From flying lanterns in ancient China to giant airships in the West, humans have always reached for the sky. Surprisingly, these inventions from different times and cultures share the same science rule—things lighter than air can fly.
Over 1,700 years ago, Zhuge Liang used paper lanterns with fire to send messages. These paper lanterns made of bamboo and paper are called Kongming lanterns. When the lanterns are lit, a small fire heats the air inside. Hot air becomes lighter than the cool air outside. Then they slowly rise into the air like small hot-air balloons for all to see.
In 1852, a French engineer created the first airship that people could control, which was like a huge balloon. By the 1900s, German engineers developed Zeppelins(齐柏林飞艇). These “sky ships” had gas bags filled with special light gases like hydrogen(氢) or helium(氦), strong metal frames(框架) to maintain their shape, and engines to help them fly forward. The reason why they could fly was quite simple: These light gases were lighter than normal air.
Both inventions follow the same science rule: Kongming lanterns use fire-made hot air, while airships use light gases. This rule, called “lift”, guides not just ancient inventions but modern hot-air balloons too.
From Zhuge Liang’s bright idea to today’s space research, this simple science rule continues to lift human dreams higher. Every time a lantern flies or a balloon rises, we see history and physics dancing together in the air!
()26. Why did Zhuge Liang use Kongming lanterns over 1,700 years ago?
A. To send messages. B. To fly them for fun.
C. To celebrate important moments. D. To show people the way in the dark.
()27. What does the underlined word “maintain” in Paragraph 3 mean?
A. Keep. B. Repair. C. Break. D. Protect.
()28. (新考法·信息回填)Which of the following can be put in “” in Paragraph 4?
A. Light moves in straight lines.
B. Lighter objects rise above heavier ones.
C. Hot water freezes faster than cold water.
D. Sound travels faster at higher temperatures.
()29. (新考法·写作手法)How does the writer develop the passage?
A. By telling a story. B. By listing numbers.
C. By giving personal opinions. D. By comparing two inventions.
()30. What is the best title for the passage?
A. The History of Chinese Lanterns B. Great Inventors from East and West
C. The Science Behind Things that Fly D. How Flying Machines Changed the World

26. A
27. A
28. B
29. D
30. C

【分析】
本题为英语阅读理解题，解题思路如下：1. 先通读全文，把握文章主旨：介绍不同飞天发明（孔明灯、飞艇）背后的同一科学规则；2. 针对不同题型采用对应方法：细节题定位原文找依据，词义猜测题结合语境推断，信息回填题联系上下文逻辑，写作手法题分析文章结构，主旨题提炼核心内容。具体到各题：26题定位孔明灯用途的原文；27题结合金属框架与形状的语境猜词义；28题联系前后文的科学规则选选项；29题分析文章是否对比两种发明；30题提炼全文核心主题。
【解析】
26. 细节理解题：根据第二段第一句“Over 1,700 years ago, Zhuge Liang used paper lanterns with fire to send messages.”可知，诸葛亮使用孔明灯是为了发送信息，A选项正确；B（为了好玩）、C（庆祝重要时刻）、D（在黑暗中指路）均未在原文提及，排除。
27. 词义猜测题：第三段提到齐柏林飞艇有坚固的金属框架来“maintain their shape”，坚固框架的作用是保持形状，故maintain意为“保持”，A选项正确；B（修理）、C（打破）、D（保护）不符合语境，排除。
28. 信息回填题：前文指出两种发明遵循同一科学规则，后文说明孔明灯用热空气、飞艇用轻气体，均符合“比空气轻的物体上升”的原理，B选项正确；A（光沿直线传播）、C（热水比冷水结冰快）、D（声音在高温下传播更快）与该科学规则无关，排除。
29. 写作手法题：文章主要对比了中国的孔明灯和西方的齐柏林飞艇两种飞天发明，来阐述背后的科学规则，D选项正确；A（讲故事）、B（列数字）、C（个人观点）均不符合文章结构，排除。
30. 主旨大意题：全文围绕“飞天事物背后的同一科学规则”展开，从孔明灯到飞艇再到现代热气球，核心是讲解飞天背后的科学，C选项正确；A（仅讲中国灯笼）、B（仅讲发明家）、D（仅讲飞行器改变世界）均未涵盖全文核心，排除。
【答案】
26.A 27.A 28.B 29.D 30.C
【知识点】
英语阅读理解、细节理解、主旨大意
【点评】
本文是一篇科普类英语阅读理解题，通过对比中西方不同时期的飞天发明，引出“比空气轻的物体可升空”的核心科学规则，题目涵盖细节理解、词义猜测等常见题型，考查学生的英语阅读综合能力，整体难度适中。
【难度系数】
0.6