英语四级阅读理解精炼篇

Statement Of Don Carty

It is a sad day. Nothing grieves me more than2 to have to report to you that this morning, an American Airlines flight was lost in New York. I will be leaving for New York immediately to lead the American Airlines Care Team that is responding to today’s accident. Our primary concern will be to provide support to the families of our passengers and employees lost today, to all of our employees and to the people on the ground in NY.

At this time, we have no indication of what caused the accident. We have moved quickly to help organize the response and to support the investigation. Toward that end3 , I have already been in touch with Andrew Card at the White House and with Mayor Guiliani and Governor4 Pataki in New York, as well as with officials in Santo Domingo.

Let me just provide some basic facts about the flight today. It was American Airlines Flight 587, an Airbus A3005 aircraft en route6 from New York Kennedy to Santo Domingo. The airplane was lost today shortly after take off from Kennedy Airport. The preliminary passenger list indicated the aircraft carried 246 passengers and a crew of nine .

Family members wishing to receive information about passengers may contact American Airlines at our toll-free7 number at 800 245 0999.

As you would imagine, today’s news comes at a difficult time for the nation, for the airline industry and for American Airlines. Given the changed world we live in today, it will be as important as it has ever been to quickly and accurately determine the cause of this accident. First and foremost8 , however, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of our passengers and employees of those lost today. I will be leaving immediately for New York.

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CET4大学英语四级阅读练习题：

Ⅰ. Fill in e ach bla nk with a p rop er word, the first letter is given :

1. Depression g him much for he would have no money to support his family.
2. Our p concern is the safety of the pupils in their vacations.
3. There is no i of who is behind this terrorist attack.
4. We endeavor to carry a complete i to find the technical problem of this

Ⅱ. Questions :
1. Who is the head of New York State ?
2. Who is the mayor of New York City?

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参考答案

Ⅰ. 1. grieves 2. primary 3 . indication 4. investigation / accident
Ⅱ. 1. Pataki 2 . Guiliani

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CET4大学英语四级阅读参考译文：

唐纳德·卡蒂的声明

这 是不幸的一天。我怀着万分悲痛的心情向各位宣布, 今天上午美洲航空公司的一架飞机在纽约失事。针对今天的事件,“ 美洲航空公司救援组”已经组成, 我将立即赶往纽约主持救援工作。我们的工作重点是向航班上遇难乘客和机组人员的家属, 向美洲航空公司的全体员工和飞机坠毁所殃及的纽约市民尽可能地提供帮助。

目前飞机失事的原因还不清楚。但是我们已经对此次事故做出迅速的反应, 并且尽一切力量配合事故原因的调查工作。为此, 我已经与布什政府参谋长安德鲁· 卡德、纽约市长朱利安尼、纽约州州长帕塔基以及多米尼加共和国首都圣多明各的官员取得了联系。让我来告诉大家一些关于此次飞行的基本情况。失事飞机是美洲航空公司587 次航班, 一架正从纽约肯尼迪机场飞往多米尼加共和国首都圣多明各的空中客车A300 型客机。此次航班从肯尼迪机场起飞后不久便坠毁, 乘客名单显示航班上共有246 名乘客, 9 名机组人员。

乘客家属可以拨打美洲航空公司的免费电话800 - 245 - 0999 , 查询机上乘客的有关具体情况。

大家可以想象, 在这个多事之秋, 今天的这起机毁人亡的事件对我们的国家、对航空业以及美洲航空公司无疑是雪上加霜。鉴于目前的国际形势的变化, 尽快地、准确地找到飞机失事的原因是我们目前的重要任务。但首先还是让我们向在此次事故中遇难的乘客和机组人员的家属表示慰问。我将立即动身前往纽约。

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阅读导评

美洲航空公司是全球最大的航空企业之一, 航空安全又一直是各国媒体关注的目标。( 这是本·拉登选择飞机撞大楼的原因。) 作为美航的第一负责人, 卡蒂不希望航班有任何问题, 但是失事之后的一系列问题还是需要向媒体交代, 航空公司已经采取的措施也要一一汇报, 以争取舆论的正面报道。看来卡蒂很清楚这一点, 要想不出现谣言, 必须在第一时间发布官方消息。但很可惜, 不是所有的人都明白这点。

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阅读讲解：

  1. 唐纳德·卡蒂为美洲航空公司主席兼首席执行官。

2. 没什么比⋯⋯更让我难过的了, 等同于I feel the deepest sadness about . .. 。类似的表达方式如: No one’s comment is more important than the President’s. ( 总统的评论最为重要。)

3. end n. 目的, 目标。常见用法: with this end in view ( 抱着这一目的) ; to that end ( 因为那个缘故, 为要达到那个目的所以) ; a means to an end ( 达到目的的手段) ; have an end inview ( 有所企图) ; for this end ( 因这目的, 因此) ; end and aim ( 目的) ; be on the receiving end ( ① 接收别人的礼物。② 成为攻击目标。③ 处于接球的一方) 。

4. governor n. ( 美) 州长。殖民地的总督。这个词的阴性名词governess 不是女州长而是“ 家庭女教师”。

5. 空中客车A300 型客机, 由英、法、西等欧洲国家联合组建的飞机公司生产, 是目前唯一能够和美国波音公司的747 等客机竞争的产品。

6. en route ( 法语) = on route 在途中。

7. 受话人付费电话, 打电话的人无需付费。以800 开头的电话号码即属此类电话, 但是有些号码拒付长途话费。

8. foremost adv. 居于首位, 如: She ranks foremost among the country’s leading conductors. ( 他在国内第一流指挥家中名列榜首。) 它亦可做形容词, 表示“最著名的, 最重要的”, 如: the foremost painter of his time ( 在他那个时代首屈一指的画家) 。