Astronomy Exam
Astronomy Exam
Astronomy Exam
: 2022/2023
Level : 3AS/ MT/M/GE Duration : 2h
The Second Term English Examination
Behind a long rectangular window, in a high white room tended by ghostly figures in masks and hats,
a new satellite is taking shape. Once in orbit later this year, WorldView-3 will be one of the most powerful
Earth observation satellites ever sent into space by a private company. Spinning around the planet some 600
kilometres (370 miles) above us, it will cover every part of the Earth’s surface every couple of days.
Ball Aerospace in Boulder, Colorado is building WorldView-3 for commercial satellite operator
DigitalGlobe. It is the latest in a series of spacecraft designed to beam back high-resolution pictures of our
planet, images that most of us will eventually see on Google Maps or Google Earth.
This month Google Maps celebrates its ninth anniversary, and in June so does the company’s 3-D
mapping app, Google Earth. Together they have changed the way we view the world. “Everybody I’m sure
has looked up their house, their downtown, their business on Google Earth, and seen images from these
satellites,” says Jeff Dierks, Program Manager at Ball. “It gives me a lot of pride when I see a satellite image
on a news programme with the DigitalGlobe logo on them.”
With its long cylindrical shape, WorldView-3 looks more like a telescope than a camera and it works
on the same principle. The light comes in through a barrel structure, pointed at the Earth, and is bounced
around by a series of mirrors, before being focused onto a CCD sensor. The big difference – apart from the
size – between this and a typical handheld digital camera, is that the spacecraft will not just take snapshots
but continuous images along thin strips of land or sea. Behind it, a giant Stars and Stripes flag has been
painted across the wall. “Seeing the flag makes our government customers unbelievably happy,” laughs
Dierks.
Adapted from :https://www.bbc.com/future/article/2014
Topic Two :
You were scrolling through Instagram when an attractive ad announcing the opening of a new fast
food restaurant in your city showed up. As You couldn’t resist the images showing delicious food, you
immediately ordred a delivery. Unfortunately, the delivery took a long time to arrive and the food was cold
and tasteless. Write a letter of complaint to express your dissatisfaction with the food and the service.
I have to succeed.
I have no other choice.