China is planning the first ever landing of a probe on the far side of the moon, a leading engineer has said. The Chang'e 4 mission is planned for some time before 2020 and is part of China’s increasing space programme. The aim is to study geological conditions on the moon’s far side.

This is according to Zou Yongliao of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' moon exploration department, who shared the plans with state broadcaster CCTV in an interview broadcast on Wednesday. If the mission is successful, it could eventually lead to the launch of a radio telescope to the moon for use by astronomers. Zou explained the far side of the moon has a clean electromagnetic environment, making it an ideal location for sensitive instruments and low frequency radio for long distance communications. 

Radio transmissions from Earth are unable to reach the moon's far side, making it an excellent location for sensitive instruments. China's next lunar mission is scheduled for 2017, when it will attempt to land an unmanned spaceship on the moon before returning to Earth with samples of rock and lunar soil.

Li Chunlai, a lead designer on the Chang'e 5 project, said it will achieve a number of break-throughs, including automatic sampling, taking off from the moon without a launch site and an unmanned docking 248,548 miles (400,000km) from the moon's surface, according to Xinhua. 

China's lunar exploration program has already launched a pair of orbiting lunar probes, and in 2013 landed a craft on the moon with a rover onboard. China sent its first astronaut into space in 2003 and has powered ahead with a series of methodically timed steps, including the deploying of an experimental space station.

Only 12 men have landed on the moon, beginning with the Apollo 11 when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first set foot on the lunar surface on July 20, 1969. Jack Schmitt and Gene Cernan were the last on Apollo 17 on December 14, 1972. 

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1.Why did scientists make the study of the geological conditions on the moon’s far side?

A To deploy a space station.

B To do sampling of rock and soil.

C To launch a radio telescope.

D To set foot on the lunar surface.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据文章第二段第二句If the mission is successful, it could eventually lead to the launch of a radio telescope to the moon for use by astronomers可知，嫦娥四号的任务是研究月球背面的电力磁场情况，为最终发射一台无线望远镜做准备工作。

2.Which of the following is considered a break-through of the Chang’e 5 project?

A Taking off from the moon without a launch site.

B Landing a craft on the moon with a rover onboard.

C Setting up a radio telescope on the moon.

D Sending astronauts to the moon by the year 2020.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据文章第四段...including automatic sampling, taking off from the moon without a launch site and an unmanned docking 248,548 miles (400,000km) from the moon's surface...可知，在没有发射平台的情况下在月球上起飞升空是嫦娥5号的一项重大突破。

3.What can we infer from the passage?

A The moon will provide rich resources to the earth in the future.

B China has made great progress in space exploration in recent years.

C It took the US many years to send its astronauts to the moon.

D The moon has attracted a great many astronauts and scientists.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。文章第五段介绍了近年来中国的探月进度，根据powered ahead判断，作者对于中国在探月方面取得的巨大进步表示赞赏。

4.What can we infer from the passage?

A The moon will provide rich resources to the earth in the future.

B China has made great progress in space exploration in recent years.

C It took the US many years to send its astronauts to the moon.

D The moon has attracted a great many astronauts and scientists.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。文章第五段介绍了近年来中国的探月进度，根据powered ahead判断，作者对于中国在探月方面取得的巨大进步表示赞赏。

5.The author writes the last paragraph in order to tell us that ________.

A only Americans can land on the moon

B it’s hard to send astronauts to the moon

C no other country could land men on the moon

D China is making efforts to land men on the moon

解析：选D。D 推理判断题。文章最后一段介绍了登月的几位宇航员的情况，结合第五段关于中国探月情况的介绍可以判断，作者想表达的意思是：中国的科学家们正在努力将宇航员送上月球，填补几十年来的世界空白。