Rescue Platform

     In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, security experts are trying to develop new ways of rescuing people from burning skyscrapers. One idea is a platform capable of flying vertically and hovering in the air like a helicopter.¹ The platform would rise up and down alongside a skyscraper and pick up people trapped in high stories.

    The idea for the vertical takeoff platform was hatched more than ten years ago by a Russian aerospace engineer, David Metreveli, who has since² moved to Israel. Metreveli’s design, called the Eagle, calls for two jet engines that turn four large horizontal propellers. The spinning of the propellers generates the necessary lift, or upward force, to raise the platform. The more power is supplied to the propellers, the higher the platform rises. Moving the platform sideways involves applying differing amounts of power to each propeller.

    Helicopters are now used in some cases to get people out of burning buildings. Escape baskets³ slung from them dangle beside the building for people to climb into. Unfortunately, the baskets cannot reach every floor of a building because the ropes from which they hang become unstable beyond a certain length.

    So far, Metreveli has built a small-scale model of the Eagle to test his idea. In the wake of⁴ September 11, he has been able to secure enough funding to start building a larger, 4-meter by 4-meter⁵ prototype, which he calls the Eaglet.

 

词汇：

aftermath / ’ɑ:ftəmæθ, -mɑ: θ /n．结果，后果

hover / ’hɒvə(r)/ v．盘旋

hatch / hætʃ/ v．策划

propeller / prə’pelə(r) / n．螺旋桨;推进器

sling / slɪŋ/ v．用悬带吊挂（slung, slung）

dangle / ’dæŋgl / v．摇摆

prototype / ’prəʊtətaɪp / n．原型 

 

注释：

1．One idea is a platform capable of flying vertically and hovering in the air like a helicopter：形容词短语capable of flying vertically and hovering ...用作定语，修饰platform。

2．since = since ten years ago

3．escape basket：救生篮

4．in the wake of：在……后

5．4-meter by 4-meter：4米×4米

 

A rescue platform called the Eagle is capable of moving vertically but not sideways.

A:Right  B:Wrong C:Not mentioned

After Man has dreamed about flying for a long time. Michael Moshier is a dreamer. He invented the Solo Trek.
The Solo Trek had a 120 horsepower engine with twin fans. Only one person flies. As you fly above the roofs, you lean a little forward. You can see everything under you. You are flying like Superman.
Michael Moshier looked at the jet belt and the rocket belt that was developed 20-30 years ago. Nothing ever came from them. People still can’t fly.
Inventors have tried to make it easy for people to fly. Paul Moller has been working on his flying car for 30 years. He now says it is ready for tests. It would take off and land vertically, go 600 miles an hour, and deliver 20 miles to the gallon. A computer would do the actual flying. He says it could be sold next year for about a million dollars.
NASA is working with Moshier to help develop his flying machine. The first users are likely to be military.
It’s been 50-years since Robert Fulton invented his airphibian, a flying car. It flew, and is now in the Smithsonian Museum.
Getting dreams to fly is never easy.

Paul Moller’s flying car is different than an airplane because （　）

A:it has no wings B:it uses solar power C:it takes Off and lands vertically D:it can land on water

After Man has dreamed about flying for a long time. Michael Moshier is a dreamer. He invented the Solo Trek.
The Solo Trek had a 120 horsepower engine with twin fans. Only one person flies. As you fly above the roofs, you lean a little forward. You can see everything under you. You are flying like Superman.
Michael Moshier looked at the jet belt and the rocket belt that was developed 20-30 years ago. Nothing ever came from them. People still can’t fly.
Inventors have tried to make it easy for people to fly. Paul Moller has been working on his flying car for 30 years. He now says it is ready for tests. It would take off and land vertically, go 600 miles an hour, and deliver 20 miles to the gallon. A computer would do the actual flying. He says it could be sold next year for about a million dollars.
NASA is working with Moshier to help develop his flying machine. The first users are likely to be military.
It’s been 50-years since Robert Fulton invented his airphibian, a flying car. It flew, and is now in the Smithsonian Museum.
Getting dreams to fly is never easy.
Paul Moller’s flying car is different than an airplane because ______ .

A:it has no wings B:it uses solar power C:it takes off and lands vertically D:it can land on water

Passage Five
After Man has dreamed about flying for a long time. Michael Moshier is a dreamer. He invented the Solo Trek.
The Solo Trek had a 120 horsepower engine with twin fans. Only one person flies. As you fly above the roofs, you lean a little forward. You can see everything under you. You are flying like Superman.
Michael Moshier looked at the jet belt and the rocket belt that was developed 20, 30 years ago. Nothing ever came from them. People still can’t fly.
Inventors have tried to make it easy for people to fly. Paul Moiler has been working on his flying car for 30 years. He now says it is ready for tests. It would take off and land vertically, go 600 miles an hour, and deliver 20 miles to the gallon. A computer would do the actual flying. He says it could be sold next year for about a million dollars.
NASA is working with Moshier to help develop his flying machine. The first users are likely to be military.
It’s been 50-years since Robert Fulton invented his airphibian, a flying car. It flew, and is now in the Smithsonian Museum.
Getting dreams to fly is never easy.

Paul Moller's flying car is different than an airplane because （）

A:it has no wings B:it uses solar power C:it takes off and lands vertically D:it can land on water

After Man has dreamed about flying for a long time. Michael Moshier is a dreamer. He invented the Solo Trek.
The Solo Trek had a 120 horsepower engine with twin fans. Only one person flies. As you fly above the roofs, you lean a little forward. You can see everything under you. You are flying like Superman.
Michael Moshier looked at the jet belt and the rocket belt that was developed 20-30 years ago. Nothing ever came from them. People still can’t fly.
Inventors have tried to make it easy for people to fly. Paul Moller has been working on his flying car for 30 years. He now says it is ready for tests. It would take off and land vertically, go 600 miles an hour, and deliver 20 miles to the gallon. A computer would do the actual flying. He says it could be sold next year for about a million dollars.
NASA is working with Moshier to help develop his flying machine. The first users are likely to be military.
It’s been 50-years since Robert Fulton invented his airphibian, a flying car. It flew, and is now in the Smithsonian Museum.
Getting dreams to fly is never easy.
Paul Moller’s flying car is different than an airplane because______.

A:it has no wings B:it uses solar power C:it takes off and lands vertically D:it can land on water

Passage Five

Paul Moller’s flying car is different than an airplane because______.

A:it has no wings B:it uses solar power C:it takes off and lands vertically D:it can land on water

After Man has dreamed about flying for a long time. Michael Moshier is a dreamer. He invented the Solo Trek.
The Solo Trek had a 120 horsepower engine with twin fans. Only one person flies. As you fly above the roofs, you lean a little forward. You can see everything under you. You are flying like Superman.
Michael Moshier looked at the jet belt and the rocket belt that was developed 20-30 years ago. Nothing ever came from them. People still can’t fly.
Inventors have tried to make it easy for people to fly. Paul Moller has been working on his flying car for 30 years. He now says it is ready for tests. It would take off and land vertically, go 600 miles an hour, and deliver 20 miles to the gallon. A computer would do the actual flying. He says it could be sold next year for about a million dollars.
NASA is working with Moshier to help develop his flying machine. The first users are likely to be military.
It’s been 50-years since Robert Fulton invented his airphibian, a flying car. It flew, and is now in the Smithsonian Museum.
Getting dreams to fly is never easy.

Paul Moller’s flying car is different than an airplane because （　）

A:it has no wings B:it uses solar power C:it takes off and lands vertically D:it can land on water