The most frightening words in the English language are, “Our computer is down.” You hear it more and more when you are on business. The other day I was at the airport waiting for a ticket to Washington and the girl in the ticket office said, “I’m sorry, I can’t sell you a ticket. Our computer is down.”
“If your computer is down, just write me out a ticket.”
“I can’t write you out a ticket. The computer is the only one allowed to do so.”
I noticed every passenger was just standing there drinking coffee and staring at the black screen. Then I looked down on the computer and asked her, “What do all you people do?”
“We give the computer the information about your trip, and then it tells us whether you can fly with us or not.”
“So when it goes down, you go down with it.”
“That’s good, sir.”
“How long will the computer be down? I wanted to know.”
“I have no idea. Sometimes it’s down for 10 minutes, sometimes for two hours. There’s no way we can find out without asking the computer, and since it’s down it won’t answer us.”
After the girl told me they had no backup computer, I said. “Let’s forget the computer—What about your planes? They are still flying, aren’t they?”
“I couldn’t tell without asking the computer.”
“Maybe I could, just go to the gate and ask the pilot if he is flying to Washington,” I suggested.
“I wouldn’t know what gate to send you to. Even if the pilot was going to Washington, he couldn’t take you if you didn’t have a ticket.”
“Is there any other airline flying to Washington within the next few hours?”
“I wouldn’t know,” she said, pointing at the dark screen. “Only ‘IT’ knows. It can’t tell me.”
By this time there were quite a few people standing in lines. The words soon spread to other travelers that the computer was down. Some people went white, some people started to cry and still others kicked their luggage.Where do you often hear the frightening words “Our computer is down”?
| A．at the airport. | B．At the gate. |
| C．On business | D．In the ticket office |
What could the girl in the ticket office do without asking the computer?
| A．She could do nothing. |
| B．She could write out a ticket. |
| C．She could still sell a ticket. |
| D．She could answer passengers’ questions. |
What does the underlined word “down” in Paragraph 1 mean?
| A．White | B．Broken | C．Black | D．Dark |
We can learn from the last paragraph that .
| A．a modern computer won’t be down |
| B．computers can take the place of human |
| C．there will be great changes in computers |
| D．sometimes a computer may bring suffering to people |
The best title for the article is .
| A．Asking the Computer |
| B．When the Computer Is Down |
| C．The Computer of the Airport |
| D．The Most Frightening Words |
General Airport Tips
Plan to get to the airport at least an hour early, or two during holidays and other busy times; this will reduce the stress of the flight. If all goes well, you will have time to relax, shop for last-minute items, or have a meal before the flight.
Flight Delays
Find out why your flight is delayed. Call the free call numbers. Find out if other airlines are experiencing similar delays. If you believe the delay is due to something other than weather or air traffic problems, then mention your suspicion （怀疑） and ask the airline agent to book you on the next available flight, either on the same air-line or a competing one. This is called "Rule 240", and all airlines are required to do it. Use the lingo （行话）; ask, "Can you 240 me?" when speaking with an agent. They will know what you mean.
Flight Cancellations （取消）
If your flight is canceled, then make a reservation on the next flight to your destination（目的地）. Usually, air-line officials will try to book everyone on their next flight out. Often they will put you on a competitor's next flight only if you request it. If on-time arrival is important to you, when you check flights through our reservation system you can make your choices based on their on-time arrival records. Be sure to also check the weather conditions, as they often affect flight schedules.
Getting bumped （不能登机）
To avoid getting bumped, you must be at the loading gate at least 10 minutes ahead of scheduled departure（离开） for a U.S. Flight, 20 minutes to /from Bahamas, Canada, and Mexico and 30 to/ from all other international points. You must be at the loading gate, not the airport entrance.By arriving at the airport earlier, one can _______.
| A．get on the airplane immediately |
| B．reduce the pressure of the flight |
| C．have a good rest in the airplane |
| D．buy what he wants in the airport |
If a person calls "Rule 240", he wants to _______.
| A．make sure the time for the next plane |
| B．get a ticket for the next flight |
| C．know if other flights are also delayed |
| D．ask about the reason for the plane delay |
After a flight cancellation, you can_______.
| A．arrive at your destination on time |
| B．be put on a competitor’s flight |
| C．make sure the weather is quite fine |
| D．reserve the next flight to your destination |
People heading for Germany must be at the loading gate at least__________.
| A．40 minutes ahead of time. |
| B．30 minutes ahead of time. |
| C．20 minutes ahead of time. |
| D．10 minutes ahead of time. |
There once was a master who went to India. In those times, we didn't have the communications or airplanes or many kinds of transportation that we do now. So the master went to India on foot. He had never been to India before; perhaps he came from Persia. And when he got there, he saw a lot of fruit. In India they have plenty of fruit to sell, but much of it is expensive because they can't grow much due to the water situation. So he saw one basket, a big basket of some very red, long fruit. And it was the cheapest in the shop, not expensive at all.
So he went up and asked, "How much per kilo?" And the shopkeeper said, "Two rupees（卢比）." Two rupees in India is nothing; it's like dirt. So he bought a whole kilogram of the fruit and started eating it. But after he ate some of it: Oh, my God! His eyes watered, his mouth watered and burned, his eyes were burning, his head was burning and his face became red. As he coughed and choked and gasped for breath, he jumped up and down, saying, "Ah! Ah! Ah!"But he still continued to eat the fruit! Some people who were looking at him shook their heads and said, "You're crazy, man. Those are chilies（辣椒）! You can't eat so many; they're not good for you! People use them as a condiment（作料）, but only a little bit to put into food for taste. You can't just eat them by the handful like that; they're not fruit!" So the stupid master said, "No, I can't stop! I paid money for them, and now I'll eat them. It's my money!"
And you think that master was stupid, right? Similarly, we sometimes do a lot of things like that. We invest money, time or effort in a relationship, business or job. And even though it's been a long time, bitter experience tells us it won't work, and we know there's no more hope that things will change in the future — this we definitely know by intuition（直觉） — we still continue just because we've invested money, time, effort and love into it. Just like the man who ate the chilies and suffered so much but couldn't stop because he didn't want to waste the money he'd paid.Why did the master buy a lot of chilies?
| A．He loved the taste of chilies very much. |
| B．He spent a lot of money on chilies. |
| C．The price of chilies is very low. |
| D．The quality of Indian chilies is very good. |
What can we infer about the master according to the passage?
| A．He is very wise in spending his money. |
| B．He came from Persia with someone else. |
| C．He walked to India for the first time. |
| D．He is a very rich and honest man. |
What is the purpose of the passage?
| A．To share us a funny story about a silly master. |
| B．To tell us when to give up in life. |
| C．To offer some information about India. |
| D．To remind us how to spend money wisely. |
A young and handsome executive was driving down a neighborhood street. He thought he saw something. Then he slowed down, watching out for children rushing out from between parked cars. As his car passed, no kids appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into his door! He slammed on the brakes （make his car stop）. The angry driver then jumped out of his car, caught the nearest child and pushed him up against a parked car, shouting, “Who are you and what was that all about?”
The little boy was full of apology, “Please，Mister… Please, I’m sorry…I didn’t know what else I could do. I threw the brick because no one else would stop.”
With tears dripping down his face, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. “It’s my brother,” he said. “He fell out of his wheelchair and I can’t lift him up.”
Now weeping, the boy asked the executive, “Would you please help me to get him back into his wheelchair? He’s hurt and he’s too heavy for me.”
Touched beyond words, the executive tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the boy back into the wheelchair, then took out his fancy handkerchief and dabbed （a light touch） at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. “Thank you and may God bless you.” The grateful child told the stranger.
Shaken up for words, the man simply watched the little boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home.
God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don’t have time to listen, he has to throw a brick at us. Don’t go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!The executive slowed down because .
| A．he was afraid that some boys would suddenly rush out |
| B．he saw a boy rush out from between parked cars |
| C．he saw a boy throw a brick to his car |
| D．he saw a brick smash into his door |
The boy threw the brick to the car in order to .
| A．disturb the executive on purpose |
| B．stop someone to help him |
| C．ask the driver to drive him home |
| D．destroy the car of the stranger |
After knowing the reason why the boy threw the brick at his car the executive must feel .
| A．sympathized and excited |
| B．angry and guilty |
| C．ashamed and pitiful |
| D．regretful and sympathized |
After the boy’s brother fell off his wheelchair, .
| A．the boy threw bricks at several cars |
| B．the boy’s brother was hurt seriously |
| C．the boy tried to stop several cars |
| D．the boy’s brother wanted to stop a car |
Itzhak Perlman was born in Tel Aviv, in what was then Palestine, in 1945. Today he lives in New York City. But his music has made him a citizen of the world. He has played in almost every major city.
He has won many Grammy awards for his recordings. He has also won Emmy awards for his work on television.
Itzhak Perlman suffered from polio at the age of four. The disease damaged his legs. He uses a wheel-chair or walks with the aid of crutches on his arms.
But none of this stopped him from playing the violin. He began as a young child. He took his first lessons at the Music Academy of Tel Aviv. Very quickly, his teachers recognized that he had a special gift.
At the age of 13 he went to the United States to appear on television. His playing earned him the financial aid to attend the Juilliard School in New York.
In 1964 Itzhak Perlman won the Leventritt Competition in that city. His international fame had begun.
His music is full of power and strength. It can be sad or joyful，loud or soft. But critics say it is not the music alone that makes his playing so special. They say he is able to communicate the joy he feels in playing, and the emotions that great music can deliver.
Anyone who has attended a performance by Itzhak Perlman will tell you that it is exciting to watch him play. His face changes as the music from his violin changes.
He looks sad when the music seems sad. He smiles and closes his eyes when the music is light and happy. He often looks dark and threatening when the music seems dark and threatening.
In 1986，President Ronald Reagan honored Itzhak Perlman with a Medal of Liberty. In 2000,President Bill Clinton awarded him the National Medal of Arts. Several major universities have awarded him honors. He continues to receive honors for his music. According to the passage, we know Itzhak Perl-man __________.
| A．is 60 years old today |
| B．was born in New York City |
| C．was a rich citizen of the world |
| D．has some great achievements in music |
Despite the disease, none of this stopped Itzhak Perlman and he __________.
| A．took his first lessons at the Music Academy of New York |
| B．appeared on television for the first time in New York |
| C．got the financial aid to continue his study of music |
| D．won the Leventritt Competition in his nineties |
When the music seems dark, Itzhak Perlman often looks __________.
| A．dark |
| B．sad |
| C．happy |
| D．light |
We can infer from the passage Ronald Reagan must be president of __________
| A．Palestine |
| B．Germany |
| C．the USA |
| D．England |
Lee Ann Laraway has polio (小儿麻痹症）and is not able to move very much. Most things are out of reach for her. Jeannie, a Labrador retriever, acts as her arms and legs. Jeannie understands 72 or more different commands.
On a shopping trip, she can get cash for Lee Ann at the bank or a candy bar at the store. She can pay the cashier (收银员） and get change back. Jeannie brings things to Lee Ann.
Jeannie was trained at a place called Canine Companions for Independence, located on twelve acres of land in Santa Rosa (California). The land was donated by the late Peanuts cartoonist Charles Shultz. "We train four different types of dogs here, "said Ken Kirsh, a dog trainer there. “Hearing dogs, service dogs, skilled companion dogs, and facility dogs.
Trainers work with Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers for hours a day, but not every dog is good enough to be a working dog.
The work is serious business. Hearing dogs warn their owners of sounds like ringing telephones and doorbells. Other dogs work with disabled patients like eight-year-old Noah Habib who communicates with a special computer. He likes it when people come to ask him about his dog. His father says people are really interested in the dog and will come over and ask to pet her and play with her, and ask about what she does，and these are people that normally might not approach us and want to talk to Noah.
When Lee Ann Laraway comes home with Jean-nie and the goods，Jeannie helps her open the door. “You can train a dog to do a lot of things，” said Lee Ann. Jeannie can help Lee Ann do all the following EXCEPT __________
| A．go to the bank to get money |
| B．pay for what Jeannie buys in the shop |
| C．open the door |
| D．do some cooking at home |
People want to talk to Noah mainly because __________
| A．he is good at training dogs |
| B．he is not only honest but also lovely |
| C．they want to play with his dog |
| D．they want to ask him for help |
Supposing Jack went deaf in an accident，what kind of dogs may offer him the greatest help?
| A．Hearing dogs. |
| B．Service dogs. |
| C．Skilled companion dogs. |
| D．Facility dogs. |
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
| A．Dogs are helpful to people |
| B．Four kinds of dogs |
| C．Jeannie, a very clever dog |
| D．How to train working dogs |
粤公网安备 44130202000953号