Passage 4
There are three countries that have sent spacecraft to the moon, the U.S., Russia and the thirdwhich soft landed a rover there back in 2013 in China. But China hopes to become the first country to explore the dark side of the moon or the far side. The part that never faces Earth. China has a mission plan this year. Though a launch date hasn't been announced yet. One problem with exploring the dark side of the moon is that there's no easy way to communicate with whatever kind of vehicle people put there. The moon itself would block any signals coming from Earth. So, to address that, China launched a satellite earlier this year that will hang out in the moon's orbit acting like a relay station between the Earth and the new rover that China's planning to send to the moon later this year. The country is a relatively late entry into space exploration. China didn't sent its first satellite into orbit until 1970. But over recent decades, it's funneled billions of dollars into space research. It's hoping to ultimately set up a base on the moon that's run by robots. And it's also setting its sights on Mars. China is hoping to send some spacecraft there starting in 2020.
42. Which country hasn’t sent space craft to the moon? ( )
A. Russia
B. China
C. The United States
D. The United Kingdom
【答案】D。定位至第一段 There are three countries that have sent spacecraft to the moon, the U.S., Russia and the third …China.可知有三个国家，美国、俄罗斯和中国。故正确答案是选项 D。
43. Why it’s not easy to explore the dark side of the moon? ( )
A. The dark side is the farthest part from the Earth.
B. The moon will block any signals coming from Earth.
C. The dark side never faces Earth.
D. Have to launch a satellite that will hang out in the moon’s orbit.
【答案】B。定位至第一段 One problem with exploring the dark side of the moon is that there's no easy way to communicate with …The moon itself would block any signals coming from Earth.可知原因在于月球会屏蔽地球信号，沟通是大问题。选项 B：月球会屏蔽地球的信号，表述正确。选项 A 和选项 C 谈及的距离问题并非原因;根据 to address that, China launched a satellite earlier this year that will hang out in the moon's orbit 可知选项 D：已经发射了卫星，但是依然悬在月球轨道上，属于解决问题的方法，而不是问题本身。故正确答案是选项 B。
44. When China launched the first satellite? ( )
A. Earlier this year
B. In 1950
C. In 2013
D. In 1970
【答案】D。根据 China didn't sent its first satellite into orbit until 1970.可知中国在 1970年才发射了首颗卫星。故正确答案是选项 D。
