Reading and Thinking 课文精读 · 太空：最后的边疆
一、课文原文及逐段翻译
第1段
“Are we alone? What's out there?” Looking up at the stars, people have always wanted to learn more about space, and scientists work hard to find answers. They make vehicles to carry brave people into space to find out the secrets of the universe. They also really hope to discover other planets that are suitable for life.（注：末句为课本填空练习的参考句，补全于此）
"我们是孤独的吗？那里是什么？" 仰望星空，人们一直想更多地了解太空，而且科学家在努力工作寻求答案，为了查明宇宙的秘密他们制造交通工具把那些勇敢的人带到太空。他们也真的希望能发现其他适合生命生存的行星。
第2段
Before the mid-20th century, most people felt travelling into space was an impossible dream. However, some scientists were determined to help humans realise their dream to explore space. On 4 October 1957, the Sputnik 1 satellite was launched by the USSR and successfully orbited around Earth. Afterwards, the USSR focused on sending people into space, and on 12 April 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first person in the world to go into space. Over eight years later, on 20 July 1969, American astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon, famously saying, “That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.” Following this, many more goals were achieved. For example, America's NASA space agency launched Voyager 1 on 5 September 1977 to study deep space, and it still transmits data today.
在20世纪中期以前，绝大多数人认为太空旅行是不可能的。然而，一些科学家决意要帮助人类实现探索太空的梦想。在1957年10月4日，苏联成功发射了 Sputnik 1号卫星，且成功地实现了让卫星绕地球运转。后来苏联专注于研究送人类进入太空，并且在1961年4月12日，尤里·加加林成为世界上进入太空的第一人。八年之后，也就是在1969年7月20日，美国宇航员尼尔·阿姆斯特朗登上月球，说了一句著名的话："对一个人来说，这是一小步；对人类来说，这是一大步。"随之而来的是，许多目标都实现了。例如，为了研究外层空间，美国航空航天局在1977年9月5日发射了航行者1号，时至今日它仍然在传送一些数据。
第3段
Although scientists try to make sure that nothing goes wrong, accidents can still happen.（注：本句为课本填空练习的参考句，补全于此） All the astronauts on the USSR's Soyuz 11 and America's Challenger died during their missions. These disasters made everyone sad and disappointed, but the desire to explore the universe never died. This is because people believe in the importance of carrying on space exploration despite the huge risks. An example of this ongoing work is the International Space Station. It orbits Earth and has astronauts from different countries on board providing a continuous human presence in space.
虽然科学家竭力确保不出任何错误，但事故仍然可能发生。在执行任务期间，苏联的联盟11号和美国的挑战者号飞船上的所有宇航员全部遇难。这些灾难让每个人感到悲伤和失望，但是人们探索宇宙的渴望从未泯灭。这是因为人们坚信太空探索的重要性，哪怕面临巨大的风险。这种继续努力的一个例子就是国际空间站。它绕地球运行，允许来自不同国家的宇航员搭乘，让人类持续不断地出现在太空中。
第4段
China's space programme started later than those of Russia and the US, but it has made great progress in a short time. China became the third country in the world to independently send humans into space in 2003, when Yang Liwei successfully orbited Earth in the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft. Then Shenzhou 6 and 7 completed a second manned orbit and the first Chinese spacewalk, followed by the vehicle Jade Rabbit being sent to the moon to study its surface. After that, China launched the Tiangong 2 space lab into space and Tianzhou 1 to dock with it. This signalled one step further in China's plan to establish a space station in the future. More recently, China has sent Chang'e 4 to explore the surface of the far side of the moon to make measurements and observations.
中国的太空计划开始得比俄国和美国都晚，但是在短时间内取得了很大进步。在2003年，中国成为世界上第三个独立自主把人类送入太空的国家，当时杨利伟在神舟五号宇宙飞船里成功地绕地球运行。此后神舟六号和七号分别完成了第二次载人飞行以及中国人的第一次太空行走，紧接着月球探测车玉兔也被发射到月球去研究其表面。之后中国把天宫二号太空实验室送入太空，并且与天舟一号实现对接。这标志着中国未来建立空间站的计划又前进了一步。最近，为了做好测量和观测，中国已经发射了嫦娥四号去探测月球背面（离我们较远的那一面）的表面。
第5段
The future of space exploration looks bright. Europe, the US, and China all have plans to further study and explore planets like Mars and Jupiter. Despite the difficulties, scientists hope future discoveries will not only enable us to understand how the universe began, but also help us survive well into the future.
宇航探索的未来充满光明，欧洲、美国和中国都有计划要进一步研究和探索像火星和木星这样的行星。尽管困难重重，科学家们希望未来的发现不仅能够使我们了解宇宙的起源，而且还帮助我们更好地走向未来。
二、重点单词
vehicle n.：交通工具；车辆。make vehicles to carry brave people
universe n.：宇宙。the secrets of the universe
determine v.：决定；决意。were determined to help humans
launch v.：发射；发起。the Sputnik 1 satellite was launched
orbit v. / n.：绕轨道运行；轨道。successfully orbited around Earth
astronaut n.：宇航员。American astronaut Neil Armstrong
mankind n.：人类。one giant leap for mankind
agency n.：机构；代理。America's NASA space agency
transmit v.：传送；传播。it still transmits data today
desire n.：渴望；欲望。the desire to explore the universe
disaster n.：灾难。These disasters made everyone sad
aboard adv. / prep.：在（船 / 飞机 / 航天器）上。astronauts ... on board
signal v.：标志着；发信号。This signalled one step further
establish v.：建立；设立。to establish a space station
measurement n.：测量；度量。to make measurements and observations
Jupiter n.：木星。planets like Mars and Jupiter
三、一词多义与熟词生义
vehicle 常见义"车辆（汽车等）"，课文中指"航天器、运载工具"，泛指把人送入太空的飞行器。
orbit 常见义作名词"轨道"，课文中 successfully orbited 作动词，意为"绕轨道运行"。
agency 常见义"代理处、中介"，课文中 space agency 指政府"航天机构"（如 NASA）。
board 常见义作名词"木板、董事会"，课文中 on board 为短语，意为"在航天器 / 船上"。
signal 常见义作名词"信号"，课文中作动词，意为"标志着、预示"。
desire 常见义"渴望（动词）"，课文中 the desire to ... 作名词，意为"愿望、渴求"。
四、重点词块
look up at 仰望
find out 查明；弄清
be determined to 决心做
realise one’s dream 实现梦想
focus on 专注于；集中于
step onto 踏上
follow this 在此之后；随之
make sure 确保
carry on 继续；坚持
despite the risks 尽管有风险
on board 在船上 / 航天器上
followed by 紧接着；后面是
dock with 与……对接
well into the future 走向未来；长远
not only ... but also ... 不但……而且……
五、长难句拆解
【原句 1】Looking up at the stars, people have always wanted to learn more about space, and scientists work hard to find answers.
【主干】people have wanted ..., and scientists work hard ...
【分层】Looking up at the stars 为现在分词作时间 / 伴随状语；and 连接两个并列分句；to learn more about space 与 to find answers 为不定式作目的状语。
【译文】仰望星空，人们一直想更多地了解太空，科学家也在努力寻找答案。
【考点】现在分词作状语；and 并列句；不定式表目的。
【原句 2】On 4 October 1957, the Sputnik 1 satellite was launched by the USSR and successfully orbited around Earth.
【主干】the satellite was launched ... and orbited around Earth.
【分层】by the USSR 为动作执行者（被动语态标志）；and 连接两个谓语 was launched 与（过去式）orbited，后者主动。
【译文】1957年10月4日，苏联发射了 Sputnik 1 号卫星，并成功绕地球运行。
【考点】一般过去时被动语态；并列谓语（被动 + 主动）。
【原句 3】... Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon, famously saying, “That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.”
【主干】Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon, saying ...
【分层】famously saying ... 为现在分词作伴随状语，引出直接引语；引语中含 for (a) man 与 for mankind 的对照结构。
【译文】尼尔·阿姆斯特朗登上月球，留下名言："对一个人是一小步，对人类是一大步。"
【考点】现在分词伴随状语；直接引语；for 表"对于"。
【原句 4】This is because people believe in the importance of carrying on space exploration despite the huge risks.
【主干】This is because people believe in the importance ...
【分层】because 引导表语从句；of carrying on ... 为介词短语作后置定语修饰 importance，其中 carrying on 为动名词；despite the huge risks 为介词短语让步状语。
【译文】这是因为人们坚信太空探索的重要性，哪怕面临巨大的风险。
【考点】because 表语从句；动名词作定语；despite 让步。
【原句 5】China became the third country in the world to independently send humans into space in 2003, when Yang Liwei successfully orbited Earth in the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft.
【主干】China became the third country ... in 2003.
【分层】to independently send humans into space 为不定式作后置定语修饰 country；when Yang Liwei ... 为非限制性定语从句修饰 2003；in the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft 为方式状语。
【译文】2003年，中国成为世界上第三个独立将人类送入太空的国家，当时杨利伟乘神舟五号成功绕地球飞行。
【考点】不定式作定语；when 非限制性定语从句（修饰时间）。
六、语法点清单
1. 被动语态（一般过去时 / 现在完成时）
was launched by the USSR；were achieved；has made great progress；has sent Chang'e 4。科技史常用被动突出事件。
2. 现在分词作状语（时间 / 伴随）
Looking up at the stars；famously saying ...；followed by the vehicle ...（过去分词表被动紧随）。
3. 不定式作后置定语
the first person to go into space；the third country to send humans ...；the desire to explore。注意 the first / third ... to do 结构。
4. 非限制性定语从句（when / which）
when Yang Liwei ...（修饰 2003）；An example of this ongoing work is the ISS（后接 It orbits ... 解释）。
5. despite + 名词 表让步
despite the huge risks；Despite the difficulties。despite 是介词，后接名词 / 动名词，不接句子。
6. not only ... but also 并列结构
will not only enable us to understand ..., but also help us ...。连接两个谓语动词，注意 enable / help 后接 to do / do。
七、逻辑链
缘起（第1段）：人类仰望星空的好奇与探索欲望
↓
突破（第2段）：20世纪中叶起——卫星、加加林、阿姆斯特朗、旅行者号
↓
挫折（第3段）：联盟11号、挑战者号悲剧，但探索之心不死 → 国际空间站
↓
中国（第4段）：起步晚、进步快——神舟、天宫、天舟、嫦娥四号
↓
展望（第5段）：美欧中携手探火星木星，未来光明
这是一篇"科普说明 + 励志"文：以时间顺序梳理人类航天史，用"梦想—突破—挫折—坚持—展望"的脉络，既讲事实，又传递"探索永不止步"的精神。
八、写作迁移
模板 1：Looking at ..., people have always wanted to ...
课文：Looking up at the stars, people have always wanted to learn more about space.
仿写：Looking at the vast ocean, people have always wanted to explore its depths.（望着浩瀚海洋，人们总想探索其深处。）——用于"缘起 / 好奇"开头。
模板 2：sb was determined to ...
课文：some scientists were determined to help humans realise their dream.
仿写：He was determined to realize his dream of becoming a doctor.（他决心实现当医生的梦想。）——用于写"决心"。
模板 3：This is because ...
课文：This is because people believe in the importance of carrying on ...
仿写：This is because practice makes perfect.（这是因为熟能生巧。）——用于"解释原因"的表语从句。
模板 4：Although ..., ... never died / disappeared.
课文：but the desire to explore the universe never died.
仿写：Although they failed many times, their hope never died.（尽管屡次失败，他们的希望从未熄灭。）——用于写"挫折中不放弃"。
模板 5：Despite the difficulties, ... hope (that) ...
课文：Despite the difficulties, scientists hope future discoveries will not only ... but also ...
仿写：Despite the difficulties, we hope our efforts will not only help ourselves but also benefit others.（尽管困难重重，我们希望努力不仅帮自己，也惠及他人。）——用于结尾"克服困难、寄望未来"。
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