BBC初級口語:宇宙旅遊夢想倒計時
Background: 維珍集團總裁 Richard Branson 向公衆展示了世界上第一艘商業載人宇宙飛船。等通過嚴格的試航測試以後，六名乘客將有機會登上這艘子彈型飛船，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.
【口語突破】
feet
英尺
fuel-efficient
省油的
commercial
商業化的
unveiled
揭幕，揭開
the Caribbean
加勒比海地區
ultimate
終極的
thrill ride
刺激的航行
spaceship
宇宙飛船
rockets
用火箭運載
gliding
滑行
some
差不多
signed up
登記了
想一想再看
n. 會議記錄，(複數)分鐘
ultimate['ʌltimit]想一想再看
n. 終極，根本，精華
adj. 終極的，根本
想一想再看
n. 標題，題目，航向
動詞head的現在分詞
想一想再看
n. 目的地，終點，景點
commercial[kə'mə:ʃəl]想一想再看
adj. 商業的
n. 商業廣告
commerce商業+ial表形容詞，“有…的”→商業的
