1 . In today’s not-so-golden time of domestic air travel, checking a suitcase for free is a luxury afforded to few. And those who do check their bags often find themselves stressing out during the whole journey, wondering if their luggage (行李) is actually going to arrive at their destination with them. As a result, more travelers than ever are choosing to bring their belongings into a carry-on bag — many of them big and heavy, with wheels.
The result? A boarding free-for-all (混战), as nervous flyers wait around the gate hoping to be among the first to get on the plane — all to get a tiny piece of overhead space near their seat. Unfortunately, the older versions of those highly desired bins (柜) were not designed with your average carry-on roller suitcase in mind. They must be laid down flat, leaving a small space above them that is of little use, while taking up a good piece of bin space.
Enter French aircraft maker Airbus launches its new “Airspace L Bins” designed to be refitted in only three to five days. These specially shaped overhead compartments (隔层) promise to create 60% more cabin luggage space than traditional systems. How? Simply by allowing travelers to load their carry-on roller bags vertically (垂直地) instead of having to lay them flat. Made of ultra-lightweight composite (复合的) products, the refit reuses many parts of the original bin including the sidewall, ceiling and lighting to cut down on waste.
Flight attendants will likely approve of the new compartments too, knowing they can complete boarding procedures while hearing far fewer complaints from flyers about how they don’t have a place to store their bags.
Luggage has long been a contentious and complicated issue in the aviation world, and that doesn’t appear set to change with or without bigger bins. In the end, regardless of traveler preferences, most would agree that if better-designed bins can speed up the time we spend getting on and off the plane, we’re all for them.
1. Which of the following stops passengers from checking their luggage?| A．Cost and security. | B．Habit and preference. |
| C．Character and personality. | D．Environmental issues and protection. |
| A．To get a convenient luggage holder. |
| B．To occupy the most comfortable seat. |
| C．To check their luggage free of charge. |
| D．To make sure their luggage is safe. |
| A．They are made of a single material. | B．They are all refitted under the seats. |
| C．Their parts are entirely newly made. | D．They allow luggage to be set vertically. |
| A．Bigger bins are not key to flights. | B．The luggage problem has been totally settled. |
| C．New bins can save time for passengers. | D．Travelers will change their preferences. |
2 . During Brandi Tuck’s junior year at the University of Florida in 2004, her spring break plans fell through and it changed the course of her life.
All of her friends were going on alternative spring break trips, which gave them an opportunity to serve a diverse set of communities and she reluctantly signed up because nobody was going to the beach with her.
There were several trips to choose from, each focused on a cause like AIDs, women’s rights or the environment. But none of them spoke to Tuck. She’ d done community service for years, but more out of just a desire to enrich her resume (简历). “I picked the homelessness and poverty trip. I thought it was the least bad of the choices,” she recalled.
That spring, she and a dozen other students headed to Atlanta, Georgia, to spend a week volunteering at homeless shelters. The experience was eye-opening. At one shelter, one young boy’s request stopped her in her tracks. He said, “Oh, I love you. Can you please not go? Stay with me.” Tuck knew they didn’t have a lot of attention because the moms were so stressed. So she stayed. In that moment, Tuck decided to continue working at the shelter.
In 2008, Tuck started a nonprofit organization, now known as Path Home, which provides shelter, support, and a host of services to families experiencing homelessness in Portland, Oregon. The organization has since helped more than 10,000 parents and children. She also bought an old church to create an environment that would help families recover mentally as well as physically, giving them the sense of emotional, physical, and psychological safety.
Tuck says her wish is a society where every family receives the support and compassion they need to boom, which is all that she needs to continue doing the work.
1. What happened during Tuck’s spring break in 2004?| A．She traveled to the beach by herself. |
| B．She joined in a community service activity. |
| C．She was admitted to the University of Florida. |
| D．She organized a number of holiday study tours. |
| A．Excitedly. | B．Proudly. | C．Unwillingly. | D．Fortunately. |
| A．Tuck’s sympathy for the poor. | B．The effort that Tuck made. |
| C．Tuck’s reason for volunteering. | D．The honor that Tuck received. |
| A．The little boy’s invitation. | B．Her wish to help all the homeless out. |
| C．The challenges from her volunteering. | D．Path Home’s development. |
3 . Traveling with family members can not only enhance the parent-child relationship, but also broaden the horizons and share happiness and memories. Take a trip with your family to one of the destinations below!
Yellowstone National Park
Kids will love watching Old Faithful, one of nearly 500 geysers (间歇喷泉) in Yellowstone, erupt, and there’s nothing like a hike for family bonding. Keep an eye out for wild animals, or visit the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center to guarantee some animal interactions. Hotels are expensive, so consider taking advantage of the park’s well-equipped campsites.
Orlando
Appealing, thrilling and fun, Walt Disney World Resort (度假村) is engineered specifically for families. Orlando also has a handful of other theme parks, including Universal Orlando Resort, where you’ll find The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Discovery Cove, an all-inclusive day resort, where you can swim and dive around the park’s coral reef.
Destin
Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park(open seasonally)features waterslides and a lazy river, while the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park is home to animals kids love, including dolphins and penguins. And if you’re looking for an adventure on the water, consider booking a boat tour at Henderson Beach State Park or Crystal Beach Park. Just don’t forget to pack your beach hat.
Anaheim
Anaheim, California has been home to Disneyland Resort since 1955. After catching up with Mickey and friends, visit Anaheim’s Adventure City Amusement Park or Knott’s Berry Farm Theme Park—another top amusement park in the U.S. And if you’ re in town during baseball season, you can catch a game at Angel Stadium.
1. What can visitors do in Yellowstone National Park?| A．Check into a discounted hotel. | B．Take photos with film characters. |
| C．Watch an ancient volcano erupt. | D．Stay at well-equipped campsites. |
| A．Crystal Beach Park. | B．Henderson Beach State Park. |
| C．Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park. | D．Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park. |
| A．They include lazy rivers. | B．They provide some animal interactions. |
| C．They have Disney-themed resorts. | D．They host professional baseball games. |
Do you dream of exploring space someday? You can now begin locally—just buy a ticket to the newly opened Shanghai Astronomy Museum. As the largest of its kind in the world, the museum makes a new space to lead visitors on a true-to-life tour around the universe. That sounds cool, doesn’t it?
Four Ordinary People Flew into Space
A group of four ordinary people (普通人) flew into space in the first space mission (任务) with no professional astronauts. The four remained in space, circling the Earth for three days. Though this was the first “all amateur (业余者)” flight, it’s clear that the members had a lot of knowledge and experience which was helpful. They had also had a quick astronaut training course.
Plane travel used to be very expensive, but now many people may afford it. It opens up space for ordinary tourists.
Robot Wolves Scare Away Bears
A town in Japan is using robot wolves to keep bears away. The robots, known as “Monster Wolves”, look like real wolves, only scarier. They’re meant to scare away unwanted wild animals. Since the town began using the robot wolves, there have been no bears.
1. What can you do in the Shanghai Astronomy Museum?
| A．Have a dream of exploring space. |
| B．Experience a true-to-life space trip. |
| C．Learn to be an astronaut. |
| A．2 days | B．3 days | C．4 days |
| A．To keep the bears away. | B．To make people scared. | C．To keep real wolves away. |
| A．they had a lot of experience | B．many people can afford space travel |
| C．they had no quick astronaut training courses. | |
| A．space | B．nature | C．technology |
B:
A: Happy to hear that. What do you think of the people here?
B:
A: Yes, we follow the traffic rules well. How about the city?
B: Oh, it’s beautiful and clean.
A: Thanks very much. What else can I do for you?
B: Well, I want some popular local snacks for my family.
A: Yes, it’s over there, next to the bank.
B:
A: No problem. Welcome to visit our city again!
A.Where can I buy them?
B.OK, I will go now.
C. Yes, you did a great job!
D. They are friendly and polite.
E. The rubbish is sorted into different types.
F. How did you get it?
G. Is there a shop near here?
