英語六級閱讀模擬長篇閱讀練習(xí)題

　　Section B

　　Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived.

　　You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.

　　Why Are Airlines Withholding Seats?

　　A. A few months ago I booked a flight for two and then went to select seats on the airline's site. Based on the destination and time of year, I was surprised to find only two adjacent seats were available without paying a premium (額外費用). But I was even more surprised a few weeks later, when we boarded the aircraft and a flight attendant announced that only 30% of seats were occupied, so we should all feel free to stretch out.

　　B. So how could a flight that looked nearly full a month earlier wind up with seven out of ten seats empty? That's a question only the airlines can answer, and they're not eager to provide many details.

　　C. Are some carriers intentionally holding back seat assignments, in the hope we'll all pay for "premium" seats?It's a fair question, and the evidence is intriguing.

　　Behind the screen indeed

　　D. An awful plot goes on behind airline and travel booking screens, and much of it is strictly off-limits to consumers. What we do know is that for decades now airlines have become masters of what the industry 　calls yield management, offering millions of combinations of fares based on advance purchase patterns and other booking trends, so nearly everyone pays a different price based on when they buy. But now that paying extra for your seat selection has become common practice, securing your reservation is just half the battle.

　　E. Some industry experts have connected the dots. "They're trying to get people to buy premium seats," says George Hobica, USATODAY. com's Fly Guy columnist and the founder of Airfarewatchdog. com. "They want to increase revenue. And we're getting more complaints about it. " He notes that it "really annoys" passengers who want to sit together, particularly when traveling with small children.

　　F. He's echoed by Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition (聯(lián)盟): "With yield management,consumers are aware and they know that airlines are constantly changing prices on seats. But if this is true, it is unethical--they're grossly misleading us. The thing that I find so offensive is conveying to me that I have no options, but if I wait a week or two then I do have options. "

　　G. According to the airlines, the reason for ancillary ( 附加的 ) revenue is unbundling (分類計價) ticket prices,so passengers who desire a given service--say checking a bag or ordering a soft drink--pay for it, while those who don't are spared the cost. But as Mitchell notes, "There's another twist to this. The airlines are saying fees are for 'optional services. ' Well, seats aren't optional! "

　　H. Of course, securing a good seat isn't an issue if you're in first class or you're an elite member of a frequent flyer program. But what about the rest of us? As I've pointed out repeatedly in recent columns, we're faced with record-high load factors, the highest for the U. S. airline industry since World War II. But even with the average percentage of occupied seats for domestic flights at 82. 7%, it's still an average--some flights will be fuller but others will not, particularly weeks in advance. Yet searching for seats keeps getting harder and harder.

　　Seats for sale

　　I. Hobica cites the major airlines as the prime culprits (起因), but he also notes even low-cost carriers can make securing seats difficult. On the flip side, he credits JetBlue and Virgin America for providing customers with clear policies. And then there is British Airways, which allows passengers in economy and business classes to select seats only 24 hours in advance. I asked an airline representative if seeing fewer free seats is a trend, and the response was: "That's going to vary because there are so many variables. "

　　J. I decided to check on seat availability at Delta. com. I inquired about economy-class availability for two seats on a busy route--Atlanta to Chicago--and conducted an apples-to-apples search for the same morning departure seven days in advance, and again 14 days in advance. For the flight one week out, a total of only eight seats were available, one preferred and seven standard, but only one set of two seats together. For the flight two weeks out, a total of 29 seats were available, consisting of 20 preferred and only nine standard, and still with only one set together. Remarkable how even twice the booking time still produced so few "free" seats, separately or together, yet there were plenty of seats that could be bought for the fight price.

　　K. I contacted Delta and a spokesman said the price for preferred economy varies "depending on a number of different factors," so customers need to compare the costs on a flight-by-flight basis. The preferred seats are reserved primarily for Medallion ( 大勛章 ) members, and become available without additional charge 24 hours prior to departure. When asked if Delta has received complaints about a dearth of free seats, he stated,"Overall, our seat program has been received very well. "

　　L. But my findings dovetailed ( 吻合 ) with recent complaints filed with Airfarewatchdog:(1) When (my husbanD. tried to get a seat assignment on the first flight there was just one "complimentary (免費的 ) seat"(near the back in the middle) available. . , the other available seats had to be purchased for $69. On the connecting flight there were no "complimentary seats" at all! Is this legal? He bought and paid for a ticket on these flights and now he is supposed to "buy" a seat! (2) (After) paying for the flight, a message popped up and said that I could only get a seat assignment when I checked in. In order to get a confirmed seat, I had to pay $129 extra! Unless I pay, without a confirmed seat, I am the first one to be bumped from the flight if they are overbooked. How do they get away with this? (3) Does checking in online at the 24-hour mark before the flight give me a number in line or let me select seats then? Or do we all rush the gate with our boarding passes (and no seat assignment) in order to get the seat assignment?

　　How to respond?

　　M. So what can you do? It's a tough proposition. Usually I would offer strategies for countering such airline initiatives, but in this case the options are limited. That's why some believe the U. S. Department of Transportation should investigate these practices. As Mitchell says, "The airlines are holding all the cards with this one. There is a sore need for transparency on this. When people are confused, they make bad decisions. "

　　N. That said, consider the following: (1) When budgeting your airfares, make sure you consider not just baggage fees but the added cost of seat selection--for all travelers and in both directions. (2) If possible, book early,when there should be more seats available, and check in early too. Why the qualifier "should"? Because if availability is artificially manipulated, it's hard to be certain. (3) Book airlines that offer more transparent seat-selection policies.Of course, this is not an issue with Southwest and other carriers that offer "open seating" policies. (4) Finally, the last resort is what Hobica calls "horse trading": negotiating seat swaps with other passengers.But this has become a risky and undesirable option with flights so full, overhead bins (行李倉) so crammed and fellow passengers who may have paid for premium seats in advance.

　　46. Behind the airline and travel booking screens, a terrible plot is being carried out, much of which is rigorously kept confidential from passengers.

　　47. The airlines' excuse for additional fees is unbundling ticket prices, so those who want the given service like baggage check and soft drink ordering will have to pay.

　　48. Whether some carriers withhold seats on purpose for earning consumers' premium is a question deserving to be cleared up.

　　49. Mitchell holds that there is an urgent need for transparency on carriers' seat assignments.

　　50. While Hobica ascribes the main responsibilities to the major airlines, he also mentions that the low-cost carders are making securing seats difficult.

　　51. Some believe that, in order to solve the problem of airlines' withholding seats, some actions should be taken by the U. S. Department of Transportation.

　　52. When people budget their airfares, they should consider both the baggage fees and the added cost of seat selection.

　　53. Kevin Mitchell considers the so-called yield management of the industry unethical and misleading.

　　54. What the spokesman of Delta says suggests that the preferred economy-class tickets are available 24 hours in advance of the plane's departure.

　　55. The last strategy to counter the airline's initiatives is to exchange seats with other passengers by negotiating with them.

　　Section B

　　【參考譯文】

　　為什么航空公司隱瞞有空位?

　　A.幾個月前我在一家航空公司預(yù)訂了兩個座位，然后去該航空公司的網(wǎng)站上選座。鑒于此次航班的目的地和出行時間，我驚奇地發(fā)現(xiàn)如果不支付附加費，僅剩下兩個相鄰的座位可供選擇。但是更讓我驚訝的是，幾周之后，當(dāng)我們登機時，一位乘務(wù)員宣布說，僅僅30%的座位有乘客落座，我們盡可以躺下來。

　　B.那么在一個月前看起來幾乎已經(jīng)客滿的航班怎么會到最后卻有70%的座位空著呢?這個問題恐怕只有航空公司自己才能回答，然而他們并不急于給出詳細的解釋。

　　C.難道一些運營商故意隱瞞座位的安排情況，希望大家都為優(yōu)等座位支付額外費用嗎?[48]這是一個值得研究的問題，而且其情況到底如何也很引人關(guān)注。

　　幕后實情

　　D.[46]在航空公司和旅行社的訂票機制幕后。一個可怕的陰謀正在上演。而且對其中的內(nèi)幕消費者大多毫不知情。我們所知道的是，幾十年來，航空公司已經(jīng)成為了業(yè)內(nèi)人士所稱的收益管理大師，他們根據(jù)提前購票模式和其他的訂票趨勢制定出無數(shù)種票價組合，因此幾乎每個人都要根據(jù)自己的購票時間支付不同的票價。然而，現(xiàn)在為選擇座位支付額外的費用已經(jīng)成了家常便飯，確保自己已經(jīng)預(yù)訂了座位僅僅算是成功了一半。

　　E.一些業(yè)內(nèi)專家已經(jīng)識破了航空公司的小伎倆。作為USATODAY.corn網(wǎng)站的Fly Guy專欄作家兼Airfarewatchdog.com網(wǎng)站的創(chuàng)辦人，喬治·霍比卡表示：“航空公司試圖讓人們購買優(yōu)等座位，他們想增加收入，但隨之而來的投訴也更多。”他還提到。航空公司的做法著實讓那些想要坐在一起的乘客頭疼，尤其是帶著小孩出行的乘客。

　　F.商務(wù)旅行聯(lián)盟的主席凱文·米切爾對喬治·霍比卡的觀點表示贊同，[53]他說：“對于收益管理，消費者心里有數(shù)。他們知道航空公司經(jīng)常改變座位的價格。但是如果情況果真如此的話。航空公司的做法確實是不道德的——他們在嚴(yán)重地誤導(dǎo)我們。而我發(fā)現(xiàn)極其令人惱火的是他們告知我目前沒有其他選擇，但是如果我再等一兩周的話，我就可以選擇 (座位)了。”

　　G.[47]根據(jù)航空公司的說法，之所以收取附加費是實行機票分類計價的緣故，這樣一來，如果乘客想要某種特定的服務(wù)—一比如。托運包裹或者點一杯軟飲料——就要為此付費。而那些不需要此類服務(wù)的乘客則無需付費。但是正如米切爾提到的那樣：“還有一點也講不通。航空公司說這些費用是為‘選擇性服務(wù)’支付的，然而座位并不是可有可無的!”

　　H.當(dāng)然，如果你坐的是頭等艙或者你是某個飛行?？陀媱澋木T，那么確保獲得一個好座位自然不是問題。但是我們其他人怎么辦%?正如我在最近的專欄中反復(fù)指出的，我們面臨的是自二戰(zhàn)以來最高的客運量。但是即使國內(nèi)航班座位的平均占用率高達82.7%，這也僅僅是個平均值——一些航班更高，也有一些沒有那么高，尤其是在航班出發(fā)的幾周之前。然而“一座難求”的情況變得日趨嚴(yán)重了。出售座位

　　I.[50]霍比卡認為各大航空公司是造成這種狀況的罪魁禍?zhǔn)?但他還提到。低成本的運營商也起到了推波助瀾的作用。同時，霍比卡還對捷藍(JetBlue)和維珍美國(VirginAmerica兩家航空公司為顧客提供透明、清晰的政策的做法表示稱贊。再有就是英國航空公司 (BritishAirways)，他們只允許經(jīng)濟艙和商務(wù)艙的乘客提前24小時選擇座位。我詢問了一個航空公司的代表，是否無需支付額外費用的座位會越來越少，對方回答說：“這也不一定，因為變數(shù)太多了。”

　　J.我決定在(達美航空公司的)Delta.com網(wǎng)站上對航班的座位做一下調(diào)查。我查詢了亞特蘭大飛往芝加哥這一繁忙航線的經(jīng)濟艙中兩個相鄰空座的情況，并且對該航線在同一天早上起飛的航班做了一次橫向比較，調(diào)查了提前7天預(yù)訂座位和提前14天預(yù)訂座位的差異。結(jié)果顯示，提前一周預(yù)訂的話，一共只剩下8個座位可以選擇，其中包括1個優(yōu)等座和7個標(biāo)準(zhǔn)座，但是只有兩個相鄰的座位。而如果提前兩周預(yù)訂的話，共有29個座位可以選擇，包括20個優(yōu)等座和9個標(biāo)準(zhǔn)座，其中還是只有兩個座位是相鄰的。即便兩次不同的訂購時間也都只產(chǎn)生了如此少的 “可供免費選擇的”座位，不管是分開的還是相鄰的，這真的很令人吃驚，然而還有大量座位需要支付適當(dāng)?shù)馁M用才能買到。

　　K.我聯(lián)系了達美航空公司，該公司的一位發(fā)言人表示經(jīng)濟艙優(yōu)等座的價格變化“取決于幾個不同的因素”，所以顧客需要對不同航班的不同票價進行比較。[54]優(yōu)等座主要是為獎?wù)鲁蓡T預(yù)留的，而且在飛機起飛煎24小時內(nèi)無需支付額外費用就可獲得。當(dāng)被問及達美航空公司是否接到過顧客對于缺乏可免費選擇座位的投訴時，該發(fā)言人表示： “總體而言，我們的座位機制還是受到良好評價的。”

　　L.但是我的調(diào)查結(jié)果與最近乘客在Airfarewatchd09網(wǎng)站上提交的投訴不謀而合：(1)當(dāng)我丈夫試圖在第一趟航班上獲得一個座位時，只剩下一個“免費的座位”(中間靠后的位置)可以選擇……而其他可以選擇的座位都需要額外支付69 美元才能獲得。在轉(zhuǎn)乘航班上，根本就沒有“免費的座位”!這種情況合法嗎?我丈夫已經(jīng)購買了這些航班的機票并且已經(jīng)付費，而現(xiàn)在他卻不得不“購買”一個座位!(2)為所乘航班付費之后，系統(tǒng)彈出一個消息說，我只有在辦理登機時才能被安排一個座位。要想確保獲得一個座位，我必須再額外支付129美元!如果我不交錢、不確定座位，而航班座位已經(jīng)被超額預(yù)訂了的話，我就將成為此次航班上第一個被取消登機資格的人。航空公司怎么能逃脫懲罰?(3)如果在飛機起飛前 24小時之內(nèi)在網(wǎng)上辦理登機的話是否我就拿到了排隊號碼牌或者是否可以選擇座位呢?還是為了搶到一個座位大家都拿著登機牌(未分配座位)沖進飛機艙門呢?

　　如何應(yīng)對?

　　M.那么對此你能做些什么呢?這是個棘手的問題。[51]通常我會就如何應(yīng)對航空公司的這類政策給出一些策略，但是在這種情況下，可選擇的策略非常有限。這就是為什么一些人認為美國運輸部應(yīng)該對此類做法進行調(diào)查的原因。[49]正如米切爾所言：“航空公司在這個問題上處于很強勢的地位。在這一事件上亟需透明。當(dāng)人們感到困惑的時候會做出錯誤的決定。”

　　N.即便如此，仍可以考慮如下對策：(1)[52]預(yù)算票價的時候，確保自己不僅將行李費用考慮在內(nèi)。還要考慮為選擇座位而支付的額外費用——這一點對所有的乘客都適用，而且在往返方向都如此。(2)如果可能的話，在應(yīng)該有更多座位可以選擇的時候，早點預(yù)訂座位，而且也要早點辦理登機。為什么這里用“應(yīng)該”這個修飾語呢?因為如果剩余座位的數(shù)量是由人為操控的話，那就很難說了。(3)選擇那些選座政策更透明的航空公司來訂購機票。當(dāng)然，對于西南航空公司以及其他那些提供“公開訂座”政策的航空公司來說，這不是一個問題。(4)[55]最后一點，也是最后的一個應(yīng)對策略，即霍比卡所說的“討價還價”：和其他乘客商量一下調(diào)換座位。但是對于已經(jīng)客滿的航班來說，這種做法比較冒險而且并不可取，因為頭頂?shù)男欣罴苌弦呀?jīng)擠得滿滿當(dāng)當(dāng)，而且其他乘客可能已經(jīng)提前支付了座位附加費。

　　【答案解析】

　　46.D

　　解析：題干意為，在航空公司和旅行社的訂票系統(tǒng)中，一項可怕的陰謀正在實施，而其中的隱情則嚴(yán)格對乘客保密。注意抓住題干中的關(guān)鍵詞airline and travel booking screens，a terrible plot，rigorously和confidential。文章段落中，論及航空公司和旅行社訂票陰謀的內(nèi)容在D段出現(xiàn)，該段第一句提到，在航空公司和旅行社的訂票機制幕后，一個可怕的陰謀正在上演。而且對其中的內(nèi)幕消費者大多毫不知情。由此可見，題干對原文做了同義改寫，故答案為D。題干中的a terrible plot和is rigorously kept confidential for分別與原文中的an awful plot和is strictly off-limits to相對應(yīng)。

　　47.G

　　解析：題干意為，航空公司把實行機票分類計價作為額外收費的借口，所以那些想要諸如檢查行李或點軟飲料等特定服務(wù)的乘客就必須承擔(dān)相應(yīng)費用。注意抓住題干中的關(guān)鍵詞unbundling ticket prices和the given service。原文段落中，論及機票分類計價和要求特定服務(wù)的內(nèi)容在G段出現(xiàn)，該段第一句就提到航空公司稱，之所以收取附加費是實行機票分類計價的緣故，這樣一來，如果乘客想要某種特定的服務(wù)——比如，托運包裹或者點一杯軟飲料——就要為此付費，而那些不需要此類服務(wù)的乘客則無需付費。由此可見，題干是對原文的同義改寫，故答案為G。

　　48.C

　　解析：題干意為，部分運營商是否故意保留座位以賺取消費者附加費這個問題值得弄清楚。注意抓住題干中的關(guān)鍵詞carders，premium和question。原文段落中，論及運營商們是否故意收取附加費的問題在C段出現(xiàn)，該段中作者提到，這是一個值得研究的問題，而且其情況到底如何也很引人關(guān)注，實際上就是在說這個問題值得弄清楚。由此可見，題于是對原文的同義改寫，故答案為C。題干中的 withhold和on purpose分別對應(yīng)原文中的holding back和intentionally。

　　49.M

　　解析：題干意為，米切爾認為運營商們在分配座位這一問題上亟須透明。注意抓住題干中的關(guān)鍵詞Mitchell，need和transparency。原文段落中，提到 Mitchell且論及分配座位透明度的內(nèi)容在M段出現(xiàn)，該段第五句引用Mitchell的原話，指出這一問題亟待透明。由此可見，題干是對原文的同義改寫，故答案為M。題干中的urgent need對應(yīng)原文中的sore need，carriers’seat assignment代指原文中的this。

　　50.I

　　解析：題干意為，盡管霍比卡把主要責(zé)任歸咎于各大航空公司，他也提到，低成本的運營商們同樣使得座位的獲得變得困難。注意抓住題干中的關(guān)鍵詞Hobica，themain responsibilities，themajorairlines和thelow—costcarders。原文段落中，提及Hobica和低成本的運營商使獲得座位變得困難的內(nèi)容在I段出現(xiàn)，該段第一句話提到，霍比卡認為各大航空公司是造成這種狀況的罪魁禍?zhǔn)?，低成本的運營商也起到了推波助瀾的作用。由此可見，題干是對原文的同義改寫，故答案為I。題干中的ascribes…to…和main responsibilities分別對應(yīng)原文中的cites…as…和prime culprits。

　　51.M

　　解析：題干意為，一些人認為，為了解決航空公司保留座位的問題，美國交通運輸部應(yīng)該采取一些措施。注意抓住題干中的關(guān)鍵詞 theU.S.DepartmentofTransportation。文章段落中，論及美國交通運輸部的內(nèi)容在M段出現(xiàn)，該段第三、四句話提到，通常作者會就如何應(yīng)對航空公司的這類政策給出一些策略，但是在這種情況下，可選擇的策略非常有限。這就是為什么一些人認為美國交通運輸部應(yīng)該對此類做法進行調(diào)查的原因。由此可見，人們認為交通運輸部應(yīng)該有所行動，故答案為M。

　　52.N

　　解析：題干意為，人們在為買機票制定預(yù)算的時候，應(yīng)該把行李的費用和附加的選擇座位的費用都考慮在內(nèi)。注意抓住題干中的關(guān)鍵詞budget,airfares，baggage fees和the added cost of seat selection。文章段落中，論及制定機票預(yù)算的內(nèi)容在N段出現(xiàn)，該段第(1)點提到，預(yù)算票價的時候，確保自己不僅將行李費用考慮在內(nèi)，還要考慮為選擇座位而支付的額外費用。由此可見，題干對原文進行了同義改寫，故答案為N。

　　53.F

　　解析：題干意為，凱文·米切爾認為所謂的收益管理是不道德且具有誤導(dǎo)性的。注意抓住題干中的關(guān)鍵詞Kevin Mitchell，yield management,unethical和misleadin9。文章段落中，提到Kevin Mitchell和航空業(yè)收益管理的內(nèi)容在F段出現(xiàn)，該段引用米切爾的原話中提到，對于收益管理，消費者心里有數(shù)，他們知道航空公司經(jīng)常改變座位的價格。但是如果情況果真如此的話，航空公司的做法確實是不道德的——他們在嚴(yán)重地誤導(dǎo)人們。由此可見，題干是對原文的同義轉(zhuǎn)述，故答案為F。

　　54.K

　　解析：題干意為，達美航空公司發(fā)言人的話表明，經(jīng)濟艙優(yōu)等座在飛機起飛前24小時內(nèi)可獲得。注意題干中的關(guān)鍵詞the spokesman of Delta，the preferred economy.class tickets，available和the plane’sdeparture。文章段落中，論及達美航空公司發(fā)言人的內(nèi)容在K段出現(xiàn)，該段第二句提到，優(yōu)等座主要是為獎?wù)鲁蓡T預(yù)留的，在飛機起飛前 24小時內(nèi)無需支付額外費用就可獲得。由此可見，題干是對原文的同義轉(zhuǎn)述，故答案為K。

　　55.N

　　解析：題干意為，應(yīng)對航空公司這類行為的最后策略是和其他乘客商量調(diào)換座位。注意題干中的關(guān)鍵詞the last strategy，exchange seats和negotiating。文章段落中，論及與其他乘客商量調(diào)換座位的內(nèi)容在N段出現(xiàn)，該段第(4)點提到，最后一個應(yīng)對策略，即霍比卡所說的 “討價還價”，是和其他乘客商量一下調(diào)換座位。由此可見，題干是對原文的同義改寫，故答案為N。題干中的the last strategy和exchange seats with other passengers by negotiating with them分別對應(yīng)原文中的me last resort和negotiating seat swaps with other passengers。

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