阅读理解

　　After the end of the Second World War, the Russians became very interested in the possibility of travelling into space, and they launched (发射) several rockets which went round the Earth high above the air. To go higher, it is necessary to use a rocket, which will work excellently even when moving in outer space. The first rockets sent up into space carried no crew [(舰船、飞机等上的)乘务员]but only scientific instruments (仪器); the next carried animals and when these were brought back safely to earth the Russian scientists were ready to send up a man. They chose Major Yuri Gagarin to be the first pilot.

　　Flying a spaceship is not the same as flying an ordinary aircraft. Instead of sitting at the controls, the pilot lies flat upon a couch; and the take-off is mainly automatic (自动的), however, the pilot must always be ready in case anything goes wrong. Fortunately, all went well; the Vostok was launched by its powerful motors, and before long it was more than 100 miles up, travelling at a speed of 5 miles a second or 18,000 m.p.h.-faster than any man had travelled before. Gagarin did not feel any sensation of speed, but he could look through the porthole (舷窗) of his pressurized cabin and see the Earth far below, looking like a vast globe instead of a flat plain. He could make out coastlines, rivers, forests, and clouds; he passed over Siberia, and then on to South America.

　　Gagarin was busy all the time making scientific measurements. Also, as the Vostok was equipped with radio, he was able to give the scientists on the ground a running commentary (实况报道) on everything he saw. Before long the spaceship passed into the Earth’s shadow; when it came out of the shadow again, the horizon (地平线) glowed (发出光和热)a brilliant orange colour.

　　When Gagarin had been in space for over an hour, he had nearly completed a journey right round the Earth, and it was time to prepare for the landing. This was perhaps the most dangerous part of the whole trip. If he came into the air too quickly, his ship would rub against the air particles, and the ‘friction (摩擦)would make the ship so hot that it would burn up. The speed of the Vostok had to be checked gradually (逐渐地). Again, all went well. The Vostok steadily (平稳地)dropped closer and closer to the ground until, when not far from the ground, Gagarin’s cabin was separated from the rest of the rocket. A huge parachute (降落伞) opened, and the cabin, with Gagarin in it, floated (飘,飘浮) gently down to a safe landing.

1．The Russians were ready to send up a man into space ________.

[　　]

A．when WWII was over

B．when they could go higher

C．after they had sent up a rocket with scientific instruments

D．after they had sent up animals and brought them safely back

2．Which of the following about Gngarin is NOT true?

[　　]

A．He controlled the take-off.

B．He traveled faster than any man had ever done.

C．He couldn’t feel how fast he was travelling.

D．He could see out of the spaceship.

3．The words “running commentary” (Sentence 2, Para. 3) probably means ________.

[　　]

A．scientific measurements

B．different views

C．Gagarin talking to scientists on the ground

D．the shadow and the color

4．For Gagarin landing was perhaps the most dangerous part of the trip because ________.

[　　]

A．the last part was by parachute

B．the landing was mainly automatic

C．the spaceship might burn up

D．the spaceship might hit the ground

5．What would be the most suitable title for the passage?

[　　]

A．Travelling in Space.

B．The First Man in space.

C．The Take-off and Landing of a Spaceship.

D．Gagarin, a National Hero.