9．Junk is everywhere，even in space．But getting rid of space junk is much harder than simply cleaning your bedroom．Space junk travels at 8 kilometers a second，according to an article in the Guardian．Catching it is a bit of a challenge．
Luckily，scientists at the Swiss space center have a new cleaning plan．Theyare about to send a"cleaner satellite"into space within the next five year？．It will clean up space junk，according to a report in the Guardian．
Named"Clean Space One"，the Swiss satellite finds its target and moves close to it．When it reaches its target，it will catch the junk with a gripping claw （抓手）．This is not going to be an easy task because both the satellite and the junk are traveling so fast．
Once Clean Space One has caught the junk，all it has to do to get rid of it is to fly back to Earth．This is because the junk will bum up when traveling through the atmosphere．The satellite itself will burn up a'，the same time．
Ever since people started to send objects into space more than 50 years ago，there has been junk in space．Junk on Earth like food wrappers （包装纸）or waste paper is also a problem．But space junk is mainly made up of exploded rockets and broken satellites．If no one cleans them away，they just keep traveling around Earth．
So far，NASA has found 16.000 pieces of junk that are larger than 10cm in diameter（直径）and more than 500，000 pieces measuring between 1cm and 10cm．You can imagine how many even smaller ones there are in space．
Space junk is dangerous for spacecraft （飞船） and the International Space Station．Even a very small piece could seriously damage-or even destroy-a satellite or space-craft if it collided （碰撞） with the junk．The International Space Station has to regularly change its orbit to avoid space junk，
Space junk might also be a danger to humans．During the last four months，three very large spacecraft have fallen to Earth．Fortunately，no one was hurt because the junk landed in the ocean．
45．According to the article，space junkD．
A．travels at the same speed as satellites
B．could be cleared away within five years
C．travels at 8 kilometers per hour
D．will cause a lot of trouble to space stations
46．What will happen to the space junk if it is not cleaned up？C
A．It will explode in a few years．
B．It will drift away from Earth eventually．
C．It will keep traveling around Earth．
D．It will gather and become a large mass．
47．Which of the following is TRUE about a"cleaner satellite"？B
A．The junk is dealt with after it reaches Earth．
B．Catching space junk is difficult for a satellite．
C．The'satellite can catch several pieces of junk at once．
D．The satellite goes back to space after it has finished its task．
48．Which of the following statements is TRUE？A
A．The history of space junk dates back 50 years．
B．Space stations travel in the same orbit as the junk．
C．Space junk is harmless to people on Earth．
D．It's impossible to stop space junk from colliding with spacecrafts．
分析 本文是一篇说明文．主要阐述了有关太空垃圾的相关信息．文章涉及了三个方面：什么是太空垃圾、太空垃圾的危险性以及清理太空垃圾的重要性和紧迫性．垃圾无处不在，太空有垃圾；清理太空垃圾要比打扫卧室困难的多，因为他们运行速度很快，要抓到这些垃圾难度很大，是一项挑战．瑞士太空站的科学家们有了新计划，预计在五年内发射一颗名为卫星来清理太空垃圾．这些卫星本身也会烧掉，不会回到地球．人们在50年前就开始清理太空垃圾，太空垃圾对太空飞船和国际空间站很危险，对人类也有危险．
解答 45．D 细节理解题．根据倒数第二段中的"Space junk is dangerous for spacecraft （飞船） and the International Space Station"可知，太空垃圾对太空飞船和国际空间站很危险，A项错误，文中只说到卫星和太空垃圾都在高速飞行，并没有提到彼此的速度是否一样，故排除；B项错误，文中第二段说的是"send a"cleaner satellite"into space within the next five years"，而不是说太空垃圾能在五年内清理干净；文中只说到卫星和太空垃圾都在高速飞行，故排除；C项错误，应该是"travels at 8 kilometers per second"，而非"per hour"，故排除； 故选D．
46．C 细节理解题．从第五段中的最后一句话"If no one cleans them away，they just keep traveling around earth．"可知，如果太空垃圾不清理干净，他们会绕地球一直高速飞行运转，故选C．
47．B 推理判断题．根据第三段的最后两句"This is not going to be an easy task because both the satellite and the junk are traveling so fast"可知，能准确抓住太空垃圾是困难的，因为他们运行速度都很快．从第四段中的"the junk will burn up when traveling through the atmosphere"可知A项错误，故排除；C项文中没有提及，故排除； 从第四段中的最后一句"The satellite itself will burn up at the same time．"可知，卫星本身也会烧掉，所以不会回到太空，D项错误，故排除；因此B项正确，故选B．
48．A 推理判断题．根据第五段中的第一句"Ever since people started to send objects into space more than 50 years ago，there has been junk in space．"可知，虽然人们在50年前就开始发送物体到太空中清理太空垃圾，但太空仍然还有存在垃圾C，故选A．
点评 解答细节理解题时，一个常用的方法就是运用定位法，即根据题干和选项中的关键词从原文中找到相关的句子，与选项进行比较从而确定答案；推理判断题既要求学生透过文章表面文字信息推测文章隐含意思，又要求学生对作者的态度、意图及文章细节的发展作正确的推理判断，力求从作者的角度去考虑，不要固守自己的看法或观点．
