单选题 Space is a dangerous place, not only because of meteors but also because of rays from the sun and other stars.
Radiation is the greatest known danger to explorers in space. Doses of radiation are measured in units called "rems". We all receive radiation here on Earth from the sun, from cosmic rays and from radioactive minerals. The "normal" dose of radiation that we receive each year is about 100 millirems; it varies according to where you live, and this is a very rough estimate. Scientists have reason to think that a man can put up with far more radiation than this without being damaged, the figure of 60 rems has been agreed. The trouble is that it is extremely difficult to be sure about radiation damage-- a person may feel perfectly well, but the cells of his or her sex organs may be damaged, and this will not be discovered until the birth of children or even grandchildren.
Early space probes showed that radiation varies in different parts of space around the Earth. It also varies in time because, when great spurts of gas shoot out of the sun, they are accompanied by a lot of extra radiation. Some estimates of the amount of radiation in space, based on various measurements and calculations, are as low as 10 rems per year; others are as high as 5 rems per hour. Missions to the moon have had to cross the Van Alien belts of high radiation and, during the outward and return journeys, the Apollo 8 crew accumulated a total dose of about 200 millirems per man. It was hoped that there would not be any large solar flares during the times of the Apollo noon walks because the walls of the LEMs were not thick enough to protect the men inside. Though the command modules did give reasonable protection. So far, no dangerous doses of radiation have been reported, but the Gemini orbits and the Apollo missions have been quite short. We simply do not know yet how men are going to get on when they spend weeks and months outside the protection of the atmosphere, working in a space laboratory or in a base on the moon. Drugs might help to decrease the damage done by radiation, but no really effective ones have been found so far. At present, radiation seems to be the greatest physical hazard to space travelers, but it is impossible to say just how serious the hazard will turn out to be in the future.

单选题 Scientists have fixed a safety level of______
A. 10 rems per year B. 60 rems per year
C. 100 milliremes per year D. 5 rems hour

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】[解析] 根据文章第二段第四句“Scientists have reason to think that a man can put up with far more radiation than this without being damaged，the figure of 60 rems has been agreed．”可知，人类每年所承受的、适量的射线大约是100毫雷姆，要视住处的情况而定，这只是一个粗略的估计。科学家们确认，人能够忍受远远超过60雷姆的射线而不至于受到损害，60 雷姆这一数字已经得到了一致同意。据此判断，答案是B。

单选题 The spacemen were worried about solar flares when they were______
A. crossing the Van Alien belts B. setting up a moon base
C. exploring the surface of the moon D. waiting in the command module

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】[解析] 根据文章第二段第四句“It was hoped that there would not be any large solar flares during the times of the Apollo moon walks because the walls of the LEMs were not thick enough to protect the men inside．”可知，希望在阿波罗号宇宙飞船行走月球期间，没有巨大的太阳耀斑出现过，由于登月舱的四壁不够厚实，难以保护舱内的宇航员，虽然指挥舱确实提供了合理的保护。据此判断，答案是C。

单选题 When men spend long periods in space how will they protect themselves?
A. By taking special drugs. B. By wearing special suits.
C. By using a protective blanket. D. No solution has been found yet.

单选题 Which of the following is true?
A. The grandchildren of astronauts are deformed.
B. The children of astronauts have damaged sex organs.
C. Radiation damage may show only in later generations.
D. Radiation does not seem to be very harmful.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】[解析] 根据第二段最后一句“The trouble is that it is extremely difficult to be sure about radiation damage--a person may feel perfectly well．but the cells of his or her sex organs may be damaged．and this will not be discovered until the birth of children or even grandchildren．”可知，射线的危害程度不好确定，一个人可能感觉很正常，但他的性器官可能受到损害，直到孩子或者是孙子降生后才能发现这种潜在的危害。据此判断，答案是c。