come a long way 8.________ learning that the Earth is not flat and spins in 9.________ oval­shaped orbit 10.________ the sun.

　　【答案】　1.has been visited　2.to explore 3．marked　4.More　5.International　6.stages 7．but　8.since　9.an　10.around

　　 (教材P26)After this，interest faded and the number of manned flights dropped_off.

　　从那以后，兴趣逐渐消退，载人飞行的次数下降了。

　　(1)fade vt.& vi.(使)褪去，(使)逐渐变弱，(使)枯萎；逐渐消失

　　fade away　　　　　 逐渐消失；病重死亡

　　fade in/out (使)(画面)淡入/出，渐显/隐；

　　 (使)(声音)渐强/弱

　　①The admiration of foreign­style education system is getting stronger instead of fading ________.

　　对国外教育体系的崇拜越来越强而不是消退。

　　②The memory of her friends in her childhood faded ________ from her mind.

　　她对童年时代朋友的记忆已经逐渐淡去了。

　　【答案】　①away　②out

　　(2)drop off让......下车；减少；下降；睡着

　　　写出下列句中drop off的含义

　　③Traffic in the town has dropped off since the by­pass opened.________

　　④I dropped off and missed the end of the film.________

　　⑤Drop me off at the next stop；I can walk straight there.________

　　【答案】　③下降　④睡着　⑤让......下车

　　drop out (of...)　　　 辍学；退出；脱落

drop away 逐渐下降；减少