2002年高考英语全国卷 - 阅读理解A

In 1901，H. G. Wells, an English writer, wrote a book describing a trip to the moon. When the explorers landed on the moon, they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities. They expressed their surprise to the “moon people” they met. In turn, the “moon people” expressed their surprise. “Why,” they asked, “are you traveling to outer space when you don’t even use your inner space?”
1901年，英国作家H.G.威尔斯写了一本书，描述了一次月球之旅。当探险家们登上月球时，他们发现月球上到处都是地下城市。他们向遇到的“月球人”表达了他们的惊讶，而“月亮人”也表达了他们的惊讶。他们问，“为什么有内部空间你们不用，却要去外太空旅行？”

H.G. Wells could only imagine travel to the moon. In 1969, human beings really did land on the moon. People today know that there are no underground cities on the moon. However, the question that the “moon people” asked is still an interesting one. A growing number of scientists are seriously thinking about it.
H.G.威尔斯的月球之旅只是想象。1969年，人类真的登上了月球，如今的人们知道月球上没有地下城市。然而，“月球人”提出的问题仍然很有意思，越来越多的科学家正在认真思考这个问题。

Underground systems are already in place. Many cities have underground car parks. In some cities, such as Tokyo, Seoul and Montreal, there are large underground shopping areas. The “Channel”，a tunnel connecting England and France, is now complete.
地下系统已经出现，许多城市都有地下停车场。在一些城市，如东京、首尔和蒙特利尔，有大型地下购物区。连接英国和法国的“海底隧道”现已完工。

But what about underground cities? Japan’s Taisei Corporation is designing a network of underground systems, called “Alice Cities”. The designers imagine using surface space for public parks and using underground space for flats, offices, shopping, and so on. A solar dome would cover the whole city.
但是地下城市呢？日本大成公司正在设计一个名为“爱丽丝城”的地下网络。设计师们设想将地面空间用于公园，将地下空间用于公寓、办公室、购物等。太阳能圆顶将覆盖整座城市。

Supporters of underground development say that building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth’s space. The space, they say, can be used for farms, parks, gardens, and wilderness. H.G. Wells “moon people” would agree. Would you?
地下开发的支持者说，向下建造而不是向上建造是利用地球空间的好方法。他们说，这些空间可以用于农田、公园、花园和荒地。H.G.威尔斯的“月球人”会同意，你呢？