NASA has opened the door to the next generation of space discovery by announcing great plans for a base for humans to live on the surface of the moon forever.
The project to build a base on the moon will begin soon after 2020, with astronauts living there within four years.
The project es after several excellent scientists and environmentalists asked humans to look beyond Earth to ensure the survival of the species (物种).
Eventually, the moon will be a base for humans to explore the solar system and one day land on Mars.
NASA began planning for the first moon landing since 1972 when George Bush, the US president, announced his new plan for space exploration four years ago.
NASA has already talked about the design of the Orion spacecraft that will replace the old space shuttle fleet in 2010.
The plan for the moon base, however, is the first detailed explanation of how NASA intends to prepare for the first manned exploration of deep space and a possible Mars mission within 30 years.
Scientists also believe that the south pole on the moon contain rich natural gases such as the rare helium-3 that could be used as fuel for the generation of nuclear power. Besides, teams of astronauts living there for six months at a time would mine for hydrogen and oxygen to make water and possibly rocket fuel.
【小题1】When was the plan to explore space first announced according to the passage?A．In 1972.B．In 1950.C．In 1968.D．In 2020.【小题2】The reasons why NASA has begun the plan to explore space include the followings except .A．to protect EarthB．to explore deep spaceC．to finish Mars missionD．to show how powerful the USA is【小题3】In the future, when people fly to the moon, they will probably not bring with them too much A．hydrogen B．foodC．oxygenD．water【小题4】The passage mainly talks about .A．the USA’s new plan for space explorationB．how to build a base on the moonC．why to ensure the survival of the speciesD．where to get new natural resourcesC
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(答案→)C
解析：本文叙述了美国对于太空探险的计划，一是为了保护地球，二是完成美国的火星使命。三是更进一步探险太空。让地球可以成为人们居住的地方。
【小题1】细节理解题。根据NASA began planning for the first moon landing since 1972 when George Bush, the US president, announced his new plan for space exploration four years ago.第一次宣布时的时间是1968年，故选C。
【小题2】细节理解题。根据announcing great plans for a base for humans to live on the surface of the moon forever.和The plan for the moon base, however, is the first detailed explanation of how NASA intends to prepare for the first manned exploration of deep space and a possible Mars mission within 30 years.只有选项D没有提到，故选D。
【小题3】细节理解题。根据teams of astronauts living there for six months at a time would mine for hydrogen and oxygen to make water and possibly rocket fuel.故选D。
【小题4】主旨大意题。根据本文主要谈论的是美国对于太空探险是计划，故选A。