1．The Virgin Oceanic Submarine （潜水艇）is an entirely new type of vessel that can dive to 37，000feet and fly through the ocean using wings．similar to an airplane's wings．It will be able to dive 7miles straight down to the deepest place on the planet，the bottom of the Mariana Trench （海沟）where only one other vessel has ever gone before．Unlike the last Mariana Trench dive，the Virgin Oceanic Submarine will be able to fly around and explore while it is there．
This amazing new submarine is what Richard Branson invented for his fellow adventurer and dear friend，Steve Fossett，who had dreamed of piloting it himself，but when he was flying over the Nevada desert he failed to return．Branson has now Finished what Fossett wished，and he hopes that the successful Virgin Oceanic Submarine will open the door to new exploration and scientific discovery．
This undersea adventure is very much like Branson's space adventure．Branson's company，Virgin Galactic，travels into space using a space plane．The space adventure rose from the success of the vehicle Space Ship One which has completed its task and Branson's boyhood dream of exploring space：Virgin Galactic is now testing the first Space Ship Two model，with a plan for tourism in space when all testing is finished．
16．The Virgin Oceanic Submarine （潜水艇）is an entirely new type of vessel that can dive to 37，000feet and fly through the ocean using wings．similar to an airplane's wings．It will be able to dive 7miles straight down to the deepest place on the planet，the bottom of the Mariana Trench （海沟）where only one other vessel has ever gone before．Unlike the last Mariana Trench dive，the Virgin Oceanic Submarine will be able to fly around and explore while it is there．
This amazing new submarine is what Richard Branson invented for his fellow adventurer and dear friend，Steve Fossett，who had dreamed of piloting it himself，but when he was flying over the Nevada desert he failed to return．Branson has now Finished what Fossett wished，and he hopes that the successful Virgin Oceanic Submarine will open the door to new exploration and scientific discovery．
This undersea adventure is very much like Branson's space adventure．Branson's company，Virgin Galactic，travels into space using a space plane．The space adventure rose from the success of the vehicle Space Ship One which has completed its task and Branson's boyhood dream of exploring space：Virgin Galactic is now testing the first Space Ship Two model，with a plan for tourism in space when all testing is finished．
Just as Branson uses new technology to explore our planet and beyond it，he also uses it to save our planet．He created a challenge witha 25 million prize for technology which would remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere．Naturally，this challenge is called the Virgin Earth Challenge，This idea came from seeing the X-Prize succeed in stimulating （刺激）the invention that finally created Space Ship One．No new technology has yet hit the marketplace as a result of this challenge．
Branson's genius for seeing something great and making it happen first became apparent when he started selling"cut-out"records．He was soon able to create his own recording studio with the．profits．From there，Branson proceeded to discover and promote new musical artists．His instinct for finding innovative （创新的）artists is the same instinct he now applies to finding innovative technology．
While the new Virgin Oceanic Submarine has not yet proved itself，there is little doubt that it will．
47．What do we know about the Virgin Oceanic Submarine from the passage？C
A．It is able to fly across the Pacific Ocean．
B．It has ever gone to the Mariana Trench before．
C．It's advanced because it can fly and explore in deep water．
D．Its wings are much bigger than an airplane's wings．
48．Branson created a challenge with a $25 million prize in order toB．
A．explore our planet and the universe
B．remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere
C．stimulate people to create a new space ship
D．finish his boyhood dream of exploring space
49．What is the author's attitude towards the new Virgin Oceanic Submarine？A
A．Positive．
B．Doubtful．
C．Indifferent．
D．Critical．
50．What is this passage mainly about？D
A．An introduction to Richard Branson，
B．Richard Branson's and Steve Fossett's dream．
C．The achievements in exploring the earth．
D．The new Virgin Oceanic Submarine．
分析 本文是一篇说明文．主要从优势、发明的原因、海底探险、作用等方面介绍了由理查德•布兰森发明的有关维珍海洋潜水艇的相关信息．维珍海洋潜水艇可以像飞机一样飞过海面，径直驶向深海探险．理查德•布兰森是为了他的伙伴和朋友史蒂夫•福塞特而发明了维珍海洋潜水艇．海底探险很像理查德•布兰森的太空探险．布兰森使用新技术来探索地球之外，还用来拯救地球．
解答 47．C 细节理解题．根据第一段中的"The Virgin Oceanic Submarine （潜水艇）is an entirely new type of vessel that can dive to 37，000feet and fly through the ocean using wings．similar to an airplane's wings．It will be able to dive 7miles straight down to the deepest place on the planet，the bottom of the Mariana Trench （海沟）where only one other vessel has ever gone before…"可知，维珍海洋潜水艇可以像飞机一样飞过海面，径直驶向深海探险，故选C．
48．B 细节理解题．根据倒数第三段中的"He created a challenge with a 25 million prize for technology which would remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere"可知，这样做的目的是为了消除大气中的温室气体，故选B．
49．A 推理判断题．根据最后一段中的"While the new Virgin Oceanic Submarine has not yet proved itself，there is little doubt that it will"可知，虽然维珍海洋潜水艇还没有能够证明自己，但是毫无疑问，它必将会证明的．
50．D 主旨大意． 纵观全文可知，本文主要从优势、发明的原因、海底探险、作用等方面介绍了有关维珍海洋潜水艇的相关信息，故选D．
点评 解答细节理解题时，一个常用的方法就是运用定位法，即根据题干和选项中的关键词从原文中找到相关的句子，与选项进行比较从而确定答案；推理判断题既要求学生透过文章表面文字信息推测文章隐含意思，又要求学生对作者的态度、意图及文章细节的发展作正确的推理判断，力求从作者的角度去考虑，不要固守自己的看法或观点．
