英语听力文摘 English Digest 72、去太空旅行吧!

　　It’s 60 feet long, made of lightweight, fuel-efficient material and can carry eight people out of this world and back.
The first commercial spaceship was unveiled by Sir Richard Branson, who hopes to start passenger trips within two years. The price tag¹: ￡130,000
"In time we hope to get that price down and down and down so that, you know, one day, people can think: 'Shall I take my family on holiday to the Caribbean or maybe we should try space travel this year?' That’s our aim."
Those that can pay will get the ultimate² three-hour thrill ride. The spaceship rockets to 62 miles above the earth’s surface. Passengers will feel weightless for up to five minutes before heading down through the atmosphere and gliding³ back to earth.
Organisers say some 300 have already signed up. Space, as a tourist destination, may be one step closer.
fuel-efficient:省油的
unveiled:揭幕，揭开
the Caribbean:加勒比海地区
thrill ride:刺激的航行
gliding:滑行
signed up:登记了

1 tag   

n.标签，附属物，名称，谚语；vt.附以签条，尾随，添饰，指责，连接；vi.紧随，尾随

参考例句：

• Please tag your baggage.请在你的行李上贴上标签了。
• The clerk attached a price tag to each article.店员给每一件商品系上标价签。

2 ultimate   

adj.最远的；最后的；终极的；根源的，基本的

参考例句：

• What was his ultimate goal?他的最终目标是什么？
• The sun is the ultimate store of power.太阳是能量之本。

3 gliding   

v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的

参考例句：

• Swans went gliding past. 天鹅滑行而过。
• The weather forecast has put a question mark against the chance of doing any gliding tomorrow. 天气预报对明天是否能举行滑翔表示怀疑。