Satellites are an important part of our ordinary lives. For example, the information for weather forecasts is sent by satellite. Some satellites have cameras which take photographs of the earth to show how clouds are moving. Satellites are also used to connect our international phone calls.

Computer connections of the World Wide Web and Internet also use satellites. Many of our TV programmes come to us through satellites. Airplane pilots also sometimes use a satellite to help them find their exact location.

We use satellites to send television pictures from one part of the world to another. They are usually 35,880 kilometers above the equator. Sometimes we can see a satellite in the sky and it seems to stay in the same place. This is because it is moving around the world at 11,000 kilometers an hour —exactly the same speed that the earth rotates. A satellite must orbit the earth with its antennae(天线) facing the earth. Sometimes, it moves away from its orbit. So there are little rockets on it which are used to put the satellite back in the right position. This usually happens about every five or six days.

Space is not empty! Every week, more and more satellites are sent into space to orbit the earth. A satellite usually works for about 10~12 years. Satellites which are broken are sometimes repaired by astronauts or sometimes brought back to earth to be repaired. Often, very old or broken satellites are left in space to orbit the earth for a very long time. This is very serious because some satellites use nuclear power and they can crash into each other.

【小题1】Which of the following is NOT done by satellites according to the passage?

A．Sending information for weather forecast.

B．Taking photographs of the earth.

C．Sending TV pictures.

D．Providing food for airplane pilots.

【小题2】What's the speed the earth rotates（旋转） at?

A．35,880 kilometers per hour.	B．335,880 kilometers per hour.
C．11,000 kilometers per hour.	D．110,000 kilometers per hour.

【小题3】What does the underlined word “This” in the third paragraph refer to?

A．A satellite.	B．A little rocket.
C．A satellite seems to stay in the same place in the sky.	D．The satellite puts the rockets in the right position.

【小题4】Which is TRUE of satellites?

A．A satellite usually works for about 10~12 years.

B．Every time a satellite gets broken, it is brought back to the earth to be repaired.

C．A broken satellite is never left in space.

D．They often crash into each other.