In order to reduce noise pollution, more and more airports are promoting a “silent airport” idea, especially in Europe.
Aiming to offer timely and helpful updates of information, international airports were once characterized by their high voices, competing gate announcements and so on. Now, it is all changing. Angela Gittens, director general of Airports Council International (ACI), says there is a growing desire among airports and airlines they serve to create a calm, relaxing atmosphere without being disturbed by announcements. “Passengers can relax while they wait for their flight to board in the common airside lounges (休闲区), and food and drink areas,” she says.
Finland has a tourism slogan (口号) which is “silence, please”. In June, Helsinki Airport in Finland adopted the silent airport idea, therefore, announcements for flights are made only in some certain boarding gate areas. Nobody’s going to call you to your flight, as announcements in all terminals (航站楼) will be made only in emergency circumstances. People begin to worry, what if they miss their boarding time?
Actually, there’s no need to worry about this. Heikki Koski, vice president of Helsinki Airport, says that the improved flight information display system, together with the advanced technology, is changing the way airports communicate with passengers. At Munich airport, Passengers can simply tap a “you are here” display to get directions and approximate walking time to their destinations.
Of course, it is impossible that an airport will be as silent as a temple. There will continue to be an increasing need for airport-wide emergency announcements along with boarding calls. But at silent airports, these announcements should be restricted to specific gates, not the whole airport, as has adopted in Helsinki.
1. What should passengers pay close attention to at Helsinki Airport?| A．Finland’s tourism slogan. | B．The information about their boarding time. |
| C．The “you are here” display. | D．The location of certain boarding gate. |
| A．To show its popularity. | B．To introduce the information display system. |
| C．To be compared with Helsinki Airport. | D．To prove Heikki Koski’s words. |
| A．Limited. | B．Delivered. | C．Made. | D．Broadcast. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Are you in the mood for a luxury, forested or elegant place where you can hunker down with your loved one for Valentine's Day — or whenever? Here are some ideas for love nests.
One & Only, Cape Town (South Africa)
Cape Town is the continent's hottest happening city, and One & Only is the place to be for luxurious lodging. It's in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, within walking distance of great shopping, galleries and restaurants. You may be reluctant to leave the hotel, though: It has one of the best spas in the city, along with three restaurants, including Africa's first Nobu. The hotel also houses NEO, which sells South Africa's hippest designer fashions.
The hotel spa has all the latest features, including a cutting-edge gym, a vitality pool (it takes a whirlpool to the next level) and a "mood-boosting" Ice Fountain, which use varying water temperatures, aromas, soothing music and relaxing colored lights to rid you of stress.
Info: One & Only, Dock Road, Cape Town; 011-27-21-431-5800, capetown.oneandonlyresorts.com. Doubles from $662 a night; includes full buffet breakfast.
Tamarack Lodge (Mammoth Lakes)
Tamarack is a great escape for all tastes and all seasons, with something for nearly every budget. It's just a mile from Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and 2 1/2 miles from downtown Mammoth Lakes; it's private and woodsy but still handy to activities.
Accommodations include European-style guest rooms, with antique beds and quilts, in the historic lodge; free-standing historic cabins; and luxurious cabins as well as fireplaces and living rooms.
Info: Tamarack Lodge, 163 Twin Lakes Road, Mammoth Lakes; (800) 626-6684, www.tamaracklodge.com; doubles from $89.
Ritz-Carlton (South Beach, Miami)
The Ritz, built in 1953 and originally known as the DiLido, was one of most fashionable hotels . If you are looking to indulge, hire a personal shopper to take you to the boutiques, or rent a daybed by the huge pool or a Ritz cabana at the DiLido Beach Club, only a short stroll away.
If you're hungry, get a table outside at the hotel's highly rated Bistro One LR, which serves Spanish Riviera cuisine. If you're looking to venture out into the Miami scene, Macchialina, with reasonably priced classic Italian cuisine, is the ticket. Order a Coco Before Chanel cocktail and tuck into dishes even tastier than Mama used to make.
Info: Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, 1 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; (786) 276-4000, lat.ms/1K13fgD. Doubles from $549.
The Modern (Honolulu)
Think of the Modern as more jet-set Hawaii, offering an usual beach experience. Slightly removed from the noise of Waikiki, the Modern overlooks the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor, with the surf break of Waikiki beyond.
The Sunrise Pool looks like a scene out of Ibiza on the Mediterranean, with rest rooms set in the water and women drifting around in gauzy（纱似的） cover-ups. The amazing Sunset Pool — it's a man-made lagoon （泻湖）surrounded by 100 tons of sand — is for adult guests。
If this is not your scene, escape to your room, decorated mostly in white and where the music does not reach. There are several in-house restaurants, the best is by celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto, of "Iron Chef" fame, who mixes Japanese and Western ingredients into melt-in-your-mouth masterpieces.
Info: The Modern, 1775 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu; (855) 970-4161, www.themodernhonolulu.com. Doubles from $349.
1. Mark and his girlfriend are curious about ancient objects, so they will probably choose __________.| A．One & Only, Cape Town | B．Tamarack Lodge |
| C．Ritz-Carlton | D．The Modern |
| A．give advice on how to celebrate Valentine’s Day |
| B．help readers know the characteristics of each place |
| C．attract visitors to pay a visit to these four places |
| D．introduce four special restaurants to the customers. |
【推荐2】Old and unrestored theatres are all around us and yet so unnoticed. A new photobook unveils their often overlooked beauty.
Proctor’s Theatre, Newark, New Jersey
Although available outdoors from street sellers, food was banned in theatres to display respectability. In the late 1920s, however, the operators in Proctor’s Theatre in Newark began to set up stands to improve the economic situation during the Great Depression. Popcorn and Coke would become a significant part of the theatre’s income.
Proctor’s Theatre, Troy, New York
Originally opened as Proctor’s Fourth Street Theatre in 1914, it hosted famous comedians such as Jack Benny and Bob Hope. From 1929, it was successively taken over, renamed as Proctor’s Troy Theatre and switched to screening films. In the 1960s, it began playing second-run films before closing in 1977. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1979. In 2010, the theatre was repaired but is currently not being used today.
RKO Keith’s Flushing Theatre, New York
Originally opened in 1928, RKO Keith’s Flushing Theatre was designed by Thomas Lamb. In 1982, it was listed on the NRHP. In 1986, the theatre was bought and closed by its new owner who planned to build a shopping centre on the site, intentionally damaging the hall. In 2019, despite the preservation efforts, the hall was knocked down to make way for a residential tower block.
Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia
The theatre was originally opened as the Philadelphia Opera House in 1908. In the 1920s, it was renamed as the Metropolitan Opera House, showing silent films in addition to hosting various opera companies. In the 1940s, it became a sports arena. In 1954, it was turned into a church. In the late 1990s, the building was purchased by Mark Hatcher. The church and the developer came to an agreement on a repair for a music venue that was completed and reopened in 2018.
1. In the late 1920s, Proctor’s Theatre in Newark set up stands to ________.| A．show respect for the guests | B．increase the theatre’s income |
| C．promote newly released movies | D．compete with the street sellers |
| A．RKO Keith’s Flushing Theatre is well preserved. |
| B．Proctor’s Theatre in Troy plays second-run films now. |
| C．Metropolitan Opera House has witnessed changes in its function. |
| D．Proctor’s Theatre in Newark has been officially listed on the NRHP. |
| A．To rank the old and unrestored theatres. |
| B．To show the development of American theatres. |
| C．To encourage people to protect the old theatres. |
| D．To provide information on overlooked old theatres. |
【推荐3】Looking forward to something fantastic in hot summer? How about picnics filled with family and fun? We’ve come up with 4 of the top picnic areas across the US.
Cumberland Islands, Georgia
Just a few hours south of Savannah, this national seashore is a picnic paradise. It’s an unspoiled place in the Deep South with over 50 miles of hiking trails (小径).
Covered in Spanish moss, the trails are lined with trees and since it’s still a rural area, the stars line up for a spectacular show at night and create the perfect evening starlit picnic opportunity.
Grant Park, Chicago
If you are looking for delicious food in Chicago, go for a taste of a 20-day, lake-front, foodie festival that happens in October each year. Grab a spot near the fountain to enjoy your picnic, appreciate the city scenery and lake views and relax with family and friends. If you are there on July 4th, be sure to plan the day to include the fireworks display at the Navy Pier.
Cranberry Islands, Maine
Here, you’ll enjoy natural picnics with island views. The islands are a delightful group of islands about 20 minutes offshore from Acadia National Park.
You can visit the islands by private boat or ferry (渡船) service. Bring a picnic basket along for the ride as it’s a romantic picnic area to take your special someone or go for a family outing to visit the islands.
Big Sur, California
The Point Lobos State Reserve is a small gem. Besides the coastal wildlife there are rare plant communities, and unique geological formations. It’s good to have a picnic there. We recommend bringing a telescope, because much of the wildlife can be seen only at a distance.
1. What are Cumberland Islands like?| A．They are just next to Savannah. |
| B．They have a spectacular show every night. |
| C．They are almost covered in Spanish moss. |
| D．They haven’t lost their naturalness. |
| A．Admire fireworks display on Independence Day in Grant Park. |
| B．Bring a telescope and watch the starry night in Big Sur. |
| C．Enjoy delicious food in foodie festival on July 4th in Grant Park. |
| D．Grab a spot near the fountain and appreciate island views in Cranberry Islands. |
| A．At the Navy Pier. | B．In the Deep South. |
| C．At the Point Lobos State Reserve. | D．At Acadia National Park. |
| A．To share personal stories about picnics. | B．To offer readers tips for winter holiday. |
| C．To introduce some picnic areas. | D．To tell readers some good ways to relax. |
【推荐1】Over the past few years, electric scooters have been brought to Paris and dozens of other c ties worldwide as an environmentally-friendly individual transport option. What cities have gotten instead is chaos-scooters shooting down sidewalks at dangerous speeds or laying abandoned on sidewalks. Both riders and pedestrians have been injured and sometimes killed.
The people of Paris have spoken loud and clear: get electric scooters off of our streets. Among the 100,000 people, nearly 90% of them vote in favor of s scooter ban. It’s easy to see why.
When it comes to scooters, there are often not many rules regulating them, and enforcement(执行) is far from per feet In Paris, for example, the city technically banned multiple riders on a single scooter and scooter son sidewalks, but it is not unusual in Paris to see couples on a single scooter, flying down a city sidewalk. In New York City, there is a scooter speed limit. But it’s pretty rare to see a New York City policeman doling out a ticket to a scooter rider. Other cities require scooter riders to obey standard traffic laws, but these regulations are often overlooked.
Another problem with scooters is that there is no obvious spot for them within urban infrastructure. They go far too fast to be safe on the sidewalk, which may bring potential risks to pedestrians. But scooters are also inappropriate for the bike lane—they don’t move like bikes, which makes them difficult to see and navigate around and can be dangerous for scooter drivers and cyclists. Scooters also aren’t suitable for the road, Scooters don’t go fast enough to share space with cars; and their riders are not protected against vehicles going 30 miles per hour or more.
In cities where public transport is solid and pedestrians fill the sidewalks, scooters should see themselves out or be regulated out. And in other cities where cars dominate and public transport is lacking, the priority should be to build new infrastructure to move people around efficiently and greenly.
1. What can we learn about electric scooters?| A．They are costly and noisy. | B．They are eco-friendly but risky. |
| C．They are deadly and abandoned. | D．They are convenient but inefficient. |
| A．Rarely do New Yorkers ride scooters on the street. |
| B．The larger the city is, the stricter the regulations are. |
| C．Relevant regulations have not been strictly enforced. |
| D．Parisians are more obedient to traffic regulations. |
| A．Scooters run at a low speed. |
| B．Scooters pose potential risks. |
| C．There is no navigation system on scooters. |
| D．There is no lane specially designed for scooters. |
| A．To define. | B．To advise. | C．To warn. | D．To compare. |
【推荐2】Flying has shrunk the world! It’s now possible to travel around the globe quickly and easily. Jumping on a plane and jetting off on holiday or a business trip is the norm for many of us, and with the rise of budget airlines, the number of people taking to the skies is increasing. But while air travel is costing us less, the cost to the environment is going up.
Climate change is something we’re all aware of now, and aviation companies know that some of the blame for this is being pointed at them. Last year airlines were forecasted to use about 97bn gallons of jet fuel.
But while we could think twice about taking a flight in the first place, particularly a short trip that could be made by train, technology might be the answer to reducing emissions and minimising the environmental damage.
Recent developments have focused on reducing the amount of fuel airliners(大型客机) burn. Making flying green and sustainable was the hot topic at the recent Dubai Air Show. There was talk of advances in engine technology, making them more efficient, and possibly using biofuel to power aircraft.
Rios Galvan, a bioenergy expert and professor at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, told the BBC that “these have the capacity to reduce the carbon footprint anywhere between 50-80 percent when you compare them to fuels.”
And Phil Curnock, chief engineer of the civil future programme at Rolls-Royce, also suggested that electric hybrid engines (混合动力发动机) could play a part for smaller aircraft, covering shorter distances. He says “it offers the possibility of a carbon-neutral flight for a limited range.”
Of course, aircraft manufacturers are constantly looking at ways to make their planes more fuel efficient. Boeing’s Dreamliner, for example, is already in operation and uses 25 percent less fuel per passenger compared with aircraft of a similar size. Other improvements include better aircraft aerodynamics (空气动力学), changes to ways aircraft taxi (滑行) on runways, and the use of lighter materials.
1. What can we infer from Paragraph 1?| A．The earth gets smaller. |
| B．Budget airlines become popular. |
| C．Flying is favorite among passengers. |
| D．Air travel can do harm to environment. |
| A．Lowering. | B．Consolidating. |
| C．Weakening. | D．Increasing |
| A．Boeing’s Dreamliner is a green aircraft. |
| B．Biofuel is a necessity to power airliners. |
| C．Electric hybrid engines have their limitations. |
| D．Ways will be found to reduce fuel consumption. |
| A．By bettering runways. | B．By making smaller aircrafts. |
| C．By using the lighter materials. | D．By using aircraft aerodynamics. |
【推荐3】Why I Love Cycling
One of the first things I did when I moved to a new city was to hire a bike. Why?
Besides, I soon discovered plenty more benefits to cycling. A bike means that fewer places, especially in a small city like the one where I live now, feel far away. For example, cycling to work takes me half the time that it would to walk.
Of course, there are obvious health benefits of cycling—a bit of extra movement as part of your daily routine can help you keep fit and healthy. Cycling on my way to work also makes me feel more energetic in the mornings.
| A．However, be careful when cycling. |
| B．A bike means more happy time with your friends. |
| C．I have to learn to ride safely on the right of the road. |
| D．Importantly, cycling also helps to reduce your carbon footprint. |
| E．Riding a bike also means you’re not restricted by bus timetables. |
| F．And sometimes city roads are difficult or unpleasant for cyclists. |
| G．Seeing a city by bike is ideal for settling in and learning your way around. |
【推荐1】A duck is causing curiosity and thinking since its appearance recently in New York’s Central Park. It’s even gained the nickname as “New York’s most eligible bachelor(单身汉)”.
People gather at the Pond in New York’s Central Park to enjoy the rare appearance of a male Mandarin Duck, a water body at the southeast corner of Central Park, just to have a look at the male Mandarin duck, a brightly-colored bird originated in East Asia.The ducks are commonly found in China, Japan and occasionally some parts of Europe, rather than North America.
Barrett and his fellow birders came up with two theories of why the duck showed up in Central Park. It might be an unwanted pet as it is not an uncommon practice for people to bring pets they no longer want, particularly birds and turtles, to the park and release them, said Barrett. The duck might also be an escapee from a nearby house, with New Jersey a particularly likely location as the state, unlike New York, allows these kinds of birds to be kept as pets. People originally suggested that the duck might have escaped from a local zoo, but none of the four major zoos in New York has a lost Mandarin duck, ruling out this speculation.
Mandarin ducks do not breed with other species, and no female duck is around to accompany it, Barrett said. Because of that, it has been named “ New York’s most eligible bachelor” by New York Magazine.
The park authorities have publicly stated that they would not intervene with the duck unless it gets injured and needs medical care. “ It’s a fun thing — people can have a good time,” added Barrett, “ and maybe they will take an interest in nature, and in other wild birds.”
1. The purpose that people go to the Central Park is to ________.| A．appreciate an unusual male Mandarin Duck |
| B．enjoy the beauty of autumn |
| C．spend weekends with families |
| D．have a look at the park |
| A．It is very beautiful. |
| B．It has no female for company. |
| C．They do not breed with other animals. |
| D．They are real bachelors. |
| A．The Mandarin Duck is common in Europe and North America. |
| B．There are two sayings about the duck’s disappearance in the Central Park. |
| C．Barrett says that people can have fun watching it. |
| D．New York allows these kinds of birds to be kept as pets. |
| A．Shot. | B．Kill. |
| C．Catch. | D．Disturb. |
【推荐2】Yellow is usually the color of happy, joyful emotions. But according to a new study, not all people associate the color with good feelings.
To find out what factors might play a role, researchers tested a new hypothesis (假设): What if people’s physical surroundings affect their feelings about certain colors? For example, if someone lived in cold and rainy Finland, would he feel differently about the color yellow from someone who lived near the Sahara Desert?
The researchers looked at color-emotion data from an ongoing international survey of 6, 625 people in 55 countries. The survey asked participants to rate 12 colors on how closely they were associated with feelings including joy, pride, fear, and shame.
The researchers paid particular attention to the data for yellow, and analyzed how different factors — including hours of sunshine, hours of daylight, and the amount of rainfall — were associated with the emotions people reported for the color. The two best predictors of how people felt about yellow were the annual amount of rainfall, and how far they lived from the equator (赤道).
Overall, people were more likely to associate yellow with joy when they lived in rainier countries that lay farther from the equator, researchers reported in the Journal of Environmental Psychology. In Egypt, the likelihood (可能性) of yellow being associated with joy was just 5. 7%, whereas in chilly Finland it was 87. 7%. In the United States, with its mild climate and amber (琥珀色的) waves of grain, people’s yellow-joy association levels were between 60% and 70%.
The researchers also checked whether associations changed with the season — whether, for example, people in a certain country liked yellow more in the winter than they did in the summer. They found that opinions about the color remained fairly constant all year round — even when the weather changed, the data on yellow-joy associations were as good as gold.
1. What was the main focus of the researchers’ study on color-emotion associations?| A．The preferences of people from different countries for certain colors. |
| B．The influence of physical surroundings on people’s feelings about colors. |
| C．The popular color choices for feelings like joy, pride, fear, and shame. |
| D．The impact of hours of sunshine on color-emotion associations. |
| A．Annual amount of sunshine and distance from the equator. |
| B．Hours of daylight and temperature variations. |
| C．Rainfall levels and distance from the equator. |
| D．Environmental pollution levels and urban vs. rural living. |
| A．Finland | B．Egypt | C．United States | D．China |
| A．People in winter season preferred yellow less than in summer. |
| B．People in winter season associated yellow more with joy than in summer. |
| C．The study did not find any significant changes in yellow-joy associations with the season. |
| D．People’s preferences for the color yellow varied widely between different seasons. |
【推荐3】If you’ve ever learned a new language, you know how difficult it can be. Native languages seem almost built in. But learning a new language, especially after early childhood, can be a huge task, burdened by long vocabulary lists to memorize and troublesome rules to master. Nevertheless, it’s worth the effort.
John Grundy, a scientist at Iowa State University who specializes in languages and the brain, explains that learning a new language causes extensive neuroplasticity (神经塑性) in the brain. In other words, when you learn a new language, your brain gets rearranged, new connections are made and new pathways are formed. “It’s really just a remodeling of the brain that allows it to become more efficient,” Grundy says.
These changes don’t help with just language functions. Chung-Fat-Yim, a post-doctoral researcher at Northwestern University, says they affect the whole executive processing part of the brain, what she calls the CEO of the brain. Bilinguals (双语者) use that area for language control, but also for other purposes such as the ability to plan for future behaviors, monitor and change behavior as needed, and switch between tasks. Being bilingual might also make you a nicer person. The bilingual person has to have an awareness that different people can hold different mental states about the same event. So they are more likely to develop greater empathy (共情).
Having a second language can even help to prevent or at least delay intelligence decline. There is a consistent finding that bilinguals are able to put off symptoms of mental disorders for about four to six years compared to those speaking one language.
If you’re thinking it’s too late, you’re probably wrong. It’s true that young children do more quickly learn whatever language they’re exposed to. But when it comes to adding on a new one, adults aren’t as at much of a disadvantage as you might think. If you practice a lot and bury yourself in the language, you can see the benefits at any age, especially when you get older.
1. What does John Grundy think of picking up a new language?| A．It reshapes the brain and improves its efficiency. |
| B．It indeed lays a heavy burden on learners. |
| C．It is enough to memorize vocabulary and grammar. |
| D．It has a negative effect on learners’ native language. |
| A．They change their behaviors frequently. |
| B．They may not concentrate on one thing. |
| C．They are more likely to understand others. |
| D．They tend to find faults with others’ work. |
| A．Age. |
| B．Engagement. |
| C．Motivation. |
| D．Strategy. |
| A．How learning a language changes your brain. |
| B．Picking up a new language is a huge challenge. |
| C．Using more languages means less diseases. |
| D．How to master a new language effectively. |
