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The Boeing Corp. and Europe’s Airbus consortium are preparing to offer bigger airplanes to the world's airlines. Now that talks on a joint project have broken down, Boeing is pushing a stretched version of the 747, and Airbus is designing an all-new aircraft, known as the A3XX.
Seating 550 passengers in the basic model, and 650 in a stretched version, the 1.2 million pound A3XX will not only be the largest airplane in the world, but it will also be one of the most advanced. The outer wings and the horizontal stabilizer (as big as a smaller jet's wing) will be made of carbon-fiber composite materials, and will be the largest such structures on any aircraft except the B-2 stealth bomber. Metal skins will be welded together with lasers, removing thousands of fasteners.
When a strong wind strikes the A3XX’s 260-foot wing, movable control surfaces will prevent it from flexing like a giant spring. This will make the ride smoother and will save weight by reducing the load on the wing spars. A flexible-skinned flap will subtly change the wing’s curvature to match the airplane’s changing weight as it bums fuel on each journey.
The A3XX will carry up to 1,600 meals, filling more than 100 food and beverage carts. To make more room for passengers, Airbus plans to put the carts in the lower hold; automatic conveyors and elevators will deliver them to the two passenger decks. Airlines have asked Airbus to look at extra features ranging from lower-deck sleeper cabins to a children's playroom.
Airbus expects to offer the A3XX to airlines in 1998, and deliver the first aircraft in 2003.
词汇：consortium n. 财团 welded v.焊接
stretched a.拓展的 flap n.副翼
16. No fasteners will be used in building A3XX because all components will be welded together.
A. Right
B. Wrong
C. Not mentioned 17. Airbus plans to build a mini-restaurant in the lower hold of A3XX.
A. Right
B. Wrong
C. Not mentioned 18. A3XX will be bigger than the B-2 stealth bomber.
A. Right
B. Wrong
C. Not mentioned 19. The basic model of A3XX can carry more than 500 passengers.
A. Right
B. Wrong
C. Not mentioned 20. The wing of A3XX will not be spoiled when it is stricken by a strong wind because its surfaces are designed to be movable.
A. Right
B. Wrong
C. Not mentioned 21. A3XX will fly faster while consuming less oil.
A. Right
B. Wrong
C. Not mentioned 22. The first A3XX will be available in 2003.
A. Right
B. Wrong
C. Not mentioned 参考答案
16. B 17. C 18. B 19. A 20. A 21. C 22. A | 
