Is Space Exploration Worth the Cost?

高雅丹

If asked if space exploration should continue， most Americans would give an immediate response either in favor of continuing or in favor of ending space exploration. A common response would be that space exploration is a waste of money. An average American， uneducated on the subject， might believe that the government is wasting billions of dollars on the research that has no merit. Someone strange to the subject might say that a space shuttle goes up once in a while and that is about all that happens. Research is ongoing and continues when there are no shuttles being launched. This also costs the government money. Does the extreme cost of space exploration make sense？

One argument is that the government is wasting money on the research not being used on Earth. Actually， the money goes to workers and scientists that support National Aeronautics and Space Administration （NASA） missions①， and goes to major companies that play important roles in major sectors of the US economy. Boeing is a partner of NASA for aircraft， the same company that makes commercial aircraft for the airline industry.

Another benefit to continuing space exploration is the many spinoff② technologies it provides. The artificial heart resulted from experiments on the space shuttle. The handheld Jaws of Life used to save victims from car accidents originated from the system used to separate the space shuttle from its booster rockets③. Insulation④ in homes that keeps them warm and energy efficient is based on the technology used to insulate the space shuttle.

There are direct benefits to the economy provided by NASA missions as well as spinoff technologies. These advances are found in food， building materials， medical procedures and the vehicles we drive. While it can be proven that billions of dollars that could be used elsewhere is being spent on space exploration， the benefits it provides outweigh the terrible aspects. As a matter of fact， the money spent helps to improve the quality of our lives.

Notes： ① mission n. 任務(wù) ②? spinoff adj. 衍生的 ③ booster rocket 助推火箭 ④ insulation n. 隔熱材料

【難句解析】

1. If asked if space exploration should continue， most Americans would give an immediate response...

釋義：如果被問太空探索是否應(yīng)該繼續(xù)，大部分美國(guó)人會(huì)立即回答……

點(diǎn)撥：由while / when / unless / if / once / though / although引導(dǎo)狀語從句時(shí)，狀語從句的主語與主句主語一致，且從句謂語包括有動(dòng)詞be時(shí)，可省略從句中的主語和動(dòng)詞be。例如：

If offered help， you should say “Thank you.” 如果被提供了幫助，你應(yīng)該說“謝謝你！”

2. One argument is that the government is wasting money on the research not being used on Earth.

釋義：一個(gè)爭(zhēng)論是政府正在浪費(fèi)錢做了一些沒有用在地球研究上的事。

點(diǎn)撥：在此句中，that引導(dǎo)整個(gè)句子作表語，being used on Earth是現(xiàn)在分詞一般被動(dòng)式作定語，修飾research。例如：

My suggestion is that we （should） start early tomorrow. 我的建議是我們明天一早就出發(fā)。

The question being discussed is a very important one. 正在被討論的這個(gè)問題是個(gè)很重要的問題。

3. While it can be proven that billions of dollars that could be used elsewhere is being spent on space exploration， the benefits it provides outweigh the terrible aspects.

釋義：盡管已經(jīng)證實(shí)了本該花在別處的數(shù)十億美元正花在太空探索，但是把錢花在太空探索比糟糕的方面利大于弊。

點(diǎn)撥：在此句中，while引導(dǎo)讓步狀語從句，it作形式主語，that billions of dollars that could be used elsewhere is being spent on space exploration作真正的主語，that could be used elsewhere作定語從句，修飾先行詞dollars，is being spent是現(xiàn)在進(jìn)行時(shí)的被動(dòng)語態(tài)，it provides是省去了that或which的定語從句，修飾先行詞benefits。例如：

While I admit that there are problems， I dont agree that they cannot be solved. 盡管我承認(rèn)有問題存在，但我不同意說這些問題不能解決。

The sports meeting is being held in our school. 我校正在舉行運(yùn)動(dòng)會(huì)。

It is essential that he should be here by the weekend. 周末他務(wù)必要來這里。

I. Choose the right answer.

1. How is Paragraph 2 mainly developed？

A. By offering analyses.????????????? ????????? B. By making comparisons.

C. By giving some examples.????????? ???????? D. By presenting research findings.

2. The function of Jaws of Life is to ____.

A. save people from traffic accidents? ???????? B. do experiments on the space shuttle

C. keep houses warm and energy efficient

D. separate the space shuttle from its booster rockets

3. In the authors opinion， space exploration ____.

A. has changed our life completely???? ??????? B. costs too much of our time

C. benefits us in many ways????????? ??? ???? D. has nothing to do with us

4. The underlined word “merit” in the first paragraph probably means “____”.

A. exploration ??????? B. worth? ??????? C. importance? ????? D. money

II. Fill in the blanks.

1. How many houses ____ ____ ____ （正在被修建） in the village？

2. The movie ____ ____ ____ （以……為基礎(chǔ)） a real-life incident.

3. His argument does not ____ ____ （有意義）.

4. We are all ____ ____ ____ （支持） this plan.

5. Plastic ____ ____ （被用來） make bags may pollute environment.

6. ____ ____ （一旦被看見）， it can never be forgotten.