1
College English Listening and Speaking
Course 5 Listening Text (NEW) Recorder ： Cole Win Gao
Unit One Space Exploration
Part A Pre-listening Task (1)
Listen to the facts and opinions about Space Exploration twice and fill in the blanks with the words you hear from the recording. Pay attention to the sentence structures that you might find useful in your discussions.
Facts and Opinions
1. Space exploration is exciting. But it is very costly and risky. 2. The achievement of sending astronauts to the lunar surface and back
represents the summit of human space flight. 3. Since ancient times, people have dreamed of leaving our planet and
exploring other worlds.
4. Rockets were invented in China in about the 11th century.
5. China launched its first artificial satellite on April 24, 1970, but it hasn't put piloted spacecraft into orbit yet.
6. The space age began with the launch of the first artificial satellite by the Soviet Union in 1957.
7. The ability to take part in space exploration represents the level of a nation's
scientific and economic development.
8. Beginning in 1960 weather satellites have sent back television images of parts of the earth.
9. Satellite systems have enabled us to see what is happening around the
world.
10. Without satellite services, we wouldn't be able to view a live transmission of the Olympic Games.
11. China is one of the nations that have the ability to conduct large-scale space exploration.
12. Space exploration has brought about great changes in our lives, such as
weather prediction and environmental monitoring.
13. The cameras on a spaceship or satellite can provide a wealth of useful data. 14. It is reported that another spaceship, named Ariane, exploded in the air
three minutes after its launch.
15. In the near future, our country will be able to send its first piloted spaceship into space.
16. Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space in 1961. 17. On July 20, 1969, American astronaut Neil Armstrong and others aboard Apollo 11 made a successful landing on the moon.
oaG niW eloC redroceR 1
College English Listening and Speaking
Course 5 Listening Text (NEW) Recorder ： Cole Win Gao
18. Armstrong left the first human footprint on another world. His famous words on the moon were, \one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.\
19. In the future, commercial flights into Earth orbit may become available and tourists can take a spaceship for sightseeing in space.
20. We are concerned that one day a satellite going out of order may crash onto the earth and hit us.
21. A man-made disaster may occur in the event of a malfunctioning (出故障的) spaceship crashing into a densely populated area.
22. To some extent the ability to carry out a space program is a measure of a nation's economic strength.
23. The reusable space shuttles are designed to lower the cost of launching
satellites into Earth orbit.
24. In 1986 the Soviets launched the first space station that consisted of distinct units, or modules.
Part A Pre-listening Task (1)
Pair/ Group Work - Additional question for discussion 1. What are the significance/benefits of space exploration? 2. What are the potential dangers that astronauts face?
3. Do you think the day will come when tourists can sit in a spaceship to go
around the world or to visit distant planets?
4. Do you know any movie that describes the activities of space exploration?
Talk about that movie if possible.
Sample
1. What are the significance/benefits of space exploration?
At the end of the 50s of the last century, the United States and the former Soviet Union carried out space competition (注释：centered on lunar exploration), setting off the first space exploration upsurge (高涨). From 1958 to the end of August 1976, the two countries successfully launched 45 lunar probes (探测仪). In July 1969, the American Apollo spaceship realized the first human moon landing, making epoch-making (掀天揭地) achievement in lunar exploration. Through space exploration, especially lunar probing (探索), we have greatly heightening human understanding of the moon, earth and solar systems, propelling (驱使) and bringing about a series of innovations (一系列的创新) and development in basic science, science and technology, forming a large batch (一批) of high-tech industrial groups and producing remarkable social-economic efficiency. 2. What are the potential dangers that astronauts face?
There are many potential dangers involved in space exploration. Any mistakes or errors made by the spaceship designers and manufacturers would result a catastrophe (大灾难). Remember the explosion of the space shuttle Colombia? Just
oaG niW eloC redroceR1
College English Listening and Speaking
Course 5 Listening Text (NEW) Recorder ： Cole Win Gao
the tiny piece of metal broke off from the surface of the ship and that caused an explosion of it when re-entering the earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts on board.
Of cause there are other potential for the astronauts, such as weightlessness and harmful solar radiation. We know that long-time exposure to theultraviolet radiation
will lead to development of skin cancer.
3. Do you think the day will come when tourists can sit in a spaceship to go
around the world or to visit distant planets?
Yes. I think the day will soon come. On April 8, 2004, it was reported that the US government has issued the first license for a manned suborbital (亚轨道) rocket, a step toward opening commercial space flight for private individuals for the first time. The vehicle, named SpaceShipOne, will carry three passengers into space on a test flight. And the fare, I guess, will be less than $10 million. Part B
Listening Task
(A)
Work Bank
Dennis Tito (人名)
NASA abbr. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (美国) 国家航空和航天局
cosmonaut n. 字航员，航天员
the International Space Station 国际空间站 cosmodrome n. 人造卫星及宇宙飞船发射场 Kazakstan n. (独联体〉哈萨克斯坦 strike a deal 达成协议 Siberia 西伯利亚
the Soyuz spacecraft {前苏联〉联盟号宇宙飞船 coupled with 与……联系/连接
aerospace engineering 航天工程学
Notes
1. Background Information
Space exploration is our human response to curiosity about the earth, the moon, the planets, the sun and other stars, and the galaxies. Manned and unmanned space vehicles venture far beyond the boundaries of the earth to collect valuable information about the universe. Human beings have visited the moon and have lived in space stations for long periods. Space exploration helps us see the earth in its true relation to the rest of the universe. Such exploration could reveal how the sun, the planets, and the
oaG niW eloC redroceRCollege English Listening and Speaking
Course 5 Listening Text (NEW) Recorder ： Cole Win Gao
stars were formed and whether life exists beyond our own world.
the space age began on Oct. 4, 1957. On that day, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik (later referred to as Sputnik 1), the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth. The first manned space flight was made on April 12. 1961. When Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut, orbited the earth in the spaceship Vostok (later called Vostok 1).
2. ... the Russian space agency launched him and two Russian cosmonauts aboard a rocket …
Tito first took the Soyuz spaceship for a journey to the International Space Station and then backed to the earth by landing in Siberia.
3. cosmodrome The Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakstan. It was built during the time of the Soviet Union and now is well known as a Russian satellite and spaceship launching site
The World's First Space Tourist (Part One)
On May 6, 2001, Dennis Tito, a 61-year-old California millionaire and former NASA engineer, became the world's first paying space tourist when the Russian space agency launched him and two Russian cosmonauts aboard a rocket for a journey to the International Space Station.
Tito and the crew blasted off (发射) from the cosmodrome in Kazakstan on time. Tito appeared calm, wearing a space suit and a smile. The trip by the Russian crew was almost delayed due to concerns expressed by NASA that the space station would get too crowded while an American crew did some necessary computer repairs. Fortunately for Tito, NASA said Friday that it had struck a deal (达成协议) with the Russian Space Agency, allowing him to launch on time without interrupting the American crew's work on the ailing International Space Station.
Tito paid the Russian space agency $20 million to fly in space, but Russia's partners in the space station -- especially NASA -- objected, saying his lack of training would require additional safety measures.
Tito has been training at the Star City, Russia space center, for a year, learning the details of a Soyuz spacecraft and practicing how to survive a landing in Siberia. Just days before the launch, he proclaimed that he was well prepared. He said, \amount of training. And that, I think, coupled with my aerospace engineering background, puts me in a very strong position, as far as being able to function in space. \
Tito has no duties during the mission. He told reporters: \pilot, I'm a businessman, and I want to be able to absorb as much of this experience and relate it to as many people as I can.\pictures and tell people about the experience upon his return. Tito says his launch aboard a Russian rocket and six-day stay on the International Space
oaG niW eloC redroceR1
College English Listening and Speaking
Course 5 Listening Text (NEW) Recorder ： Cole Win Gao
Station demonstrates that anyone can -- and should -- experience space.
Questions 1.:
Listen to the recording and write down short answers to the following questions.
1. Where was Tito born?
He was a 61-year-old American millionaire and former NASA engineer. 2. When did Tito first become fascinated with space travel? On May 6, 2001. 3. How many cosmonauts were on board the Russian spaceship? There were altogether three cosmonauts on board. 4. What did Tito wear?
Tito wore a space suit and smile. 5. What was the destination of Tito’s trip? The International Space Station. 6. How much did Tito pay the Russian space agency t fly in space? He paid $20 million for the trip. 7. Where did Tito receive his training? At the Star City, a Russian space Center. 8. What was Tito’s duty the mission?
He had no specific duties during the mission. 9. How long would Tito stay in space?
He would stay in space for about six days. 10. Where would Tito land? In Siberia.
Questions 2:
Listen to the recording again and complete the following sentences with the information you obtain.
1. Tito and the crew blasted off (发射) from the cosmodrome in Kazakstan on time. Tito appeared calm, wearing a space suit and a smile. 2. Fortunately for Tito, NASA said Friday that it had struck a deal with the Russian Space Agency, allowing him to launch on time without interrupting the American crew's work on the ailing International Space Station.
3. NASA, Russia's partners in the space station objected, saying his lack of
training would require additional safety measures. 4. Just days before the launch, he proclaimed that he was well prepared. He said, \training. And that, I think, coupled with my aerospace engineering oaG niW eloC redroceR1