1、Listening and Speaking Unit 4 Space ExplorationWhen you look up at the sky,what do you think of?What can you see in the photo?Who do you think took the photo?What do you know about the history and development of space exploration?The picture looks like a photo of a rover on the moon.Perhaps it was t
2、aken by a robot camera.I know that space exploration began in the mid-1950s with the development of satellites,and that people first started going to space in the early 1960s.Pre-listening1.You are going to listen to an interview with an astronaut.Before you listen,discuss the questions in groups.(1
3、)Can you name any famous astronauts from China or abroad?Neil Armstrong(1930-2012)was an American astronaut who became the first human to walk on the moon on July 20,1969,as part of the Apollo 11 mission.(2)Do you know anything about the selection procedure for astronauts?Make a list of the possible
4、 requirements.In America,preference for selecting astronauts was originally for test pilots or military pilots,because they were among the most elite pilots the nation had,and because they were in excellent physical shape.While it is no longer a requirement for astronauts to be pilots,generally they
5、 must be the very elite in their scientific fields and must still be in very good physical shape.Tick the correct statements.1 The audience is curious about how Yang Liwei became the first Chinese astronaut.2 Mr Yang always believed that he would become an astronaut one day.Listen for the 1st timene
6、ver thought3 Mr Yang was selected to attend pilot training with 13 other people.4 To become an astronaut in China,you have to have 1,350 hours of flying experience.5 Astronauts not only had to learn how to use space equipment,but also had to do a lot of mental and physical training.4 At the time whe
7、n Mr Yang entered the space programme,astronauts had to be shorter than _ cm in height and less than _ kg in weight.Fill in the blanks with the correct numbers.1 Yang Liwei graduated from college at the age of _.2 Before he joined Chinas space programme,Mr Yang trained as a fighter pilot for _ years
8、.3 Mr Yang was one of the _ pilots who were chosen to train for space flights.Listen for the 2nd time5 Mr Yang became Chinas first astronaut when he was _ years old.Interviewer:Today we are very pleased to chat with Mr Yang Liwei,the first Chinese astronaut.Welcome to the show,Mr Yang.Mr Yang:Thank
9、you.Interviewer:Mr Yang,our audience is very curious about how you succeeded in becoming Chinas first astronaut.It must have been a very difficult thing to achieve.Did you always want to be an astronaut?Mr Yang:Yes,I dreamt of it when I was young,but I never thought my wish would come true.It took a
10、 long time.First,I got my college degree when I was 22,and then I worked as aListen for numbersNumber questions are typically related to:time,telephone numbers,addresses,prices,weights,distances.fighter pilot for around 10 years.I finally became Chinas first astronaut when I was 38 years old.Intervi
11、ewer:Oh,so you must be a really experienced pilot.Do you think that was one of the reasons why you were chosen for the space programme?Mr Yang:Sure,I had 1,350 hours of flight experience,which I think really helped me.Interviewer:So how difficult was it to join the space programme?Mr Yang:There was
12、a lot of competition.Altogether,14 of us were chosen from among 1,500 pilots to train for space flights.Interviewer:That sounds really difficult.Did you also have to be a certain size and weight?Mr Yang:Yes,at the time,you had to be shorter than 172 centimetres in height and weigh less than 70 kilog
13、rams.You also had to be in perfect health and perfect shape.Interviewer:So you were the perfect choice!As we all know,an astronaut needs to be healthy and calm in order to work in space.But you also had to study a lot,too,right?Mr Yang:Yes,I had to learn English,science,and astronomy.I also had to p
14、ractise using space equipment,and do a lot of mental and physical training.It was very tiring,but I was so proud to have the opportunity.4 At the time when Mr Yang entered the space programme,astronauts had to be shorter than _ cm in height and less than _ kg in weight.Fill in the blanks with the co
15、rrect numbers.1 Yang Liwei graduated from college at the age of _.2 Before he joined Chinas space programme,Mr Yang trained as a fighter pilot for _ years.3 Mr Yang was one of the _ pilots who were chosen to train for space flights.221014Listen for the 2nd time5 Mr Yang became Chinas first astronaut
16、 when he was _ years old.1727038Education background:Experience:Health condition:Courses:Special training:college degree,trained tobe a fighter pilotmore than 1,000 hours of flight experiencemust be in perfect health and shapeEnglish,science,and astronomypractise using space equipment,and do a lot o
17、f mental and physical training What are the requirements for becoming an astronaut?Listen for the 3rd timePost-listeningUse what you have learnt from the interview to help you.EXAMPLEA:You know,I think being an astronaut would be cool.B:Do you want to work in space in the future?A:Im not sure,but I
18、think it might be too difficult for me.These are so many requirements.First of all,you must be intelligent enough to get a related colledge degree.Then you have to.B:So what might be the most difficult part for you?A:I guess it might be the.Sample ConversationA:You know,I think being an astronaut wo
19、uld be cool.B:Do you want to work in space in the future?A:Im not sure,but I think it might be too difficult for me.There are so many requirements.First of all,you must be intelligent enough to get a related college degree.Then you have to be a pilot with years of training and practise flying.Finall
20、y,you must be really physically fit.B:So what might be the most difficult part for you?A:I guess it might be space travel itself.Im sure being weightless must be fun,and it would be wonderful to Sample Conversation see the Earth and stars from space.But the spacesuit and capsule look terribly small and uncomfortable.It would be hard to stay in such a small space for so long.Also,theres no privacy at all.What if I have to go to the restroom?B:I see what you mean.
