Don't ask whether the proposed 3 billion merger（兼并）of United Airlines and Continental will benefit you. It won't. Because this isn't about you. It's about them. Specifically, it's about the need for the airlines to raise fares and increase revenues after years of unreasonable discounting that led to billions in losses. "For the airlines, it's a good thing," says Matthew Jacob, an airline analyst（分析师）at Majestic Research. "By not having as much supply, they can fly fuller planes, charge higher prices and operate more efficiently. For the customers, well, I don't think you're going to see planes that are only two-thirds full or bargain—basement prices from airlines desperate to fill seats." In a joint press release, the new company promised "strong competitive pressure on fares," but in reality that pressure has been coming from budget carriers such as Southwest and JetBlue. Those of us in the back of the bus may have to worry about employees who have lost some seniority（老资格）in a joined workforce. Labor issues might be a problem, says Perkins, contributing editor of SmarterTravel.com. He remembers the United strike of 1985. "If and when they start making money," says Perkins, "those unions could turn around and say, 'We gave it up when you needed it. Where's our share?'" The potential for a strike worries him, since the new united company will hold 21% of the market and finding a replacement seat in the event of a strike could be next to impossible. As for fares, there's no place to go but up. After Delta merged with Northwest, fares on their combined routes rose at least 10%, according to George Hobica, founder of AirfareWatchdog.com. But that's no reason to panic. "The vast majority of leisure travel is optional," he says. "When airlines raise fares, people stop flying. So they'll have to be careful." Even if this merger prompts a US Airways link-up and even more integration, Hobica doesn't think we're going to see wild fare increases. But say goodbye to cheap escapes to Chicago—for dinner. "I've enjoyed the ride," says Hobica with a sigh. "But the party's over ." 1. What can be learned from the first paragraph?A) The merged airlines will increase their revenues soon after.B) After the merger, airlines will not use discounting to attract customers.C) After the merger, customers will find it hard to get a seat on a plane.D) Before the merger, airlines have suffered losses from discounting. 2. What does the phrase "basement prices" (Para. 1) mean?A) Basic prices.B) Very low prices. C) Prices of back seats.D) Prices of seats with poor view.3. What does Perkins worry about?A) The new airline company holds too much share of the market.B) The unemployed will start a strike against the new airline company. C) Unions want to share the profit if the new airline starts making money.D) The new airline company doesn't want to find new jobs for the unemployed.4. What does Hobica mean by "the party's over"(Para. 3)?A) The days when fares are cheap are gone. B) Leisure travel will be a thing of the past.C) He has no chance to enjoy the ride to Chicago.D) He has to say goodbye to parties held in Chicago.5. What conclusion can be drawn about the merger of the two airline companies?A) The merger will bring much pressure to other airline companies.B) The merger is a must for the two companies to survive in the market.C) The proposed merger may bring mixed blessings to the companies involved. D) The fare increase caused by the merger may bring about panic among customers.

Directions : In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a I list of choices given in a word bank before the passage. Read the passage through carefully before a kind you choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please write down the corresponding letter for each item in the blanks. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.A)musician E)embarrassment I) mysterious M)stage B)simple-hearted F)fame J)response N)physicist C)taking G)inexperienced K) impressed O)action D)examined H) purpose L) makingOnce Albert Einstein together with a fanous cellist Gregor Piatigorsky took part in a concert for a charitable purpose. Among lots of viewers there was a young and _ 26 _ journalist who came to the concert because he was to write an article about it. Having looked around and _27_ the audience, he adressed a woman who was sitting next to him. He asked a _ 28 _ question:" Excuse me, could you tell me who this Einstein is? Of course we all know Piatigorsky, but I don't know another one who is going to be on _ 29 _ tonight!" "Dear god, don't you really know? That is Albert Einstein, one of the greatest people the world has ever seen!" The woman answered indignantly. "Oh! I'm sorry, I should have known. Thank you."murmured the fellow in _30_ and kept on writing the material. He made up his mind to stop _31_ efforts to find out who the hell this _ 32 _ Albert Einstein is. As a result, after that concert in the local newspaper there appeared a small report, which included information about Einstein's performance. Evidently, the journalist was quite _ 33 _ with his performance. To everybody's surprise, according to the article, it turned out that Einstein was the greatest _ 34 _, a most gifted violinist and that his blillant performance nearly eclipsed（使失色) the _ 35 _ of Gregor Piatigorsky.

in the early industrialized countries of Europe the process of industrialization — with all the far-reaching changes in social patterns that followed — was spread over nearly a century, whereas nowadays a developing nation may undergo the same process in a decade or so.Part B　　Governments throughout the world act on the assumption that the welfare of their people depends largely on the economic strength and wealth of the community. (31) Under modern conditions, this requires varying measures of centralized control and hence the help of specialized scientists such as economists and operational research experts. (32) Furthermore, it is obvious that the strength of a country's economy is directly bound up with the efficiency of its agriculture and industry, and that this in turn rests upon the efforts of scientists and technologists of all kinds. It also means that governments are increasingly compelled to interfere in these sectors in order to step up production and ensure that it is utilized to the best advantage. For example, they may encourage research in various ways, including the setting up of their own research centers; they may alter the structure of education, or interfere in order to reduce the wastage of natural resources or tap resources hitherto unexploited; or they may cooperate directly in the growing number of international projects related to science, economics and industry. In any case, all such interventions are heavily dependent on scientific advice and also scientific and technological manpower of all kinds.　　(33) Owing to the remarkable development in mass communications, people everywhere are feeling new wants and are being exposed to new customs and ideas, while governments are often forced to introduce still further innovations for the reasons given above. At the same time, the normal rate of social change throughout the world is taking place at a vastly accelerated speed compared with the past. For example, (34) in the early industrialized countries of Europe the process of industrialization — with all the far-reaching changes in social patterns that followed — was spread over nearly a century, whereas nowadays a developing nation may undergo the same process in a decade or so. All this has the effect of building up unusual pressures and tensions within the community and consequently presents serious problems for the governments concerned. (35) Additional social stresses may also occur because of the population explosion or problems arising from mass migration movements — themselves made relatively easy nowadays by modern means of transport. As a result of all these factors, governments are becoming increasingly dependent on biologists and social scientists for planning the appropriate programs and putting them into effect.

The price of rice on world markets has doubled and in the past two months alone has gone up 50 percent. The rising costs have triggered warnings of social chaos in the Philippines. Rising fuel and fertilizer costs, and natural disasters are the main reasons for the price increase. Cambodia and Vietnam have cut their rice exports, actions that analysts say threaten to push prices up even further in the coming months.U.S. and the World Food Program officials say they are searching for ways to cut transportation and other non-food costs. They say one way is to develop means of purchasing and processing food in the countries that receive the aid, rather than have to transport it from faraway places. The World Food Program recently launched an extraordinary emergency appeal for donor nations to increase their donations. Gaddi Vasquez, the U.S. ambassador to U.N. food and agriculture agencies told reporters the United States, the largest single donor to the World Food Program, has not yet decided if it will increase donations in the wake of rising food prices.1.What problem may be caused in the Philippines with the high price of rice?A) Social turmoil. B) Natural disasters.C) Increase of fuel costs.D) Shortage of fertilizer.2.How did Vietnam try to solve the rice problem?A) By cutting fertilizer costs.B) By reducing rice exports.C) By increasing rice imports.D) By encouraging rice planting.3.What was the reaction of the World Food Program towards rising food prices?A) It provided various ways of processing food.B) It imposed limits on rice imports and exports.C) It stopped transporting rice from faraway places.D) It asked donor nations to increase their donations.

With the widespread acceptance of digital devices, there has been a great deal of research on how digital platforms, such as tablets and laptops, might be affecting attention and distractibility. Surprisingly few studies exist about how digital tools affect human understanding. A new research tested about the basic question: would processing the same information on a digital versus non-digital platform affect the fundamental level of cognition? It was composed of several studies and the following part listed two of them.A group of participants were asked to read a short story by author David Sedaris on either a physical printout (non-digital) or in a PDF on a PC laptop (digital), and were then asked to take a paper-and-pencil comprehension test. For the abstract questions, on average, participants using the non-digital platform scored higher on inference questions with 66 percent correct, as compared to those using the digital platform, who had 48 percent correct. On the concrete questions, participants using the digital platform scored better with 73 percent correct, as compared to those using the non-digital platform, who had 58 percent correct.Another group of participants were asked to read a table of information about four Japanese car models on either a PC laptop screen or paper print-out, and were then asked to select which car model is superior. Sixty-six percent of the participants using the non-digital platform (printed materials) reported the correct answer, as compared to 43 percent of those using the digital platform.According to the result, using digital platforms for reading may make you more inclined to focus on concrete details rather than interpreting information more abstractly. The findings of the study serve as a wake-up call to how digital media may be affecting our likelihood of using abstract thought. It’s crucial to recognize the role that digitization of information might be having on this important aspect of cognition. Knowing digital technologies can help design better software. Sometimes, it is beneficial to foster abstract thinking, and as people know more, the tendencies, or deficits, of digital devices can be overcome.1. Which of the following statements about the new research is true?A) Studies about digital tools are surprisingly few.B) The new research provides a unique view of computer science.C) A lot of studies prove that tablets and laptops have negative influence.D) The new research studies how digital devices affect cognition. 2. For those participants who read a short story, ________.A) they did digital reading as well as non-digital readingB) they answered concrete questions better on digital platforms C) they were good at taking a paper-and-pencil comprehension testD) they proved that digital reading was superior to non-digital reading3. It can be inferred from the study that ________.A) table reading depends more on abstract thinking than concrete thinking B) it is more difficult to read table information than reading short storiesC) people can make better choice of purchasing cars through digital readingD) non-digital reading promotes people’s understanding of table information4. What can be learned from the new study?A) Digital platforms hinder correct understanding in reading.B) People tend to adopt concrete thinking more in digital reading. C) Digital devices should be designed to promote reading efficiency.D) Non-digital reading is better than digital reading.5. What is the main idea of this passage?A) Reading from digital platforms is quite efficient.B) Digital media may be changing people’s way of thinking. C) Digitalization of information influences human beings in many ways.D) Digital technologies can be helpful in developing abstract thinking.

People often ask which is the most difficult language to learn, and it is not easy to answer because there are many factors to take into consideration. Firstly, in a first language the differences are unimportant as people learn their mother tongue naturally, so the question of how hard a language is to learn is only relevant when learning a second language. A native speaker of Spanish, for example, will find Portuguese much easier to learn than a native speaker of Chinese, for example, because Portuguese is very similar to Spanish, while Chinese is very different, so first language can affect learning a second language. The greater the differences between the second language and our first, the harder it will be for most people to learn. Many people answer that Chinese is the hardest language to learn, possibly influenced by the thought of learning the Chinese writing system, and the pronunciation of Chinese does appear to be very difficult for many foreign learners. However, for Japanese speakers, who already use Chinese characters in their own language, learning writing will be less difficult than for speakers of languages using the Roman alphabet. Different cultures and individuals will find different languages more difficult. In the case of Hungarian for British learners, it is not a question of the writing system, which uses a similar alphabet, but the grammatical complexity, though native speakers may find it easier, struggling with languages that the British find relatively hard. No language is easy to learn well, though languages which are related to our first language are easier. Learning a completely different writing system is a huge challenge, but that does not necessarily make a language more difficult than another. In the end, it is impossible to say that one language that is the most difficult language in the world. 【小题1】Who might find Portuguese an easier language to learn? A．The Chinese. B．Russians. C．Spanish people. D．The Japanese. 【小题2】Why do Japanese speakers find the Chinese less difficult to learn? A．They use Chinese characters. B．Japan is the neighbor of China. C．Chinese is their second language. D．Many Japanese are learning Chinese. 【小题3】Which is the most difficult of Hungarian for British learners? A．Writing. B．Pronunciation. C．Grammar. D．Alphabet. 【小题4】What might be the author’s opinion? A. Chinese is the hardest language. B. Native language is always easy to learn. C. No languages are difficult to learn well.

Directions In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank before the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please write down the corresponding. letter for each item in the blanks. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. A) financially E) majority I) discriminated M) protection B) different F) same J) but N) group C) adapt G) adopt k) disadvantages O)easier D) continue H) however L) established Ironically in the United States a country of immigrants prejudice and discrimination__1_____to be serious problems There was often tension between each established group of immigrants and each succeeding group. As each group became more _______2___successful, and more powerful, they excluded newcomers from full participation in the society. Prejudice and discrimination are part of American history _______3___this prejudicial treatment of different groups is nowhere more unfair than with black Americans. Blacks had distinct_____4_____For the most part, they came to the "land of opportunity' as slaves and were not free to keep their heritage and cultural traditions. Unlike most European immigrants blacks did not have the____5______of a support group; sometimes slave owners separated members of the___6_______ family. They could not mix easily with the established society because of their skin color It was difficult for them to ____7______ to the American culture. Even after they became free people, they were still ___8_______ in employment housing education. Until the 20th century the ______9____of the black population lived in the southern part of the United States. Then there was a population shift to the large cities in the North Prejudice against blacks is often associated with the South Slavery was more common there and discrimination was usually______10____ to see.

“A proposed textbook about Mexican-American history that would be read by Texas high school students is filled with inaccuracies about Mexican Americans”, said a group of educators opposing the publication of the textbook. Latino (拉美裔的) activists and educators have been urging the Texas State Board of Education to allow for more coverage of Latino Americans in the textbooks, so when a textbook on Mexican Americans was included among the textbooks to be considered for the next school year, it appeared to be a win for those advocates. But when the textbook was released, it became clear that the book was far more harmful than helpful.On Monday, a newly formed Mexican American organization criticized the offensive cultural stereotypes that were found in the textbook that called Industrialists “driven” but said Mexican laborers “were not reared to put in a full day’s work so vigorously.”As for how it has been received by the board members themselves, reactions have been mixed. Texas Board of Education member Ruben Cortez Jr. said, “I don’t believe that this book should see the inside of any classroom in any shape... If it’s as bad as they’re all telling me, there’s not a chance I’m going to support this book.” However, fellow board member David Bradley, who didn’t want a Mexican-American heritage textbook in the first place said, “It’s really kind of amusing. These activists, having pounded the table for special treatment, get approval for a special course that nobody else wanted... Now they don’t like their special textbook?”The way marginalized groups are represented in historical texts has always been a source of controversy. For example, last year a Houston mother objected to a McGraw-Hill textbook that called slaves “workers” and implied that they emigrated to the Americas as opposed to the reality –that they were forced aboard ships to labor as slaves. A European gaming company also found itself under intense criticism last year for an educational game about the Atlantic slave trade that allowed users to stack slaves on top of each other to fit them all on the ship.The Texas State Board of Education will review the textbook and allow for a public comment period in the fall.1. What is the major concern of Latino activists and educators?A) They want to fight for their legal rights in America.B) They want to urge the authorities to confess their mistakes.C) They want the textbooks cover more about Latino Americans. D) They want to correct the inaccuracies of the textbook.2. Why was the book far more harmful than helpful?A) Because Industrialists were thought to be hard working in the book.B) Because Mexican workers were described as lazy people in the book. C) Because the book was full of inaccuracies about American history.D) Because there was too much coverage of Latino Americans.3. Which of the following statements about David Bradley is true?A) His words were quite ironic. B) He felt really amused.C) His opinion was fair enough.D) He was confused about the whole issue.4. The underlined phrase “marginalized groups” might refer to ________.A) African Americans who used to be slavesB) Latino Americans who used to be laborersC) people who were forced to emigrate to AmericaD) American minorities who were treated unfairly 5. It can be inferred from Paragraph 4 that ________.A) there are many mistakes in American history textbooksB) the Houston mother might be a Latino-AmericanC) the gaming company designed the game improperly D) the textbook will not be published in America

The Canadian Meat Council says every job that remains unfilled in Canada’s meat processing sector costs another four jobs within the Canadian economy. New trade agreements are creating new export opportunities for Canada’s meat processors but a shortage of workers is limiting the ability to take advantage of those opportunities. Ron Davidson, the director of international trade, government and media relations with the Canadian Meat Council, says labor is one of the industry’s primary challenges.People just don’t realize how much is at stake. The meat processing industry is the single largest component of the food processing sector in Canada.Not only does it provide a market outlet for the livestock producers but it provides a market outlet for grain growers who sell feed grains to the livestock industry. We have 65,000 workers, according to Statistics Canada, in the meat packing and processing industry and, for every job that’s on a production line in a meat plant, a study done by the University of Saskatchewan suggests there are at least another four jobs in the economy.These other jobs could be on the farm; they could be in the service sector; they could be in transportation; they could be in marketing. So even when we have 1,000 jobs available in the meat industry that are unfilled on the line in the plant it means there’re at least 4,000 jobs elsewhere in the economy that aren’t going filled. So it has an impact on our jobs; it has an impact on the livestock producers; it has an impact on the grain farmers; it has a major impact on our rural communities; it has a significant impact on our exports and it certainly has an impact on the ability of Canadians to choose Canadian produced food.Davidson says processors are recruiting as actively as possible among all of the Canadian groups, including unemployed people, new immigrants and refugees and continue to work with government to try to gain access to foreign butchers and meat cutters when it’s been clearly demonstrated that there aren’t enough available in Canada.1. What hinders Canada’s meat processors from making full use of new export opportunities?A) Motivation.B) Technology.C) Money.D) Labor. 2. What does “at stake” mean in Paragraph 2?A) Out of control.B) In despair.C) In danger. D) In difficulty.3. Which of the following statement is NOT true according to the passage?A) One of the meat processing industry’s major challenges is labor force.B) Vacant jobs in the meat processing industry have no impact on the grain growers. C) The only biggest component of the food processing sector in Canada is the meat processing industry.D) One vacant job in the meat industry means there are at least another four jobs elsewhere in the economy that are unfilled.4. Who would be the potential labor force to enhance the meat processing industry?A) Grain farmers, unemployed people and new immigrants.B) Unemployed people, livestock producers and new refugees.C) New immigrants and refugees and livestock producers.D) Unemployed people and new immigrants and refugees. 5. What is the main idea of this passage?A) New Trade agreements create new export opportunities for Canada’s meat processors.B) Vacant meat processing jobs impact the entire Canadian economy. C) Grain farmers are associated with the livestock industry.D) Efforts are made to address the problem of shortage of workers.

Film has certainly played a role in providing audiences with a set of strong associations in relation to Kennedy, who as a president did much more than die under tragic circumstances Joseph Uscinski says; I1 you were to ask most people what they know about JFK, it's the assassination and the conspiracy behind it And why is that? It's because of Oliver Stone's fim called JFK" Cinema, of course, has played a minimal role in shaping the legacies of those presidents judged as dull or low key. To some, Presidents Eisenhower, Ford and Carter fall into this category. They're not heroic, inspirational figures', says Professor Morgan. Eisenhower was a much better president than many contemporaries thought he was. He would figure in the top ten presidents of all time, I think, ftor most people. But his style of leadership was very hidden-hand, very understated. That doesn't work for Holywood." But with President Carter it's his years since he left the White House that may be more engaging to Hollywood producers. "Carter's strange legacy is that he becomes a fascinating fgure afer he's the president, one could argue the key legacy comes not from the four years, but the 35 years afterwards. I think that there's every possibility that they will get some very senious Hollywood attention," says Professor Miller. Its not just feature fims but documentares can shape the way a president is perceived but often only to confrm opinions not determine them. When Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 arived on screens it provided a harsh indictmentor George w. Bush's war on trror. It was inftuential but it may have only had a limited etfect on how the public has come to view President Bush. Bush was a polarising figure and the flm didnt bring in people trom all sides. Polarised opinion has also defined Obama's years in the White House and that may limit the abiltly of cinema to determine his legacy 1 don't know how much room there is fora flim to shape his image in the next 10 years because it's witten in stone Aftican-Americans love him, Democrats like him a lot, and many of them wish he was more to the left. Republicans have a biter hatred for him," says Joseph Uscinski.1. What can we infer about Oliver Stone's fim JFK?A. It was mainly about Kennedy's contributions as a presidentB. It was produced before President Kennedy diedC. Itmisled the public's opinion about KennedyD. I provides an objectve picture of Kennedy's ifte2. What does Professor Morgan say about President Eisenhower?A. He was as reserved as President Ford.B. His leadership was successful.C. He was underestmatedD. His life was made into a Hollywood movie.3. What is President Carters legacy according to Professor Miller?A. He was one of the top ten presidents in the history of the United States.B. His post presidency ife would be more appealing to film producers.C. He always keeps a low profle and does not like getting public attentionD. His success as a president is inspirational for commonUs citizens.4. What can we learn about Fanrenheit 9/11 in Paragraph 4?A. Itpresents the polarized opinions about President BushB. Its more infuential than any other ftlm about 9/11C. It shaped the public's perception of PresidentBushD. It accused George w. Bush of his war on error