题目内容
U.S.airlines are seeing a major interruption because of hundreds of flights canceled due to the ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano, but European flight companies will face the biggest losses.
The airline business has been tough: The decline dramatically slowed traffic; February heavy snow forced U.S.airlines to cancel thousands of flights; and now the ashes from the volcano stopped all traffic in and out of northern Europe for days.
"For U.S.flight companies, it'll be a relatively short-term hit," said Michael Boyd, president of Boyd Group International, an aviation (航空学) consulting firm."We think right now they're down about $80 million in terms of lost income, and they're down domestically about 80,000 passengers that would have been flying domestically but aren't because they can't get here."
Delta announced that volcano-related interruption grounded about 400 flights until Monday at a cost of $20 million in lost revenues.But compare that to the recent snowstorms, when the airline canceled 7,000 flights and lost $65 million in revenue.
The disruption has created uncertainty for customers, but analysts say U.S.airlines won't face as many costs as you might think.They are not flying in extra planes to handle the passengers in trouble because, airline analyst Robert Mann said, companies simply don't have them.
"Airlines run a very lean operation now," Mann said."So, since there are no spare aircraft or crews, the airlines will attempt to maximize loads on every one of their aircraft that do fly.But it may take days, or in some cases a week or so, to get some of these customers to where they want to go."
1.Which negative consequences mentioned in the passage did the disasters cause?
A.coldness, pollution and airlines’ losses
B.airport damage, pollution and slow traffic
C.passenger delay, coldness and airport damage
D.passenger delay, airlines’ losses and slow traffic
2.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A.The fewest airplanes will fly the trapped passengers to their destinations.
B.All the customers are sure to be sent to their destinations in time.
C.The U.S.and U.K.airlines suffered the same losses in the natural disasters.
D.The volcano eruption reduced the traffic to and from northern Europe.
3.What does the last paragraph mainly tell us?
A.the troubles that the airlines will face after the ash cloud disappears
B.the measures that the airlines will take to maximize their profit
C.the present situation of the airlines and their plan to deliver the passengers
D.the reasons why the airlines run a fine operation
4.Why will it take a long time for airlines to send the passengers to their different destinations?
A.Because the passengers enjoy staying in airports to talk with one another.
B.Because the airlines don’t have spare planes or employees to serve.
C.Because the airlines don't have enough financial support after the disaster.
D.Because the passengers are asking for full refund from the airlines.
5.The passage is most probably from_______.
A.a novel B.a news report C.a magazine D.a thesis
DACBB
A volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent ash across northern Europe. Airlines have stopped or changed the flights across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in airports.
Grimsvotn is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe. What makes
Grimsvotn different is that it lies under a huge glacier(冰川)of ice up to 12 metres thick. The hot volcano heats up the ice above it, which then forms a layer(层)
of water between glacier and the volcano, keeping it stable. As the water flows out from under the glacier, the pressure lifts. The lava(岩浆) from the volcano then comes up to the surface. This is exactly what is happening today.
Now airlines have to make changes to their flights so as not to fly through the clouds of volcanic ash. According to KLM, one of Europe’s biggest airlines, airplanes cannot go under the cloud or over it. Going through the cloud can result in ash getting stuck in the airplane’s engines, causing damage to the plane.
The eruption has also caused problems for animals in Iceland. The volcano left ash and sharp, glass-like rocks all over the countryside. Farmers are keeping their animals inside to stop them eating ash-covered grass or the sharp objects.
【小题1】What makes Grimsvotn different from other volcanoes?
A.It is under the sea. | B.Its lava affects the airlines. |
C.It is the largest volcano. | D.It is below ice. |
A.The slow flow of water.. | B.The thick glacier. |
C.The water pressure. | D.The low water temperature. |
A.It becomes dangerous for animals to eat outside. |
B.Famers have lost many of their animals. |
C.Airlines suffer from the loss of planes. |
D.People stop traveling in Europe. |
A.thousands of passengers | B.hundreds of passengers |
C.ten thousands of passengers | D.20000 of passengers |