The aeronautics company founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen provided the first look at the world's largest airplane based on wingspan. The airplane from Stratolaunch weighs 500,000 pounds, and rested on all 28 wheels for the first time, the company said in a statement.  "This was an important step in preparing the aircraft for ground testing, engine runs, taxi tests, and finally the first flight," said Jean Floyd, CEO of Stratolaunch, in a statement.

The plane is the largest in the world based on wingspan, measuring 385 feet, which is longer than a football field. The Stratolaunch aircraft features two cockpits and six Boeing 747 engines. It's capable of carrying the weight up to 550,000 pounds.

Allen founded the company in 2011 as part of a plan to make travel to low Earth orbit more accessible.  "Opening up access to low Earth orbit will deliver many benefits," Allen wrote on LinkedIn last year. "For example, we could use more satellites that would enable better understanding of why our weather patterns are changing and help increase agricultural productivity. And, we could study atmospheric chemistry more closely to better study and reduce the climate change."

Floyd says the aircraft will start testing at the Mojave Air and Space Port over the coming months, with plans for a launch demonstration in 2019. "This is a first-of-its-kind aircraft, so we’re going to be careful throughout testing and continue to make our pilots, crew and staff safe at the first place," said Floyd. Allen is among several tech companies with an eye toward space. Tesla CEO Elon Muskand, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos both run their own aerospace companies — Space X and Blue Origin respectively.

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1 . What is the name of the company that produced the largest airplane?

A     Microsoft.

B     Stratolaunch.

C     Boeing.

D     Amazon.

习题解析

细节理解题。 根据第一段第二句的The airplane from Stratolaunch weighs...可以得知该飞机是Stratolaunch制造的。故选B。

2 . How does the plane make itself impressive?

A     It owns two cockpits.

B     Its wings are 385 feet long.

C     It has two engines.

D     It weighs 550,000 pounds.

习题解析

细节理解题。根据第二段第二句的The Stratolaunch aircraft features two cockpits and six Boeing 747 engines可以得知这个飞机有两个驾驶舱。故选A。

3 . What is the benefit of the low Earth orbit?

A     It carries a lot of passengers.

B     It makes people know weather better.

C     It can help produce more rain.

D     It sends up more and more satellites.

习题解析

细节理解题。根据第三段第三句的For example, we could use more satellites that would enable better understanding of why our weather patterns are changing可以得知低纬度航行能让人们更好地了解天气情况。故选B。

4 . What will scientists focus on when testing the plane?

A     The safety of the staff.

B     The weight of the plane.

C     The speed of the plane.

D     The origin of the change.

习题解析

推理判断题。根据第四段第二句的...so we’re going to be careful throughout testing and continue to make our pilots, crew and staff safe at the first place可以得知在进行飞机测试的时候要把测试人员的安全放在第一位。故选A。

难句解析

wingspan/ˈwɪŋspæn/n.翼展，翼幅

例句:Inflatable wings on other normal airplanes would also allow engineers to double the craft's wingspan in flight.一般飞机安装了充气式机翼后，可让工程师将飞行时的翼展增加到两倍。

cockpit /ˈkɒkpɪt /n.驾驶员座舱; 斗鸡场; 屡经战争的战场; 操舵处

例句：The window in the cockpit had blown in and the pressure dropped dramatically.驾驶舱的窗户突然向内破裂，气压急剧降低。

The plane is the largest in the world based on wingspan, measuring 385 feet, which is longer than a football field.

从飞机翼展来看，这个飞机是世界上最大的，达到385英尺，要比足球场还要长。该句中的measuring是动词的-ing形式作伴随状语；which引导非限制性定语从句。