Zeppelins, the big floating airships used to carry passengers and drop bombs until the

1930s, haven’t been seen in American skies for more than 70 years. Now, a California company plans to bring the aircraft back to the United States.

Airship Venture-the name of the zeppelin-arrived in the Bay Area on Saturday, passing over the Golden Gate Bridge on its way to the new home at Moffett Field. Fifteen feet longer than a Boeing 747, the huge aircraft will offer rides that provide a bird’s-eye view of many parts of the Bay Area on Friday. It will hold 12 passengers and two crew members. The ticket price is $495 per person for a one-hour ride. "It can help you see the world in a way that you haven’t experienced before," said Brian Hall, who started the company last year with his wife. "In the zeppelin, you’re flying low and slow. You’re going at a comfortable pace. You’re seeing things that you wouldn’t see from the road."

Zeppelins were invented by Ferdinand von Zeppelin of Germany in the late 19th century to send commercial passengers. They were also used as military carriers until the start of World War II. The zeppelin’s golden age ended in 1937 when the LZ-129 Hindenburg, the largest one ever built, caught fire and burst into flames in New Jersey, killing 35 of 97 people on board.But about ten years ago, German companies began to build zeppelins and offer passenger rides. "The new type,Airship Venture, can carry more than 80,000 passengers with safety." Hall said. He and his wife came up with the business plan for Airship Venture about two years ago. Two more zeppelins, which take about 18 months to build, plan to offer tours from New York to Florida in 2010.

Despite the slumping (衰退的) economy, the company expects to sell about 15,000 tickets a year in the Bay Area, aiming to attract passengers for special days such as birthdays, anniversaries and even weddings.

1、Airship Venture will hold _____ persons for sightseeing on Friday.

A、12

B、13

C、14

D、15

2、We can infer from the passage that _____.

A、zeppelins offer a different way to see the world

B、the zeppelin flies fast at a comfortable pace

C、zeppelins were made by Brian Hall in Germany

D、the zeppelin’s golden age started in World War II

3、Zeppelins were or are used in these ways EXCEPT ______.

A、carrying people for sightseeing