1、大学六级-1557 及答案解析(总分：710.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、Part Writing(总题数：1，分数：103.00)1. （分数：103.00）_二、Part Reading Compr(总题数：1，分数：70.00)Why Are Airlines Withholding Seats?A few months ago I booked a flight for two and then went to select seats on the airlines site. Based on the destination and time of year, I was su
2、rprised to find only two adjacent seats were available without paying a premium (额外费用). 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.So how could a flight
3、 that looked nearly full a month earlier wind up with seven out of ten seats empty? Thats a question only the airlines can answer, and theyre not eager to provide many details.Are some carriers intentionally holding back seat assignments, in the hope well all pay for “premium“ seats? Its a fair ques
4、tion, and the evidence is intriguing.Behind the screen indeedAn awful lot 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
5、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.Some indust
6、ry experts have connected the dots. “Theyre trying to get people to buy premium seats,“ says George Hobica, USATODAY.coms Fly Guy columnist and the founder of A. “They want to increase revenue. And were getting more complaints about it. “ He notes that it “really annoys“ passengers who want to sit t
7、ogether, particularly when traveling with small children.Hes echoed by Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition (联盟): “With yield management, consumers are aware and they know that airlines are constantly changing prices on seats. But if this is true, it is unethicaltheyre grossly m
8、isleading 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. “According to the airlines, the reason for ancillary (附加的) revenue is unbundling (分类计价) ticket prices, so passengers who desire a given servicesay checking
9、a bag or ordering a soft drinkpay for it, while those who dont are spared the cost. But as Mitchell notes, “Theres another twist to this. The airlines are saying fees are for optional services. Well, seats arent optional! “Of course, securing a good seat isnt an issue if youre in first class or your
10、e an elite member of a frequent flyer program. But what about the rest of us? As Ive pointed out repeatedly in recent columns, were faced with record-high load factors, the highest for the U.S. airline industry since World War . But even with the average percentage of occupied seats for domestic fli
11、ghts at 82.7%, its still an averagesome flights will be fuller but others will not, particularly weeks in advance. Yet searching for seats keeps getting harder and harder.Seats for saleHobica cites the major airlines as the prime culprits (起因), but he also notes even low-cost carriers can make secur
12、ing 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 f
13、ewer free seats is a trend, and the response was: “Thats going to vary because there are so many variables. “I decided to check on seat availability at D. I inquired about economy-class availability for two seats on a busy routeAtlanta to Chicagoand conducted an apples-to-apples search for the same
14、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
15、 preferred and only nine standard, and still with only one set together. Remarkable bow 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.I contacted Delta and a spokesman said the price for
16、 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 (大勋章) members, and become available without additional charge 24 hours prior to departure. When asked i
17、f Delta has received complaints about a dearth of free seats, he stated, “Overall, our seat program has been received very well. “But my findings dovetailed (吻合) with recent complaints filed with Airfarewatchdog:When (my husband) tried to get a seat assignment on the first flight there was just one
18、“complimentary (免费的) seat“ (near the back in the middle) availablethe 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!(After)
19、 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 a
20、way with this?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?So what can you do? Its a tough propositio
21、n. Usually I would offer strategies for countering such airline initiatives, but in this case the options are limited. Thats 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
22、sore need for transparency on this. When people are confused, they make bad decisions. “That said, consider the following:When budget your airfares, make sure you consider not just baggage fees but the added cost of seat selectionfor all travelers and in both directions.If possible, book early, when
23、 there should be more seats available, and check in early too. Why the qualifier “should“? Because if availability is artificially manipulated, its hard to be certain.Book airlines that offer more transparent seat-selection policies. Of course, this is not an issue with Southwest and other carriers
24、that offer “open seating“ policies.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 (行李仓) so crammed and fellow passengers who may have paid for premium
25、seats in advance.（分数：70.00）(1).The author was even more surprised when _.A. he couldnt find two adjacent seats when booking a flightB. he had to pay a premium to get two adjacent seatsC. he found that more than haft of the seats were emptyD. he could not stretch out on the plane（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(2).
26、Some passengers are really annoyed because _.A. they have to pay additional money to get the seats they wantB. they have to pay different prices based on the day of purchaseC. they are confused by the advance purchase patternsD. there are too many combinations of fares offered by airlines（分数：7.00）A.
27、B.C.D.(3).How does Kevin Mitchell feel about the so-called yield management of the industry?A. Its unethical and misleading.B. Its barely satisfactory.C. Its reasonable.D. Its intriguing.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(4).Which of the following is not the reason given by the airlines for unbundling ticket prices?
28、A. If you desire a given service, you need to pay for it.B. Ordering seats is just like ordering a soft drink.C. You can spare the cost if you dont need the service.D. Seats arent something thats optional.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(5).Virgin America is singled out in the passage to show that _.A. some airlin
29、es are unbundling ticket prices for profitsB. passengers are not happy with their practiceC. some airlines provide customers with clear policiesD. some airlines provide passengers with extra service（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(6).According to the spokesman of Delta, preferred economy-class tickets _.A. usually
30、 have a fixed priceB. are available 24 hours prior to the planes departureC. can be obtained with additional chargeD. are only for Medallion members（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(7).Based on the complaints filed with Airfarewatchdog, we know that _.A. only on some connecting flights are complimentary seats offer
31、edB. its illegal to charge money to get some special seatsC. people have to rush the gate with the boarding passesD. some need to pay extra money to get the seat assignment（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(8).Some believe that, in order to solve the problem of airlines withholding seats, some actions should be take
32、n by _.（分数：7.00）填空项 1:_(9).According to the author, when people budget their airfares, they should consider both the baggage fees and _.（分数：7.00）填空项 1:_(10).When Hobica refers to “horse trading“, he means that one may _.（分数：7.00）填空项 1:_三、Part Listening Com(总题数：0，分数：0.00)四、Section A(总题数：4，分数：105.00)(
33、1).A. She thinks the exercise is easy.B. She cant solve the exercise either.C. She can help the man with the exercise.D. She hasnt tried to solve the exercise yet.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(2).A. Buy a newspaper.B. Take a trip in the summer.C. Put an ad in a newspaper.D. Go to the interviewers office.（分数：7.0
34、0）A.B.C.D.(3).A. The man must be a very slow driver.B. She did a lot of walking in Florida.C. The man should have spent less time in Florida.D. She got to Florida long before the man did.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(4).A. Look for the umbrella in the theater.B. Ask the ticket seller about the umbrella.C. Buy a
35、nother ticket for the show.D. Go back to her chair to get the umbrella.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(5).A. Both of the activities arent very good.B. He has no interest in doing exercise.C. They should choose a different activity.D. It doesnt matter which activity to choose.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(1).A. Wash fewer clo
36、thes at a time.B. Use a different washing machine.C. Try to repair the washing machine first.D. Wash his clothes by hand.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(2).A. She is going to drop the class too.B. She doesnt know how to swim.C. It took her a long time to learn to swim.D. She teaches swimming.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(3).
37、A. Hell give the man a few prescriptions fight away.B. He 11 be away from the office for one or two days.C. The woman doesnt need anything for her cough.D. The woman should continue taking the medicine.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.（分数：21.00）(1
38、).A. Her apartment is too far from the campus.B. Her apartment needs a lot of repair work.C. Shes having trouble with the owner of the apartment.D. Her roommate wont share expenses.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(2).A. Because the girls didnt pay their rent on time.B. Because she couldnt find anyone to repair the
39、 dishwasher.C. Because she had to buy a new dishwasher.D. Because paula had some repairs done without her permission.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(3).A. Because he has some knowledge of the law.B. Because he once had the same problem.C. Because he is a friend of the owner.D. Because he can bring a lawsuit again
40、st the owner.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.（分数：28.00）(1).A. There arent enough cabinets.B. There is too much noise.C. Office supplies are taking up space.D. Some teaching assistants dont have desks.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(2).A. To chat with him socia
41、lly.B. To get help with the course.C. To hand in their assignments.D. To practise giving interviews.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(3).A. Give Jack a different office.B. Complain to the department head.C. Move the supplies to the storage room.D. Try to get a room to use for meetings.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(4).A. Theyd
42、have to get permission.B. Jack wouldnt like it.C. She thinks it might work.D. Other assistants should be consulted.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.五、Section B(总题数：3，分数：70.00)Passage OneQuestions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.（分数：21.00）(1).A. Because of its shape.B. Because of its skin.C. Be
43、cause of its size.D. Because of its behavior.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(2).A. How sea animals manage to exist.B. How large sea animals can be.C. How frightening the squid is.D. How little is known about the sea.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(3).A. Why it is difficult to use aerial photographs in research.B. Why oceanic r
44、esearch is so limited.C. How oceanic research has helped land research.D. How fossil remains are obtained from deep sea.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.Passage TwoQuestions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.（分数：21.00）(1).A. New varieties of corn have been developed.B. The crops need less fertil
45、izer.C. Farmers can now monitor crop growth.D. Crop yields are much greater.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(2).A. Its being drained from Nebraska to Texas.B. Its being pumped out.C. Its becoming contaminated with oil.D. Its becoming much warmer.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(3).A. It can be seen from an airplane.B. Its most l
46、ikely polluted.C. Its usually a bright green color.D. The supply of it may be exhausted soon.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.Passage ThreeQuestions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.（分数：28.00）(1).A. To review what students know about volcanic activity.B. To demonstrate the use of a new measurem
47、ent device.C. To explain the answer to an examination question.D. To provide background for the next reading assignment.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(2).A. They occur at regular intervals.B. They can withstand great heat.C. They travel through the Earths interior.D. They can record the Earths internal temperatu
48、re.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(3).A. When the Earth was formed.B. The composition of the Earths interior.C. Why molten rock is hot.D. How often a volcano is likely to erupt.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.(4).A. How deep they are.B. Where earthquakes form.C. How hot they are.D. What purpose they serve.（分数：7.00）A.B.C.D.六、Sec
49、tion C(总题数：1，分数：77.00)Teenagers will be told to “stand up for their elders“ on public transportor risk losing their right to free travel.London Mayor Boris Johnson will (36) plans today to make youngsters sign a “ (37) pledge“ to promise to behave in a (38) manner when travelling in the capital.The three-poi
