Question

review the first and second paragraphs. timely trip in the relatively new era of human space exploration, astonishing feats seem to come one after another. from the 1950s until the 1970s, the united states and the soviet union sought to best one another in travel and research exploits beyond the earths atmosphere, from orbiting the planet to walking on the moon. today, over five hundred people from roughly forty countries have orbited earth. the international space station, the most elaborate global scientific project in history, is the result of the engineering prowess of five different nations. experts, from astronauts to physicists, are now working toward the next interstellar triumph: sending humans to mars. there are important motivations for this daunting yet essential task: how do the first and second paragraphs introduce the topic? the two paragraphs compare and contrast the methods of space travel during the early days of space exploration and in modern times. one paragraph supplies background information about space exploration, and the other paragraph outlines a problem. one paragraph presents a problem with the mars mission, and the other paragraph qualifies the main claim to accommodate the problem.

Explanation:

The first paragraph gives historical background on human space - exploration from the 1950s - 1970s美苏太空竞赛 and modern - day achievements like the number of people orbiting Earth and the International Space Station. It doesn't outline a problem or compare methods in detail. The second paragraph then sets up the goal of sending humans to Mars and mentions motivations, but no problem is presented in the first two paragraphs. So, one paragraph supplies background information about space exploration.

Answer:

One paragraph supplies background information about space exploration, and the other paragraph outlines a problem.