China didn’t send its first astronaut into space until October 2003. Astronaut training, however, began much earlier than this. At first. China wanted pilots only in the army based on the age, height, weight and service history (at least 800 flying hours). The experience of managing to deal with an emergency (突发事件) while in flight was seen as a big advantage.
In the 1990s, the nation hand-picked its first group of 14 astronauts among over 1,500 fighter jet pilot. Yang Liwei, Nie Haisheng and Liu Boming were included.
Most of their training took place in the Beijing Aerospace City. The trainees spent their first year getting basic knowledge in subjects like maths, electronics and astronomy. Over the following three years, they picked up other skills that were necessary for spaceflights. They were required to know about all the equipment on the Shenzhou Spaceship, as well as every potential (潜在的) spaceflight task. They also received survival training that would be very useful in the event of a crash landing (迫降).
The astronaut trainees were put under great physical and psychological (心理上的) stress through the whole training period. They fitted themselves with the weight lessness of outer space in a large water tank and then on a special plane. A human centrifuge (人体离心机) was used for their high-G load training. While fixed to the machine, a trainee would feel as if really heavy weights were being put on the body. Even though the experience was awful, the trainee had to try to hang in there.
Before a flight task, the trainees would be separated into different groups to receive a special ten-month training course. Exactly which team would stop flying the task would be decided only days before its final takeoff.
11. When did China send its first astronaut into space?
A.Before October 2003. | B.In October 2003. |
C.In the 1990s. | D.In 1990. |
12. Put the following events in the right order.
① Pick up other necessary skills for spaceflights.
② Spend their first year getting basic knowledge.
③ Be chosen for the first group of astronauts.
④ Receive a special ten-month training course
13. From Paragraph 4, we know that astronauts should be ________ to complete the training.
A.smart | B.hard-working | C.weak | D.brave |
14. What does the underlined word “
survival” mean? ________
A.remain alive | B.technology level | C.science skills | D.physical skills |
15. What is the best title of this passage?
A.A Visit to the Spaceship | B.Astronauts Training in China |
C.Awful Experience in Astronaut Training | D.The Way to Outer Space |