Between 1977 and 1981, three groups of American woman, ___(1)___, between the age of 35 and 65, were given month-long tests to determine how they would respond to conditions resembling those aboard the space shuttle.
Though ___(2)___, the women were volunteers and the pay was barely above the minimum wage. They were not allowed ___(3)____ during the tests, and they were expected to tolerate each other's company at close quarters for the entire period. Among other things they had to stand pressure three times the force of gravity and carry out both physical and mental tasks __(4)__. At the end of ten days, they had to spend a further twenty days absolutely confined to bed, during which time they suffered backaches and other discomforts, and when they were finally allowed up, the more physically active women were especially subject to pains due to a slight calcium loss.
Results of the tests suggest that women will have significant advantages over men in space. They need less food and les oxygen and they stand up to radiation better. Men's advantages __(5)__, meanwhile, are virtually wiped out by the zero-gravity condition in space.
EXERCISE:
A): to smoke or drink alcohol
B) carefully selected from among many applicants
C) numbering 27 in all
D) in terms of strength and stamina
E) those who are physically stronger
F) while exhausted from strenuous physical exercise
KEY:C B A F D
What would you see if you took a cruise to the Caribbean Islands? Palm trees and coconuts (椰子)? White beaches and clear, blue ocean? Colorful corals (珊瑚) and even more colorful fishes and birds?
You bet. There are thousands of islands in the Caribbean Sea. They are famous for their warm, tropical climate and great natural beauty.
The Caribbean Islands form a chain that separates the Caribbean Sea from the rest of the Atlantic Ocean. (1) Many of the islands were formed by the eruption (爆发) of ancient volcanoes (火山). Others are Iow-lyin9 coral islands that gradually rose from the ocean.
The Caribbean Islands are known by several names. (2) The explorer
Christopher Columbus called the islands the Indies in 1492 because he thought he was near the coast of India. Later, Spain and France called the islands the Antilles.
There are four large islands in the Caribbean Sea. (3) These four islands are often called the Greater Antilles. Together, they account for about 90 percent of the land area of the Caribbean Islands.
The rest of the Caribbean Islands are much smellier. (4) You can see why pirates such as the famous Blackboard sailed these waters. There are countless small islands to bury treasure or hide on.
The weather of the Caribbean Sea is almost always warm and sunny. Sandy beaches line the coasts of many islands. (5) Many tourists arrive on cruise ships.
A But life on the Caribbean Islands is not always paradise.
B The earliest name used by Europeans is the Indies, later changed to the West Indies.
C They're like a long necklace that stretches between North and South America.
D They are Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Hispaniola.
E This is why millions of tourists visit the islands each year.
F Some of these islands are no more than tiny slivers (小片) of exposed coral.
答案 1.C 2.B 3.D 4.F 5.E
