11．On Monday，the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted that 42% of Americans could be overweight by 2030．Our expanding waistlines lead to not only a medical problem，but according to a recent article in The New York Times，it could also endanger personal safety in some situations-in an airplane crash，for example．
The New York Times'Christine Negroni reports that engineers and scientists are questioning whether airplane seats are adequately constructed to protect overweight travelers．Government standards for airplane seat strength（强度）-first set more than 60 years ago---require that the seats be made for a passenger weighing 170 pounds（77kg）．Today，the average American man weighs nearly 194 pounds（88kg） and the average woman 165 pounds（75kg）．Negroni reports：
"If a heavier person completely fills a seat，the seat is not likely to behave as intended during a crash，"Robert Salzar，the leading scientist at the Center for Applied Biomechanics at the University of Virginia．"The energy absorption（专注，合并） that is built into the aircraft seat is likely to be overpowered and the passengers will not be protected properly"．
"Nor would the injury be limited to that passenger only，"Dr．Salzar said．"If a seat or a seat belt fails，"he said，"those people who are seated nearby could be endangered from the uncontrolled movements of the passenger．"
Most complaints about airplane seats focus on their lack of comfort and high ticket price，and whether overweight passengers should be made to buy two seats．But The New York Times'article bring up another reason to feel anxious about flying．Investigators of the issue got in touch with the airplane seat and seat belt makers，but they refused to comment on the problem．Experts agreed that crash testing should be done with overweight dummies（人体模型）．Both airplane seats and seat belts should be tested，theysaid．
Fortunately，however，according to Nora Marshall，a senior adviser at the National Transportation Safety Board，the board's investigators have never seen an accident involving a commercial plane in which the weight of a passenger was a problem．
51．What is the article in The New York Times mainly conceerned with？B
A．The size of airplane seats and seat belts
B．Safety of overweight airplane passengers
C．Airplane crashes involving commercial planes
D．A medical problem caused by being overweight
52．Robert Salzar would probably agree thatC．
A．overweight passengers should buy two seats
B．the government should help produce safer planes
C．standards for airplane seat strength should be raised
D．passengers should know how to protect themselves
53．What does the underlined word"they"in Paragraph 5 refer to？A
A．Experts B．Passengers C．Investigators of the issue D．The airplane seat makers
54．We can learn from the text thatC
A．airplane seat makers have taken action now
B．there are few complaints about airplane seats
C．those seated near the overweight may suffer too
D．only a small number of airplane accidents involve the overweight
55．what is the best best title for the text？D
A．Why do passengers Feel Anxious about Flying？
B．Will 42% of Americans Be Overweight by 2030？
C．When Will the Overweight Enjoy Their Flight？
D．Are Airplane Seats Safe Enough for the Overweight？
分析 本文主要讨论了人们质疑按照60年前标准生产的飞机座椅对于肥胖者是否安全．
解答 51．B细节理解题．根据第一段最后一句可知，纽约时报的这篇文章是关于肥胖乘客坐飞机的安全问题．故选B．
52．C细节理解题．根据第二、三、四段中Robert Salzar的分析可知，他认为60年前设定的飞机座椅标准已不适合现在的情况，原来的标准应该改进．故选C．
53．A细节理解题．根据第五段中"Experts agreed that crash testing should be done．"可知，"they"指代前一句中的专家．故选A．
54．C推理判断题．根据第四段中"Nor would the injury be limited to that passenger only，"和"those people who are seated nearby could not be safe from the uncontrolled movements of the passenger．"可知，坐在肥胖乘客旁边的乘客也不安全．故选C．
55．D主旨大意题．根据第二段中"The New York Times'Christine Negroni reports that engineers and scientists are questioning whether airplane seats are designed to protect overweight travelers．"可知，本文主要讨论了人们质疑按照60年前标准生产的飞机座椅对于肥胖者是否安全．故选D．
点评 本文是新闻报道类阅读理解．做这类题材阅读理解时要求考生对文章通读一遍，做题时结合原文和题目有针对性的找出相关语句进行仔细分析，结合选项选出正确答案．推理判断题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答案，切忌胡乱猜测，一定要做到有理有据．
