1 . If you think you’d like to live on Mars, you may have that possibility by 2023. A Dutch company called Mars One will soon advertise for people interested in colonizing (开拓) Mars. If you have all the necessary skills, you could be one of the first colonists. Are you ready for the challenge?
You won’t have to pay for the mission to Mars. Mars One has already received money from some donors and is hoping to get more from TV viewers who will become interested in the show where all applicants have a debate for the rare chances.
The main responsibility of the first colonists is to create an artificial environment on Mars where there is no air to breathe and no land to farm. Scientists know it’s quite possible because something similar has already been done in Antarctica.
Another problem is that space travel to Mars takes nearly a year to get to Mars and the colonists will live the rest of their lives there. When a human lives in an environment without gravity or with low gravity for a long time, the systems in the body weaken. Luckily, spinning (旋转) the spaceship can create artificial gravity, and artificial gravity can ease these problems. It will also be difficult for Mars colonists to be far from home, living in small spaces, and seeing the same people over and over. Colonists with depression could put the mission in danger. Fortunately, a few years ago, a joint Russian and European project called the Mars500 Mission studied people’s reactions in a Mars-like environment. It is viewed as a great success because scientists were able to see how people handle emotional and physical stresses.
Recent studies show that seven percent of people would want to go on such an adventure.
Mars One will soon start accepting its first colonists. Are you interested?
1. What do we know about the applicants to Mars from the first two paragraphs?A.They will land on Mars in 2023. |
B.They can get money from donors. |
C.They will compete in a TV show. |
D.They do not need special skills. |
A.Create earth-like conditions. |
B.Build labs in Antarctica. |
C.Spin the spaceship. |
D.Start the Mars500 Mission. |
A.Difficult and dangerous. |
B.Different but adaptable. |
C.Challenging and unbearable . |
D.Acceptable but depressing. |
A.Mars: our final destination? |
B.Ready to be Mars’ colonists? |
C.Space travel: a thrilling adventure? |
D.Are you a qualified Mars astronaut? |
2 . Online Bachelor's Degrees and Programs
The overview
Colleges offer online degrees in a range of fields. Click on a degree program to explore what courses you take, how long the program takes to complete, career options and average salary. For example, to earn an online health science bachelor's degree, you would take courses in public health, health communications and epidemiology(流行病学).
The benefits
Pursuing an accredited(官方认可的)online bachelor's degree can help you take the next step in your career. Through your program, you'll attend online lectures, study from home manage a busy schedule and interact virtually with professors and classmates.
The applicants
An online college degree may appeal to those who want more flexibility in completing their education, or who want to take classes while working full time or parenting. Choosing where to register online will likely be challenging, but below you'll find tools, advice and other resources to make your search easier.
Best online bachelor's programs
U. S. News evaluated several factors to rank the best online bachelor's degree programs, including graduation rates and support services available remotely.
School name | Tuition per credit | Application deadline | Financial aid available |
University of Georgia | $ 326 | May 1 | Yes |
Georgia Washington University | $ 615 | June 10 | No |
University of Arizona | $ 525 | July 12 | Yes |
North Carolina University | $ 900 | February 15 | Yes |
To see the full ranking list, please click here.
1. What will you do after attending online degree programs?A.Get a degree for free. | B.Attend lectures in a hall. |
C.Take some related courses | D.Talk with teachers face to face. |
A.Georgia Washington University. | B.University of Georgia. |
C.North Carolina University. | D.University of Arizona. |
A.On the Internet. | B.In a magazine. |
C.In a textbook. | D.In a newspaper. |