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

Mr. Metreveli is designing for Israel a more advanced form of rescue platform than the Eagle or the Eaglet.

A:Right B:Wrong C:Not mentioned

Our company is (collaborating) with a Japanese firm in designing a new computer.

A:merging B:allocating C:communicating D:cooperating

Our company is collaborating with a Japanese firm in designing a new computer.（）

A:merging B:allocating C:communicating D:cooperating

Our company is (collaborating) with a Japanese firm in designing a new computer.

A:merging B:allocating C:communicating D:cooperating

Our company is (collaborating) with a Japanese firm in designing a new computer.

A:merging B:allocating C:communicating D:cooperating

In designing a logistical system, a delicate balance must be maintained between transportation cost and ( ).

A:management B:information flow C:service quality D:service quantity