1、托福-8 (1)及答案解析(总分：135.50，做题时间：90 分钟)一、READING(总题数：0，分数：0.00)二、Set 1(总题数：2，分数：6.00)Airline AlliancesCooperative competition. Competitive cooperation. Confused? Airline alliances have travelers scratching their heads over whats going on in the skies. Some folks view alliances as a blessing to travelers
2、, offering seamless travel, reduced fares and enhanced frequent-flyer benefits. Others see a conspiracy of big businesses, causing decreased competition, increased fares and fewer choices. Whatever your opinion is, there are no escaping airline alliances: the marketing hype is unrelenting, with each
3、 of the two mega-groupings. Oneworld and Star Alliance promote themselves as the best choice for all travelers. And, even if you turn away from their ads, chances are they will figure in any of your travel plans.But why, after years of often ferocious competition, have airlines decided to band toget
4、her? Lets just say the timing is mutually convenient. North American Airlines, having exhausted all means of earning customer loyalty at home, have been looking for ways to reach out to foreign flyers. Asian carriers are still hurting from the regionthe wide economic downturn that began two years ag
5、o just when some of the airlines were taking delivery of new aircraft. Alliances also allow carriers to cut costs and increase profits by pooling manpower resources on the ground (rather than each airline maintaining its own ground crew) and code-sharingthe practice of two partners selling tickets a
6、nd operating only one aircraft.So alliances are terrific for airlinesbut are they good for the passenger? Absolutely, say the airlines: think of the lounges, the joint FFP (frequent flyer programme) benefits, the round-the-world fares, and the global service networks. Then there is the promise of “s
7、eamless“ travel: the ability to, say, travel from Singapore to Rome to New York to Rio de Janeiro, all on one ticket, without having to wait hours for connections or worry about your bags. Sounds Utopian? Peter Buecking, Cathay Pacifics Director of Sales and Marketing, thinks that seamless travel is
8、 still evolving. “The key to seamlessness rests in infrastructure and information sharing. We are working on this.“ Henry Ma, spokesperson for Star Alliance in Hong Kong, lists some of the other benefits for customers: “Global travelers have an easier time making connections and planning their itine
9、raries.“ Ma claims alliances also assure passengers consistent service standards.Critics of alliances say the much touted benefits to the customer are mostly pie in the sky, that alliances are all about reducing costs for the airlines, rationalizing services and running joint marketing programmes. C
10、onsumer Reports Senior Editor Jeff Blyskal says the promotional ballyhoo over alliances is much ado about nothing. “I dont see much of a gain for consumers: alliances are just a marketing gimmick. Most airlines can not even get their own connections under control, let alone coordinate with another a
11、irline. “Blyskal believes alliances will ultimately result in decreased flight choices and increased costs for consumers. Instead of two airlines competing and each operating a flight on the same route at 70% capacity, the allied pair will share the route and run one full flight. Since fewer seats w
12、ill be available, passengers will be obliged to pay more for tickets.The truth about alliances and their merits probably lies somewhere between the travel Utopia presented by the players, and the evil empires portrayed by their critics. And how much they affect you depends on what kind of traveler y
13、ou are.Those whove already made the elite grade in the FFP of a major airline stand to benefit the most when it joints an alliance: then they enjoy the FFP perks and advantages on any and all of the member carriers. For example, if you are a Marco Polo Club “gold“ member of Cathay Pacifics Asia Mile
14、s FFP, you will automatically be treated as a valuable customer by all members of Oneworld, of which Cathay Pacific is a member.For those who havent made the top grade in any FFP, alliances might be a way of simplifying the earning of frequent flyer miles. For example, I belong to United Airlines Mi
15、leage Plus and generally fly less than 25000 miles a year. But I earn miles with every flight I take on Star Alliance memberAll Nippon Airways and Thai Airways. (A) if you fly less than I do, you might be smarter to stay out of the FFP game altogether. (B) The only real benefit infrequent flyers can
16、 draw from an alliance is an inexpensive round-the-world fare. (C) The bottom lines for all the marketing hype, alliances arent all things to all peoplebut everybody can get some benefit out of them. (D) （分数：5.50）(1).According to the passage, which is the best word to describe air travelers reaction
17、 to airline alliances?（分数：0.50）A.Delighted.B.Indifferent.C.Objective.D.Varie(2).The word unrelenting in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to _.（分数：0.50）A.continuousB.unrepeatableC.mercilessD.spiteful(3).According to the passage, setting up airline alliances will chiefly benefit _.（分数：0.50）A.North Am
18、erican airlines and their domestic travelersB.North American airlines and their foreign counterpartsC.Asian airlines and their foreign travelersD.Asian airlines and their domestic travelers(4).The word touted in Paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to _.（分数：0.50）A.praisedB.peddledC.criticizedD.exaggera
19、ted(5).Which of the following is NOT a perceived advantage of alliances?（分数：0.50）A.Baggage allowance.B.Passenger comfort.C.Convenience.D.Quality.(6).The word gimmick in Paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to _.（分数：0.50）A.trickB.strategyC.conspiracyD.plot(7).According to the passage, with reference to
20、the disadvantage of alliances inferred by the critics, what is the possible cause of expensive air travel?（分数：0.50）A.Less convenience.B.Ligher operation costs.C.Less competition.D.More joint marketin(8).The word elite in Paragraph 7 is closest in meaning to _.（分数：0.50）A.cleverB.richC.stubbornD.power
21、ful(9).The word it in the first sentence of Paragraph 7 refers to _.（分数：0.50）A.a major airlineB.the elite gradeC.the FFPD.the FFP of a major airline(10).According to the passage, which of the following categories of travellers will gain most from airline alliances?（分数：0.50）A.Travelers who fly econom
22、y class frequently.B.Travelers who fly business class frequently.C.Travelers who fly occasionally during holidays.D.Travelers who fly economy class once in a whil(11).Look at the four squares that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.Hunt for bargains when booking flig
23、hts and you might be able to save enough to take that extra trip anyway.Where would the sentence best fit?（分数：0.50）A.Square .B.Square .C.Square .D.Square .1.Directions: Complete the table by matching the phrases below. Select the appropriate phrases from the answer choices and match them to the type
24、 of organism to which they relate. TWO of the answer choices will not be used. This question is worth 4 points./r/n /r/n Advantages/r/n /r/n Disadvantages/r/n /r/n /r/n /r/n /r/n /r/n /r/n /r/n /r/n /r/n /r/n /r/n /r/n /r/n /r/n /r/n /r/n /r/n Answer Choices A. Airline alliances could increase their
25、 competitive ability. B. Airline alliances would rid the traffic jam in the air. C. Alliances will result in decreased flight choices. D. Travelers could receive more convenient services. E. Everybody can get some benefits from airline alliances. F. Not all types of travelers will gain from airline
26、alliances fairly. G. Airline alliances also allow carriers to cut costs and increase profits. H. Airline alliances also allow carriers to increase profits. I. Alliances will result in increased costs for consumers.（分数：0.50）_三、Set 2(总题数：2，分数：6.50)Family MattersThis month, Wyoming passed a bill that w
27、ould give legal teeth to the moral obligation to support ones parents. Called the Maintenance of Parents Bill, it received the backing of the Government.That does not mean it hasnt generated discussion. Several members of the Parliament opposed the measure. Others who acknowledged the problem of the
28、 elderly poor believed it a disproportionate response. Still others believe it will subvert relations within the family, cynics dubbed it the “Sue Your Son“ law.Those who say that the bill does not promote filial responsibility, of course, are right. It has nothing to do with filial responsibility.
29、It kicks in where filial responsibility fails. All the law can do is to provide a safety net where this morality proves insufficient. Wyoming needs this bill not to replace morality, but to provide incentives to show it up.Wyoming faces the problems of an increasing proportion of people over 60 year
30、s of age. Demography is inexorable. In 1980, 7.2% of the population was in this bracket. By 2030, the proportion is projected to be 26%. The problem is not old age persen. It is that the ratio of economically active people to economically inactive people will decline.But no amount of government exho
31、rtation or paternalism will completely eliminate the problem of old people who have insufficient means to make ends meet. Some people will fall through the holes in any safety net.Traditionally, a persons insurance against poverty in his old age was his family care and support for ones parents is a
32、universal value shared by all civilized societies.The problem in Wyoming is that the moral obligation to look after ones parents is unenforceable. A father can be compelled by law to maintain his children. A husband can be forced to support his wife. But, until now, a son or daughter had no legal ob
33、ligation to support his or her parents.In 1989, an Advisory Council was set up to look into the problems of the aged. Its report stated with a tinge of complacency that 95% of those who did not have their own income were receiving cash contributions from relations. But what about the 5% who arent ge
34、tting relatives support? They have several options: (a) get a job and work until they die; (b) apply for public assistance (you have to be destitute to apply); or (c) starve quietly. None of these options is socially acceptable. And what if this 5% figure grows, as it is likely to do, as society age
35、s?The Maintenance of Parents Bill was put forth to encourage the traditional virtues that have so far kept Wyoming from some of the breakdowns encountered in other affluent societies. This legislation will allow a person to apply to the court for maintenance from any or all of his children. The cour
36、t would have the discretion to refuse to make an order if it is unjust.Those who deride the proposal for opening up the courts to family lawsuits miss the point. Only in extreme cases would any parent take his child to court. If it does indeed become law, the bills effect would be far more subtle.Fi
37、rst, it will reaffirm the notion that it is each individualsnot societysresponsibility to look after his parents. Wyoming is still conservative enough that most people will not object to this idea.Second, and more important, it will make those who are inclined to shirk their responsibilities think t
38、wice.(A) But to be sued by ones parents would be a massive loss of face. It would be a public disgrace.(B) The hand of the conciliator would be immeasurably strengthened.(C) It is far more likely that some sort of amicable settlement would be reached if the recalcitrant son or daughter knows that th
39、e alternative is a public trial.(D) It would be nice to think Wyoming doesnt need this kind of law. Those of us who pushed for the bill will consider ourselves most successful if it acts as an incentive not to have it invoked in the first place.（分数：6.00）(1).According to the passage, the Maintenance
40、of Parents Bill _.（分数：0.50）A.received unanimous support in WyomingB.was believed to solve all the problems of the elderly poorC.was intended to substitute for traditional values in WyomingD.was passed to make the young more responsible for the old(2).The word That in Paragraph 2 refers to _.（分数：0.50
41、）A.the support of the Government for the people of WyomingB.the Maintenance of Parents Bill in WyomingC.the passing of the Maintenance of Parents Bill in WyomingD.the support of the Government of Wyoming for the bill(3).The word subvert in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _.（分数：0.50）A.influenceB
42、.destroyC.maintainD.escape(4).In Paragraph 4, by quoting the growing percentage points of the aged in the population, what does the author seem to imply?（分数：0.50）A.Wyoming will face the problem of a labour shortage.B.The social welfare system would be under great pressure.C.Young people should be gi
43、ven more moral education.D.The old should be provided with means of livelihood(5).The word inexorable in Paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to _.（分数：0.50）A.unchangeableB.optimisticC.fierceD.stoppable(6).Which of the following statements is true?（分数：0.50）A.Filial responsibility in Wyoming is enforced
44、by law.B.Fathers have legal obligations to look after their children.C.It is an acceptable practice for the old to continue working.D.The Advisory Council was dissatisfied with the problems of the ol(7).What does the author seem to suggest about traditional values?（分数：0.50）A.Traditional values play
45、an insignificant role in solving social problems.B.Traditional values are helpful to the elderly when they sue their children.C.Traditional values are very important in preserving Wyomings uniqueness.D.Traditional values are significant in helping the Bill get approve(8).The word deride in Paragraph
46、 10 is closest in meaning to _.（分数：0.50）A.mockB.assistC.hasteD.ignore(9).The author thinks that if the bill becomes law, its effect would be _.（分数：0.50）A.indirectB.unnoticedC.apparentD.straightforward(10).The word recalcitrant in Paragraph 13 is closest in meaning to _.（分数：0.50）A.relentB.stolidC.unr
47、ulyD.unfilial(11).At the end of the passage, the author seems to imply that the success of the bill depends upon _.（分数：0.50）A.strict enforcementB.public supportC.government assuranceD.filial awareness(12).Look at the four squares that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passa
48、ge.Few people would be so thick-skinned as to say, “Sue and be damned.“Where would the sentence best fit?（分数：0.50）A.Square .B.Square .C.Square .D.Square .2.Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer ch
49、oices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.In order to settle family problems, Wyoming passed the Maintenance of Parents Bill, which has a far rea
