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Passage 4

Amtrak (美国铁路客运公司）was experiencing a downswing in rider ship (客运量）along the lines =ny1Smg ,ts rail system. Of major concern to Amtrak and its advertising agency DDB Needham, were the long-distance western routes where ridership has been declining significantly.

At one time，trains were the only practical way to cross the vast areas of the west. Trains were fast, very luxurious,and quite convenient compared to other forms of transportation existing at the time. However»times change and the automobile became America’s standard of convenience. Also, air travel had easily established itself as the fastest method of traveling great distances. Therefore, the task for DDB Needham was to encourage consumers to consider other aspects of train travel in order to change their attitudes and increase the likelihood that trains would be considered for travel in the west.

Two portions of the total market were targeted： 1) anxious fliers一those concerned with safety, relaxation, and cleanliness and 2) travel-loversthose viewing themselves as relaxed，casual, and interested in the travel experience as part of their vacation. The agency then developed a campaign that focused on travel experiences such as freedom, escape, relaxation, and enjoyment of the great western outdoors. It stressed experiences gained by using the trains and portrayed western train trips as wonderful adventures.

Advertisements showed pictures of the beautiful scenery that could be enjoyed along some of the more famous western routes and emphasized the romantic names of some of these trains (Empire Builder, etc.). These ads were strategically placed among family-oriented TV shows and programs involving nature and America in order to most effectively reach target audiences. Results were impressive. The Empire Builder，which was focused on in one ad，enjoyed a 15 percent increase in profits on its Chicago to Seattle route.

It can be inferred from the passage that the drop in Amtrak ridership was due to the fact that____.

A. trains were not suitable for short distance passenger transportation

B. trains were not the fastest and most convenient form of transportation

C. trains were not as fast and convenient as they used to be

D. trains could not compete with planes in terms of luxury and convenience
参考答案
【讲解答案】
B 推理题 该问題问及Amtrak客运量下降的原因•依据文章第二段第三行始：... cl»nge and automobile became America's standard of convenience. Also, air travel had easily established itself as the fastest method of traveling great distances.可以推断出要论方便，当数汽车.论速度， 更推飞机，火车不再具有优势，客运量自然下降。