space, in agreement with almost unanimous (一致的) global opinion.

　　The US military has place importance on space and has sent up numerous satellites for troop communications and to provide intelligence and data to guide bombs to their targets.

　　The US Air Force wants to develop space-based weapons that can strike targets anywhere in the world within 90 minutes of receiving the order to open fire.

　　These new weapons under development cover a wide range. They include hunter-killer satellites and orbiting weapons. And they use lasers, radio waves or even dense metal tubes, known as "Rods from God", dropped from space to do the damage.

　　There many barriers to the setting up of this kind of program, experts say.

　　First is the cost. It is estimated that the budget may be US $220 billion to US $1 trillion.

　　The technical difficulties of developing reliable space weapons are also a problem.

　　And, the program will draw strong criticism from around the world. Experts worry about starting a space arms race.

　　Title: A New Space (1) _____________ Race

　　Issue 　　US President George Bush will agree to develop space weapons. 　　

　　(2)_____________ 　　(3)___________________ 　　Potentially(4) ________a new global arms race 　　 　　The White House 　　Protecting (5)_____________ 　　 　　The US Military 　　a. Communicating between troops

　　b. (6) __________ intelligence

　　 and data

　　c. Developing space-based weapons 　　 　　The international community 　　Using space (7) ______________ 　　Weapon

　　(8) __________ 　　Hunter-killer satellites and orbiting weapons,

　　lasers, radio waves or even dense metal tubes