夏说英语新闻晨读 第280期:卡西尼计划

 本期内容：
The American-led Cassini space mission to Saturn¹ has just come to a spectacular end. Controllers had commanded the probe to destroy itself by plunging² into the planet's atmosphere. It survived for just over a minute before being broken apart. Cassini had run out of fuel and NASA had determined³ that the probe should not be allowed simply to wander uncontrolled among Saturn and its moons.

Saturn：土星
Spectacular：壮观的
Command：命令
Probe：探测器
Plunge：坠入

1 Saturn   

n.农神，土星

参考例句：

• Astronomers used to ask why only Saturn has rings.天文学家们过去一直感到奇怪，为什么只有土星有光环。
• These comparisons suggested that Saturn is made of lighter materials.这些比较告诉我们，土星由较轻的物质构成。

2 plunging   

adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• War broke out again, plunging the people into misery and suffering. 战祸复发，生灵涂炭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He is plunging into an abyss of despair. 他陷入了绝望的深渊。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。