“The fragile blue marble” (paragraph 5) is a metaphor
used by the author to refer to
So You Want to Be a Space Tourist? Here Are
Your Options
by Adam Mann / Jul.21.2017 /11:30 AM ET
Though we’ve been living in the Space Age for more
than half a century, going into space remains an extreme
rarity. Fewer than 600 people have gone above the Kármán
line — the point, about 62 miles above Earth, that marks the
beginning of space — and all were put there by the U.S. or
another nation's government.
But the rise of private spaceflight companies like Virgin Galactic
and Space X means that the final frontier may soon
be within reach of a great many more of us. The firms have
announced plans to put private astronauts, a.k.a. space tourists,
on orbital or suborbital flights within the next few years.
Initially, the cost of a ride on one of these rockets will be
hundreds of thousands of dollars at a minimum. That puts
the experience within reach of only the wealthiest people.
But advances in rocket and capsule design are expected
to lower the price to the point that people of more modest
fortunes are able to afford a ticket.
Some projections put the global space tourism market at
approximately $34 billion by 2021.
What Space Tourists Can Expect
What exactly is in store for space tourists? The excitement
of a rocket ride and a chance to experience weightlessness,
for starters. And the bragging rights are hard to beat. But
some say the biggest benefit of going into space is getting
a dramatic new outlook on life on the fragile blue marble we
call home. It’s a perspective shift that could have profound
implications not just for individuals but also for society at
large.
“I personally believe the planetary perspective is going to
be crucial to solving humanity’s biggest challenges over the
next century,” says Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides.
“I’m inspired that we’ll take people up so they can experience
that view, which is said to change your world view in a
fundamental way.”
Adapted from: https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/so-you-want-be-space-tourist-here-are-your-options-ncna784166
Glossary
weightlessness: ausência de peso; bragging rights: direito
de gabar-se; to afford: poder comprar.
So You Want to Be a Space Tourist? Here Are Your Options
by Adam Mann / Jul.21.2017 /11:30 AM ET
Though we’ve been living in the Space Age for more than half a century, going into space remains an extreme rarity. Fewer than 600 people have gone above the Kármán line — the point, about 62 miles above Earth, that marks the beginning of space — and all were put there by the U.S. or another nation's government.
But the rise of private spaceflight companies like Virgin Galactic and Space X means that the final frontier may soon be within reach of a great many more of us. The firms have announced plans to put private astronauts, a.k.a. space tourists, on orbital or suborbital flights within the next few years.
Initially, the cost of a ride on one of these rockets will be hundreds of thousands of dollars at a minimum. That puts the experience within reach of only the wealthiest people. But advances in rocket and capsule design are expected to lower the price to the point that people of more modest fortunes are able to afford a ticket.
Some projections put the global space tourism market at approximately $34 billion by 2021.
What Space Tourists Can Expect
What exactly is in store for space tourists? The excitement of a rocket ride and a chance to experience weightlessness, for starters. And the bragging rights are hard to beat. But some say the biggest benefit of going into space is getting a dramatic new outlook on life on the fragile blue marble we call home. It’s a perspective shift that could have profound implications not just for individuals but also for society at large.
“I personally believe the planetary perspective is going to be crucial to solving humanity’s biggest challenges over the next century,” says Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides. “I’m inspired that we’ll take people up so they can experience that view, which is said to change your world view in a fundamental way.”
Adapted from: https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/so-you-want-be-space-tourist-here-are-your-options-ncna784166
Glossary
weightlessness: ausência de peso; bragging rights: direito
de gabar-se; to afford: poder comprar.
Gabarito comentado
Tema central da questão: Interpretação de texto com foco no reconhecimento de metáforas.
A metáfora é uma importante figura de linguagem utilizada para criar um efeito de sentido por meio da comparação implícita entre dois elementos diferentes. No texto, aparece a expressão "the fragile blue marble", que se traduz como "a frágil bola azul".
O termo "blue marble" foi popularizado por fotos da Terra tiradas do espaço, evidenciando seu aspecto arredondado e azul. O adjetivo "fragile" reforça a ideia de vulnerabilidade do planeta, chamando atenção para aspectos ambientais e a necessidade de cuidado.
Justificativa da alternativa correta:
A resposta correta é D) the Planet Earth. A expressão em questão é claramente uma metáfora para a Terra. Usar figuras de linguagem como essa é comum em artigos de divulgação científica ou reportagens de interesse geral para criar engajamento, como orientam as melhores práticas em interpretação textual em inglês de provas e manuais consagrados para concursos (basta ver autores como Cláudio Moreno ou coletâneas de interpretação textual).
Análise das alternativas incorretas:
- A) a rocket ride: "Rocket ride" refere-se à viagem no foguete e não pode ser associado a uma bola azul frágil.
- B) society at large: Embora sociedade possa ser considerada frágil, não há relação visual ou literal com "blue marble".
- C) the Kármán Line: Kármán Line refere-se ao limite da atmosfera, não à aparência do planeta.
Estratégias para provas: Sempre desconfie de alternativas que trocam o sentido literal por um figurado fora do contexto, ou tentam relacionar elementos técnicos (como "Kármán Line") quando a metáfora usada é claramente visual e conhecida.
Essa habilidade de identificar figuras de linguagem é fundamental não apenas para questões de vestibular, mas para qualquer prova de leitura crítica. Treine sempre buscar o contexto imediato e evitar generalizações precipitadas.
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