Language Point 1
When a healthy Russian astronaut opened the hatch of his space capsule after a world-record 438 days on the Mir Space Station, ... (Para. 1)
hatch: n. (the covering for) an opening in a wall, floor, etc., through which people and things can pass
This is an escape hatch when there is something urgent.发生紧急情况时，这里是应急出口。
He went through the hatch to the upper deck to look at the sunrise. 他经过舱口来到上甲板观看日出。
capsule: n. the detachable part of a spaceship in which people travel
The journey of the manned capsule marks a great step for China in its goal to become a major space explorer. 载人飞船的太空之旅标志着中国在实现太空探险大国目标的道路上迈出了重要的一步。
Language Point 2
It was not always clear that this would be the case. (Para. 1)
Meaning: It was not always clear that humans could live and work in space for months at a time.
Language Point 3
Others, such as the comic notion that space travelers would suddenly start to spin clockwise during normal motion in space, have not. (Para. 2)
Meaning: Other effects, such as the amusing idea that space travelers would suddenly begin to turn around in the same direction as the rotating hands of a clock during normal motion in space, have not been observed in real life.
comic: a. amusing; humorous
While in London we went to see a comic performance, which left quite an impression on us. 在伦敦时我们去看了一场滑稽表演，它给我们留下了很深的印象。
clockwise: ad.& a. in the same direction as the rotating hands of a clock
The system works by way of a key inserted in the handle which can be turned both clockwise and anticlockwise.这一系统是通过嵌入把手中的钥匙来运转的，把手可以顺时针和逆时针地旋转。
Language Point 4
As most doctors can testify, it is difficult to predict what will happen when the novelty of a brand-new challenge is presented to the human body. ( Para. 3)
Meaning: The fact that it is difficult to predict what will happen when the human body encounters a brand-new challenge can be testified by doctors.
testify: v. (of a person or thing) give evidence (to sth.)
He could testify to seeing many books on display in Romania in foreign languages including German and Hungarian. 他可以证实在罗马尼亚看到很多陈列的书是用外文写的，其中包括德语和匈牙利语等。
novelty: n. the quality of being new, unusual, and interesting
The novelty of his surroundings soon wore off. 他对周围环境的新鲜感很快就过去了。
There is little novelty in his writing. 他的作品没什么新意。
Language Point 5
But only in the last few years have scientists begun to understand the body's responses to weightlessness, as both numerical and qualitative data have grown tremendously. (Para. 3)
numerical: a. of or relating to a number or numbers
The data are listed in numerical order. 数据是按数字顺序排列的。
His research was based on numerical analysis. 他的研究是以数字分析为基础的。
qualitative: a. of, relating to, or concerning quality (the opposite of "quantitative")
qualitative analysis 定性分析
A qualitative grasp of scientific concepts is enough. 只要定性地掌握一些科学概念就足够了。
Language Point 6
Pursuit of this analytic knowledge is improving health care not only for those who journey into space but also for those of us stuck on the ground. (Para. 3)
Meaning: Engaging in the analysis of the body's responses to weightlessness is not only good for the health of people who journey into space but also for the health of people like us who stay on Earth.
analytic: a. having to do with analysis; skilled in using analysis
It is argued that people with analytic minds have a great tendency to be negative. 人们论证说具有分析头脑的人在很大程度上易于否定。
Language Point 7
Ultimately, the whole body, from bones to brain, kidneys to bowels, reacts. (Para. 5)
Meaning: Eventually, the whole body makes responses to weightlessness.
Language Point 8
...and jerk their bodies back and forth, ...(Para. 6)
jerk: v. (cause to) pull or move suddenly
He jerked his head back. 他猛地回过头来。
She jerked out the knife that was stuck in the wood. 她把戳在木头里的刀猛地拔了出来。
Language Point 9
...they say it feels as though they are stationary and the spacecraft is moving. (Para. 6)
stationary: a. not moving
In underdeveloped countries, prices may remain stationary or motionless for several years.在不发达的国家里，物价可能数年保持不变。
A stationary target is easiest to aim at. 静止的目标最容易瞄准。
Language Point 10
The continuous and universal nature of gravity removes it from our daily notice, but our bodies never forget. (Para. 6)
Meaning: The existence of gravity is seldom noticed in our daily life since it is always with us wherever we are, but our bodies never forget it.
Language Point 11
Whether we realize it or not, we have evolved a large number of silent, automatic reactions to cope with the constant stress of living in a downward-pulling world. (Para.6)
Meaning: Whether we realize the existence of gravity or not, we have had a large number of silent and unconscious reactions to deal with or struggle with the continuous stress of living in a downward-pulling world.
Language Point 12
The apparatus of the inner ear is partitioned into two distinct components... (Para.8)
partition: vt. divide into parts, pieces, or sections
The building is partitioned into three sections, the central one being the hotel. 这座建筑物分割成三部分，中间部分作为宾馆。
Language Point 13
These and other changes contribute to orientation illusions, ... (Para. 9)
Meaning: These and other changes act together to make people confused or mistaken about direction.
orientation: n. a position or direction
Now education is the problem of developing orientation, of discovering in what direction to go and how to get there. 现在，教育也可以说是一个确定方向、探索朝那个方向走和如何能到达目的地的问题。
Language Point 14
...such as a feeling that the body or the spacecraft spontaneously changes direction. (Para.9)
spontaneously: ad. in a self-generated way
Some people believe that the Earth revolves round the Sun spontaneously. 有些人相信地球自发地围着太阳转。
It's a common misconception that if a person is bright, wonderful ideas will flash spontaneously into his mind.一个共同的误解是，如果一个人聪明，极好的想法就会自发地闪现在他的脑海里。
Language Point 15
... "when the main engines cut off, I immediately felt as though we had inverted 180 degrees." (Para. 9)
cut off: stop from operating
The submarine cut off all its engines as it neared the beach. 潜艇接近海滩时关掉了所有引擎。
invert: v. turn upside down
She inverted the glass to empty it. 她把玻璃杯倒过来，把里面的东西倒出来。
Language Point 16
Such illusions can recur even after some time in space. (Para. 9)
Meaning: Such vivid sensations of being upside down can happen again even after staying in space for a while.
Language Point 17
Although flight around the Earth is a literal free fall... (Para. 10)
literal: a. used to emphasize that sth. is true
Most followers of the ideal were required to believe in the literal truth of these stories. 这种理想的大多数追随者过去被要求相信这些故事是不折不扣的真实。
The literal extermination of the viruses has been his dream for a long time. 彻底消灭病毒是他长期的梦想。
Language Point 18
The aggregate of the changes in brain signals produces a motion sickness... (Para. 11)
aggregate: n. a total
The aggregate of unemployment figures in this city is well over one hundred thousand. 这个城市失业人口总计远远超过10万。
Judging by the aggregate of its earnings last year the firm is only a small one. 从公司去年的总收入来判断，它只是一家小公司。
Language Point 19
...that features many of the same symptoms of motion sickness on Earth: headache, impaired concentration, loss of appetite, throwing up. (Para. 11)
impair: vt. weaken or make worse
impair one's health 损害某人健康
After the operation his personality had changed and his memory was impaired. 手术后，他的性格发生了变化，他的记忆力也减弱了。
Language Point 20
Space motion sickness may affect half or more of space travelers, but usually does not last beyond the first three days or so of weightlessness. (Para. 11)
Meaning: Half or more of space travelers may suffer space motion sickness, but in most cases the sickness only lasts the first three days or so of weightlessness.
Language Point 21
The sickness results as a variety of factors converge, ... (Para. 12)
converge: vi. (on) (of two or more things) come together towards the same point
armies converging on the capital 向首都进发的军队
She and her husband both converged on the caller. 她和她的丈夫从不同方向朝着来客走去。
Language Point 22
Over time, the brain learns to mediate between conflicting signals, and some space travelers visualize "down" as simply where their feet are. (Para. 13)
Meaning: Gradually, the brain learns to work as a go-between to adjust the conflicting signals, and some space travelers simply take "down" as the place where their feet are.
mediate: v. try to end a disagreement between parties
The task of the state apparatuses is to mediate between the conflicting interests of classes. 国家机构的任务是调和各阶层间利益冲突。
The court mediated between the workers and the employers. 法院在工人和雇主之间进行调解。
visualize: vt. form a mental image of; imagine
Try to visualize where your furniture will fit in the house. 设想一下把家具摆放在哪儿合适。
Though she described the place in detail, it was hard for me to visualize it for it was so different from anything I'd known. 虽然她把那个地方描述得很详细，但我还是想像不出那是个什么样子，因为它和我所熟悉的任何地方都完全不同。
Language Point 23
The way we control our balance and avoid falls is an important and poorly understood part of medical science. (Para. 13)
Meaning: How we control our balance and how we avoid falls is an important part of medical science, but medical science does not know much about it yet.
