New Zealand’s national airline is asking passengers to step on the scales (秤) before they board international flights.

Air New Zealand says it wants to weigh 10,000 passengers during a month-long survey so pilots can better know the weight and balance of their planes before takeoff. But the numbers from the scales won’t be flashing up for all to see. There will be no visible display anywhere, the airline promised, and the weigh-in data will remain anonymous even to airline staff.

“We weigh everything that goes on the aircraft — from the goods that it is carrying to the meals onboard, to the luggage (行李) in the hold,” said Alastair James, a load control improvement specialist for the airline. “For customers, crew and cabin bags, we use average weights, which we get from doing this survey.”

In fact, the numbers are required by the nation’s industry watchdog, the Civil Aviation Authority. Under the authority’s rules, airlines have various options to estimate passenger weight. One option is to carry out surveys like Air New Zealand is doing at fixed periods to establish an average weight. Another option is to accept a standard weight set by the authority.

Currently, the authority’s designated (指定的) weight for people 13 and over is 86 kilograms, which includes carry-on luggage. The authority last changed the average passenger weight in 2004, increasing it from 77 kilograms.

Health statistics show            . The latest national health survey put the adult obesity (肥胖) rate at 34%, up from 31% a year earlier. Childhood obesity rates increased to 13%, up from 10% a year earlier.

Customers on Air New Zealand domestic flights were asked to weigh in a couple of years ago. James said there was nothing for passengers to fear by stepping on the scales.

1.What does the underlined word “anonymous” mean?

A Well-known.

B Permanent.

C Unnamed.

D Artistic.

解析：选C。C词义猜测题。根据划线部分前面的“There will be no visible display anywhere”可知，称上的数字不会向人们展示，任何地方都不会有可见的显示，因此称重数据对航空公司工作人员也将保持匿名(unnamed)的方式。故选C。

2.What can we know from the passage?

A Letting passengers step on the scales is the only way to estimate passenger weight.

B Air New Zealand only weigh people and the luggage they are carrying.

C The authority’s designated weight for people 13 and over is 77 kilograms.

D There are various options for airlines to know how heavy passengers are

解析：选D。D细节理解题。根据第四段第二句“airlines have various options to estimate passenger weight.”可知，航空公司有各种方式来估计乘客的重量。故选D。

3.Which can be put back into the blank?

A New Zealanders are becoming heavier.

B New Zealanders resist the option.

C Many New Zealanders are fat from childhood.

D New Zealanders are thinner and healthier.

解析：选A。A推理判断题。根据该段数据显示，成年人肥胖率为34%，高于去年同期的31%。儿童肥胖率从去年的10%上升到13%，由此可见，新西兰人的体重越来越重。故选A。

4.Which word can best describes James’s attitude to what New Zealand airline does?

A Skeptical.

B Supportive.

C Tolerant.

D Cautious.

解析：选B。B推理判断题。根据最后一句的“James said there was nothing for passengers to fear by stepping on the scales.”可知，詹姆斯说，乘客踩在磅秤上并没有什么可害怕的，因此他对称体重的这种做法持支持态度。故选B。