IELTS Speaking Part 3: Is Space Exploration Worth the Cost?

Let's move on to science and space exploration.

我们接着来聊聊科学和太空探索。

Is space exploration a worthwhile use of public money?

太空探索值得动用公共资金吗？

Oh, I'm a bit of a space nerd, so... yes!

哦，我算是个太空迷，所以……是的！

Ha, I suspected you might say that.

哈，我就怀疑您会这么说。

Seriously though, it's not as wasteful as it seems.

不过说真的，这并不像看上去那么浪费。

Space research has given us countless everyday technologies.

太空研究给我们带来了无数日常生活中使用的技术。

Satellite navigation and weather forecasting, for instance.

比如卫星导航和天气预报。

But couldn't that money tackle poverty here on Earth?

但这笔钱难道不能用来解决地球上的贫困问题吗？

Hmm, that's the obvious counterargument...

嗯，这是最显而易见的反对意见……

and I don't want to dismiss it lightly.

我也不想轻易地否定它。

But space budgets are tiny compared to, say, defence spending.

但太空预算与比如国防开支相比，简直微不足道。

Really? Are you sure about that?

真的吗？您确定吗？

I'm afraid I don't know the exact figures.

恐怕我不知道确切的数字。

But I'm fairly confident it's a small fraction.

不过我相当有把握，那只占很小一部分。

That's fine. Let's move on.

没关系。我们继续。

Should private companies lead space exploration now?

现在应该由私营企业来引领太空探索吗？

Oh, that worries me slightly, to be honest.

哦，说实话，这让我有点担心。

Billionaires racing each other to Mars? It feels like vanity!

亿万富翁们争相飞往火星？这感觉就像是虚荣！

Yet they've dramatically reduced the cost of launches.

然而，他们大幅降低了发射成本。

True, reusable rockets have been a genuine breakthrough.

没错，可重复使用的火箭确实是一项真正的突破。

I just think space shouldn't belong to whoever's richest.

我只是认为太空不应该属于最富有的人。

That's a thoughtful distinction.

这是个深思熟虑的区分。

Will humans ever live on another planet, do you think?

您认为人类有朝一日会住到另一个星球上吗？

Wow, now that's the dream, isn't it?

哇，这才是梦想啊，不是吗？

Realistically, though, Mars is brutally hostile to human life.

不过现实地说，火星对人类生命极其严酷。

Perhaps... in a century or so, with luck.

也许……一个世纪左右以后，运气好的话。

Thank you. That's the end of the speaking test.

谢谢。口语考试到此结束。

Oh, already? That was over in a flash!

哦，已经结束了？一眨眼就过去了！