CHAPTER ONE Reading Page 2 and 3
Ever since the beginning of history,
people have dreamed of interplanetary travel.
For centuries,
these dreams have remained dreams.But within about 30 years from now,
the first people from Earth will have landed on Mars.
And by the year 2170,people will have established cities and industries.
You see,scientists are now making plans to transform Mars
so that it will become possible for humans to live and work there.
Those dreams will finally come true.
2.Mars has always fascinated us.
These are many stories and films about'Men from Mars'attacking Earth.
Unfortunately,the unmanned spacecraft
which we sent there in 1976 found no signs of life on the Red Planet
(so called because it is covered in iron oxide).
3.in many ways,Mars is the planet which is most similar to Earth.
A Martian day lasts for about 24,1/2 hours
(although a year has 687 days),
it is about half the diameter of Earth,
and although there is no water,
there is a lot of ice in the two polar ice caps.
Even though the average temperature is 060℃
it would be possible for humans to survive there.
(Whereas Venus,for example,
has an average temperature of 465°C,
which makes it completely uninhabitable.)
4.The plan which scientists are now developing
involves a process known as terraforming Mars,
i.e.,changing Mars so that it becomes more like Earth.
Ironically,this means using the'greenhouse effect'
(which we are trying to stop on Earth).
The suggested programme would have five main stages.
5.Stage 1 (AD 201502030)
The first expedition arrives on Mars,
after a journey of about six to nine months.
The members construct subterranean buildings and stay on Mars for about a year.
They conduct experiments,look for good sites for future landings,
and also check for signs of life.
They need to wear spacesuits because 95% of the atmosphere is carbon dioxde.
But the low gravity (one0third of Earth's)
means they are able to move around easily.
6.Stage 2(203002080) More expeditions narrive.
Huge solar mirrors are put in orbit around Mars to heat the polar ice caps.
The ice caps are sprayed black,so that they do not reflect the heat away.
Chemicals are released into the air.
As a result,the atmosphere becomes thicker and retains more of the Sun's heat
The'greenhouse effect'begins.The ice caps start to melt,releasing water vapour.
The temperature rises to 040'C.7.
Stage 3 (208002115)
Next,special plants are Introduced from Earth.
These can convert carbon dioxide Into oxygen.
The first clouds appear,and the sky slowly turns from pink to blue.
The temperature goes up to 015°C8.
Stage 4 (211502130)
The warming continues,melting more ice.
Rivers and small oceans are made.
More people migrate from Earth and live In towns
Forests of trees are planted.
Mars is looking greener.
The temperature is 0°C.9.
Stage 5 (213002170)
Mars is getting more like the Earth.
The amount of oxygen in the air rises,
and at last the air becomes breathable.
The inhabitants can go outside without spacesuits.
The temperature reaches 10°C and stays at that level.
(Since Mars is 228 million km from the Sun,it can never be as warm as Earth.)
Cities,farms and industries develop all over Mars.
The transformation Is complete.
INTEGRATED SKILLS
Exam tasks
Task One
Come to the Skytops Hotel for the holiday of a life time!The fabulous Skytops Hotel offers the opportunity
to be one of the first tourists in space!
Obviously,such a holiday does come cheap.
The price is about four times the cost of a week's holiday In Hawaii,for example.
However,taking this holiday you will become
one of the first 1,000 people to travel into space.
When you consider that this holiday will give you the chance to be part of history
we are confident that you will think it is good value for money.
From our launch site in California,you will be flown up to the Skytops Hotel,
which is in around Earth,as part of Space Station OneThere,you will spend seven amazing days.
You will have the opportunity to:eat in the Head of the World Restaurant
use our powerful telescopes to look on Earth.
have fun in our zero gravity'swimming npool',flying like a plane.
tour the rest of Space Station One
talk the scientists and observe their fascinating experiments in progress.
Don't delay,book your holiday at the Skytops Hotel today.
It's out for this world!
Task Two Listening
Speaking
A Selent Letters:w,l,t,b and p
Remember,silent letters are letters which are written but not pronounced.
The letters in bold type below are silent letters.
Exercise A1 w:two,wrist,wreck,answer,sword
l:half,calf,salmon,calm,folk,yolk
t:castle,whistle,bristle,ballet
b:limb,crumb,doubt,bomb,debt
p:receipt,cupboard,psychology,pneumonia
Exercise A3
1.The psychologist wrote a note on her typewriter.
2.The plumber fastened the tap tightly.
3.The salmon wriggled in the net.
4.Please wrap this piece of lamb in some paper.
5.The wrestler seized my limbs.
6.Add two egg yolks and some breadcrumbs.
7.The whole of my palm felt numb.
PROGRESS FILEA A Listening Exercise A1