Every now and then, you may hear news of satellites (卫星) sent into space. On Feb 21, for example, US company SpaceX took 46 satellites into orbit (轨道). On Feb 27, China sent 22 satellites into orbit. Why do we need satellites?

There are more than 3, 000 active satellites moving around the earth, according to a Germany company. Satellites have all kinds of roles, such as sending TV signals (信号), showing you the way on the road, helping scientists with their studies, etc.

For example, the 22 satellites China just sent up are part of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (北斗卫星导航系统). Shared bikes that use BeiDou chips (芯片) can provide more correct places, making them easier to find. Drones (无人机) can also use BeiDou while flying.

Before satellites, TV signals don’t reach very far. Mountains or tall buildings would block the signals. Phone calls to faraway places were also a problem. With satellites, TV signals and phone calls can be sent directly to a satellite and back down to different places on the earth. SpaceX is trying to go further. It plans to use satellites to provide people with Internet all over the world.

Satellites can also provide information about clouds, oceans, land and ice. They help scientists know changes in weather. By watching wildfires and volcanoes (火山), satellites can help to deal with natural disasters (灾害). Farmers can use satellites pictures to decide the best time to water their plants.

【小题1】What can we know from the second paragraph?

A．People live better with the help of satellites.

B．With satellites, people will not be lost on the road any more.

C．Over 3000 Chinese satellites move around the earth day and night.

D．China has sent more satellites into orbit than the USA in February.

【小题2】What does the underlined word “block” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．make signals clearer	B．make signals weaker
C．make signals stronger	D．make signals brighter

【小题3】What’s the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．Satellites do great help to farmers.	B．Satellites send phone calls back to the earth.
C．Satellites provide information about the weather.	D．Satellites offer to help people travel all over the world.

【小题4】What would be the best title of the passage?

A．More and better satellites	B．Useful satellites in space
C．The development of satellites	D．BeiDou Navigation Satellite