(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Samoa Air has become the first airline in the world to base fares on a passenger's weight. The national carrier of the South Pacific island nation has discarded the traditional pricing model of asking fliers to pay for a seat and instead has moved to a price-per-kilogram structure. The airline flies domestically between the country's two main islands and has started international flights to American Samoa and Tonga. Travellers pay a price of around US$1 per kilogram on shorter routes, and over US$4 on longer flights. Samoa Air CEO Chris Langton said the new initiative would help promote health awareness in Samoa, which has one of the world's highest rates of obesity.
Reaction to the new pricing scheme has been mixed. A spokeswoman from the New Zealand-based campaign group Fight the Obesity Epidemic vehemently opposed the new fares. She said: "I think that's absolutely appalling. It's a stigmatisation of people, and really, just powerfully discriminating." A Samoan community leader said he appreciated that weight was key for airlines. He told the New Zealand Herald: "I weigh 200kg. I would be okay to pay the fare, provided it's reasonable, but I don't think it's a good excuse saying that they're trying to promote healthy living that's a lame reason." Many industry analysts believe other airlines will follow suit in charging overweight passengers extra.
中文翻译
萨摩亚航空成为全球首家“论斤”卖票的航空公司。这个南太平洋岛国的国家航空公司摒弃了传统的卖票方式，转而以“论斤”的方式卖票。这家航空公司往返于国内的两大岛屿，并开始增加了飞往美属萨摩亚群岛和汤加的国际航班。在短途旅行中，游客每公斤支付1美元，长途旅行的价格超过了4美元。萨摩亚航空公司首席执行官克里斯·兰顿表示称，这项新规将有助于提高萨摩亚民众的健康意识，该国民众的肥胖率位于全球前列。
民众对于新规却褒贬不一。新西兰公益组织“对抗肥胖疾病”发言人对这项新规表示强烈反对。她称：“这真的是骇人听闻。这是侮辱人的行为，这是严重的歧视。”萨摩亚社区领袖对体重决定票价表示赞赏。他对《新西兰先驱报》称：“我的体重是200公斤。我可以支付这笔钱，因为这是合理的，但是我不认为用促进健康的理由来收钱是个好主意，这个理由站不住脚。”许多业内分析人士认为其他航空公司也将效仿。
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重点讲解
1.base on 以…为基础
例句：He based his conclusions on the evidence given by the captured prisoners.
他根据被俘囚犯提供的证据得出了这个结论。
2.ask to 要求
例句：She said she had been asked to take two suitcases to Africa by a man called Sean.
她说有个名叫肖恩的男人要她带两个手提箱去非洲。
3.health awareness 健康意识
例句：To improve people's fitness and health awareness plays a key role.
对提高人们的身体素质及健康意识起着关键作用.
4.try to 设法
例句：I try to remember all the good times I've had here.
我试着回忆在这里度过的所有美好时光。
听力题目
1.How many airlines introduced weight-based fares before Samoa Air?
a) three
b) two
c) one
d) none
2.What has Samoa Air got rid of?
a) weighing scales
b) the traditional pricing model
c) small seats
d) baggage allowances
3.What is the new pricing structure Samoa Air has moved to?
a) discounts for thinner fliers
b) rewards for weight loss
c) obese passengers to buy two seats
d) a price-per-kilogram system
4.On which flights are passengers charged US$1 a kilo?
a) all domestic routes
b) business class
c) shorter flights
d) long-haul flights
5.What benefits did the airline chief say the new pricing would have?
a) shorter flying times
b) reduce greenhouse gas emissions
c) increased profits
d) health promotion benefits
6.What has been mixed?
a) the airline's message
b) baggage
c) people's responses to the new system
d) reviews of Samoa Air
7.Why didn't a campaigner like the new pricing system?
a) it's stigmatizing and discriminatory
b) it's too expensive
c) it doesn't promote looking after your health
d) it's very unclear
8.What did a community leader say he understood?
a) that the new fares were reasonable
b) why airlines should promote better health
c) that weight was key for airlines
d) that more people should diet
9.What did the leader say about the reason given for the pricing?
a) it's a shame
b) it's lame
c) it's a game
d) it's tame
10.What do travel experts believe other airlines will do?
a) copy Samoa Air
b) start better health campaigns
c) charge people with suits
d) nothing
听力答案
1.d
2.b
3.d
4.c
5.d
6.c
7.a
8.c
9.b
10.a
