Срсп 6 12 .11.2926 Reading Text: Space and Space Exploration (Intermediate / B1) Humanity has always looked up at the stars with curiosity, wondering what lies beyond our planet.…

Срсп 6 12 .11.2926 Reading Text: Space and Space Exploration (Intermediate / B1) Humanity has always looked up at the stars with curiosity, wondering what lies beyond our planet. The Space Age officially began on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth. Just four years later, in 1961, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to journey into outer space, proving that people could survive beyond Earth's atmosphere. The next major milestone was the Apollo 11 mission in July 1969, when American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the Moon. After the Space Race ended, countries realized that working together was much more effective than competing. This cooperation led to the creation of the International Space Station (ISS), a giant laboratory orbiting Earth where astronauts from different nations live and conduct scientific experiments. Today, space exploration is entering a new era. Private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin are developing reusable rockets, which make space travel much cheaper and more sustainable. Instead of just visiting space for a few days, space agencies like NASA and Roscosmos are now planning long-term missions. Their main goals include building a permanent base on the Moon and sending the first human crew to Mars in the coming decades. Additionally, powerful telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope are helping scientists search for distant exoplanets that might support alien life. Part 1: 10 Comprehension & Discussion Questions * When did the Space Age officially begin, and what event marked it? * Who was the first human in outer space, and in what year did this flight take place? * What was the main achievement of the Apollo 11 mission? * Why did countries decide to cooperate in space after the Space Race? * What is the International Space Station (ISS), and what do astronauts do there? * How are private companies changing modern space travel? * Why are reusable rockets important for the future of space exploration? * What are the two main future goals of major space agencies mentioned in the text? * How does the James Webb Space Telescope help scientists? * Discussion: Would you like to travel to space as a tourist if you had the chance? Why or why not? Part 2: 4 Practice Exercises Exercise 1: Vocabulary Matching Match the words from the text (1–6) with their correct definitions (A–F). * Satellite * Orbit * Milestone * Sustainable * Crew * Exoplanet * A. A group of people who work together on a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft. * B. A planet that orbits a star outside our solar system. * C. An important event or stage in the development of something. * D. Able to continue over a long period of time without wasting resources. * E. An object sent into space to travel around the Earth and collect information. * F. To move in a curved path around a much larger object, such as a planet or star. Exercise 2: True or False? Read the sentences and decide if they are True (T) or False (F) according to the text. * Sputnik 1 was the first spacecraft to land on the Moon. * Yuri Gagarin traveled into space in 1961. * The International Space Station is run by only one country. * Reusable rockets help reduce the cost of space missions. * Scientists are using telescopes to look for planets outside our solar system. Exercise 3: Fill in the Gaps Complete the sentences using the words from the box: > atmosphere • launch • gravity • mission • astronaut • telescope > * Without Earth's __________, objects and people would float away into space. * Thousands of people watched the live broadcast of the rocket __________. * Becoming an __________ requires years of physical training and scientific study. * When a spacecraft returns to Earth, it heats up as it enters the __________. * Through a powerful __________, you can clearly see the rings of Saturn. * The main goal of the next Mars __________ is to search for signs of ancient water. Exercise 4: Grammar Practice (Past Simple vs. Present Perfect) Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense (Past Simple or Present Perfect). * Neil Armstrong __________ (walk) on the Moon in 1969. * Scientists __________ (discover) thousands of exoplanets since the 1990s. * Private companies __________ (make) space travel much cheaper in recent years. * When __________ the Soviet Union __________ (launch) Sputnik 1? выполните все задание