VOA慢速英语--Nine-Year-Old Applies for NASA Job

 

This is What’s Trending Today.

Last week, the American space agency NASA announced it was looking for a “Planetary Protection Officer.”

Many people discussed the job on social media. The Washington Post called the job’s title “one of the greatest ever conceived.”

Most people thought the job seemed like something out of a movie. Action stars like Bruce Willis in “Armageddon” or Will Smith in “Men in Black” or “Independence Day” seem like they would be good candidates for the job.

After NASA published the job description, a nine-year-old boy from the state of New Jersey¹ wrote a letter to NASA. He told the space agency that he believes he is the right person for the job.

The boy, Jack² Davis, used a pencil and a white sheet of paper to write the letter. In it, he wrote: “I may be nine, but I think I would be a good fit … my sister says I am an alien. Also, I have seen all the space and alien movies I can see.”

Because he is still so young, Jack wrote, he can easily learn to “think like an alien.”

Jack signed the letter with his official title: “Guardian of the Galaxy³.”

The job, however, is more about science and biology and less about fighting aliens. The “Planetary Protection Officer” must make sure that NASA does not bring invasive species or plants to other planets, and does not return from trips to space with anything that might harm Earth.

Someone has been doing this job for NASA since the 1960s.

NASA posted Jack’s letter on its website.

James Green is the director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division. He responded to young Jack.

He explained that the person with the job protects Earth from “tiny microbes when we bring samples back from the moon, asteroids⁴ and Mars.”

Green also wrote that NASA is always looking for scientists and engineers. He advised the boy to “study hard and do well in school,” and wrote “we hope to see you here at NASA one of these days!”

Jonathan Rall is NASA’s Planetary Research Director. He called Jack to congratulate him on his interest in the job.

A physicist⁵ named Sophia Nasr commented on Jack’s letter. She wrote on Twitter: “I adore NASA’s response to the young boy…” and included a heart emoji.

And that’s What’s Trending Today.

I’m Dan Friedell.

Words in This Story

galaxy – n. any one of the very large groups of stars that make up the universe

conceive – v. to think of or create (something) in the mind

species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants : a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus

microbe – n. a small living thing that can only be seen using a microscope

adore – v. to love or admire something very much

emoji – n. a small digital image used to express an idea in electronic messages

alien – n. a creature that comes from somewhere other than the planet Earth

1 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

2 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

3 galaxy   

n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物)

参考例句：

• The earth is one of the planets in the Galaxy.地球是银河系中的星球之一。
• The company has a galaxy of talent.该公司拥有一批优秀的人才。

4 asteroids   

n.小行星( asteroid的名词复数 )；海盘车，海星

参考例句：

• Asteroids,also known as "minor planets",are numerous in the outer space. 小行星，亦称为“小型行星”，在外太空中不计其数。
• Most stars probably have their quota of planets, meteorids, comets, and asteroids. 多数恒星也许还拥有若干行星、流星、彗星和小行星。

5 physicist   

n.物理学家，研究物理学的人

参考例句：

• He is a physicist of the first rank.他是一流的物理学家。
• The successful physicist never puts on airs.这位卓有成就的物理学家从不摆架子。