Mark Twain, who wrote the story we’re going to read, traveled quite a lot often because circumstamces, usually (36) circumstances, forced him to. He was born in Florida, Missouri in 1835 and moved to Hannibal, Missouri with his family when he was about 4 years old. Most people think he was born in Hannibal but that isn’t true. After his father died when he was about 12, Twain worked in Hannibal for a while and then left, so he could (37) more money. He worked for a while as a typesetter on (38) newspapers and then got a job as a river (39) on the Mississippi. Twain loved this job and many of his books show it. The river job didn’t last, however, because of the (40) of the Civil War. Twain, was in the (41) Army for just 2 weeks and then he and his whole (42) went west to get away from the war and the army. In Nevada and California Twain (43) for silver and gold without much luck, but did succeed as a writer. (44) . (45) . (46)

According to preliminary market surveys, there are 10,000 would-be space tourists willing to spend $1 million each to visit the final frontier. Space Adventures in Arlington have taken more than 130 deposits for a two-hour, $98,000 space tour tentatively set to occur by 2005. This may sound great, but there are a few hurdles. Putting a simple satellite into orbit--with no oxygen, life support or return trip necessary--already costs an astronomical $2,200/kg. And that doesn’t include the cost of insuring rich and possibly litigious (爱打官司的) passengers. The entire group of entrepreneurs trying to corner the space- tourism market has between them "just enough money to blow up one rocket".The U.S. space agency has plenty of money but zero interest in making space less expensive for the little guys. So the little guys are racing to do what the government has failed to do: design a reusable launch system that’s inexpensive, safe and reliable. Kelly Space’s prototype looks like a plane that has sprouted rocket engines. Rotary Rocket in California has a booster with rotors to make a helicopter-style return to earth. The first passenger countdowns are still years away, but bureaucrats at the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington are already informally discussing flight regulations. After all, you can’t be too prepared for a trip to that galaxy far, far away.

A wise counselor once said to a young man who was experiencing frustration with his own professional success: "You do not have to set your goal to reach the moon in order to have success in traveling. Sometimes one can be very successful merely by taking a walk in the park, or riding the subway downtown," The counselor added, "You have not really failed and spoiled your chances for success until you have been unsuccessful at something you really like, and to which you have given your best effort.\