Question

【題目】Zero gravity looks cool. But what about the thing no one likes to talk about? Yes, that is right: going to the bathroom. Zero gravity makes this everyday task quite a challenge. Astronauts have to be toilet-trained all over again.

The Apollo astronauts raised themselves off the seat of their chairs and stuck a clear plastic bag to their back sides with sticky strips. A second astronaut watched closely to be sure no waste matter escaped the seal. (You would not want that stuff floating around the cabin!) When the deed was done, the astronaut cleaned up with a piece of plastic attached to the inside of the bag, removed the bag, dropped a disinfectant(消毒劑) pill in with the waste matter, and put the whole thing, sealed, into a special container.

Donald W. Rethke, an engineer for Hamilton Standard Space Systems, developed a more private way to answer nature’s call: the space toilet. It is somewhat like the kind of toilet one would find on commercial airplanes--with unique adaptations for zero gravity, of course. For instance, it has thigh bars that keep the astronaut from floating off the seat.

The astronaut (male or female) defecates (排便) in a bag and urinates (排尿) in a hose. Solid and liquid wastes are kept separated because at least 85% of the urine is recycled and, yes, after careful filtration(過濾), used for drinking and other purposes. (Water is always in demand in space.) A vacuum sucks the waste materials into the toilet, where the waste is compacted into hamburger-like patties for easy storage. Although not exactly like an earthbound visit to the toilet, it is at the very least much more private than in the early days of space travel.

【1】According to the first paragraph, the lack of the gravity can turn something as simple as _______ into a major challenge.

A. eating B. answering nature’s call

C. sleeping D. going to the restroom

【2】How did astronauts use toilet systems in the Apollo days?

A. None of the waste was separated as it is now.

B. Solid waste was compressed and stored on board.

C. The toilet units used water to remove the waste through the system.

D. The astronauts each used their own private restroom.

【3】To ensure the user remains seated, the toilet comes equipped with _______

A. a plastic bag B. a sticky strip

C. a wide hose D. a thigh bar

【4】What can be inferred from the fact that most of the astronauts’ urine is recycled?

A. The recycled water tastes better. B. Water is limited on the space shuttle.

C. It is very convenient to get their urine recycled. D. Space science includes recycling urine.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】B

【2】A

【3】D

【4】B

【解析】

本文是一篇科普說明文，在失重的宇宙里，宇航員是如何方便的？產(chǎn)生的糞便又是如何處理的？文章對此話題做了具體的闡述。

【1】細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第一段23句“But what about the thing no one likes to talk about? Yes, that is right: going to the bathroom.”可知在失重的情況下，上廁所是一個人們不想談?wù)摰脑掝}，是一個巨大的挑戰(zhàn)。故D項正確。

【2】細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第二段“A second astronaut watched closely to be sure no waste matter escaped the seal. ….and put the whole thing, sealed, into a special container.”可知阿波羅號的宇航員方便以后把排泄物裝在一個特別的容器里。并沒有對糞便進行分離。故A項正確。

【3】細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第三段最后一句“For instance, it has high bars that keep the astronaut from floating off the seat.”可知有一個高的把手阻止宇航員從位置上漂起來。故D項正確。

【4】推理判斷題。根據(jù)第四段23句“after careful filtration(過濾), used for drinking and other purposes. (Water is always in demand in space.)”可知宇航員的糞便經(jīng)過過濾以后被分類，水被回收，固體被壓縮存儲。在太空里水很有限，所以才要回收小便。故B項正確。