单选题 Astronaut Jim Voss has enjoyed many memorable moments in his career, including three space flights and one space walk. But he recalls with special fondness a decidedly earthbound experience in the summer of 1980, when he participated in the NASA-AS-EE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program. Voss, then a science teacher at West Point, was assigned to the Marshall Space Flight Center's propulsion lab in Alabama to analyze why a hydraulic fuel pump seal on the space shuttle was working so well when previous seals had failed. It was a seemingly tiny problem among the vast complexities of running the space program. Yet it was important to NASA because any crack in the seals could have led to destructive results for the astronauts who relied on them.
"I worked a bit with NASA engineers," says Voss, "but I did it mostly by analysis. I used a handheld calculator, not a computer, to do a thermodynamic analysis. "At the end of the summer, he, like the other NASA-ASEE fellows working at Marshall, summarized his findings in a formal presentation and detailed paper. It was a valuable moment for Voss because the ASEE program gave him added understanding of NASA, deepened his desire to fly in space, and intensified his application for astronaut status.
It was not an easy process. Voss was actually passed over when he first applied for the astronaut program in 1978. Over the next nine years he reapplied repeatedly, and was finally accepted in 1987. Since then he has participated in three space missions. The 50-year-old Army officer, who lives in Houston, is now in training for a four-month mission as a crew member on the International Space Station starting in July 2000.
Voss says the ASEE program is wonderful for all involved. "It brings in people from the academic world and gives NASA a special property for a particular period of time. It brings some fresh eyes and fresh ideas to NASA, and establishes link with our colleges and universities," Voss explains. "There's an exchange of information and an exchange of perspectives that is very important."
For the academic side, Voss says, the ASEE program also "brings institutions of higher learning more insight into new technology. We give them an opportunity to work on real-world problems and take it back to the classroom. /

单选题 Why was the hydraulic fuel pump seal important for the space shuttle?
A. Because previous seals all failed.
B. Because it was very complex in running the space program.
C. Because great care has to be taken of the hydraulic fuel pump sealing.
D. Because any crack in the seals would cause disastrous results for the astronauts.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】本文第一段的最后一句正是这一问题答案。句意:因为密封圈一旦破裂,将给宇航员带来灾难性的后果。
单选题 The great significance of Voss's findings lies in______.
Ⅰ. strengthening his determination to join in space flights
Ⅱ. furthering his understanding of NASA
Ⅲ. consolidating his astronaut status in NASA programs
A. I only B. Ⅱ only
C. I, Ⅱ and Ⅲ all included D. Ⅰ and Ⅱ only
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】从文章的第二段最后两句可以看出。对于Voss来说这是一段宝贵的时间,因为参与ASEE而加深了他对NASA的了解,增强了他参与太空飞行的欲望,使他更想申请做一名宇航员(当时还不是宇航员)。因此D应为正确答案。
单选题 How many flights will Voss have finished if his four-month mission starting in July 2000 ends up successfully?
A. Three B. Two C. Four D. five
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】从文章的第三段可以看出,自1987年以来,Voss已三次参与太空项目,目前正在接受训练,准备作为宇航员被送往太空站,起始时间是2000年7月,由此可见这是第四次。另外文章的第一段第一句也明确提到了。
单选题 Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to what Voss said on the ASEE program?
A. Fresh members from the academic world participate in the program.
B. The program brings new outlooks to NASA space programs.
C. It is important for the space scientists to exchange information and perspectives.
D. American colleges and universities are a special property of NASA
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】在文章的第四段Voss讲,ASEE项目对所有参与者都很好,这个项目将学术界的人聚集在一起,在一定时间内,这些人成为NASA的一份特殊财富。这为NASA带来了一些新的视角和思路,与我国的学院和大学建立了联系,促进了信息和观点的交流,这是很重要的。由此可见D是正确的选择,意为“美国的学院和大学是NASA的一份特殊财富”。
单选题 What does Voss want to stress in the last paragraph?
A. The technological significance of the program.
B. The educational significance of the program.
C. The philosophical significance of the program.
D. The historical significance of the program.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】句意:该项目在教育上的意义。文章的最后一段在Voss的评价中,明确回答了这一问题。