how many of us have actually become one, or are at least working toward it? It’s true that the advice “Always follow your dreams” is something that is typically easier said than done.

But still, this is the one piece of advice that Alyssa Carson wants to share with her peers. This 17-year-old girl from the US has become one of the candidates (候選人) for NASA’s 2033 project to go to Mars. If everything goes well, Carson will be one of the first human beings to ever set foot on the red planet.

Carson began to dream of going to mars when she was only three years old. After watching an astronaut-themed cartoon and hearing from her father that humans had only been to the moon but not Mars. Carson decided that she wanted to be the first one to do so.

To realize her dream, she has worked hard toward it. At the age of 12, Carson became the first person to attend all three NASA space camps, and she sat with real astronauts to discuss the future of Mars missions. Now 17, Carson is continuing with her space training while still taking on her high school work like a “normal” teenager, except that she studies all her subjects in four languages-English, French, Spanish and Chinese.

“I don’t think there’s anything specific that makes it easier for me or makes it something that others can’t do,” Carson said in an interview. “I’ve just really focused myself on what I want to accomplish.”

Besides, Carson is willing to make sacrifices (犧牲) for her dream. She’s fully aware of the danger of the mission and the possibility that she might never be able to come back. She also accepts the fact that she can’t get married and start a family because any loved ones left on Earth may be a distraction for her and for the mission. But Carson believes that it’s all worth it, summarizing her view with this ancient Greek proverb she once quoted, “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they’ll never sit in.”

While some people’s dreams may sound out of this world, Carson is on her way.

【1】Where is Carson from?

【2】When did Carson begin to dream of going to Mars?

【3】What languages is Carson learning?

【4】Why can’t Carson get married and start a family?

【5】What does Carson do to follow her dream?

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】Carson is from the US.

【2】She was only three years old.

【3】She is learning English, French, Spanish and Chinese.

【4】Because any loved ones left on Earth may be a distraction for her and for the mission.

【5】She works hard toward it ,and she is willing to make sacrifices for her dream.

【解析】

文章大意：本文主要講述艾莉莎·卡森這位17歲小姑娘美國宇航局2033年火星計劃的候選人之一，她如何實現(xiàn)自己的夢想，做出了哪些犧牲，同時告訴我們雖然夢想是天方夜譚，但是我們一直在路上。

【1】句意：卡森是哪里人？

細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第二段第二句This 17-year-old girl from the US has become one of the candidates (候選人) for NASA’s 2033 project to go to Mars.可知，她來自美國，故答案填Carson is from the US。

【2】句意：卡森什么時候開始夢想去火星的？

細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第三段第一句Carson began to dream of going to mars when she was only three years old.可知，是三歲，故答案填She was only three years old。

【3】句意：卡森在學什么語言？

細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第四段最后一句Now 17, Carson is continuing with her space training while still taking on her high school work like a “normal” teenager, except that she studies all her subjects in four languages-English, French, Spanish and Chinese可知，她在學英語、法語、西班牙語和漢語，故答案填 She is learning English, French, Spanish and Chinese。

【4】句意：為什么卡森不能結(jié)婚呢？

細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第四段第一句To realize her dream, she has worked hard toward it.和第六段She also accepts the fact that she can’t get married and start a family because any loved ones left on Earth may be a distraction for her and for the mission可知，故答案填Because any loved ones left on Earth may be a distraction for her and for the mission。

【5】句意：卡森做什么來實現(xiàn)她的夢想？

細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第六段第一句Besides, Carson is willing to make sacrifices (犧牲) for her dream可知，故答案填She works hard toward it, and she is willing to make sacrifices for her dream。