Why explore space?(Excerpt)為何探索太空？（節選）

安徽 王濤濤

1970年，贊比亞修女瑪麗·尤肯達寫信給時任美國國家航空航天局馬歇爾太空飛行中心科學副總監的恩斯特·施圖林格博士，問他何以提議花費數十億美元用于太空探索，而不顧世界上還有許多兒童在忍受饑餓的事實。在下文的回信中，施圖林格用事實和道理闡述了太空探索的重要意義。

Dear Mary Jucunda,

1I believe that by working for the space program I can make contributions to the relief and eventual solution to such serious problems as poverty and hunger on Earth.Basic to the hunger problem are two functions:the production of food and the distribution of food.Food production by agriculture,ocean fishing and other large-scale operations is efficient in some parts of the world,but rather disappointing in many others.

2The best tool for the improvement of all these functions,undoubtedly,is the artificial Earth satellite.Circling the globe at a high altitude,it can screen wide areas of land within a short time;it can observe and measure a large variety of factors indicating the status and condition of crops,soil,droughts,rainfall,snow cover,etc.,and it can radio this information to ground stations for appropriate use.

3The distribution of the food to the needy is a completely different problem.Efficient relief from hunger,I am afraid,will not come before the boundaries between nations have become less divisive（分裂的）than they are today.I do not believe that space flight will accomplish this miracle over night.However,the space program is certainly among the most promising and powerful agents working in this direction,just taking the recent near-tragedy of Apollo 13 as an example.

4Higher food production through surveys and assessments from orbit（軌道）,and better food distribution through improved international relations,are only two examples of how deeply the space program will impact life on Earth.

5Although our space program seems to lead us away from our Earth and out toward the moon,the sun,the planets,and the stars,I believe that none of these celestial（天上的）objects will find as much attention and study by space scientists as our Earth.It will become a better Earth,not only because of all the new technological and scientific knowledge which we will apply to the betterment of life,but also because we are developing a far deeper appreciation of our Earth,of life,and of man.

Sincerely yours,

Dr Ernst Stuhlinger

Reading Check

I.Choose the best answers according to the text

Inference 1.What is the author's purpose in writing this text?

A.To make some contributions to space programs.

B.To help to overcome serious problems on Earth.

C.To show the artificial Earth satellite's functions.

D.To explain the reasons for space exploration.

Detail 2.Which item may be beyond the artificial Earth satellite's functions?

A.Circling the globe at a high altitude.

B.Screening wide areas of land quickly.

C.Indicating the status of crops and soil.

D.Improving the ocean fishing efficiency.

Inference 3.Why does the author mention Apollo 13 in paragraph 3?

A.To introduce the near-tragedy of Apollo 13.

B.To explain the boundaries between nations.

C.To show the impacts of space programs.

D.To illustrate the problem of food distribution.

Inference 4.What does the author think of space programs?

A.Hopeful. B.Challenging. C.Frustrating. D.Worrying.

Ⅱ.Discussion

Do you agree that our humans should explore outer space?Why?Give your reasons.

Language Study

Ⅰ.Analyze the difficult structure in the text

It will become a better Earth,not only because of all the new technological and scientific knowledge which we will apply to the betterment of life,but also because we are developing a far deeper appreciation of our Earth,of life,and of man.它將成為一個更美好的地球，不僅因為我們將應用于改善生活的所有新的技術和科學知識，而且因為我們正在發展對我們的地球、生命和人類更深刻的認識。

【點石成金】本句中not only...but also...意為“不但……而且……”，用于連接兩個表示并列關系的成分，著重強調后者。because of后接名詞或相當于名詞的詞，because后接句子。

Ⅱ.Complete the following phrases according to the text

1.太空計劃 space_______________2.為……做出貢獻 make_______________ to

3.饑餓問題 _______________ problem 4.糧食生產 food_______________

5.太空飛行 space_______________ 6.科技知識 _______________ knowledge

7.應用于 _______________ to