单选题 Directions: his task is the same as Task 1. The 5 questions or unfinished statements are numbered 41 to 45.
In about two years, NASA astronauts will go into space with personal assistants, robotic assistants, of course. About the size of softballs, these personal satellite assistants (PSAs) can float throughout the space shuttle or space station, automatically monitoring life support systems, snapping photos, and taking over monitoring tasks from failed sensors. They' re equipped with collision avoidance system so they won't bump into anything: Naturally, they' re wireless. Thanks to their videoconferencing capabilities, the PSAs offer a virtual presence for ground crews and scientists, letting them advise astronauts—in real time—in the midst of their experiments. The PSAs will be stowed until the spacecraft reaches orbit (天体运行的轨道). And then activated by the astronauts, ground crews, or even by the spacecraft itself or other PSAs requesting help, they can work automatically or respond to voice or radio commands, and can exchange information with the spacecraft' s main computers.
Floating through the spacecraft, the little robots will measure gas levels, temperature, and atmosphere pressure—making them ideal for checking alarms and dangerous areas, such as the compartment that caught fire on the Mir space station. And, if "smart" identification tags are added to inventory items like food pouches and experiment samples, project manager Yuri Gawdiak of NASA' s Ames Research Center says PSAs could track inventories.
One of their biggest benefits may be size. By squeezing into hard-to-reach spaces of the shuttle or space station, PSAs can go where no man has gone since the vehicles were first assembled—simply because man doesn't fit.
单选题 Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
  • A. With the help of PSAs, NASA astronauts can deal with many affairs in the space shuttle or space station more easily.
  • B. PSAs are mechanical devices which can float all over the space station without any collision.
  • C. PSAs works only under the voice or radio commands of astronauts.
  • D. PSAs can track inventories if "smart" identification tags are added to inventory items.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】A项说法我们可以根据通篇的论述找到答案——PSAs(私人卫星助手)可以胜任很多工作,从而协助宇航人员完成许多任务。故A项是正确的陈述。B项说法可在短文第一段头一句话中推断出来,即PSAs是机器人,可以在太空飞行器或太空站自由飘浮,而不会和其它任何东西产生碰撞,故B项也是正确说法。C项说法我们首先看看第一段的最后一句话里,可以知道PSAs能自动地工作或根据语音或无线电指令来完成工作。而C的说法“PSAs只能依照指令行事”显然不符合短文内容。P的说法则在第二段最后一句话找到正确的答案,它也是正确的陈述。故正确答案是C。
单选题 What is the meaning of "...the PSAs offer a virtual presence for ground crews and scientists,..." ( Paragraph 1) ?
  • A. With the help of PSAs, the ground crews and scientists can present in real time in the spacecraft.
  • B. With the help of PSAs, the ground crews and scientists can control the spacecraft as if they were there.
  • C. With the help of PSAs, the ground crews and scientists cannot in real time present in the spacecraft.
  • D. With the help of PSAs, the ground crews and scientists cannot advise the astronauts to deal with different situations.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】关键理解virtual的意思。这里virtual表示“实际的”,意思就是利用PSAs上的视频道话功能,地面工作人员和科学家就能实时“实地”地去执行各项工作。因此他们不是真正地上了太空船船或太空空间站,而是借助PSAs而模拟实境地去处理事情,故答案只选B。
单选题 What can we learn from the passage?
  • A. PSAs can deal with all kinds of affairs in space station or space shuttle.
  • B. PSAs are those who can shoulder more responsibilities than astronauts.
  • C. PSAs have so many benefits that astronauts can easily carry out their tasks.
  • D. Nothing can be done without PSAs.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】A项说明PSAs可以处理太空中的一切事务,这个显然不正确;B项表明PSAs比宇航员承担的责任要多得多;C项就是说明PSAs在太空中有许多而不是全部的益处,这样宇航员可以较容易地完成他们的任务;D项则更不符合题意。显然答案C为正确选择。
单选题 What are the functions of PSAs?
  • A. PSAs can automatically monitor life support systems, snapping photos, and taking overmonitoring tasks from failed sensors.
  • B. They are capable of videoconferencing so that they offer a virtual presence of ground crews and scientists.
  • C. They can go where no man has gone since the vehicles were first assembled.
  • D. All of the above mentioned.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】PSAs的功能或职责就是前面的三项。
单选题 What is the best title for the passage?
  • A. NASA and PSAs
  • B. Space Researches on PSAs
  • C. PSAs in Space
  • D. Orbits
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】显而易见本文主要讨论对象就是PSAs在太空的情况,故C为正确的选择。