[00:00.00] CHAPTER ONE Reading TRANSFORMING MARS
[00:-1.00]Ever since the beginning of history,
[00:-2.00]people have dreamed of interplanetary travel.
[00:-3.00]For centuries,
[00:-4.00]these dreams have remained dreams.But within about 30 years from now,
[00:-5.00]the first people from Earth will have landed on Mars.
[00:-6.00]And by the year 2170,people will have established cities and industries.
[00:-7.00]You see,scientists are now making plans to transform Mars
[00:-8.00]so that it will become possible for humans to live and work there.
[00:-9.00]Those dreams will finally come true.
[00:10.00]2.Mars has always fascinated us.
[00:11.00]These are many stories and films about 'Men from Mars' attacking Earth.
[00:12.00]Unfortunately,the unmanned spacecraft
[00:13.00]which we sent there in 1976 found no signs of life on the Red Planet
[00:14.00](so called because it is covered in iron oxide).
[00:15.00]3.in many ways, Mars is the planet which is most similar to Earth.
[00:16.00]A Martian day lasts for about 24,1/2 hours
[00:17.00](although a year has 687 days),
[00:18.00]it is about half the diameter of Earth,
[00:19.00]and although there is no water,
[00:20.00]there is a lot of ice in the two polar ice caps.
[00:21.00]Even though the average temperature is -60℃
[00:22.00]it would be possible for humans to survive there.
[00:23.00](Whereas Venus, for example,
[00:24.00]has an average temperature of 465°C,
[00:25.00]which makes it completely uninhabitable.)
[00:26.00]4.The plan which scientists are now developing
[00:27.00]involves a process known as "terraforming " Mars,
[00:28.00]i.e.,changing Mars so that it becomes more like Earth.
[00:29.00]Ironically,this means using the 'greenhouse effect'
[00:30.00](which we are trying to stop on Earth).
[00:31.00]The suggested programme would have five main stages.
[00:32.00]5.Stage 1 (AD 2015-2030)
[00:33.00]The first expedition arrives on Mars,
[00:34.00]after a journey of about six to nine months.
[00:35.00]The members construct subterranean buildings and stay on Mars for about a year.
[00:36.00]They conduct experiments,look for good sites for future landings,
[00:37.00]and also check for signs of life.
[00:38.00]They need to wear spacesuits because 95% of the atmosphere is carbon dioxde.
[00:39.00]But the low gravity (one-third of Earth's)
[00:40.00]means they are able to move around easily.
[00:41.00]6.Stage 2(2030-2080) More expeditions narrive.
[00:42.00]Huge solar mirrors are put in orbit around Mars to heat the polar ice caps.
[00:43.00]The ice caps are sprayed black,so that they do not reflect the heat away.
[00:44.00]Chemicals are released into the air.
[00:45.00]As a result,the atmosphere becomes thicker and retains more of the Sun's heat
[00:46.00]The 'greenhouse effect 'begins.The ice caps start to melt,releasing water vapour.
[00:47.00]The temperature rises to -40'C.7.
[00:48.00]Stage 3 (2080-2115)
[00:49.00]Next, special plants are Introduced from Earth.
[00:50.00]These can convert carbon dioxide Into oxygen.
[00:51.00]The first clouds appear,and the sky slowly turns from pink to blue.
[00:52.00]The temperature goes up to -15°C8.
[00:53.00]Stage 4 (2115-2130)
[00:54.00]The warming continues,melting more ice.
[00:55.00]Rivers and small oceans are made.
[00:56.00]More people migrate from Earth and live In towns
[00:57.00]Forests of trees are planted.
[00:58.00]Mars is looking greener.
[00:59.00]The temperature is 0°C .9.
[-1:00.00]Stage 5 (2130-2170)
[-1:-1.00]Mars is getting more like the Earth.
[-1:-2.00]The amount of oxygen in the air rises,
[-1:-3.00]and at last the air becomes breathable.
[-1:-4.00]The inhabitants can go outside without spacesuits.
[-1:-5.00]The temperature reaches 10°C and stays at that level.
[-1:-6.00](Since Mars is 228 million km from the Sun,it can never be as warm as Earth.)
[-1:-7.00]Cities, farms and industries develop all over Mars.
[-1:-8.00]The transformation Is complete.
[-1:-9.00]INTEGRATED SKILLS
[-1:10.00]Exam tasks
[-1:11.00]Task One
[-1:12.00]Come to the Skytops Hotel for the holiday of a life time!
