Part A: Reading Comprehension
Directions: Read the following text. 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 EgyptAir 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 economy and low oil prices, have resulted in long waits at major airports such as 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 use expedited screening lanes. This allows the TSA to focus on travelers who are higher risk, saving time for everyone involved. 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 EgyptAir Flight 804 is mentioned to
22. Which of the following contributes to long waits at major airports?
23. The word “expedited” (Line 4, Para. 5) is closet in meaning to
24. One problem with the PreCheck program is
25. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
答案与解析 (Answers)
21. [A] explain American’s tolerance of current security checks.
解析：第二段首句提到美国人愿意忍受耗时的安检以换取安全，接着提到埃航坠机事件是“another tragic reminder of why”，即解释了人们为何愿意忍受的原因。
22. [C] An increase in the number of travelers.
解析：第三段提到安检加强“combined with a rise in airline travel... have resulted in long waits”，即旅客人数增加是导致排长队的原因之一。
23. [D] faster.
解析：expedited 意为“加速的/快捷的”。语境中提到 PreCheck 乘客可以使用这种通道，后面紧接着说这能“saving time”，因此对应 faster。
24. [D] an unreasonable price for enrollment.
解析：第六段提到 PreCheck 的致命缺陷是“sticker shock”，即乘客必须支付 85 美元的背景审查费，认为这个价格太高，即价格不合理。
25. [C] Getting Stuck in Security Lines.
解析：全文围绕机场安检排长队的问题展开，分析了原因（安检漏洞、旅客增加、空间有限）并提出了改进 PreCheck 的建议，核心话题是“困在安检队伍中”。
核心长难句精解 (Highlighted Sentences)
1. 比较结构与递进：
"But demanding too much of air travelers or providing too little security in return undermines public support for the process."
【解析】undermine 是考研核心动词，意为“削弱/破坏”。句子表达了权力的平衡：如果安检太麻烦或者安全感不够，公众就不会支持这种程序。
【翻译】但是，对航空旅客要求过高，或者提供的安检作为回报太少，都会削弱公众对安检程序的支持。
"But demanding too much of air travelers or providing too little security in return undermines public support for the process."
【解析】undermine 是考研核心动词，意为“削弱/破坏”。句子表达了权力的平衡：如果安检太麻烦或者安全感不够，公众就不会支持这种程序。
【翻译】但是，对航空旅客要求过高，或者提供的安检作为回报太少，都会削弱公众对安检程序的支持。
2. 过去分词作后置定语与因果：
"Enhanced security measures since then, combined with a rise in airline travel... have resulted in long waits at major airports..."
【解析】combined with 是伴随状语。resulted in 引导结果。这句话解释了为什么机场队伍会突然变长。
【翻译】此后增强的安检措施，加上由于经济改善和油价下跌导致的航空旅行增加，导致了各大机场漫长的等待……
"Enhanced security measures since then, combined with a rise in airline travel... have resulted in long waits at major airports..."
【解析】combined with 是伴随状语。resulted in 引导结果。这句话解释了为什么机场队伍会突然变长。
【翻译】此后增强的安检措施，加上由于经济改善和油价下跌导致的航空旅行增加，导致了各大机场漫长的等待……
3. 让步状语从句与商业词汇：
"It has not gotten anywhere close to that, and one big reason is sticker shock: Passengers must pay $85 every five years..."
【解析】sticker shock 是一个地道的商业用语，指“对昂贵标价感到震惊”。
【翻译】（预检计划的人数）远未达到那个目标，一个重要原因就是昂贵的收费让人望而却步：乘客每五年必须支付 85 美元来进行背景审查。
"It has not gotten anywhere close to that, and one big reason is sticker shock: Passengers must pay $85 every five years..."
【解析】sticker shock 是一个地道的商业用语，指“对昂贵标价感到震惊”。
【翻译】（预检计划的人数）远未达到那个目标，一个重要原因就是昂贵的收费让人望而却步：乘客每五年必须支付 85 美元来进行背景审查。