China plans to send three astronauts to its new space station later this month. The plans were confirmed to state television by Yang Liwei, a deputy-chief designer for China’s manned space program. Yang was the country’s first astronaut to launch into orbit in 2003. Three astronauts are to complete a three-month mission on the new space station, called Tianhe. It is the third and largest space station China has built. Its main module(舱) was launched into orbit April 29.

Last Sunday, a self-piloted spacecraft arrived at the space station carrying supplies. Chinese officials said the Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the station eight hours after launching from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea. The spacecraft was carrying space suits, living supplies, equipment and fuel. The astronauts will be carried to space aboard the country’s Shenzhou 12 spacecraft. It will launch from China’s Jiuquan base in the northwest.

Yang did not provide the identities of the astronauts or give a flight date in his comments to China Central Television. But he said the astronauts were expected to practice spacewalks, complete repairs and carry out some scientific operations. When asked whether any women were in the crew, Yang said none would be joining the upcoming mission. “But missions after that all will have them,” he added.

The Chinese space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year. The missions will transport the remaining modules for the 70-ton space station and transport more supplies and crew. China has sent 11 astronauts including two women into space, beginning with Yang’s flight in October 2003. The first female astronaut was Liu Yang in 2012. Yang said the astronauts will practice making spacewalks with two people outside the station at one time. China’s first spacewalk was made in 2008 by astronaut Zhai Zhigang outside the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft.

The space station mission marks the latest step forward for China’s space program. Last month, China made history by successfully landing a spacecraft on Mars. The Tianwen-1 spacecraft carried a robotic explorer, called Zhurong. 

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1.What can we learn from Paragraph 1?

A Yang Liwei will perform a mission in this space program.

B Three astronauts won’t leave until they finish the mission.

C Tianhe space station was independently developed by China.

D Three astronauts will be sent to the new space station next month.

解析：选C。C 推理判断题。根据第一段It is the third and largest space station China has built.可知，“天和号”是第3个，也是中国打造的最大的空间站。由此说明该空间站是由中国自主研发的。故选C。

2.Which of the following will take on the mission of the launch?

A The Tianwen-1 spacecraft.

B The Tianzhou-2 spacecraft.

C The Shenzhou 7 spacecraft.

D The Shenzhou 12 spacecraft.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据第二段The astronauts will be carried to space aboard the country’s Shenzhou 12 spacecraft.可知，宇航员将乘坐中国的神舟12号飞船进入太空。故选D。

3.Which information has been confirmed according to the passage?

A Women astronauts will join the upcoming mission.

B CCTV will broadcast live the astronauts’ mission in space.

C Three astronauts’ identities and the flight date will be announced.

D Spacewalks, repairs and some scientific operations will take place.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据第三段But he said the astronauts were expected to practice spacewalks, complete repairs and carry out some scientific operations.可知，据杨利伟所说，宇航员们将练习太空行走，完成维修，并进行一些科学操作。故选D。

4.What’s NOT included the next step for the Chinese space agency?

A A total of 11 launches will be carried out next year.

B More women astronauts will join the different missions.

C The space station mission will be fulfilled in next decades.

D The remaining modules and more supplies and crew will be transported.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据全文可知，中国航天局计划到明年年底共发射11次，这些任务将为70吨重的空间站运送剩余的舱室，并运送更多的物资和工作人员；女航天员将不参加此次太空任务，之后会有任务等待着她们。文中并未提及空间站任务将在未来几十年内完成。故选C。