Section II Reading Comprehension

　　Part A

　　Directions:

　　Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D. Mark your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. (40 points)

　　Text 1

　　First two hours , now three hours—this is how far in advance authorities are recommending people show up to catch a domestic flight , at least at some major U.S. airports with increasingly massive security lines.

　　Americans are willing to tolerate time-consuming security procedures in return for increased safety. The crash of Egypt Air Flight 804,which terrorists may have downed over the Mediterranean Sea ,provides another tragic reminder of why. But demanding too much of air travelers or providing too little security in return undermines public support for the process. And it should: Wasted time is a drag on Americans’ economic and private lives, not to mention infuriating.

　　Last year, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) found in a secret check that undercover investigators were able to sneak weapons---both fake and real—past airport security nearly every time they tried .Enhanced security measures since then, combined with a rise in airline travel due to the improving Chicago’s O’Hare International .It is not yet clear how much more effective airline security has become—but the lines are obvious.

　　Part of the issue is that the government did not anticipate the steep increase in airline travel , so the TSA is now rushing to get new screeners on the line. Part of the issue is that airports have only so much room for screening lanes. Another factor may be that more people are trying to overpack their carry-on bags to avoid checked-baggage fees, though the airlines strongly dispute this.

　　There is one step the TSA could take that would not require remodeling airports or rushing to hire: Enroll more people in the PreCheck program. PreCheck is supposed to be a win-win for travelers and the TSA. Passengers who pass a background check are eligible to useexpeditedscreening lanes. This allows the TSA wants to enroll 25 million people in PreCheck.

　　It has not gotten anywhere close to that, and one big reason is sticker shock. Passengers must pay $85 every five years to process their background checks. Since the beginning, this price tag has been PreCheck’s fatal flaw. Upcoming reforms might bring the price to a more reasonable level. But Congress should look into doing so directly, by helping to finance PreCheck enrollment or to cut costs in other ways.

　　The TSA cannot continue diverting resources into underused PreCheck lanes while most of the traveling public suffers in unnecessary lines. It is long past time to make the program work.

　　21. the crash of Egypt Air Flight 804 is mentioned to

　　[A] stress the urgency to strengthen security worldwide.

　　[B] highlight the necessity of upgrading major US airports.

　　[C] explain Americans’ tolerance of current security checks.

　　[D] emphasis the importance of privacy protection.

　　【答案】[C] explain Americans’ tolerance of current security checks.

　　22. which of the following contributions to long waits at major airport?

　　[A] New restrictions on carry-on bags.

　　[B] The declining efficiency of the TSA.

　　[C] An increase in the number of travelers.

　　[D] Frequent unexpected secret checks.

　　【答案】[C] An increase in the number of travelers.

　　23.The word “expedited” (Line 4, Para.5) is closest in meaning to

　　[A] faster.

　　[B] quieter.

　　[C] wider.

　　[D] cheaper.

　　【答案】[A] faster.

　　24. One problem with the PreCheck program is

　　[A] A dramatic reduction of its scale.

　　[B] Its wrongly-directed implementation.

　　[C] The government’s reluctance to back it.

　　[D] An unreasonable price for enrollment.

　　【答案】[D] An unreasonable price for enrollment.

　　25. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

　　[A] Less Screening for More Safety

　　[B] PreCheck-a Belated Solution

　　[C] Getting Stuck in Security Lines

　　[D] Underused PreCheck Lanes

　　【答案】[B] PreCheck-a Belated Solution