参考答案 - 必修第三册第四单元
UNIT 4 SPACE EXPLORATION
Reading and Writing
① Read the text below and answer the questions.
HOMES ON MARSZ
Humans Terraforming Mars
Some of the world's most important scientists think the idea of people living on Mars will come true one day. Stephen Hawking believed humans must move into space to survive. "Once we spread out into space and establish independent colonies, our future should be safe," he said. Robert Zubrin, a rocket scientist, agrees and thinks starting with Mars makes the most sense. He thinks sending people to Mars will allow us to learn a lot——for example, about the ability of humans to live in a very different environment.
However, scientists will need to terraform Mars for people to be able to live. Terraforming means changing the environment on a planet so that it is similar to Earth's. One of the main goals of terraforming Mars is to warm it up because the average temperature there is about -60°C. One idea for warming Mars is to build factories there that produce greenhouse gases. This could take many centuries. However, it should lead to rainfall and the growth of plants, resulting in more air that people can breathe.
Another big concern for scientists is whether humans can move to Mars and still stay healthy in mind and body. As a test, six people lived in a Mars-like environment in Hawaii for a year before "returning to Earth" recently. It was a 1,200-square-foot room that was on the side of a volcano and used the sun for energy. Christiane Heinicke, one of the people who lived there, said that one of the biggest issues was feeling bored. So humans on Mars would always need to keep themselves busy with various activities. Another important finding was that the people living together should all be able to get along and work together.
One particular organisation based in Europe is planning to send the first humans to Mars before 2030. The organisation believes that its project is giving people worldwide the chance to be part of the first human crew ever to live on Mars for good. However, many experts think the projects cost of US$6 billion is too low for it to be successful. The American space agency NASA believes that sending people to Mars would cost about US$100 billion, although this estimate is based on bringing them back to Earth, too. Regardless, it seems that humans living on Mars may well happen a lot sooner than most people believe.
1 What was Stephen Hawking's viewpoint on sending humans to other planets to live?
2 What does "terraforming" mean?
3 According to the test done in Hawaii, what might be one of the biggest problems for the first humans living on Mars? What might be the solution?
4 What is the writer's conclusion about living on Mars?
② Look at the sentences taken from the text and explain the italicised parts in your own words.
1 Robert Zubrin a rocket scientist, agrees and thinks starting with Mars makes the most sense.
2 As a test, six people lived in a Mars-like environment in Hawaii for a year...
3 However many experts think the project's cost of US$6 billion is too low for it to be successful.
③ In pairs, discuss what Stephen Hawking said in Paragraph 1.
④ Write an essay that gives your opinion about the idea of humans living on Mars. In your
essay, make sure to answer the following questions in detail.
● Do you think this will happen in the future? If yes, when and why? If no, why not?
● What do you think are the main advantages and disadvantages of humans living on Mars?
● Do you think it is a good idea for some people to move to Mars for good? Why or why not?
● Would you like to live on Mars? Why or why not?
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第四单元 太空探索
Answers
Activity 1
1 He believed humans must move into space to survive.
2 Terraforming means changing the environment on a planet so that it is similar to Earth's.
3 One of the biggest issues was feeling bored. Humans on Mars would always need to keep themselves busy with various activities.
4 It seems that humans living on Mars may well happen a lot sooner than most people believe.
Suggested Answers
Activity 2
1 is the most logical and practical
2 a place similar to Mars
3 the budget of US$6 billion is not high enough for the plan to work
Activity 3
Some people, such as Stephen Hawking, believe that because of war, pollution, climate change, or overcrowding, the Earth will at some point no longer be able to support human life, and as a consequence, the human race will become extinct. To such people, the only hope for the future of the human race is colonising space. I disagree with this, because I think that both the Earth and people are stronger and more resilient than this. We will find solutions to our problems here on Earth before colonising space will become necessary.
Activity 4
Sample Writing
Why Colonising Mars Won't Work
Call me sceptic, but I seriously doubt humans will ever colonise Mars. First of all, it would take nearly a year for humans to even reach Mars, and they would have to carry all their food, water, and supplies for the trip—and their stay on Mars—with them. At present, there isn't even a spacecraft big enough to carry all these things. The technical problems are immense. And then when the astronauts arrive on Mars, a million things can go wrong, but there will be no one there to help them.
Let's imagine, however. that all these technical problems were overcome. Would anyone even want to live on Mars? Sure, it would be fun for a short time, but the truth of the matter is that Mars is quite unfriendly to humans—it is quite cold, you cannot breathe the air, and there is not very much water. People will have to spend their entire lives living in small huts and wearing spacesuits when they go out. It is a terribly hard and boring life. Maybe a few people might like it, but it certainly not for me.
