Is Space Exploration Worth the Cost?

高雅丹

If asked if space exploration should continue， most Americans would give an immediate response either in favor of continuing or in favor of ending space exploration. A common response would be that space exploration is a waste of money. An average American， uneducated on the subject， might believe that the government is wasting billions of dollars on the research that has no merit. Someone strange to the subject might say that a space shuttle goes up once in a while and that is about all that happens. Research is ongoing and continues when there are no shuttles being launched. This also costs the government money. Does the extreme cost of space exploration make sense？

One argument is that the government is wasting money on the research not being used on Earth. Actually， the money goes to workers and scientists that support National Aeronautics and Space Administration （NASA） missions①， and goes to major companies that play important roles in major sectors of the US economy. Boeing is a partner of NASA for aircraft， the same company that makes commercial aircraft for the airline industry.

Another benefit to continuing space exploration is the many spinoff② technologies it provides. The artificial heart resulted from experiments on the space shuttle. The handheld Jaws of Life used to save victims from car accidents originated from the system used to separate the space shuttle from its booster rockets③. Insulation④ in homes that keeps them warm and energy efficient is based on the technology used to insulate the space shuttle.

There are direct benefits to the economy provided by NASA missions as well as spinoff technologies. These advances are found in food， building materials， medical procedures and the vehicles we drive. While it can be proven that billions of dollars that could be used elsewhere is being spent on space exploration， the benefits it provides outweigh the terrible aspects. As a matter of fact， the money spent helps to improve the quality of our lives.

Notes： ① mission n. 任務 ②  spinoff adj. 衍生的 ③ booster rocket 助推火箭 ④ insulation n. 隔热材料

【难句解析】

1. If asked if space exploration should continue， most Americans would give an immediate response...

释义：如果被问太空探索是否应该继续，大部分美国人会立即回答……

点拨：由while / when / unless / if / once / though / although引导状语从句时，状语从句的主语与主句主语一致，且从句谓语包括有动词be时，可省略从句中的主语和动词be。例如：

If offered help， you should say “Thank you.” 如果被提供了帮助，你应该说“谢谢你！”

2. One argument is that the government is wasting money on the research not being used on Earth.

释义：一个争论是政府正在浪费钱做了一些没有用在地球研究上的事。

点拨：在此句中，that引导整个句子作表语，being used on Earth是现在分词一般被动式作定语，修饰research。例如：

My suggestion is that we （should） start early tomorrow. 我的建議是我们明天一早就出发。

The question being discussed is a very important one. 正在被讨论的这个问题是个很重要的问题。

3. While it can be proven that billions of dollars that could be used elsewhere is being spent on space exploration， the benefits it provides outweigh the terrible aspects.

释义：尽管已经证实了本该花在别处的数十亿美元正花在太空探索，但是把钱花在太空探索比糟糕的方面利大于弊。

点拨：在此句中，while引导让步状语从句，it作形式主语，that billions of dollars that could be used elsewhere is being spent on space exploration作真正的主语，that could be used elsewhere作定语从句，修饰先行词dollars，is being spent是现在进行时的被动语态，it provides是省去了that或which的定语从句，修饰先行词benefits。例如：

While I admit that there are problems， I dont agree that they cannot be solved. 尽管我承认有问题存在，但我不同意说这些问题不能解决。

The sports meeting is being held in our school. 我校正在举行运动会。

It is essential that he should be here by the weekend. 周末他务必要来这里。

I. Choose the right answer.

1. How is Paragraph 2 mainly developed？

A. By offering analyses.                        B. By making comparisons.

C. By giving some examples.                   D. By presenting research findings.

2. The function of Jaws of Life is to ____.

A. save people from traffic accidents           B. do experiments on the space shuttle

C. keep houses warm and energy efficient

D. separate the space shuttle from its booster rockets

3. In the authors opinion， space exploration ____.

A. has changed our life completely             B. costs too much of our time

C. benefits us in many ways                   D. has nothing to do with us

4. The underlined word “merit” in the first paragraph probably means “____”.

A. exploration         B. worth          C. importance        D. money

II. Fill in the blanks.

1. How many houses ____ ____ ____ （正在被修建） in the village？

2. The movie ____ ____ ____ （以……为基础） a real-life incident.

3. His argument does not ____ ____ （有意义）.

4. We are all ____ ____ ____ （支持） this plan.

5. Plastic ____ ____ （被用来） make bags may pollute environment.

6. ____ ____ （一旦被看见）， it can never be forgotten.