Australia, France or… Mars? When considering a place to emigrate to, Mars might not be the best choice in your list, but according to an online survey, more than one in ten of British would accept a one-way ticket there. Yes, you read that correctly —because the Mars One mission is looking to emigrate to Mars, the first voyagers will not be able to return back to Earth. The organizers suggest applicants think over their applications, because the agreement didn’t come with a return ticket. But still thousands of people agreed to it.
The Mars One aims to construct a human settlement on Mars. Thankfully, applications for the program are entirely voluntary and potential astronauts can back out at any time during the strict selection process.
In order to apply, the candidate must be over 18, have an A2 English level and be adaptable and curious. The following selection process consists of four rounds.
The first round is an online application including general information and a one-minute video in which the applicant answers some given questions and explains why he or she should be among the first humans to set foot on Mars. At the end of the first round, a team of Mars One experts will decide which applicants will pass to the next round.
The remaining applicants must then provide a medical statement from their doctor stating that they have met all the requirements. Successful candidates will then be briefly interviewed by Mars One’s chief medical officer Norbert Kraft.
One-hundred healthy, smart candidates are then in the third round which will test their team work ability and communication skills through a series of group challenges.
The final part of the testing process is the ability to stay alone. Even the best astronauts in history can hardly enjoy the silent space. Following this challenge, the forty remaining candidates will be reduced to thirty who will then undergo the Mars Settler Suitability Interview. Following on from the first selection series, international crews of up to six groups of four will become full time employees of Mars One.
【小题1】What is the organizers’ attitude towards the online survey result?| A．Understandable. | B．Satisfied. | C．Unexpected. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．Stop carrying out the agreement. | B．Move out of space backwards. |
| C．Drive aircrafts backwards and leave. | D．Fail to pay attention to the advertisement. |
| A．Test the candidates’ English level. | B．Check the basic information of participants. |
| C．Interview the candidates and collect the forms. | D．Determine whether candidates are eager to learn. |
| A．Their skills to communicate with others. | B．Their excellent physical health at present. |
| C．Their abilities to cooperate with the team. | D．Their long-time adaptability to being alone. |
