Question 12 is based on the passage you have just heard.

Passage Two

听力原文

       Robert Goddard, an American born in 1882, is widely regarded as the world’s first rocket scientist. At age 27, Goddard published his first book, in which he hypothesized that a rocket launched from earth could reach the moon. Like many visionaries, the young scientist encountered numerous skeptics. (12) [In January 1920, the New York Times ridiculed Goddard’s theory that rockets could be utilized for space exploration.] 49 years later, Apollo 11 reached the moon, and the famed newspaper published an apology to Goddard.

       Goddard launched his first rocket from an aunt’s farm in his native Massachusetts in March,1926. His maiden rocket voyage lasted a mere three seconds. It scaled an altitude of only 12 metres. (13) [Nonetheless, it was a milestone in rocket science.] 

        Goddard later consulted with a weather expert and (14) [determined that the climate of New Mexico was ideal for year-round rocket launches.] In 1930, Goddard and his family relocated there to a remote valley in the southwest of the country. There he established a laboratory and test range. However, the ambitious scientist received negligible support from the government. For four years, wealthy businessman Daniel Guggenheim provided Goddard with an annual $25,000 grant to pursue his dreams. Other rocket enthusiasts also raised funds for him. 

        Over time, Goddard’s rockets grew more sophisticated and included the installation of instruments. In spite of his many successes, Goddard was never able to interest the US military in rocket propelled weapons. (15) [He was granted over 200 patents and continued to pioneer rocket technology until his death in 1945.]

12. What do we learn about Goddard’s idea of using rockets for space exploration?（关于戈达德利用火箭进行太空探索的想法，我们了解到了什么？）

解析：B。录音中表示，1920年1月，《纽约时报》嘲笑戈达德的火箭可以用于太空探索的理论。由此可知戈达德利用火箭进行太空探索的想法曾遭到《纽约时报》的嘲笑，B项中的ridiculed和New York Times为原词复现，故B项正确。

错项排除：录音中说1920年1月，《纽约时报》嘲笑戈达德的火箭可以用于太空探索的理论。49年后，阿波罗11号抵达月球，《纽约时报》发表了对戈达德的道歉。因此道歉指的是《纽约时报》后来的道歉，并非戈达德道歉，A项错误。49指的是49年后，阿波罗11号抵达月球，并不是说戈达德利用火箭进行太空探索的想法是一个为期49年的计划，因此C项错误。D项利用录音中出现的visionaries进行干扰，但录音说戈达德像很多有远见的人一样受到人们怀疑，D项与此相悖，故排除。