This holiday season, it’s expected that more than 45 million people will get on airplanes by the time the year ends. With that many people on the move, delays are not able to be avoided, and with them come upset and unhappy passengers.
That space between happy passengers and unhappy passengers is where Fred Taylor Jr. worked for 15 years in customer relations with Southwest Airlines.
“My job was to say sorry by sending letters to customers whose flights have been put off or stopped,” the 47-year-old said. His daughter Olivia tells her friends he is “the Sorry Man.”
I don’t think I can explain reasonably to you for the delays that happened with your December 1st flight from ...
“For me, I’m used to saying ‘I’m sorry’ ,” Fred told his wife, Julie. “It’s been a way of life.”
Of course, you have to know your audience, he explained.
“You know, there are some travelers who may get upset pretty quick,” he said. “If an engine shuts down because parts of the fan blade(风机叶片) break and you can see plumes of(一缕缕) fire, there will be fears, worries, regrets or other emotions. My job was to calm them down: Hey, this wasn’t as serious as what it may have seemed like.”
And I know whatever I say now cannot change the poor service you were given that tiring day ...
But Fred has other ways to turn sadness into joy.
“When my dad died and you wrote a eulogy(悼词), I can remember hearing the people behind me crying. And then you started with the funny stories, and I could hear the people behind me laughing. It was just perfect. You put people at ease.” Julie said.
“So, you’re more than just ‘the Sorry Man,’ ”she said with a laugh.
1. What’s the author’s purpose in writing paragraph 1?| A．To lead in the topic of Fred’s job. |
| B．To tell us that the world is becoming smaller than before. |
| C．To show us the wide use of airplane in today’s world. |
| D．To show that people are always upset about their flights. |
| A．Because she is tired of her father. |
| B．Because she wants to make fun of her father. |
| C．Because her father’s job is to say sorry by sending letters. |
| D．Because her father often makes mistakes. |
| A．Julie thinks Fred is a wrong man. |
| B．Julie thinks Fred is just “the Sorry Man”. |
| C．Julie looks down upon Fred. |
| D．Julie praises what Fred has done. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】College offers you many academic freedoms. You can develop existing passions and explore new interests-and find a major that will put you on the career path you want.
Computer Science
Not only will you lean more about computers-hardware and software, but you'll also learn about the applications of such knowledge. As a computer science major, you'll be exposed to areas such as robotics, natural language recognition programs,artificial intelligence, programming languages,numerical analysis, and gaming technology. Problem solving is a major component of computer science, no matter which section of the industry you want to pursue.
Communications
Communications majors tend to be great storytellers. You'll learn about oral and written messages, audience reaction, and the varied effects of different communication environments. It will prepare you for a wealth of career options in business, advertising, human resources, public relations,
government, education, media, and social services.Economics
Economics is the study of choices - those of individuals, businesses, governments, and societies and how they choose to spend their time and money and otherwise allocate their resources. It is also an excellent preparation for a future in business, as well as for graduate studies in law, public policy,and international studies.
1. Who is this article intended for?| A．College applicants. |
| B．College graduates. |
| C．College professors. |
| D．College workers. |
| A．Career choosing. |
| B．Problem solving. |
| C．Data analyzing. |
| D．Language programming. |
| A．They mean a higher salary. |
| B．They are both difficult to learn. |
| C．They prepare people for businesses. |
| D．They offer the choices of distributing their resources. |
【推荐2】As a child, Danielle Belleny’s love for nature led her to wildlife biology. Growing up, Danielle Belleny was always outdoors, picking up insects and investigating the animal world on her own. She hadn’t yet heard of wildlife biology, but that’s what she was learning about. She wanted to be a vet, a person who can treat sick or injured animals, at first. She said, “I always knew I wanted to work with animals, and as a kid, that was the only job I knew where I could do that.” But when Belleny was in college, her dad advised her to learn wildlife biology instead of veterinary(兽医学).
Later, Belleny started working on research projects. One project involved placing trackers on a bird called the northern bobwhite. For another, she spent time feeding goats, as a way to protect a grass habitat for endangered box turtles without hurting them.
Belleny’s current job at Plateau Land and Wildlife Management lets her split her time between the indoors and outdoors. It also lets her work with people. “In the mornings, I’m usually out the door before sunrise,” she says. She observes birds, keeping track of different species. And she searches for signs of what other animals in the area are doing. Around lunchtime, she’ll return home and write up a report. In the afternoon, she leaves for another site visit. She advises people on how to protect the wildlife that lives on their farm. Her work takes her all around Texas.
Outside of work, young Belleny has been bird-watching for seven years. Her first book This Is a Book for People Who Love Birds was published in May, 2022. Now she’s working on a children’s book about birding, which is scheduled to come out in spring 2024. Belleny has some advice for young people thinking about careers. “Try everything you’re interested in through books and libraries. If you’re into wildlife biology, go to a library and find some field guides. After learning much information, you can do research work more easily”.
1. What did Belleny want to do at the very beginning?| A．Working as a vet. | B．Protecting wildlife. |
| C．Watching birds daily. | D．Looking after goats. |
| A．Her field work. | B．Her link with animals. |
| C．Her research reports. | D．Her services to farmers. |
| A．Writing reports. | B．Indoor consultations. |
| C．Wildlife photography. | D．Wildlife protection advice. |
| A．Explore nature outdoors. | B．Pursue a degree in biology. |
| C．Attend wildlife biology workshops. | D．Explore diverse interests through books. |
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1. You may find the advertisements above .
| A．in a store window | B．in a school magazine |
| C．in a newspaper | D．on a company notice-board |
| A．florist | B．artist |
| C．preschool teacher | D．dental nurse |
| A．Child food cooking skills. |
| B．Childcare experience and outgoing. |
| C．The ability to start work in 2 weeks. |
| D．The ability to work well with other people. |
| A．5 | B．10 | C．15 | D．20 |
【推荐1】We were ordinary people taking the bus every day that summer. During the early morning rides, we sat sleepily on our seats. One of the passengers was a small grey man to the center for senior citizens. He walked with a stoop (驼背) and a sad look on his face. We paid little attention to him.
Then one July morning he said good morning to the driver and smiled to us before sitting down. The driver nodded politely, the rest of us being silent. The next day, the old man boarded the bus energetically, smiled and said loud, “Good morning!” Some of us looked up, amazed, and murmured “Good morning”. The following weeks we were more surprised. Our friend was dressed in a nice old suit with the thin hair carefully combed. He said good morning to us every day and we gradually began to nod and talk to each other. One morning he had a bunch of wild flowers in his hand. The driver smilingly asked, “Have you got yourself a girlfriend?” He nodded shyly, “She lives at the center.” The other passengers whistled and clapped at him. Charlie bowed before sitting down.
Every morning after that Charlie always brought a flower. Some regular passengers began bringing him flowers for his bunch. Everyone smiled and joked about it.
But one morning he didn’t turn up. When he wasn’t there the following days, we started wondering if he was sick or... We stopped at the center for senior citizens. The staff told us he was fine, but he hadn’t been coming that week. One of his very close friends had died at the weekend. They expected him back on Monday. How silent we were on the rest of the way to work!
The next Monday he was waiting at the stop, stooping a bit more and a bit more grey. Inside the bus was a silence, all of us sitting with our eyes filled with tears and wild flowers in our hands.
1. The old man boarded the bus energetically probably because _______.| A．he bought a bunch of flowers | B．he got to know other passengers |
| C．he fell in love with a lady | D．he had a sweet dream |
| A．The passengers were silent. | B．The bus was full of life. |
| C．The passengers were sleepy. | D．The bus was punctual. |
| A．He was in sorrow for the loss of his girlfriend. |
| B．He wondered whether others cared about him. |
| C．He had a quarrel with the staff of the center. |
| D．He wasn’t himself for the cold weather. |
| A．Only love can affect others’ emotions. |
| B．The old man’s passion for love inspires others. |
| C．The passengers didn’t care about others’ feelings. |
| D．The center for senior citizens is a good place for love. |
【推荐2】Reading books and looking at pictures is great, but nothing assists learning like travel, especially for teenagers. Not only do they get to see a world beyond their neighborhood, they also gel to experience it — feel it, taste it, hear it and better understand the world around them. After nearly four decades in the classroom and traveling the world, Phyllis Duvall Bailey knew this perhaps better than anyone else.
Becoming involved with the work in AKA Sorority Inc in US, she worked to educate children about the United Nations. There was no doubt in Bailey’s mind that the lessons would mean so much more if the students could see things for themselves. Starting in 2015, Bailey, 82, set out to take her students to the UN Headquarters in New York City to give them a “Window Seat to the World”, and thus transform them into global citizens. Indeed, it is a great opportunity to give students national and international exposure. Since Bailey saw the students as future leaders, she was desperate to expose them to the UN, its mission, its agendas (议程) and its supporting organizations. She decided to give ＄10,000 (70,720 yuan) of her own money to pay for the late June trip, enough to take 10 student ages 14-17 on a four-night stay in New York. There, they had guided tours of the UN Headquarters and the New York City harbor.
It was Quenyaun Payne’s first trip to the city and Taylor Sappington’s second. Payne, 17, is a senior at McEachern High School in the state of Georgia, US. Sappington, 15, is a junior at Therrell High School in Atlanta, Georgia, US. Both said their visit to the UN was inspiring, “I liked how countries are not only working together, they’re focused on common goals like global warming and keeping the peace,” Sappington said. Payne commented, “The trip was amazing. I’m so thankful Mrs. Bailey made it possible.”
Actually, there are a lot of people grateful for the retired teacher’s effort. The United Nations Association of Atlanta recently gave Bailey its Humanitarian Award, and the United Nations Association of the US awarded her with the National Education Award. But Bailey wasn’t looking for recognition or even gratitude. Over those four days in New York, she’d already felt it, seen it in the eyes of those 10 teenagers, Payne and Sappington included, who made the trip. “It has been a real joy to get to see and watch their reaction to new experiences,” she said.
1. How did Bailey help students?| A．She offered students volunteer opportunities at the UN. |
| B．She paid for them to go to school. |
| C．She paid for trips that helped students see the world |
| D．She taught students life-long learning skills. |
| A．He is determined to work for the UN in the future. |
| B．He would like to contribute to global affaire. |
| C．He found the trip to the UN meaningful. |
| D．He wants to visit New York City again |
| A．Students today are more willing to seek new experiences. |
| B．Winning an award motivated her to work hard. |
| C．Classroom teaching limits students’ development. |
| D．Students’ gains are more important than the recognition of her efforts. |
【推荐3】One of the greatest gifts one generation can give to other generations is the wisdom (智慧) it has gained from experience. This idea has inspired Andrew Zuckerman. He interviewed and took photos of fifty over-sixty-five-year-olds all over the world. His project explores various sides of their lives. You can get the interviews on our website.
Click on the introductions to read the complete interviews.
Let us now have a culture of peace.
—Federico Mayor Zaragoza, Spain
Federico Mayor Zaragoza received a doctorate in Pharmacy (药学) from the Complutense University of Madrid in 1958. After many years spent in politics (政治), he became Director-General of UNESCO in 1987. In 1999, he created the Foundation for a Culture of Peace, of which he is now the president. In addition to many scientific publications,he has published (出版，发表) four collections of poems.
Writing is a discovery.
—Nadine Gordimer, South Africa
Due to a weak heart, Nadine Gordimer attended school briefly. She read widely and began writing at an early age. She published her first short story at the age of fifteen, and has completed a large number of works, which have been translated into forty languages.
In 1991, Gordimer won the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Jazz (爵士乐) is about the only form of art today.
—Dave Brubeck, USA
Dave Brubeck studied music at the University of the Pacific and graduated in 1942. After World War Two he was encouraged to play jazz. In 1951. he recorded his first album (专辑). Brubeck’s 1959 album has become a jazz standard. He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996.
For more figures CLICK HERE.
1. Why did Andrew Zuckerman choose the fifty elders for his project?| A．Because they are healthy and friendly. |
| B．Because their actions inspired him. |
| C．Because they have similar experiences. |
| D．Because their wisdom is worth passing on. |
| A．has made achievements in different areas |
| B．has given his lifetime to the field of science |
| C．has won many awards for his work in politics |
| D．has served as the president of a university |
| A．Dave Brubeck. | B．Nadine Gordimer. |
| C．Andrew Zuckerman. | D．Federico Mayor Zaragoza. |
【推荐1】Teens don’t understand the big fuss (小题大做). As the first generation are to grow up in a wired world, they hardly know a time when computers weren’t around, and they eagerly catch the chance to spend hours online, chatting with friends. So what?
But researchers nationwide are increasingly worried that teens are becoming isolated, less skillful at person-to-person relationships, and perhaps numb to the cheating that is so much a part of the e-mail world. “And a teen’s sense of self and values may be changed in a world where personal connections can be limitless,” said Shetty Turkle.
Another researcher, Robert Kraut, said he’s worried about the “opportunity costs” of so much online time for youths. He found that teens who used computers, even just a few hours a week, showed increased signs of loneliness and social isolation. “Chatting online may be better than watching television, but it’s worse than hanging out with real friends,” he said.
Today’s teens, however, don’t see anything strange in the fact that the computer takes up a central place in their social lives. “School is busy and full of pressure. There’s almost no time to just hang out,” said Parker Rice, 17, “Talking online is just to catch time.”
Teens say they feel good about what they say online or taking the time to think about a reply. Some teens admit that asking someone for a date, or breaking up, can be easier in the form of a message, though they don’t want to do so. But they insist there’s no harm.
1. The researchers argue that ________.| A．teens develop a different sense of values |
| B．nothing is wrong with teens’ chatting online |
| C．teens can manage their social connections |
| D．spending hours online does much good to teens |
| A．teens’ pleasant online experience |
| B．teens’ computer skills and schoolwork |
| C．the effects of the computer world on teens |
| D．different opinions on teens’ chatting online |
| A．Teens are more skillful at person-to-person relationships. |
| B．Teens showed decreasing signs of loneliness and social isolation. |
| C．Chatting online is worse than hanging out with real friends. |
| D．Asking someone for a date, or breaking up can be more difficult in the message form. |
| A．describe computer research results. |
| B．draw attention to teens' computer habits. |
| C．suggest ways to deal with teens' problems. |
| D．discuss problems teens have at school. |
【推荐2】How Your Weekly Shop Could Help Prevent a Mass Extinction
All around the world, the way in which we produce, buy and eat food has never been more similar. You may think you have more choices than your parents or grandparents ever did, and on one level that is true. Wherever you are, you can eat various foods all in a single day.
What we’re being offered appears at first to be diverse, until you realise it is the same kind of “diversity” that is spreading around the globe in the same way; what the world buys and eats is becoming more and more the same. Of the 6,000 plant species humans have eaten over time, we now mainly grow and eat just nine. What’s less well known is that for each of the crops, we’re eating from a smaller number of varieties. Thousands of different wheats exist, but less than 10 make it onto the “recommended list” issued to British farmers. It’s a similar story with the meat we eat.
This relatively recent phenomenon (现象) of eating from such a narrow selection of plants and animals, and just a few varieties of these, has resulted in a serious loss of diversity in farmers’ fields and in our diets and a great loss of biodiversity.
In the 20th century, efforts were made to produce more calories (卡路里) to feed growing populations, but in search of quantity, we gave up diversity. Crops and farm animals unique to their part of the world became endangered; some even went extinct (灭绝). When a food is lost, we risk not only losing a special flavour, but also a way of life and part of a culture. We also lose choices for the future.
Faced with the growing impact of climate change and extreme weather events, we can add greater resilience (快速恢复能力) to our food system by saving diversity. But as the world farms and eats in increasingly similar ways, more foods are at risk of disappearing. We all have a part to play in preventing this from happening, wherever we are in the world, and it starts with what we put in our shopping baskets.
Still unsure where to start? Focus on one of your favourite foods and start to explore it in all its diversity. Whether that’s chocolate, coffee, cheese or wine, find as much variation as you can, set off on a flavour adventure and help save something from extinction.
1. According to the passage, people may believe that ________.| A．our choices of food are more than those of early generations |
| B．our ways of food production are never similar to one another |
| C．what we plant stays the same around the world |
| D．what we eat is becoming increasingly popular |
| A．By using data. | B．By describing a scene. |
| C．By telling a story. | D．By sharing experiences. |
| A．Climate. | B．Business. | C．Population. | D．Technology. |
| A．Why to start. | B．Where to shop. | C．What to eat. | D．How to help. |
【推荐3】Thanks to technology, ride-hailing(打车) is as easy as opening an app on your phone. According to Didi, China’s top ride-hailing app, 81.3 percent of passengers preferred using an online service last year. But just like many other modern high-tech developments, convenience comes with concerns.
Didi Chuxing announced a trial re-launch of its carpool(拼车) service, Didi Hitch(滴滴顺风车), in seven cities including Harbin, Taiyuan and Beijing from Nov 20. More than a year ago, Didi suspended the service following the murders of two separate female passengers in May and August, respectively.
The re-launch comes with a range of new safety features. One of the new measures proved controversial. It carried out an 8 pm curfew(宵禁) on women, but allowed men to enjoy the service till 11 pm.
Many users complained on social media that the policy was sexist. According to CNN, the topic “#Women Can’tTakeDidiAfter8PM#” was trending on weibo, with one post calling it “negative marketing and gender- biased(性别歧视的)”. It had gained more than70,000 likes as of Nov 11.
After the strong public reaction, Didi Chuxing changed its decision. Both men and women will be able to use Didi Hitch between 5 am and 8 pm.
According to CNN, Didi Hitch had logged more than a billion total rides before its suspension, but it remains to be seen if the company can win back users’ trust.
Didi is not the only ride-sharing app to arouse public safety concerns, nor is it the only one to attempt special protections for women. The globally popular car-hailing services Uber and Lyft now require strict background checks and emergency SMS services that will automatically send a car’s description, license number, and current location to police, CBS news reported.
According to CNBC, one Boston-based ride-hailing service only hires women to drive and will only accept women or children under 13 as passengers. Despite all the safety features, riders should check their drivers’ number plates, ensure they are being taken on the correct route, and inform friends of travel plans.
1. What are the first six paragraphs mainly about?| A．Safety tips for using Didi Hitch. | B．Public safety concerns over Didi Hitch. |
| C．The advantages of Didi Hitch’s new services. | D．The recent developments of Didi Hitch. |
| A．improved on something | B．worried about something |
| C．stopped something for a time | D．took the responsibility for something |
| A．Because of its recent online risk analysis. |
| B．Because of the public’s negative reaction. |
| C．For the convenience of different users. |
| D．For the sake of safety problems of women. |
| A．an advertisement | B．a textbook |
| C．a newspaper | D．a public speech |
