BBC初级口语:宇宙旅游梦想倒计时
Background: 维珍集团总裁 Richard Branson 向公众展示了世界上第一艘商业载人宇宙飞船。等通过严格的试航测试以后，六名乘客将有机会登上这艘子弹型飞船，真正感受宇宙旅行的刺激。
【文本】
It’s 60 feet (18.3 metres) long, made of lightweight, fuel-efficient material and can carry eight people out of this world and back.
The first commercial spaceship was unveiled by Sir Richard Branson, who hopes to start passenger trips within two years. The price tag: ?130,000 (1.4 million yuan).
"In time we hope to get that price down and down and down so that, you know, one day, people can think: 'Shall I take my family on holiday to the Caribbean or maybe we should try space travel this year?' That’s our aim."
Those that can pay will get the ultimate three-hour thrill ride. The spaceship rockets to 62 miles above the earth’s surface. Passengers will feel weightless for up to five minutes before heading down through the atmosphere and gliding back to earth.
Organisers say some 300 have already signed up. Space, as a tourist destination, may be one step closer.
【口语突破】
feet
英尺
fuel-efficient
省油的
commercial
商业化的
unveiled
揭幕，揭开
the Caribbean
加勒比海地区
ultimate
终极的
thrill ride
刺激的航行
spaceship
宇宙飞船
rockets
用火箭运载
gliding
滑行
some
差不多
signed up
登记了
想一想再看
n. 会议记录，(复数)分钟
ultimate['ʌltimit]想一想再看
n. 终极，根本，精华
adj. 终极的，根本
想一想再看
n. 标题，题目，航向
动词head的现在分词
想一想再看
n. 目的地，终点，景点
commercial[kə'mə:ʃəl]想一想再看
adj. 商业的
n. 商业广告
commerce商业+ial表形容词，“有…的”→商业的
