In sunglasses and jumpsuits, a crew of European test astronauts is laying the groundwork for a Mars simulation in the barren expanse of the Omani desert, a terrestrial mission intended to pave the way to the red planet.         The "analogue astronauts" of (1) _____________ Austrian Space Forum -- a volunteer-based collective - have (2) _____________ in Oman to begin preparations for a four-week simulation mission (3)_____________ to the begin of next year.         Touching down at Marmul Airport, a remote outpost used (4)_____________ oil workers, the five-person advance team loaded up on sunscreen and, with (5)_____________ Omani counterparts dressed in crisp white gowns and colourful turbans, boarded four-by-fours and plunged into the desert (6) _____________ the blazing sun.         Oil installations receded (7)_____________ the background and only rocky plateaus and ancient sandy riverbeds remained (8)                  _____________far as the eye could see. Maps were spread on the hoods of the vehicles.         "We want to simulate Mars (9) _____________ Earth and so we need a place that looks as much like Mars as possible. And we (10) _____________ it here in Oman," Alexander Soucek, the lead flight director of the AMADEE-18 mission, told AFP. (Source: http://www.afp.com) 1.     A. the                        B. a                            C. an                          D. x 2.     A. come                     B. gone                      C. arrived                  D. reached 3.     A. before                   B. after                      C. via                         D. due 4.     A. with                      B. by                         C. through                 D. to 5.     A. they                      B. them                      C. their                      D. theirs 6.     A. under                    B. above                    C. inside                    D. outside 7.     A. in                          B. to                          C. into                       D. onto 8.     A. so                          B. as                          C. from                      D. to 9.     A. from                      B. with                      C. on                         D. in 10.   A. found                    B. did                        C. made                     D. brought

   In sunglasses and jumpsuits, a crew of European test astronauts is laying the groundwork for a Mars simulation in the barren expanse of the Omani desert, a terrestrial mission intended to pave the way to the red planet.

        The "analogue astronauts" of (1) _____________ Austrian Space Forum -- a volunteer-based collective - have (2) _____________ in Oman to begin preparations for a four-week simulation mission (3)_____________ to the begin of next year.

        Touching down at Marmul Airport, a remote outpost used (4)_____________ oil workers, the five-person advance team loaded up on sunscreen and, with (5)_____________ Omani counterparts dressed in crisp white gowns and colourful turbans, boarded four-by-fours and plunged into the desert (6) _____________ the blazing sun.

        Oil installations receded (7)_____________ the background and only rocky plateaus and ancient sandy riverbeds remained (8)                  _____________far as the eye could see. Maps were spread on the hoods of the vehicles.

        "We want to simulate Mars (9) _____________ Earth and so we need a place that looks as much like Mars as possible. And we (10) _____________ it here in Oman," Alexander Soucek, the lead flight director of the AMADEE-18 mission, told AFP.

(Source: http://www.afp.com)

1.     A. the                        B. a                            C. an                          D. x

2.     A. come                     B. gone                      C. arrived                  D. reached

3.     A. before                   B. after                      C. via                         D. due

4.     A. with                      B. by                         C. through                 D. to

5.     A. they                      B. them                      C. their                      D. theirs

6.     A. under                    B. above                    C. inside                    D. outside

7.     A. in                          B. to                          C. into                       D. onto

8.     A. so                          B. as                          C. from                      D. to

9.     A. from                      B. with                      C. on                         D. in

10.   A. found                    B. did                        C. made                     D. brought