It is the season for long lines and frayed (紧张的)nerves. Here are some ways to survive a holiday flight.
Lighten up
Do yourself a favor and ship your presents. Nearly every U. S. airline charges a fee to check a bag, so shipping gifts is now cheaper and more convenient than carrying them in your luggage.
Weigh your options
Not knowing what you're going to pay for your luggage is annoying. So calculate your overweight-luggage fees at home. You can find the fees out in advance by visiting new site Luggage Limits ，which provides the latest information on more than 90 airlines.
Leave amateurs in the dust
Trust us and get to the airport an extra half-hour early. The check-in and security lines are filled with inexperienced fliers, and it's a hard walking. Plus, if you decide to cut it close you may not get onto the flight at all. To reduce costs, airlines have reduced on flights and routes. The remaining flights are more likely to be oversold , especially on busy travel days. Fliers who check in early are the least likely to get bumped from oversold flights.
Take it public
The rates for renting a car at the airport have more than doubled over the past year because rental lot inventories have decreased dramatically (显著地). True, renting at the airport is convenient, but it's just not worth it anymore. Unless you really need a car，take public transportation, hop a cab，or beg a friend to pick you up at the airport instead.
Say no to bumper cars
Tell the people picking you up to avoid parking their car. They can hang out in their car for free while waiting to get a call from you when you land. Many airports, including JFK and LAX now feature this sensible choice. How does the author think of shipping gifts?
| A．Unnecessary. | B．Expensive. | C．Inconvenient. | D．Wonderful. |
Airlines have reduced flights to ______ .
| A．deal with crisis | B．reduce the time for leave |
| C．lower the cost | D．provide more job chances |
The underlined phrase "in advance" in the third paragraph could be replaced by ______ .
| A．in person | B．ahead of time |
| C．by accident | D．in addition |
What's the best title for the passage?
| A．5 Ways to Survive a Holiday Flight |
| B．Good Seasons for Flight |
| C．Cars at the Airport |
| D．How to Board a Flight |
People in China, as in other parts of the world, are waiting to see how U.S. President-elect Barack Obama will deal with global problems such as the current economic slowdown once he takes office. As Sam Beattie reports from Beijing, there is widespread hope for closer U.S.-Chinese cooperation.
For many students in Beijing, Mr. Obama symbolizes all that is possible in the United States. He’s a popular winner here, seen as a self-made man who has made it to the top.
"I think he is very charming, and a president who can create a new era," said Zhang Wei, a university student. "I like him very much and most of my friends do too." Ni Weibo, another university student, agrees. "Sino-U.S. relations still need more cooperation," she said. "I think he will help take it to a new era."
China’s President Hu Jintao congratulated Mr. Obama within hours of his victory, saying he hoped bilateral ties could be made stronger.
Political analysts here say China will be looking for the incoming president to avoid contentious issues such as Taiwan’s independence, human rights and Tibet.
Instead, they say Beijing would like Mr. Obama to focus on solving the global economic crisis, and to help China’s slowing economy by opening up U.S. markets.
But trade relations might be a sticking point, says Renmin University’s Professor of International Studies, Shi Yinhong.
He warns, "There is a possibility that President Obama will take some protectionist measures which China will not accept, then trade disputes could develop to a degree that we have not seen ever before."
Despite making the headlines, Mr. Obama faces some tough challenges in managing the U.S. relationship with China. China is now a stronger and more confident country than the China his
predecessors dealt with. And in this time of economic uncertainty, analysts say it’s a country with which Mr. Obama will want to maintain a good relationship.What can we infer from the first three paragraphs?
| A．Mr. Obama was popular with many students in Beijing mostly because he will take office soon. |
| B．Economic slowdown is the big problem that the world is facing and looking forward to solve except US |
| C．China’s President Hu Jintao congratulated Obama on his victory within hours. |
| D．Through Obama’s being elected, we can see all is possible in US and a new relationship may come. |
What is not mentioned in this passage?
| A．What Barack Obama is expected to do in dealing with the US-China relationship. |
| B．Why Barack Obama will maintain a good relationship with China. |
| C．How Barack Obama will deal with the current economic slowdown. |
| D．What image Barack Obama has given to Chinese people. |
What does “ a sticking point”( in para.7 ) mean?
| A．a twist point | B．a disputed point | C．a good beginning | D．a understanding point |
What is the best title for this report?
| A．US-Chinese Cooperation Under the Current Economic Slowdown |
| B．Obama, Seen As A Popular Winner In China |
| C．Chinese Want Stronger Ties With US Under Obama Administration |
| D．The Current Economic Problem faces China As Well As US |
Birds that are half-asleep—with one brain hemisphere (半球) alert and the other sleeping—control which side of the brain remains awake, according to a new study of sleeping ducks.
Earlier studies have documented half-brain sleep in a wide range of birds. The brain hemispheres take turns sinking into the sleep stage characterized by slow brain waves. The eye controlled by the sleeping hemisphere keeps shut, while the wakeful hemisphere’s eye stays open and alert. Birds also can sleep with both hemispheres resting at once.
Decades of studies of bird groups led researchers to predict extra alertness in the end-of-the-row sleepers which tend to be attacked more easily. Sure enough, the end birds tended to watch carefully on the side away from their companions. Ducks in the inner spots showed no preference for gaze direction.
Also, birds napping at the end of the line depend on single-hemisphere sleep, rather than total relaxation, more often than inner ducks did. Turning 16 birds through the positions in a four-duck row, the researchers found that compared with 12 percent for birds in internal spots, outer birds half-asleep during some 32 percent of napping time.
“We believe this is the first evidence for an animal behaviorally controlling sleep and wakefulness at the same time in different regions of the brain,” the researchers say.
The results provide the best evidence for a long-standing assumption that single-hemisphere sleep evolved as creatures scanned for enemies. The preference for opening an eye on the lookout side could be widespread, he predicts. He’s seen it in a pair of birds napping side-by-side in the zoo and in a single pet bird sleeping by a mirror. The mirror-side eye closed as if the reflection were a companion and the other eye stayed open.
Useful as half-sleeping might be, it’s only been found in birds and such water animals as dolphins, whales, and seals. Perhaps keeping one side of the brain awake allows a sleeping animal to surface occasionally to avoid drowning.
Studies of birds may offer unique insights into sleep. Jerome M. Siegel of the UCLA says he wonders if birds’ half-brain sleep “is just the tip of the iceberg.” He supposes that more examples may turn up when we take a closer look at other species.According to the passage, birds often half sleep because ______.
| A．they have to watch out for possible attacks |
| B．their brain hemispheres take turns to rest |
| C．the two halves of their brain are differently structured |
| D．they have to constantly keep an eye on their companions |
What is implied about the example of a bird’s sleeping in front of a mirror?
| A．An imagined companion gives the bird a sense of security. |
| B．Birds prefer to sleep in pairs for the sake of their security. |
| C．The phenomenon of birds napping in pairs is widespread. |
| D．A single pet bird enjoys seeing its own reflection in the mirror. |
While sleeping, some water animals tend to keep half awake in order to ______.
| A．alert themselves to the approaching enemy |
| B．emerge from water now and then to breathe |
| C．be sensitive to the ever-changing environment |
| D．avoid being swept away by rapid currents |
By saying “just the tip of the iceberg”, Siegel suggests that ______.
| A．half-brain sleep has something to do with icy weather |
| B．the mystery of half-brain sleep is close to being solved |
| C．most birds living in cold regions tend to be half sleepers |
| D．half-brain sleep may exist among other species |
The new iPhone 3G should please everyone. Its look and feel are only slightly improved, but a faster network loads Web pages more quickly, true GPS functionality allows it to easily find places nearby, and the new $199 price (down from $400) makes it an affordable luxury.
Before deciding whether to buy, however, make sure you can actually take advantage of the iPhone 3G's high-speed data network. 3G stands for third-generation, which in non-geek speak translates to Web pages and mail messages that, ideally, load about three times faster than on the original iPhone. Even better, 3G coverage enables you to make a phone call and surf the Web at the same time. That's great, if you live or work in a place where the 3G network of AT&T（美国电话电报公司） (the sole wireless carrier of the iPhone) is active. That's not so great in cities like New York where AT&T's cellular coverage is awful. As one of my colleagues in New York City, who bought the original iPhone, commented, "It's just a toy. You can't make phone calls on it, so I carry my Verizon phone with me all the time."
The real fun begins when you tap on the icon called "App Store" and start browsing the hundreds of add-on applications that have been developed just for the iPhone. You'll find tons of games (I like JirboBreak, a free game inspired by the Atari classic Breakout) and mobile versions of popular websites like Pandora, Facebook, MySpace and the New York Times. Most apps will cost you, but the vast majority are $9.99 or less. The apps work on the old iPhones too, but you'll enjoy them a lot more on the iPhone 3G because many of the programs, including Yelp (local business reviews), Whrrl (mobile social networking) and UrbanSpoon (restaurant reviews), use your exact location — provided by the iPhone 3G's GPS chip — to make recommendations. The apps also load much faster over the 3G network.The new iPhone 3G has following features except that _______
| A．It looks and feels better | B．It has a faster network |
| C．It is easy to locate a place | D．It is too expensive for people to buy |
Why do one of my colleagues carry Verizon phone with him all the time? ______.
| A．Because iPhone 3G is just a toy. |
| B．ecause he prefers Verizon phone better. |
| C．Because AT&T's cellular coverage is terrible there |
| D．Because Verizon phone enables him make a phone call and surf the Web at the same time |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage. ____.
| A．App Store will offer you great fun. | B．many apps have been developed for the iPhone. |
| C．Most apps are very expensive. | |
| D．Pandora, Facebook, MySpace and the New York Times are popular websites. |
From the passage we know that the attitude of the author toward iPhone 3G is _____.
| A．doubtful | B．appreciative | C．optimistic | D．pessimistic |
Safety and Security Procedures
Your safety and the security of your personal property are of the primary concern to those of us who welcome you as our guest. We urge you to take advantage of the following suggestions.
YOUR VEHICLE
Lock your vehicle and do not leave money or valuable items inside. We are not responsible for their loss.
TRAVELING
Be good at noticing things around you when sightseeing or traveling. Stay in well-lit and heavily traveled areas. Don’t display large amounts of cash.
GUEST ROOM SECURITY
For additional security use the deadbolt (插锁) provided on your door and make sure the windows are locked. As an additional precautious measure, please secure the secondary locks provided. Do not admit anyone to your room without first making identification. A one-way viewer is provided in your door to assist with identification. If there is any doubt about the person’s identity, please contact the Front Desk.
SAFETY BOXES
Do not leave money or valuables in your room or vehicle. We provide free safety boxes for your use. Hotel is not responsible for items left in room valued over $200.
KEYS
Safeguard your key. Please do not leave it in the door. Do not give your key to others or leave it unattended. Please leave your key at the Front Desk when you check out.
REPORTING
Please report any suspicious activity, or safety concerns to management.
FIRE
Please familiarize yourself with the nearest fire exits. Report fire or smoke to the hotel operator. In the unlikely event of a fire, please move quickly and calmly to the nearest safe exit and leave the building. Avoid the use of elevator.The suggestions are most probably from ______.
| A．a hotel manager | B．a police officer | C．an experienced traveler | D．a tour guide |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．It is advised to travel to places where there are few people. |
| B．The hotel is not responsible for anything you lose. |
| C．Don’t report to the manager unless you are sure something is going wrong. |
| D．You’d better use the deadbolt and the secondary locks for safety. |
If you feel doubtful about a stranger who knocks at the door, you should _____.
| A．let the person in after you have got his/her name |
| B．open the door to check the person’s ID card |
| C．call the Front Desk to make sure |
| D．contact the local police for assistance |
What does the underlined part “In the unlikely event of a fire” mean?
| A．In case a fire happens, though it is not very possible |
| B．If a fire happens when some big events are taking place. |
| C．In case a fire happens in a public building. |
| D．If a fire breaks out and it is getting out of control. |
With its budget of $80 million , John Woo as director, and an all-star cast（明星云集的演员阵容）, Red Cliff is the most expensive and ambitious Asian-financed film ever. Last week I saw the release of the second part, and boy oh boy does it shows.
But watching the film as a foreigner I felt I was missing out on something. Not knowing my Cao Cao’s from my Zhou Yu’s, I was not even sure whom I wanted to win. Certainly after the opening scene, in which Cao Cao is seen watching a game of Cuju, an ancient Chinese variation of football, I knew who had my support. After all, any man who enjoys his football is someone after my own heart. But after Cao Cao resorted to some evil strategies against his enemies in the south, I wasn’t so sure he was the man I should be rooting for.
And there is a lot more to Red Cliff 2 than just extravagant battle scenes. The film does not take itself too seriously. Conversations between leaders are littered with one-liners, many of which had the audience in laughter. There is even enough to keep fans of more romantic entertainment happy too. This includes a charming relationship between a southern spy（侦探）and an innocent northern soldier. The characters’ interaction provides some genuinely heart-warming moments in the middle of the battle.
Clocking in at（结束于）around two hours, the film certainly does justice to the history story. When I walked out the cinema, I felt as drained（精疲力竭） as Cao Cao’s soldiers must have 1,800 years ago.By expressing “boy oh boy” in the first paragraph, the author seems to show that _______.
| A．the film characters are like boys who are childish. |
| B．the film provides amazing and surprising scenes for audience. |
| C．the film is suitable for younger boys to watch. |
| D．the film scene is so bloody that boys shouldn’t watch it. |
When did the author change his attitude toward Cao Cao?
| A．When he read the history story about Cao Cao. |
| B．When he saw Cao Cao was watching a game of Cuju, |
| C．When he realized that Cao Cao took some bad measures to beat his enemies. |
| D．When he saw the romantic love story of Cao Cao and a southern spy. |
The following factors of the film are all mentioned in the passage except_______.
| A．high budget | B．leading roles | C．actors and actress | D．conversations |
From the passage we can infer that_______.
| A．the author is a football fan in a foreign country. |
| B．Cuju is the name of an ancient Chinese variation of football. |
| C．the film Red Cliff 2 lasts about two hours. |
| D．the author was very tired after about two hours’ battle. |
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