Many people watched the lift-off of the space shuttle Columbia on March 21, 1982. But none watched more closely than eighteen-year-old Ted, as Ted’s insects were on board the shuttle.
The Shuttle Student Involvement Program invited students to make a science experiment. The experiment would be done by astronauts on the space shuttle.
Ted had always been interested in space and flight. Insect flight especially interested him. Ted noticed that insects need gravity to take off and land. They need gravity to fly in a straight line. But in space, there is no gravity. Could insects fly in zero gravity? That is what Ted wanted to find out.
Ted made an experiment called “Insect in Flight Motion Study”. He entered his experiment and soon news came that it was a winner.
A large team of scientists and engineers helped Ted get his experiment ready to fly. There were many questions to be answered first. What kind of insects would Ted use in his experiment? The insects would have to be strong enough to live on the shuttle for nine days without much food. What kind of container would hold the insects? Would the insects die during the shuttle flight?
After months of hard work, the “insectronauts” were chosen. A group of moths, flies, and honeybees were put into a special box and put onto the space shuttle. When Columbia flew into space, it was carrying insect passengers.
On March 24, astronauts Gordon Fullerton and Jack Lousma took out the box that held the insects. They began filming the insects with a special video camera.
When the space shuttle landed Ted was able to watch the video film of insects. Just as he thought, most of the insects did have trouble flying in zero gravity. The flies did well. But the moths’ flight seemed “uncontrolled”. They would often just hang in the air. The bees had the most trouble. They couldn’t fly at all! The film showed bees spinning around in all directions. Others were just floating about in the box.
Ted learned the answer to his question about insects’ flight in zero gravity. But he also learned a lot more. He learned about the hard work needed in making a successful experiment.
【小题1】What does the underlined sentence “it was a winner” mean?A．Ted could fly in space.B．Ted won a prize.C．Ted’s experiment was accepted.D．Ted won in a race.【小题2】What did Ted want to find out?A．Whether the insects could fly in space.B．Whether the insects could fly in a straight line.C．Whether the insects could land after flying for a while.D．Whether the insects could take off after resting for a while.【小题3】Of the three kinds of insects sent into space, which one flew worst in zero gravity?A．The flies.B．The honeybees.C．The insectsD．The moths.【小题4】Who did the experiment?A．Ted himself.B．Ted’s friend.C．A large team of scientists and engineers.D．Two astronauts on the space shuttle.【小题5】How did Ted learn the answer to his question about insects’ flight in zero gravity?A．By asking the scientists and engineers.B．By studying a book written by the astronauts.C．By going into space and watching the insects’ flight himself.D．By watching the video film made by the astronauts.C
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(答案→)C
解析：本文讲述了一个年轻人所进行的在太空里观察昆虫飞行的实验。
【小题1】C 推理题。根据本句Ted made an experiment called “Insect in Flight Motion Study”. He entered his experiment and soon news came that it was a winner.以及下文他的实验在太空里进行了，说明他的实验要求被接受了。故C正确。
【小题2】A 细节题。根据文章第三段最后2行They need gravity to fly in a straight line. But in space, there is no gravity. Could insects fly in zero gravity? That is what Ted wanted to find out.可知他就是想知道在太空里没有地球引力，昆虫们还能否飞行。故A正确。
【小题3】B 细节题。根据最后一段3,4行The flies did well. But the moths’ flight seemed “uncontrolled”. They would often just hang in the air. The bees had the most trouble. They couldn’t fly at all!可知蜜蜂所遇见的麻烦最大，故B正确。
【小题4】D 细节题。根据文章倒数第二段On March 24, astronauts Gordon Fullerton and Jack Lousma took out the box that held the insects. They began filming the insects with a special video camera.可知是两个宇航员做了这个实验，故D正确。
【小题5】D 细节题。根据文章最后一段1,2行When the space shuttle landed Ted was able to watch the video film of insects. Just as he thought, most of the insects did have trouble flying in zero gravity.可知他是通过看视频，来了解这一切的。故D正确。