Iftheoldmaximthatthecustomerisalwaysrightstillhasmeaning,thentheairlinesthatplytheworld’sbusiestairroutebetweenLondonandParishaveaflightontheirhands.
TheEurostartrainservicelinkingtheUKandFrenchcapitalsviatheChannelTunneliswinningcustomersinincreasingnumbers.InlateMay,itcarrieditsonemillionthpassenger,havingrunonlyalimitedservicebetweenLondon,ParisandBrusselssinceNovember1994,startingwithtwotrainsadayineachdirectiontoParisandBrussels.By1997,thecompanybelievesthatitwillbecarryingtenmillionpassengersayear,andcontinuetogrowfromthere.
FromJuly,EurostarstepsitsservicetoninetrainseachwaybetweenLondonandParis,andfivebetweenLondonandBrussels.Eachtraincarriesalmost800passengers,210oftheminfirstclass.
Theairlinesestimatethattheywillinitiallylosearound15%-20%oftheirLondon-ParistraffictotherailwaysonceEurostarstartsafullservicelaterthisyear(1995),with15trainsadayeachway.AsimilarservicewillstarttoBrussels.Thedamagewillbelimited,however,theairlinesbelieve,withpassengernumbersreturningtopreviouslevelswithintwotothreeyears.
Intheshortterm,thedamagecausedbythe1millionpeople-levelstravelingbetweenLondonandParisandBrusselsonEurostartrainsmeansthatsomeairservicesarealreadysuffering.Someofthemajorcarrierssaythattheirpassengernumbersaredownbylessthan5%andpointtotheirrivals-ParticularlyAirFrance-ashavingsufferedtheproblems.OntheBrusselsroute,therailwaycompanyhadlesssuccess,andtheairlinesreportanythingfromarounda5%droptonovisibledeclineintraffic.
Theairlines’optimismonreturningtrafficlevelsisbasedonhistoricalprecedent.BritishMidland,forexample,pointstoitsexperienceonHeathrowLeedsBradfordservicewhichsawpassengernumbersfoldby15%whenBritishRailelectrifiedandmodernizedtherailwaylinebetweenLondonandYorkshire.Twoyearslater,travelhadrisenbetweenthetwodestinationstothepointwheretheairlinewascarryingrecordnumbersofpassengers.
1.Britishairlinesconfideinthefactthat__.
A.theyaremorepowerfulthanotherEuropeanairlines.
B.theirtotallosswon’tgobeyondadropof5%passengers.
C.theirtrafficlevelswillreturnin2-3years.
D.travelingbyrailcannevercatchupwithtravelingbyair.
2.Theauthor’sattitudetowardsthedropofpassengersmaybedescribedas__.
A.worried.B.delightedC.puzzled.D.unrivaled.
3.Inthepassage,BritishRail(Para6)ismentionedto__.
A.provideacomparisonwithEurostar.
B.supporttheairlines’optimism.
C.provetheinevitabledropofairpassengers.
D.callforelectrificationandmodernizationoftherailway.
4.Therailway’sBrusselsrouteisbroughtforthtoshowthat__.
A.theEurostartrainserviceisnotdoinggoodbusiness.
B.theairlinescanwellcompetewiththerailway.
C.theEurostartrainserviceonlycausedlittledamage.
D.onlysomeairlines,suchasAirFrance,aresuffering.
5.Thepassageistakenfromthefirstofanessay,fromwhichwemaywellpredictthatinthefollowingparttheauthorisgoingto__.
A.praisetheairlines’clear-mindedness.
B.warntheairlinesofhigh-speedrailservices.
C.proposeareductionofLondon/Parisflights.
D.advisetheairlinestofollowBritishMidlandastheirmodel.
CABCB
暂无解析
Questions1to5arebasedonthefollowingpassage:
Someyearsagothecaptainofashipwasveryinterestedinmedicine.Healwaystookmedicinebookstoseaandlikedtotalkaboutdifferentdiseases.
Onedayalazysailoronhisshippretendedtobeill.Helayonhisbunk(铺)andgroanedasifhewereverysick.Thecaptaincametoseehimandwasverypleasedtohaveapatienttolookafter.Hetoldthemantorestforafewdaysandmadetheothersailorsdohiswork.Threedayslateranothersailorpretendedthathehadsomethingwrongwithhischest.Oncemorethecaptainlookedinhismedicalbooksandtold“sick”mantohavearest.
Theothersailorswereveryangrybecausetheyhadmoreworktodo.Thepatientshadthebestfoodandlaughedattheirfriendswhenthecaptainwasnotlooking.Atlastthemate(船长副手)decidedtocurethe“sick”men.Hemixedupsomesoap,soot(烟灰),glue(胶水)andotherunpleasantthings.Thenheobtainedpermissionfromthecaptaintogivehismedicinetothe“sick”men.Whentheytastedthemedicine,theyreallydidfeelill.Itwassohorriblethatoneofthepatientsjumpedoutofhibunk,ranupondeskandclimbedthehighestmastontheship.Hedidnotwantanymoremedicine.
Thematetoldbothofthementhattheymusttakethemedicineeveryhalfanhour,nightandday.Thissooncuredthem.Theybothsaidtheyfeltbetterandwantedtostartwordagain.Thecaptainrealizedthatthementriedtodeceivehimsohemadethemworkveryhardfortherestofthevoyage.
1.Thefirstsailorpretendedtobeillbecausehewantedto.
A.testthecaptain’sknowledgeofmedicine
B.befreefromwork
C.havethebestfoodontheship
D.playajokeonhisfriends
2.Whenthecaptainknewasailorwasill,he.
A.didn’tcaremuch
B.sentforadoctor
C.lookedafterhimandtoldhimtohavearest
D.gavehimsomemedicine
3.Thepatientsfeltbetterquicklybecause.
A.theyhadbeengivenpropermedicine
B.theylearnedthatthecaptainhadfoundoutthetruth
C.theywerelaughedatbytheirfriends
D.themedicinethemategavewashorrible
4.Whenthecaptainknewhehadbeendeceived,he.
A.toldthemnottodosoagain
B.losthistemper
C.madethemworkharder
D.firedthem
5.Whichofthefollowingbestsummarizesthepassage?
A.AsuddenCure.
B.TwoPatients.
C.CaptainandSailors.
D.ADifficultVoyage.
Inthelast12yearstotalemploymentintheUnitedStatesgrewfasterthanatanytimeinthepeacetimehistoryofanycountry–from82to110millionbetween1973and1985–thatis,byafullonethird.Theentiregrowth,however,wasinmanufacturing,andespeciallyinno–blue-collarjobs…
Thistrendisthesameinalldevelopedcountries,andis,indeed,evenmorepronouncedinJapan.Itisthereforehighlyprobablethatin25yearsdevelopedcountriessuchastheUnitedStatesandJapanwillemploynolargeraproportionofthelaborforceInmanufacturingthandevelopedcountriesnowemployinfarming–atmost,10percent.TodaytheUnitedStatesemploysaround18millionpeopleinblue-collarjobsinmanufacturingindustries.By2010,thenumberislikelytobenomorethan12million.Insomemajorindustriesthedropwillbeevensharper.Itisquiteunrealistic,forinstance,toexpectthattheAmericanautomobileindustrywillemploymorethanone–thirdofitspresentblue-collarforce25yearshence,eventhoughproductionmightbe50percenthigher.
Ifacompany,anindustryoracountrydoesnotinthenextquartercenturysharplyincreasemanufacturingproductionandatthesametimesharplyreducetheblue-collarworkforce,itcannothopetoremaincompetitive–oreventoremain“developed.”Theattempttopreservesuchblue–collarjobsisactuallyaprescriptionforunemployment…
ThisisnotaconclusionthatAmericanpoliticians,laborleadersorindeedthegeneralpubliccaneasilyunderstandoraccept.WhatconfusestheissueevenmoreitthattheUnitedStatesisexperiencingseveralseparateanddifferentshiftsinthemanufacturingeconomy.Oneistheaccelerationofthesubstitutionofknowledgeandcapitalformanuallabor.Wherewespokeofmechanizationafewdecadesago,wenowspeakof“robotization“or“automation.”Thisisactuallymoreachangeinterminologythanachangeinreality.WhenHenryFordintroducedtheassemblylinein1909,hecutthenumberofman–hoursrequiredtoproduceamotorcarbysome80percentintwoorthreeyears–farmorethananyoneexpectstoresultfromeventhemostcompleterobotization.Butthereisnodoubtthatwearefacinganew,sharpaccelerationinthereplacementofmanualworkersbymachines–thatis,bytheproductsofknowledge.
1.Accordingtotheauthor,theshrinkageinthemanufacturinglaborforcedemonstrates______.
A.thedegreetowhichacountry’sproductionisrobotized
B.areductioninacountry’smanufacturingindustries
C.aworseningrelationshipbetweenlaborandmanagement
D.thedifferencebetweenadevelopedcountryandadevelopingcountry
2.Accordingtotheauthor,incoming25years,adevelopedcountryorindustry,inordertremaincompetitive,oughtto______.
A.reducethepercentageoftheblue-collarworkforce
B.preserveblue–collarjobsforinternationalcompetition
C.acceleratemotor–canmanufacturinginHenryFord’sstyle
D.solvetheproblemofunemployment
3.Americanpoliticiansandlaborleaderstendtodislike_____.
A.confusioninmanufacturingeconomy
B.anincreaseinblue–collarworkforce
C.internalcompetitioninmanufacturingproduction
D.adropintheblue–collarjobopportunities
4.Theword“prescription”in“aprescriptionforunemployment”maybetheequivalentto______
A.somethingrecommendedasmedicaltreatment
B.awaysuggestedtoovercomesomedifficulty
C.somemeasurestakeninadvance
D.adevicetodire
5.Thispassagemayhavebeenexceptedfrom________
A.amagazineaboutcapitalinvestment
B.anarticleonautomation
C.amotor-carmagazine
D.anarticleonglobaleconomy
PartIVTranslation
Thecaptainrealizedthatthementriedtodeceivehimsohemadethemworkveryhardfortherestofthevoyage.(PassageOne)
PartIIVocabularyandStructure
Directions:Inthisparttherearefortyincompletesentences.Eachsentenceisfollowedbyfourchoices.ChoosetheonethatbestcompletesthesentenceandthenmarkyouranswerontheAnswerSheet.
21.Agreatmanycancerscanbecuredbutonlyifbeforetheyhavebeguntospreadorcolonizeinotherpartsofthebody.
A.properlytreat
B.properlytreating
C.beingproperlytreated
D.properlytreated
22.sheisalikeablegirl,sheisverydifficulttoworkwith.
A.SinceB.HoweverC.AsfarasD.While
23.Allthetouristsgavetherobbertheirmoney.
A.frightenedB.frighteningC.frightenD.frightful
24.herage,shereallydidagoodjobinsuchashorttime.
A.GivingB.GivesC.GiveD.Given
25.Thesoldierwaswithneglectinghisduty.
A.chargedB.conductedC.chargedD.committed
26.Thereasonwhythecarstoppedwas.
A.becausetheroadwasnotgoodB.thattheroadwasnotgood
C.duetothebadroadD.becauseofthebadroad
27.You’dbetterhurry,youmightbelateforclass.
A.orB.andC.unlessD.but
28.,heperformedthetaskwithsuccess.
A.ItwasexpectedB.Whichwasexpected
C.AswasexpectedD.Thatwasexpected
29.ThedoctorfeltJohn’sarmtoifthebonewasbroken.
A.workoutB.findoutC.lookatD.seeout
30.Hejustmysuggestionatthemeetingyesterday.
A.putawayB.shutdownC.showedoffD.brushedaside
31.Thequestionatthenextmeetingremainasecret.
A.discussedB.todiscussC.tobediscussedD.beingdiscussed
32.Hislazinesshisfailureinthefinalexam.
A.gaveupB.contributedC.resultedinD.distributed
33.Theteacher’stomystatementaboutthispoetledmetoreadwidelyaboutpoems.
A.changeB.chargeC.challengeD.chance
34.Onmostofthenights,Janereadinglettersfromherboyfriend.
A.stayedoffB.stayedonC.stayedoutD.stayedup
35.Thefirst-yearstudentswerelearningformthearmyinMiyun,asuburbofBeijingnearIlived.
A.whatB.whereC.thatD.which
36.Lyndaandhundredsofyoungpeoplelikehimthepostoftypist.
A.approachedB.appliedforC.appealedtoD.approvedof
37.Anybodyisentitledtosuchbenefitofageorsex.
A.regardlessB.whetherC.inspiteD.incase
38.Inthisbuildingeachapartmentcouldafamilyofsix.
A.houseB.coverC.makeD.include
39.Itriedtogetoutofthebusiness,Ifoundimpossible.
A.whoB.whichC.thatD.what
40.Whenheexplaineditagainandagain,thestudent’spatience.
A.ranoverB.ranonC.ranoutD.ranoff
41.WhenherneighborGrandmaWangbecameill,thegirloften.
A.fittedinB.workedoutC.heldbackD.helpedout
42.Ifyoureallywanttoapplyforthedangerousjob,Iwon’t,thoughtIthinkit’sacrazyidea.
A.stoodinyourwayB.standontheway
C.standinyourwayD.standbytheway
43.Hewastryingtoread;,thephonekeptringing.
A.meanwhileB.thenC.laterD.afterwards
44.Iamoutofthosepeoplewholikeastrenuous(费力的)holiday;Ibelievein.
A.tookiteasyB.takeniteasy
C.takingiteasyD.takingiteasily
45.Thepolicematchedthefingerprintsandfoundtheywere.
A.equivalentB.identicalC.similarD.equal
46.Formally,intheUnitedStates,manynursesworkedasprivatedutynursesinhospitals.
A.otherthanB.morethanC.lessthanD.ratherthan
47.Ifyoudon’tmind.Idomyhomeworkthanplaycardswithyou.
A.hadbetterB.preferC.wouldratherD.wouldlike
48.Theirideawastogetustothestrikeatonce.
A.callatB.calloffC.callinD.callfor
49.MycarsoIhadtocomebybus.
A.felldownB.brokedownC.felloverD.turnedaway
50.Icouldtellhewassurprisedfromtheonhisface.
A.appearanceB.sightC.expressionD.explanation
51.Whichis,NorthAmericaorSouthAmerica?
A.biggestB.thebiggestC.morebiggestD.bigger
52.Youshouldobservecarefullyhowtheaudiencehisspeech.
A.reachtoB.refertoC.reacttoD.relateto
53.Thesefarmersgotagoodharvestlastyear,sotheyabigsumofmoneyfornewfarmmachines.
A.setasideB.setaboutC.setupD.setback
54.Oneofmysayingsis“wherethereisawill,thereisaway.”
A.likelyB.favorableC.alikeD.favorite
55.Allisacontinuoussupplyoffueloil.
A.whatisneededB.thatisneeded
C.thethingisneededD.fortheirneeds
56.Thehighincometaxisharmfulitmaydiscouragepeoplefromtryingtoearnmore.
A.inthatB.thatC.inwhichD.which
57.Anewtechniqueout,theyieldincreasesby20%.
A.havingworkingB.havingbeenworked
C.atalossD.forgood
58.Thebirdflewintotheairandwassoon.
A.outofsightB.inahurryC.atalossD.forgood
59.ItisdecidedthatheforabustomeettheguestsfromBeijing.
A.callB.callsC.arrangeD.arranges
60.Iknowit’snotimportantbutIcan’thelpaboutit.
A.tothinkB.thinkingC.andthinkD.beingthought
翻译训练:
筷子(chopsticks)是中国传统的独具特色的进食工具(diningutensils),至今已有数千年的历史。筷子在古代被称为“箸”,大约从明朝开始才有了“筷子”的称呼。筷子多为竹子制成,也有用木头、象牙(ivory)、金属或其他材料制作而成。它要么上方下圆,要么上下全圆而上粗下细。不管其形状如何,筷子必须是成对使用的,并且两只筷子的大小长短要相同。筷子是中国人日常生活的必备工具,它的发明充分反映了中国人民的智慧。