(2013·湛江一中期末测试)If cars had wings，they could fly and that just might happen，beginning in 2012.The company Terrafugia，based in Woburn，Massachusetts，says it plans to deliver its carplane，the Transition，to customers by the end of 2012.
“It's the next ‘wow’ vehicle，” said Terrafugia，vice president Richard Gersh.“Anybody can buy a Ferrari，but as we say，Ferraris don't fly.”
The carplane has wings that unfold for flying—a process the company says takes one minute—and fold back up for driving.A runway is still required to take off and land.
The Transition is being marketed more as a plane that drives than a car that flies，although it is both.The company has been working with FAA to meet aircraft regulations，and with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to meet vehicle safety regulations.
The company is aiming to sell the Transition to private pilots as a more convenient and cheaper way to fly.They say it saves you the trouble of trying to find another mode of transportation to get to and from airports：you drive the car to the airport and then you're good to go.When you land，you fold up the wings and hit the road.There are no expensive parking fees because you don't have to store it at an airport—you park it in the garage at home.
The carplane is designed to fly primarily under 10,000 feet.It has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,430 pounds，including fuel and passengers.Terrafugia says the Transition reduces the potential for an accident by allowing pilots to drive under bad weather instead of flying into marginal(边缘的) conditions.
The Transition's price tag：$194,000.But there may be additional charges for options like a radio，transponder or GPS.Another option is a fullplane parachute.
“If you get into a very awful situation，it is the necessary safety option，”Gersh said.
So far，the company has more than 70 orders with deposits.“We're working very closely with them，but there are still some remaining steps，” Brown said.
小题1:We can learn from the first paragraph that ________.
A．carplanes will be popular in 2012
B．people might drive a carplane in 2012
C．both the Transition and the Ferrari can take off and land
D．Richard Gersh is the vice president of Massachusetts小题2:It takes the carplane one minute to ________.
A．fold and unfold its wings
B．unfold wings for flying
C．land in the airport
D．meet flying safety regulations小题3:According to the passage，which of the following is NOT true?
A．The carplane needs a runway to take off and land.
B．To meet aircraft regulations，the company has been working with FAA.
C．The carplane may fly as high as normal planes.
D．People can park the carplane in the garage at their home.
小题4:The underlined word “it” in the last but one paragraph refers to ________.
A．the radio
B．the transponder
C．the GPS
D．the fullplane parachute
小题1:B
小题2:B
小题3:C
小题4:D
本文是一篇新闻报道。文章主要讲的是汽车飞机的一些近况，这种新型交通工具将在2012年年底上市。
小题1:解析 细节理解题。根据第一段中的“The company Terrafugia，based in Woburn，Massachusetts，says it plans to deliver its carplane，the Transition，to customers by the end of 2012.”可知选B。
答案 B
小题2:解析 细节理解题。根据第三段中的“The carplane has wings that unfold for flying—a process the company says takes one minute”可知选B。
答案 B
小题3:解析 推理判断题。根据文章倒数第四段中的“The carplane is designed to fly primarily under 10,000 feet.”可知C项不符合文意。
答案 C
小题4:解析 猜测词义题。根据“Another option is a fullplane parachute.”和“If you get into a very awful situation，it is the necessary safety option”的过渡关系，再结合句中的“a very awful situation”可推断it应指降落伞，故选D项。
答案 D