If humans ever settle on Mars, they will need water. There is just one problem---there seems to be only huge sheets of ice. Luckily, we know how to drill(钻孔） ice for water. Such methods are already used in Antarctica, and researchers now think they could get them to work on the Red Planet, too. The atmosphere of Mars is too dry to make extracting water vapour from it possible. So ice seems the best bet. But the obvious ice sheets are in the unlivable polar ice caps and would be difficult to reach for drilling.

However, in 2018, at the edge of the cliffs, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spotted relatively accessible water ice that is probably at least 130metres thick and covered in just a few metres of rock and dust. These may be the best place to get the water needed for future exploration of the planet.

The drilling techniques needed have already been developed for cold areas on Earth where we need to melt buried ice for water. In the early 1960s the US Army used a type of subsurface reservoir(水库)called Rod Well, in army camps in Greenland. The method works by drilling through the ground into the ice, melting the ice to create a pool, and then pumping water up. By supplying heat continuously, they create a reservoir and a steady water                    supply. It has been used in remote areas such as the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station Stephen Hoffman at the Aerospace Corporation in Texas and his colleagues simulated(模拟)how a Rod Well would do on Mars. They found that with the power of 9 kilowatts (千瓦)to melt ice, it could in theory produce about 380 litres of water each day and maintain a reservoir of constant size at the bottom of a borehole(钻孔). That is close to the average daily water use each person in the US, but about 10 times what each astronaut on the International Space Station uses daily.

Marketing research can give a business a picture of what kinds of new products and services may bring a profit. 【小题1】 By researching the answers to specific questions, small-business owners can learn whether they need to change their package design or adjust their delivery methods. 【小题2】

Failure to do market research before you begin a business venture or during its operation is like driving a car from Texas to New York without a map or street signs. You have to know which direction to travel and how fast to go. 【小题3】 It will also tell you when they are most likely and willing to purchase your goods or use your services.

When you conduct marketing research, you can use the results either to create a business and marketing plan or to measure the success of your current plan. That’s why it’s important to ask the right questions, in the right way, of the right people. 【小题4】

The goal of primary research is to gather data from analyzing current sales and the effectiveness of current practices. Primary research also takes competitors’ plans into account, giving you information about your competition.

【小题5】 With secondary data, you can identify competitors, establish benchmarks (标准) and identify targets. Your targets are the people who fall into your targeted population: people who live a certain lifestyle, exhibit particular behavioral patterns or fall into a predetermined age group.

How to learn a new language as an adult

Learning a new language can be a tough challenge at any age. However, it seems to be exceptionally difficult to get the hang of a foreign tongue as we age. 【小题1】 Yet, you can still master a foreign tongue as an adult with these tips:

It’s about connection.

It’s important to remember that learning a language is not really about learning a language. 【小题2】 Try to connect with people you may know by sharing your experience, or listen to podcasts and music in your target language, or read about the country’s history.

【小题3】

Watching TV shows in another language is an excellent way to get used to hearing a foreign tongue spoken in real-time. 【小题4】 TV shows, films, podcasts and even video games are all great forms of entertainment for learning a new language. Not only will these forms of entertainment lend added cultural and regional insights, but they’ll help you have fun while doing it.

Patience is key.

While you are learning, be patient with yourself. Learn to love your progress and celebrate your successes. Did you know the word “piano” means “piano”, “slow” and “quiet” in Italian? Adding a single new word to your vocabulary can be so beautiful and rewarding. 【小题5】.