Passage 1
When itcomes to airline travel, perhaps nothing has revolutionized the passenger experiencemore than airline apps. Indeed, they're becoming so ubiquitous that more than 50percent of U.S. travelers have at least one artline app installed on theirsmart device, according to travel industry research firm Phocuswright.
Maybe that'sbecause apps make travel easier, and often are more functional than a kiosk oreven an airline's own website. Passengers report that they' re often morequickly informed of a fight cancellation or gate change than an airlineemployee. Not all airline apps are created equal, but in general you can use anapp to check in for a flight, change seats, request and pay for an upgrade.Road warriors in particular appreciate mobile boarding passes and the abilityto track their flight. Many airlines now offer free on-board streaming entertainmentvia apps. The Delta Air Lines app even allows users to track their bags, from check-into carousel, while the Air France app lets passengers download magazines and newspapersfrom the airline's library 30 hours prior to departure.
But what ifyou are traveling extensively on more than one airline? Global airline allianceshave their own apps that allow you to view flights for all member airlines and theiraffiliates including code share fight. In general, you can find fight schedulesfor all member airlines and track member airline flights. Airport informationis available, as are details about local weather at the destination. Where'sthe nearest airport lounge? The app will locate it for you.
The SkyTeamairline alliance app goes a step further by letting its SkyPriority members (SkyTeamElite Plus members and customers with first-and business-class tickets) find outexactly which SkyPriority services--including priority check in and baggagedrop off, as well as access to priority security lanes and boarding lanes areavailable at individual airports.
You'll findthat some alliance app features are available through multiple channels of communication.For example, SkyTeam members have formed their own online community by sharingtraveler tricks and airport tips accessible through a variety of channels,including the app, Sky Team's website, Facebook page and a dedicated tips site.SkyTeam's YouTube page features travel tips from regional celebrities.
Just asairlines seem to have conquered social media, another method of communicatingwith travelers has just arrived. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the first carrierto sign up for Facebook’s Messenger chat app. KLM flyers can automaticallyreceive itineraries, flight updates, check-in notifications, boarding passesand rebook flights and communicate with
customer service, all from Facebook Messenger. Messenger forBusiness was launched so that customers--in this case, passengers--can transactbusiness over the messaging app in a single communication thread. Roughly 80percent of passengers on planes traveling within the U.S. have the Messengerapp installed on their smartphones, according to Facebook.
Clearly,mobile apps and social media have transformed our digital lives. Airlines favorapps and other technologies because they get customers out of airport lines andof phone lines. Through their smart devices, travelers now have untetheredaccess to travel information. A few quick taps can supply individuals withinformation never dreamed possible even a decade ago. And with more peopleusing smartphones as their primary computing device, and as more people own cellphonesglobally, people expect technology-driven methods of communication andconvenience to accelerate. Whether you' re high-tech or not, you must admitthat having immediate access to the information you need sure beats getting abusy signal on a toll-free phone line.
21. Which of the following reflects what the author intends to convey?
Airline apps have made airline competition fiercer than ever.
Airline apps have immensely transformed travelers' digital lives.
Airline apps will probably replace airline staff in the near future.
Airline apps have provided magazines and newspaper for travelers.
态度观点题。题干意为“下面哪一项体现了作者想要表达的观点”。根据第一段中的When it comes to airline travel, perhaps nothing has revolutionizedthe passenger experience more than airline apps和最后一段中的Clearly,mobile apps and social media have transformed our digital lives可知，智能应用极大地改变了旅行者的生活方式。A项:意为“航空应用程序使得航空竞争比以往更加激烈”，文中并未提及，错误。B项:意为“航空应用程序极大地改变了旅行者的数字生活”，与文意相符，正确。C项:意为“在不久的将来，航空应用可能会取代航空公司的员工”，属于片面的推测，错误。D项:意为“航空应用为旅客提供杂志和报纸”，尽管文中有所提及，但并非作者所要表达的重点，错误。故正确答案为B。
22. According to this passage, which of the following apps provides priority services information for priority members?
The SkyTeam airline alliance app.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines app.
Global airline alliance app.
The Delta Air Lines app.
事实细节题。题干意为“根据这篇文章， 以下哪一个应用程序为高级会员提供优先服务信息"。根据第四段中的The SkyTeam airline allianceapp goes a step further by letting its SkyPriority membrs...find out exactly whichSkyPriority services…可知，提供高级会员信息服务的公司是SkyTeam。
故正确选项为A.
23. Which of the fllowing is closest in meaning to the underlined word "untethered”in the last paragraph?
Unlimited.
Easy.
Immediate.
Direct
词义推测题。题干意为“以下哪一项与最后一段中的画线单词 'untethered'含义最接近”。根据最后一段第三句Through theirsmart devices, travelers now have untethered acess to travel information可知，此处主要是说明航空公司应为旅客提供各种便利和服务，智能设备使得乘客可以不受任何时间和空间的限制，随时获取相关的旅行信息。A项: unlimited 意为“不受限制的”，与文意相符，正确。B项: easy意为“容易的"，与文意不符，错误。C项:imnediate意为“立刻的"， 与文意不符，错误。D项: dre意为“直接的"，与文意不符，错误。故正确答案为A。
24. What makes mobile apps appealing to travelers according to the last paragraph
Realization of their unfulfilled dreams.
A better service via computing devices.
An unoccupied signal on the phone line.
Immediate access to the needed information.
事实细节题。题干意为“根据最后一段，是什么让移动应用程序对旅行者有吸引力”。根据全文最后两句“And with more people using smartphones as their primary computingdevice, and as more people own cellphones globally, people expect technology-drivenmethods of communication and convenience to accelerate. Whether you'rehigh-tech or not, you must admit that having immediate access to theinformation you need sure beats getting a busy signal on a toll free phoneline"可知，直接获得你需要的信息肯定胜过在免费电话线上听忙音。也就是说，能在移动应用程序上自主获取所需要的信息是最吸引旅行者的。A项:意为“实现未完成的梦想”，与文意不符，错误。B项:意为“通过智能设备提供的更好的服务”，易混项，这只是前文提到的事实信息，而不是移动应用程序最吸引旅行者的功能，错误。C项:意为“电话不占线”，该项仅用作比较，而不是吸引旅行者的特点，错误。D项:意为“可以直接获取所需要的信息”，与文意相符，正确。故正确答案为D。
25. Which word below best describes the author's stance?
Biased.
Neutral.
Critical.
Radical.
观点态度题。题干意为“下面哪个词最能描述作者的立场”。根据全文表述，可看出作者一直是从客观的角度进行分析的，比较中立。A项: biased 意为“有偏见的"，与文意不符，错误。B项:neutral意为“中立的"，与文意相符，正确。C项: critical 意为“批判的"，与文意不符，错误。D项: radical 意为“激进的"，与文意不符，错误。故正确答案为B.