The American space agency NASA recently marked the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing. For some people, the celebrations were a reminder that NASA is not currently sending astronauts into space from the United States. NASA aims to change that soon. 

NASA’s plans are taking shape in places like Huntsville, Alabama. That is where you will find NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Inside, engineers and other experts are working on building and testing a new Space Launch System, or SLS.

Jody Singer is the center’s director. “The Space Launch System is the only rocket capable of sending a fully equipped Orion, the astronauts, the supplies and the systems to the moon in one launch, and taking us deep into space,” Singer said. The Orion is one of NASA’s spacecraft. Mike Nichols is a lead testing engineer at the center. He has worked with NASA for over 20 years. On one recent day, he spoke with VOA about testing a new liquid hydrogen tank. Nichols said, “In order to prove that it’s strong enough to survive launch, they build this structural test article and send it to us, then we install it in the test end.”

NASA’s new moon program is called “Artemis.” The first mission is set for next year, without a crew. Artemis 2 plans to send astronauts around the moon in 2022. Artemis 3 is expected to touch down on the moon’s south pole in 2024.

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1.The first paragraph is written to ___________.

A introduce the topic to the readers

B tell how NASA works on testing SLS

C tell how NASA celebrated the 50th anniversary

D introduce NASA to the readers

解析：选A。推理判断题。第一段主要介绍了最近美国宇航局纪念1969年阿波罗11号登月50周年。同时这是一种提醒：美国宇航局目前还没有将宇航员从美国送入太空。NASA的目标是尽快改变这一状况，故选A。

2.Which of the following is NOT true about NASA’s new moon program “Artemis”?

A There will be three missions by 2024.

B Artemis plans to send an astronaut to the moon.

C Artemis 2 is going to send astronauts around the moon in 2022.

D Artemis 3 is expected to touch down on the moon’s south pole in 2024.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据第四段The first mission is set for next year, without a crew. 可知第一个任务将在明年完成没有宇航员的发射，故选B。

3.The Space Launch System will NOT send _______ to the moon in one lunch.

A astronauts

B supplies

C a spacecraft

D goods

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据第三段第二三句可知，选项ABD均为SLS将要送到月球上的，故选D。

4.What is the main idea of the passage?

A NASA is preparing a new Space Launch System.

B NASA is about to send the supplies and the systems to the moon.

C NASA is going to return to the moon.

D NASA celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing.

解析：选C。主旨大意题。本文主要介绍了阿波罗登月50周年之际，美国宇航局准备重返月球，故选C。