English Listening B1 Episode 26 - Track 12
Fill in the Blanks Exercise
THE LIFE OF AN ASTRONAUT
Dr. Donald Pettit is a NASA astronaut.
Interviewer: I'm sure people ask you this question all of the time, Dr. Pettit, but I have
ask it: Have you ever been to space?
Dr. Pettit: Yes, I have. I was a crew member of Expedition 6, and I spent five and a half months
International Space Station. We call it the ISS.
Interviewer: How many times have you gone
the space shuttle?
Dr. Pettit: I've ridden the space shuttle to the ISS
.
Interviewer: And what was the best part about
space?
Dr. Pettit: Being able to float. It was
too.
Interviewer: Have you visited any other interesting places while
for NASA?
Dr. Pettit: Well, I lived in Russia for about two years while I was training
to the ISS. I've also been to Antarctica.
Interviewer: Not many people can say that! I understand that you like to work with tools. Have you ever
anything?
Dr. Pettit: Yes. During my second trip into space, I made a special coffee cup so we could drink in space, much
we do here on Earth. I just couldn't get used to drinking coffee
a small bag through a straw!
Interviewer: I don't think I could get used to that, either. But why did you have to drink coffee
before?
Dr. Pettit: Without the bag or my special cup, the coffee
space, too.
Interviewer: Of course! Well, you've accomplished so much. Dr. Pettit. Considering all of it, what's the most exciting thing
you've experienced?
Dr. Pettit: Seeing the birth of my twin boys.
Interviewer: Wow, what a life! Thanks so much
sharing, Dr. Pettit.