节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-10-25
难易度:High
关键字:superb, prospective, accomodations, astronomical, suborbital
Welcome back, everybody.
With such a big price tag, you can be sure Virgin Galactic passengers will be
getting their own customized space suit.
The suits are being designed to be soft with lots of padding so that passengers
don't injure themselves or other space tourists during the zero-gravity portion
of the flight.
OK. Let's wrap up our ADVENTURE feature with this final reading on line 15.
Space Tourism.
In addition to the suborbital flights, more ambitious plans are also in the
works.
Space Adventures hopes to add orbital flights and even lunar missions to their
travel menu.
You might even find accommodations in a space hotel one day.
If the price of space travel seems astronomical now, maybe soon it won't be so
high.
Space entrepreneurs project that costs will steadily drop so that space travel
will not be a pastime for just the rich.
Millions of Earth's inhabitants could eventually become space travelers and
start to see the world in a whole new way.
OK. So we're looking at Virgin Galactic.
It's a company that offers a 2.5-hour suborbital flight that gives you five
minutes of weightless flying, which I think would be awesome and incredible.
They don't quite have the flight available yet, but they have 500 people who
have already paid the $200,000 to take the flights.
I think there are too many rich people in the world.
I think that's what I learned from this.
But friends, maybe just a suborbital flight, or a flight that is not completely
in space, is not ambitious enough for you.
The word "ambitious" means very daring or exciting.
So in addition to the suborbital flights, there are more plans at Virgin
Galactic to also... are also in the works.
When we say something is in the works, that means they are working on it.
It is in the process of taking place.
It's something that they hope to offer soon.
OK. So they will offer the suborbital flights, and in addition to, or also, they
will offer something more exciting.
OK, so that is Virgin Galactic.
We've now looked at two different companies.
We're moving on to our next one, and that's called Space Adventures.
That's right.
Now this company is a bit more ambitious.
They hope to add orbital flights and even lunar missions to their travel menu.
Whoa! So "orbital," we know would mean taking you out of space and wrapping
around the Earth.
But lunar missions?
OK, Ryan, I think if I was going to do one, I would pick the lunar one.
Friends, how many of you have been to the moon?
Anybody?
Nobody?
Now is your chance.
The word "lunar" means moon.
So if you're going on a lunar mission, you could go to the moon.
So they're trying to add these to their travel menu.
This is very ambitious.
Now a travel menu does not mean what you get to eat on the flight.
It means the list of options you have to choose from for your trip.
Exactly. So these are your options.
Now you might even find accommodations in a space hotel one day.
Ooh! That would be so exciting.
To get to go to outer space and spend a night in a hotel on the moon?
How cool was that!
Well yeah, exactly.
That's what "accommodations" means.
That means it is a place that is provided for you to sleep, stay at or maybe
even eat or live in.
That's right.
Now some people would have to live there because they need to keep it running.
But accommodations can be just an overnight stay or a long-term stay.
It just gives you what you need: sleeping, bathroom, maybe a kitchen... you
know, life things.
Exactly. And so maybe you'll have a hotel in space that you can travel to and
stay at with a beautiful view.
Ooh, that would be amazing.
Now if the price of a space travel seems astronomical now, maybe soon it won't
be so high.
I... I do wish I had the money to get to go on a lunar mission, to get to go see
space.
But it does seem astronomically high for me.
Yeah, it does seem a little bit ridiculous.
And the word here "astronomical" is a little bit funny in its usage.
That's because when you first hear the word astronomical, you hear the beginning
"astro-." And the word "astro-" has to do with space, stars.
But the most usual use of the word astronomical means it's something very big,
very large like space.
Well, maybe this price of US$200,000 seems too great, it's astronomical.
Maybe that's too high.
But space entrepreneurs project that cost will steadily drop so that space
travel will not be a pastime for just the rich.
OK. So space entrepreneurs are people that are investing their money into space
travel.
And they think it will get cheaper and it won't just be a pastime only for the
rich.
That's right.
We see the word "to project." Now that can also... be pronounced "project," but
that changes the meaning.
Here the verb "to protect" means they are guessing or thinking or predicting
that this will happen.
Yes, they predict that it won't just be a pastime, which means something you do
for fun, and that pastime won't just be for rich people.
It could be for anyone.
That's right.
Millions of Earth's inhabitants could eventually become space travelers and
start to see the world in a whole new way.
I know I would love to join the ranks of people that get to travel to space.
And maybe that could happen in our lifetimes.
How exciting, Studio Classroom from space!
Yeah! Let's teach from space.
Friends, I hope you've learned a lot.
There's been a lot of interesting information on space travel.
It's not just for astronauts anymore.
That's right.
Friends, go to the Studio Classroom Facebook page and tell us your thoughts.
Would you like to travel to space?
Where would you like to go, on a suborbital, an orbital or a lunar mission
flight?
OK, I know which one I would choose.
I'm going to the moon.
Friends, we hope you've enjoyed this astronomical article.
Now let's go visit the skit.
Oh. It's time to plan our family vacation.
Let's spend our time lounging at a tropical paradise.
Not again.
I want some real adventure.
Well, we could go to the jungle or to the mountains.
No. I want a trip that's out of this world.
Out of this world?
Yes, a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience.
But what?
Let's travel to space.
Oh, great idea.
I am a big Star Trek fan.
And I love outer space.
And now all we need is an extra $200,000 lying around in the house.
Ha... and here it is.
Great! But isn't space travel just for astronauts?
Not anymore.
The final frontier is finally opening up!
Well, let's call Space Adventures and make a reservation.
OK, let's see, for $95,000, you get a superb view of the Earth's atmosphere.
That's nice.
Yeah. For $200,000, you can experience weightlessness.
Those prices are astronomical.
But space entrepreneurs project the prices will drop.
Well, then let's wait until 2040.
Then we can reserve accommodations at a space station.
Yeah! But 2040?
What will we do until then?
Um, spend our time lounging at a tropical paradise.
OK. Good idea.
(Chinese).
And that's it for today.
I'll see you next time.
Bye-bye.
Friends, your next dream vacation could be out of this world, literally.
Traveling into outer space has become a reality for anyone interested in a
once-in-a-lifetime adventure granted the price tag to leave the Earth is
staggering.
But worry not.
Industry officials predict the cost will probably drop.
Friends, does visiting outer space interest you?
Log on to the Studio Classroom English Corner and chime in with your opinion.
Then join us tomorrow when we talk with a real-life global crime fighter.
Until then, I hope all of you have a great day.