英國的工程師們將領導研制一顆新衛星，以監測太陽向地球釋放的能量風暴。這個項目非常適時，因為就在本月早些時候，我們的星球遭遇到瞭一次強大的太陽風暴襲擊。這顆新衛星將使預測未來的太陽風暴變得更加容易。
The huge solar storm that hit Earth this month was described as the biggest in two decades. The Sun blasted intense radiation, billions of tonnes of matter and strong magnetic fields at our planet.
本月襲擊地球的大型太陽風暴堪稱近二十年來最大的一次。太陽向地球發射出強烈的輻射，釋放出數十億噸的物質和強磁場。
The coloured lights in the sky were spectacular, but the effects could’ve been much worse. Such storms can interrupt radio communications and even damage power grids, which is why the UK has been pushing its partners in the European Space Agency to build a new satellite to give earlier warnings.
這讓天空中的色彩看上去十分壯觀，但後果可能比想象的更嚴重。這種規模的太陽風暴可能會中斷無線電通信，甚至會破壞電網。這就是為什麼英國一直在敦促其在歐洲航天局的合作夥伴建造一顆新衛星以發出早期預警。
This spacecraft called ‘Vigil’ has now been ordered from Airbus UK. It’ll be sent millions of miles away so it can see the side of the Sun that’s about to rotate into view of the Earth. This’ll give forecasters a further three to four days’ notice of trouble that could be coming our way.
這艘名為 “Vigil（警戒）” 的航天器現已由空中客車英國公司接單制造。它將被送往數百萬英裡之外，以便能夠看到太陽即將旋轉面對地球的那一面。這將使天文預報人員能提前三到四天預知可能要發生的麻煩。
詞匯表
solar storm 太陽風暴
blasted （爆炸）發射出
radiation 輻射
matter 物質
magnetic fields 磁場
interrupt 中斷、幹擾
power grids 電網
spacecraft 航天器
rotate 旋轉
forecasters 預報人員
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. True or False? The solar storm was not that big.
2. What did the Sun blast at our planet?
3. How can solar storms negatively impact us on the Earth?
4. How will the spacecraft ‘Vigil’ help us in future solar storms?
答案
1. True or False? The solar storm was not that big.
False. The solar storm was ‘huge‘ and described as the biggest in two decades.
2. What did the Sun blast at our planet?
The Sun blasted intense radiation, billions of tonnes of matter and strong magnetic fields at our planet.
3. How can solar storms negatively impact us on the Earth?
Solar storms can interrupt radio communications and even damage power grids.
4. How will the spacecraft ‘Vigil’ help us in future solar storms?
The space craft ‘Vigil’ will give forecasters a further three to four days’ notice of trouble that could be coming our way.
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