18．Imagine sailing through the sky，high above buildings and trees，in perfect peace and quiet．No noisy engines．No window with dirty marks in your way．No strong wind blowing in your face．You can't feel or hear the wind because you're traveling in the exact same direction and at the exact same speed it is．
A hot-air balloon has three main parts：the balloon，called an envelope； a basket，where passengers ride； and a burner system，which supplies the hot air．
Most balloon envelopes are made of strong，lightweight nylon．（尼龙） They vary in size and shape，but they have to be really，really big to lift even a single person．Most weigh more than an adult man and use more fabric（框架）than you'd need to cover a baseball diamond（棒球场）．
The basket is usually made of wicker（柳条），which is strong but not too stiff（僵硬）．It needs to bend a bit for a soft landing，just like a good jumper bends her legs instead of keeping them stiff and straight when she lands．
When the burner system blasts（喷出） flames，it makes a noisy sound，but once the balloon is flying，the burner can be turned off．The air in the envelope will then slowly cool，and the balloon will gradually sink unless the pilot starts the burner again．
To operate，a pilot adds hot air to the balloon to go up or deflates it to go down，until he finds a breeze blowing in the direction he wants to fly．But no matter which way the wind blows them，balloonists have an amazing bird's-eye view of the world．
56．The envelope of a hot-air balloon is used toB．
A．supply the hot air B．hold the hot air
C．change the height D．control the direction
57．The soft landing of a hot-air balloon requires that the basketC．
A．should be made of nylon
B．should be controlled by a good jumper
C．should be a little soft
D．should be big enough to lift one person
58．The following steps are involved in flying a hot-air balloon．In what order should these steps happen？A
①Hot air enters the balloon．②The balloon sinks．
③The burner is turned on． ④The burner is turned off．
⑤The balloon rises．
A．③①⑤④②B．①③⑤②④C．③⑤④①②D．①③⑤④②
59．The underlined word"deflates"in the last paragraph meansA．
A．releases B．charges C．flattens D．separates
60．The text is probably fromD．
A．a story about hot-air balloon adventures
B．a newspaper article about hot-air balloon facts
C．a brochure advertising hot-air balloon rides
D．an article on hot-air balloons in an airplane magazine．
分析 本文是一篇新闻报道类阅读，主要讲的是关于热气球的构造及飞行原理．
解答 56-60BCAAD
56题答案：B考查基础常识，热气球的envelope"罩子"当然是用来储存热气的，故本题答案为B选项．
57题答案：C考查细节推理，根据文章第四段的It needs to bend a bit for a soft landing，just like a good jumper bends her legs instead of keeping them stiff and straight when she lands．它（篮子）需要弯一点点这样就能软着陆，就像一位好的跳远者落地时会弯曲他的腿而不是使他们僵直．可知本题答案为C选项．
58题答案：A考查细节推理，根据文章倒数第二段的When the burner system blasts（喷出） flames，it makes a noisy sound，but once the balloon is flying，the burner can be turned off．The air in the envelope will then slowly cool，and the balloon will gradually sink unless the pilot starts the burner again．当燃烧系统喷出火焰时会发出巨大的声音，但是马上气球就会飞，随后燃烧器就可以关闭了．罩子里的空气会慢慢冷却，气球会随之慢慢下沉除非飞行员重启燃烧器．可知本题答案为A选项．
59题答案：A考查细节推理，根据所在句子a pilot adds hot air to the balloon to go up or deflates it to go down．驾驶员可以添加热空气以使热气球上升或者是deflates热空气以使其下降．可知与前面"添加"对应的是"减少"，故本题答案为A选项．
60题答案：D考查主旨大意，本文主要讲的是关于热气球的构造及飞行原理；故应该来自于飞机杂志，因此本题答案为D选项．注意：本文不是热气球飞行的广告，故C排除．
点评 本文是一篇新闻报道类阅读，题目涉及多道细节理解题，做题时结合原文和题目有针对 性找出相关语句进行仔细分析，结合选项选出正确答案．推理判断也是要在抓住关键句子的基础上合理的分析才能得出正确的答案．
