英語六級長篇閱讀擬練習
在英語學習過程中,閱讀理解能力是學習者發展語言能力的基礎和手段。國內的各類英語考試中幾乎都有閱讀理解題型,大學英語六級考試也不例外。大學英語六級閱讀理解試題是試卷中分值最重的題型，為了提高大家的閱讀水平，下面是小編為大家帶來，希望對大家的學習有所幫助!
英語六級長篇閱讀模擬練習：
Why Are Airlines Withholding Seats?
A. A few months ago I booked a flight for two and then went to select seats on the airline's site. Based on the destination and time of year, I was surprised to find only two adjacent seats were available without paying a premium ***額外費用***. 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.
B. So how could a flight that looked nearly full a month earlier wind up with seven out of ten seats empty? That's a question only the airlines can answer, and they're not eager to provide many details.
C. Are some carriers intentionally holding back seat assignments, in the hope we'll all pay for "premium" seats?It's a fair question, and the evidence is intriguing.
Behind the screen indeed
D. An awful plot 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 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.
E. Some industry experts have connected the dots. "They're trying to get people to buy premium seats," says George Hobica, USATODAY. com's Fly Guy columnist and the founder of Airfarewatchdog. com. "They want to increase revenue. And we're getting more complaints about it. " He notes that it "really annoys" passengers who want to sit together, particularly when traveling with small children.
F. He's echoed by Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition ***聯盟***: "With yield management,consumers are aware and they know that airlines are constantly changing prices on seats. But if this is true, it is unethical--they're grossly misleading 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. "
G. According to the airlines, the reason for ancillary *** 附加的 *** revenue is unbundling ***分類計價*** ticket prices,so passengers who desire a given service--say checking a bag or ordering a soft drink--pay for it, while those who don't are spared the cost. But as Mitchell notes, "There's another twist to this. The airlines are saying fees are for 'optional services. ' Well, seats aren't optional! "
H. Of course, securing a good seat isn't an issue if you're in first class or you're an elite member of a frequent flyer program. But what about the rest of us? As I've pointed out repeatedly in recent columns, we're faced with record-high load factors, the highest for the U. S. airline industry since World War II. But even with the average percentage of occupied seats for domestic flights at 82. 7%, it's still an average--some flights will be fuller but others will not, particularly weeks in advance. Yet searching for seats keeps getting harder and harder.
Seats for sale
I. Hobica cites the major airlines as the prime culprits ***起因***, but he also notes even low-cost carriers can make securing 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 fewer free seats is a trend, and the response was: "That's going to vary because there are so many variables. "
J. I decided to check on seat availability at Delta. com. I inquired about economy-class availability for two seats on a busy route--Atlanta to Chicago--and conducted an apples-to-apples search for the same 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 preferred and only nine standard, and still with only one set together. Remarkable how 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.
K. I contacted Delta and a spokesman said the price for 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 *** 大勳章 *** members, and become available without additional charge 24 hours prior to departure. When asked if Delta has received complaints about a dearth of free seats, he stated,"Overall, our seat program has been received very well. "
L. But my findings dovetailed *** 吻合 *** with recent complaints filed with Airfarewatchdog:***1*** When ***my husbanD. tried to get a seat assignment on the first flight there was just one "complimentary ***免費的 *** seat"***near the back in the middle*** available. . , the 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! ***2*** ***After*** 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 away with this? ***3*** 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?
M. So what can you do? It's a tough proposition. Usually I would offer strategies for countering such airline initiatives, but in this case the options are limited. That's 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 sore need for transparency on this. When people are confused, they make bad decisions. "
N. That said, consider the following: ***1*** When budgeting your airfares, make sure you consider not just baggage fees but the added cost of seat selection--for all travelers and in both directions. ***2*** If possible, book early,when there should be more seats available, and check in early too. Why the qualifier "should"? Because if availability is artificially manipulated, it's hard to be certain. ***3*** Book airlines that offer more transparent seat-selection policies.Of course, this is not an issue with Southwest and other carriers that offer "open seating" policies. ***4*** 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 ***行李倉*** so crammed and fellow passengers who may have paid for premium seats in advance.
46. Behind the airline and travel booking screens, a terrible plot is being carried out, much of which is rigorously kept confidential from passengers.
47. The airlines' excuse for additional fees is unbundling ticket prices, so those who want the given service like baggage check and soft drink ordering will have to pay.
48. Whether some carriers withhold seats on purpose for earning consumers' premium is a question deserving to be cleared up.
49. Mitchell holds that there is an urgent need for transparency on carriers' seat assignments.
50. While Hobica ascribes the main responsibilities to the major airlines, he also mentions that the low-cost carders are making securing seats difficult.
51. Some believe that, in order to solve the problem of airlines' withholding seats, some actions should be taken by the U. S. Department of Transportation.
52. When people budget their airfares, they should consider both the baggage fees and the added cost of seat selection.
53. Kevin Mitchell considers the so-called yield management of the industry unethical and misleading.
54. What the spokesman of Delta says suggests that the preferred economy-class tickets are available 24 hours in advance of the plane's departure.
55. The last strategy to counter the airline's initiatives is to exchange seats with other passengers by negotiating with them.
為什麼航空公司隱瞞有空位?
A.幾個月前我在一家航空公司預訂了兩個座位，然後去該航空公司的網站上選座。鑑於此次航班的目的地和出行時間，我驚奇地發現如果不支付附加費，僅剩下兩個相鄰的座位可供選擇。但是更讓我驚訝的是，幾周之後，當我們登機時，一位乘務員宣佈說，僅僅30%的座位有乘客落座，我們儘可以躺下來。
B.那麼在一個月前看起來幾乎已經客滿的航班怎麼會到最後卻有70%的座位空著呢?這個問題恐怕只有航空公司自己才能回答，然而他們並不急於給出詳細的解釋。
C.難道一些運營商故意隱瞞座位的安排情況，希望大家都為優等座位支付額外費用嗎?[48]這是一個值得研究的問題，而且其情況到底如何也很引人關注。
幕後實情
D.[46]在航空公司和旅行社的訂票機制幕後。一個可怕的陰謀正在上演。而且對其中的內幕消費者大多毫不知情。我們所知道的是，幾十年來，航空公司已經成為了業內人士所稱的收益管理大師，他們根據提前購票模式和其他的訂票趨勢制定出無數種票價組合，因此幾乎每個人都要根據自己的購票時間支付不同的票價。然而，現在為選擇座位支付額外的費用已經成了家常便飯，確保自己已經預訂了座位僅僅算是成功了一半。
E.一些業內專家已經識破了航空公司的小伎倆。作為USATODAY.corn網站的Fly Guy專欄作家兼Airfarewatchdog網站的創辦人，喬治·霍比卡表示：“航空公司試圖讓人們購買優等座位，他們想增加收入，但隨之而來的投訴也更多。”他還提到。航空公司的做法著實讓那些想要坐在一起的乘客頭疼，尤其是帶著小孩出行的乘客。
F.商務旅行聯盟的主席凱文·米切爾對喬治·霍比卡的觀點表示贊同，[53]他說：“對於收益管理，消費者心裡有數。他們知道航空公司經常改變座位的價格。但是如果情況果真如此的話。航空公司的做法確實是不道德的——他們在嚴重地誤導我們。而我發現極其令人惱火的是他們告知我目前沒有其他選擇，但是如果我再等一兩週的話，我就可以選擇***座位***了。”
G.[47]根據航空公司的說法，之所以收取附加費是實行機票分類計價的緣故，這樣一來，如果乘客想要某種特定的服務—一比如。託運包裹或者點一杯軟飲料——就要為此付費。而那些不需要此類服務的乘客則無需付費。但是正如米切爾提到的那樣：“還有一點也講不通。航空公司說這些費用是為‘選擇性服務’支付的，然而座位並不是可有可無的!”
H.當然，如果你坐的是頭等艙或者你是某個飛行常客計劃的精英會員，那麼確保獲得一個好座位自然不是問題。但是我們其他人怎麼辦%?正如我在最近的專欄中反覆指出的，我們面臨的是自二戰以來最高的客運量。但是即使國內航班座位的平均佔用率高達82.7%，這也僅僅是個平均值——一些航班更高，也有一些沒有那麼高，尤其是在航班出發的幾周之前。然而“一座難求”的情況變得日趨嚴重了。出售座位
I.[50]霍比卡認為各大航空公司是造成這種狀況的罪魁禍首.但他還提到。低成本的運營商也起到了推波助瀾的作用。同時，霍比卡還對捷藍***JetBlue***和維珍美國***VirginAmerica兩家航空公司為顧客提供透明、清晰的政策的做法表示稱讚。再有就是英國航空公司***BritishAirways***，他們只允許經濟艙和商務艙的乘客提前24小時選擇座位。我詢問了一個航空公司的代表，是否無需支付額外費用的座位會越來越少，對方回答說：“這也不一定，因為變數太多了。”
J.我決定在***達美航空公司的***Delta網站上對航班的座位做一下調查。我查詢了亞特蘭大飛往芝加哥這一繁忙航線的經濟艙中兩個相鄰空座的情況，並且對該航線在同一天早上起飛的航班做了一次橫向比較，調查了提前7天預訂座位和提前14天預訂座位的差異。結果顯示，提前一週預訂的話，一共只剩下8個座位可以選擇，其中包括1個優等座和7個標準座，但是隻有兩個相鄰的座位。而如果提前兩週預訂的話，共有29個座位可以選擇，包括20個優等座和9個標準座，其中還是隻有兩個座位是相鄰的。即便兩次不同的訂購時間也都只產生了如此少的“可供免費選擇的”座位，不管是分開的還是相鄰的，這真的很令人吃驚，然而還有大量座位需要支付適當的費用才能買到。
K.我聯絡了達美航空公司，該公司的一位發言人表示經濟艙優等座的價格變化“取決於幾個不同的因素”，所以顧客需要對不同航班的不同票價進行比較。[54]優等座主要是為獎章成員預留的，而且在飛機起飛煎24小時內無需支付額外費用就可獲得。當被問及達美航空公司是否接到過顧客對於缺乏可免費選擇座位的投訴時，該發言人表示：“總體而言，我們的座位機制還是受到良好評價的。”
L.但是我的調查結果與最近乘客在Airfarewatchd09網站上提交的投訴不謀而合：***1***當我丈夫試圖在第一趟航班上獲得一個座位時，只剩下一個“免費的座位”***中間靠後的位置***可以選擇……而其他可以選擇的座位都需要額外支付69美元才能獲得。在轉乘航班上，根本就沒有“免費的座位”!這種情況合法嗎?我丈夫已經購買了這些航班的機票並且已經付費，而現在他卻不得不“購買”一個座位!***2***為所乘航班付費之後，系統彈出一個訊息說，我只有在辦理登機時才能被安排一個座位。要想確保獲得一個座位，我必須再額外支付129美元!如果我不交錢、不確定座位，而航班座位已經被超額預訂了的話，我就將成為此次航班上第一個被取消登機資格的人。航空公司怎麼能逃脫懲罰?***3***如果在飛機起飛前24小時之內在網上辦理登機的話是否我就拿到了排隊號碼牌或者是否可以選擇座位呢?還是為了搶到一個座位大家都拿著登機牌***未分配座位***衝進飛機艙門呢?
如何應對?
M.那麼對此你能做些什麼呢?這是個棘手的問題。[51]通常我會就如何應對航空公司的這類政策給出一些策略，但是在這種情況下，可選擇的策略非常有限。這就是為什麼一些人認為美國運輸部應該對此類做法進行調查的原因。[49]正如米切爾所言：“航空公司在這個問題上處於很強勢的地位。在這一事件上亟需透明。當人們感到困惑的時候會做出錯誤的決定。”
N.即便如此，仍可以考慮如下對策：***1***[52]預算票價的時候，確保自己不僅將行李費用考慮在內。還要考慮為選擇座位而支付的額外費用——這一點對所有的乘客都適用，而且在往返方向都如此。***2***如果可能的話，在應該有更多座位可以選擇的時候，早點預訂座位，而且也要早點辦理登機。為什麼這裡用“應該”這個修飾語呢?因為如果剩餘座位的數量是由人為操控的話，那就很難說了。***3***選擇那些選座政策更透明的航空公司來訂購機票。當然，對於西南航空公司以及其他那些提供“公開訂座”政策的航空公司來說，這不是一個問題。***4***[55]最後一點，也是最後的一個應對策略，即霍比卡所說的“討價還價”：和其他乘客商量一下調換座位。但是對於已經客滿的航班來說，這種做法比較冒險而且並不可取，因為頭頂的行李架上已經擠得滿滿當當，而且其他乘客可能已經提前支付了座位附加費。
【答案解析】
46.D
解析：題幹意為，在航空公司和旅行社的訂票系統中，一項可怕的陰謀正在實施，而其中的隱情則嚴格對乘客保密。注意抓住題幹中的關鍵詞airline and travel booking screens，a terrible plot，rigorously和confidential。文章段落中，論及航空公司和旅行社訂票陰謀的內容在D段出現，該段第一句提到，在航空公司和旅行社的訂票機制幕後，一個可怕的陰謀正在上演。而且對其中的內幕消費者大多毫不知情。由此可見，題幹對原文做了同義改寫，故答案為D。題幹中的a terrible plot和is rigorously kept confidential for分別與原文中的an awful plot和is strictly off-limits to相對應。
47.G
解析：題幹意為，航空公司把實行機票分類計價作為額外收費的藉口，所以那些想要諸如檢查行李或點軟飲料等特定服務的乘客就必須承擔相應費用。注意抓住題幹中的關鍵詞unbundling ticket prices和the given service。原文段落中，論及機票分類計價和要求特定服務的內容在G段出現，該段第一句就提到航空公司稱，之所以收取附加費是實行機票分類計價的緣故，這樣一來，如果乘客想要某種特定的服務——比如，託運包裹或者點一杯軟飲料——就要為此付費，而那些不需要此類服務的乘客則無需付費。由此可見，題幹是對原文的同義改寫，故答案為G。
48.C
解析：題幹意為，部分運營商是否故意保留座位以賺取消費者附加費這個問題值得弄清楚。注意抓住題幹中的關鍵詞carders，premium和question。原文段落中，論及運營商們是否故意收取附加費的問題在C段出現，該段中作者提到，這是一個值得研究的問題，而且其情況到底如何也很引人關注，實際上就是在說這個問題值得弄清楚。由此可見，題於是對原文的同義改寫，故答案為C。題幹中的withhold和on purpose分別對應原文中的holding back和intentionally。
49.M
解析：題幹意為，米切爾認為運營商們在分配座位這一問題上亟須透明。注意抓住題幹中的關鍵詞Mitchell，need和transparency。原文段落中，提到Mitchell且論及分配座位透明度的內容在M段出現，該段第五句引用Mitchell的原話，指出這一問題亟待透明。由此可見，題幹是對原文的同義改寫，故答案為M。題幹中的urgent need對應原文中的sore need，carriers’seat assignment代指原文中的this。
50.I
解析：題幹意為，儘管霍比卡把主要責任歸咎於各大航空公司，他也提到，低成本的運營商們同樣使得座位的獲得變得困難。注意抓住題幹中的關鍵詞Hobica，themain responsibilities，themajorairlines和thelow—costcarders。原文段落中，提及Hobica和低成本的運營商使獲得座位變得困難的內容在I段出現，該段第一句話提到，霍比卡認為各大航空公司是造成這種狀況的罪魁禍首，低成本的運營商也起到了推波助瀾的作用。由此可見，題幹是對原文的同義改寫，故答案為I。題幹中的ascribes…to…和main responsibilities分別對應原文中的cites…as…和prime culprits。
51.M
解析：題幹意為，一些人認為，為了解決航空公司保留座位的問題，美國交通運輸部應該採取一些措施。注意抓住題幹中的關鍵詞theU.S.DepartmentofTransportation。文章段落中，論及美國交通運輸部的內容在M段出現，該段第三、四句話提到，通常作者會就如何應對航空公司的這類政策給出一些策略，但是在這種情況下，可選擇的策略非常有限。這就是為什麼一些人認為美國交通運輸部應該對此類做法進行調查的原因。由此可見，人們認為交通運輸部應該有所行動，故答案為M。
52.N
解析：題幹意為，人們在為買機票制定預算的時候，應該把行李的費用和附加的選擇座位的費用都考慮在內。注意抓住題幹中的關鍵詞budget,airfares，baggage fees和the added cost of seat selection。文章段落中，論及制定機票預算的內容在N段出現，該段第***1***點提到，預算票價的時候，確保自己不僅將行李費用考慮在內，還要考慮為選擇座位而支付的額外費用。由此可見，題幹對原文進行了同義改寫，故答案為N。
53.F
解析：題幹意為，凱文·米切爾認為所謂的收益管理是不道德且具有誤導性的。注意抓住題幹中的關鍵詞Kevin Mitchell，yield management,unethical和misleadin9。文章段落中，提到Kevin Mitchell和航空業收益管理的內容在F段出現，該段引用米切爾的原話中提到，對於收益管理，消費者心裡有數，他們知道航空公司經常改變座位的價格。但是如果情況果真如此的話，航空公司的做法確實是不道德的——他們在嚴重地誤導人們。由此可見，題幹是對原文的同義轉述，故答案為F。
54.K
解析：題幹意為，達美航空公司發言人的話表明，經濟艙優等座在飛機起飛前24小時內可獲得。注意題幹中的關鍵詞the spokesman of Delta，the preferred economy.class tickets，available和the plane’sdeparture。文章段落中，論及達美航空公司發言人的內容在K段出現，該段第二句提到，優等座主要是為獎章成員預留的，在飛機起飛前24小時內無需支付額外費用就可獲得。由此可見，題幹是對原文的同義轉述，故答案為K。
55.N
解析：題幹意為，應對航空公司這類行為的最後策略是和其他乘客商量調換座位。注意題幹中的關鍵詞the last strategy，exchange seats和negotiating。文章段落中，論及與其他乘客商量調換座位的內容在N段出現，該段第***4***點提到，最後一個應對策略，即霍比卡所說的“討價還價”，是和其他乘客商量一下調換座位。由此可見，題幹是對原文的同義改寫，故答案為N。題幹中的the last strategy和exchange seats with other passengers by negotiating with them分別對應原文中的me last resort和negotiating seat swaps with other passengers。