If you have ever passed the cockpit(驾驶舱) in a flight and tried to understand your pilots' conversation, you probably didn't gain much from them. From terms like "niner" to "Zulu", pilot-speak can sound like its own language.

The special language is called "aviation English". According to the International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO), pilots on international airlines and air traffic controllers on airlines need to speak "aviation English" when they communicate. Aviation English is necessary all over the world because it is unrealistic for a pilot to know all the different languages of the country to which he or she must fly. In addition, most of the phrases flight crew use were born out of a need for clear communication with a few words over an occasionally fuzzy(模糊不清的) radio transmission. Pilots must make effort to reduce their transmission time.

Misunderstandings between pilots and air traffic controllers can lead to disaster, so they must make sure not to misunderstand one another. To avoid making a mistake about understanding with similar sounding consonants, the ICAO has a standard phonetic alphabet: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot Golf. Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu. These words stand for the letters from A to Z. The pronunciation of numbers should also follow exact standards. For example, zero(0) is always "zero", not "oh". 3 becomes "tree". 4 is called "fower",5 becomes "fife", and 9 becomes "niner".

There are also more colorful phrases that pilots say were produced in the sky and shared widely among them. For example, "Feet wet" warns air traffic controllers when a military aircraft is flying overwater. "Pan-pan" is reserved for communication with air traffic controllers. When pilots notice something unusual with their plane that stops short of an immediate emergency, they use "Pan-pan", a signal of urgency(紧迫) and attention. When pilots use this signal, others on the same radio frequency will "shut up and let you get your message across", allowing air traffic control to provide the suitable aid and prevent a great danger in flight.

1.Pilots and air traffic controllers use aviation English in order to ________.

①save the transmission time

②make the orders clear and simple

③avoid mistaking passengers' conversation

④make international communication possible

A.①②③ B.①②④ C.①③④ D.②③④

2.If a pilot says "Papa, November, Two, Tree", it may stand for ________.

A.PU2T B.8811TT C.PN23 D.88NT3

3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A.An organization called ICAO created aviation English.

B.Aviation English is really necessary on national airlines.

C.A pilot will report "Feet wet" if there is much water in his cockpit.

D."Pan-pan" means the plane meets some trouble and needs attention.

4.What would be the best title for the passage?

A.They Have Their Secret Language B.Pilots' Language Is Hard To Learn

C.Here's What They're Really Saying D.Aviation English Is Developing Quickly

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