某英语报向中学生征集关于开展研究性学习的文章,请你根据提示,用英语写一篇介绍你校研究性学习活动的短文。 研究主题丰富多彩,选择性强,如当地风俗习惯、人民生活变化、环境保护等。 你们小组的研究课题1. 你家乡河流的污染问题; 2. 三大污染源:工厂废水、生活污水、农民使用的农药; 3. 建议 感想与体会… 注意:、 1. 开头语已给出,不计入总词数; 2. 可根据内容要点适当发挥,但不On August 5 at 10:31 p.m. PST, a rover(探测器)named Curiosity touched down safely on the surface of
Mars, and I was lucky enough to have a front-row seat.
My name is Clara, and when I was in Grade 6, I won the
essay contest NASA held to name its next Mars rover. The essay I wrote was not
even 250 words long, but somehow it was enough to change my life.
I still remember that cold December day, sitting in a
science class. I’d finished a worksheet early and decided to get a Time for
Kids magazine off Mrs. Estevez’s bookshelf. It was the 2008 Invention Issue,
but that wasn’t the only thing that caught my eye. In the magazine, there was
an article about a girl who named the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and
Opportunity. The article also talked about the essay contest NASA was holding
to name its next Mars rover. Before I even knew anything else about it, a
single word flooded my 11-year-old mind: Curiosity.
I couldn’t wait for the bell to ring so I could get
started on my essay. That afternoon, I raced home from the bus stop, sat down
at the computer and typed until my fingers ached. It turned out that I was just
in time. A few days later, and the contest would have closed.
Five months later, shortly after I had turned 12, I
was watching a National Geographic special on mammoths when the phone rang. My
mom answered, and immediately, a wide smile spread across her face. When she
told me that I had won, I was happier than I could ever remember being, I
screamed and ran up and down the stairs and all around the house. I completely
forgot about the mammoths and did not even remember to turn off the TV until it
was really late.
Curiosity is such an important part of who I am. I
have always been fascinated by the stars, the planets, the sky and the
universe. I remember as a little girl, my grandfather and I would sit together
in the backyard for hours. He’d tell me stories and point out the stars.
My grandfather lived in China, thousands of miles away
from my home in Kansas. I loved the stars because they kept us together even
when we were apart. They were always there, yet there was so much I didn’t know
about them. That’s what I love so much about space. No matter how much we
learn, it will always possess some mystery.
In the past, space exploration may have been a competition
to see who got somewhere first or the fastest. But now, it is one of the few
things that bring people together. Science is a language that needs no
translation. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what you look like – you
just have to have a thirst for knowledge and a passion for learning in order to
succeed.
People often ask me why we go to faraway places like
Mars. Why do we explore? My answer to that is simple: because we can; because
we’re curious; because we as human beings do not just stay holed up in one
place. We are constantly wondering and trying to find out what’s over the hill
and beyond the horizon.
The curiosity rover is more than just a robot. It is
more than just a titanium body and aluminum wheels. Curiosity represents the
hard work, passion, love and commitment of thousands of people from all over
the world who were brought together by science. Science is so awesome. It is
breathtaking and mind-blowing; and sometimes, it’s just a little bit crazy. The
discoveries we make about our world are incredibly humbling. They move us
forward and have the potential to benefit all of mankind.
This December it will be four years of my life that
have been tied to Curiosity in some way. I’ve met so many amazing people
through this experience, from scientists to engineers to administrators to
volunteers. Their devotion and enthusiasm inspire me greatly. My journey with
Curiosity and the MSL mission team has shaped the person that I am today, as
well as the person I would one day like to become.
I am deeply grateful to everyone who made it possible
for me to have this amazing adventure.
And to you, I hope your curiosity takes you far.
1. The method the writer uses to begin the passage is
_____.
A.telling a
story B.giving an
example
C.offering an
explanation D.describing a
scene
2.Why did the writer hurry home to finish the essay
for the contest NASA held?
A.She had just
gathered enough information from Time for Kids
B.She wanted to
write down what flashed through her mind in time.
C.She knew from
Mrs. Estevez the deadline for the contest was approaching.
D.She was
afraid she might miss the chance to compete with the former winner.
3. The writer mentions her grandfather in order to
show that ______.
A.she missed
him very much.
B.he knew a great
deal about space
C.he influenced
her to love the stars
D.she treasured
their happy moments
4.Which of the following serves as a summary of
Paragraph 11?
A.The writer
was inspired to be a volunteer by the people she met.
B.The writer
owed her success to her team members’
encouragement.
C.The writer
met many difficulties in her four-year life with Curiosity.
D.The writer
has benefited a lot from her experience tied to Curiosity.
5.Which best describes the writer’s tone in the
passage?
A.Sharp. B.Proud. C.Aggressive. D.Enthusiastic.
6.What is conveyed in the passage?
A.Curiosity is
important to human beings.
B.A thirst for
knowledge helps one grow up.
C.Entering a
contest is a way to achieve success.
D.Curiosity
changes people’s attitude towards science.