Technology & present perfect · News English
A small rover, a long journey
Perseverance passes a driving record on Mars.
Read the story, check the words, then answer the questions and speak.
More ground to explore
Can a slow vehicle still make a long journey?
1NASA’s Perseverance rover has set a new driving record on Mars. On 11 October 2026, its total distance reached 45.22 kilometres. This passed the previous record of 45.16 kilometres, held by NASA’s Opportunity rover.
2Perseverance has six wheels. It explores the surface and studies rocks. A long journey is useful because it brings more places within reach. Different places can offer different clues about the planet’s past. The record is an extra result of that scientific work.
3The rover does not need people to choose every small movement. Its AutoNav system checks the ground and helps it find a route. It has used this system for more than 90 percent of its total driving distance. This is not the same as saying that no people are involved in the mission.
4NASA published the report on 12 October. The photograph was taken by a navigation camera on 11 October, the day the rover passed the record. It shows the ground during that journey. A photograph and a distance measurement tell us different things: one shows a view, while the other records how far the rover has travelled.
Original teaching summary. Models and practice sentences are illustrative learning examples, not news quotations.
Word help · Three useful words
Read the meanings and examples. Choose one word to use in your own sentence.
rover
a vehicle that travels across another world’s surface
The rover studies rocks.
route
the path used to get somewhere
We chose a short route.
record
the best or largest result measured so far
The team set a new record.
Check your reading · Three questions
Choose one answer for every question, then check. You can change an answer and check again.
Useful English: experience up to now
She has travelled a long way. He has used this map. Use has plus a past participle for a result connected to now.
Say two things you have done in your town. Use I have visited and I have used.
Model and help
Model: I have visited the library. I have used the new bus route.
Speak: your ideas
Say two things you have done in your town. Use I have visited and I have used.
Labelled model answer
I have visited the library. I have used the new bus route.
Illustrative learning example, not a news quotation.
Alone: repeat without the model. Tutor: ask one follow-up question.
Mastery check · Three questions
Choose one answer for every question, then check. You can change an answer and check again.
Sources and reporting date
NASA report published 12 October 2026 at 17:20 EDT (UTC-04:00). Record drive on 11 October.
- NASA’s Perseverance Sets Off-World Record for Total Distance Driven
NASA report published 12 October 2026 at 17:20 EDT (UTC-04:00). Record drive on 11 October. - Image and credit
Perseverance navigation-camera photograph taken 11 October 2026, the day its drive passed Opportunity’s distance record.