Bloque A - Text 2 · Inglés PAU Andalucía Reserva Z (Admisión) 2020

TEXT 2: FIRST NASA ALL-FEMALE SPACEWALK

Two astronauts will make history as the first ever all-female team to conduct a spacewalk. Christina Koch and Jessica Meir, both NASA astronauts, are carrying out a spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) in order to replace a faulty 105kg battery. In the process, they will become the first female-only team to spacewalk, 54 years after Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov first stepped into space.

The historic event has taken on an even greater significance because of a widely reported incident which took place earlier this year. Back in March, Koch and another astronaut were announced to undertake the first ever all-female EVA (extravehicular activity), but it was cancelled when it became apparent that there was only one medium-sized spacesuit in the space station. The several large and extra-large sizes available at the station were not a perfect fit for the female astronauts, and this could cause trouble during their space work.

The new mission is expected to last 5.5 hours and, if time allows, the astronauts will not only replace the battery but also carry out some other minor jobs around the station. Cameras mounted on the astronauts' helmets will show their work in detail as they move around the exterior of the station, a harness keeping them safely close to the base throughout the operation. Viewers watching the live stream will be able to identify Koch and Meir by their space suits —Koch's will have red stripes, while Meir's will be unmarked.

Koch is an experienced astronaut and is set to break another record —her expected 328-day stay in space will be the longest single spaceflight ever carried out by a woman.

CHOOSE AND WRITE THE CORRECT OPTION (A, B, C or D). (0.5 points each)

9.

According to the text, the spacewalk will be historic because...

10.

The first ever planned all-female EVA didn't take place because...

ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH THE PRECISE WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT, OR USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (0.5 points each)

11.

The first EVA mission was completed by a 54-year old Russian astronaut.

TRUE

FALSE

12.

This will be the second EVA for Christina Koch.

TRUE

FALSE

13.

The astronauts may perform some other tasks besides replacing the battery.

TRUE

FALSE

14.

The all-female EVA will not be the only record Koch will hold.

TRUE

FALSE

15. FIND IN THE TEXT: (0.5 points)

15.1.

15.2.

16. FIND IN THE TEXT: (0.5 points)

16.1.

16.2.