Section A: Banked Cloze
Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
It can be seen from the cheapest budget airlines to the world's largest carriers: Airlines across the globe (26) ______ various shades of blue in their cabin seats, and it is no (27) ______. There does appear to be some psychology behind it. Blue is (28) ______ with the positive qualities of trust, efficiency, quietness, coolness, reflection and calm.
Nigel Goode is a leading aviation designer who works at a company which has been delivering aircraft interiors for airlines for 30 years. “Our job as designers is to reinforce the airline's brand and make it more (29) ______,” he says. “But our primary concern is to deliver an interior that (30) ______ comfort to create a pleasant environment.”
“It's all about making the traveling experience less (31) ______ and blue is said to induce a feeling of calm. While some of the budget airlines might use brighter, bolder shades, most others go with softened tones. The (32) ______ aim is to create a home-like relaxing feel, so airlines tend to use soft colors that feel domestic, (33) ______ and earthy for that reason.”
It's also a trend that emerged decades ago and has (34) ______ stuck. “Blue became the color of choice because it's a conservative, agreeable, corporate shade that (35) ______ being trustworthy and safe. That's why you see it used in all of the older airlines like British Airways,” Nigel Goode added.
Word Bank
Answers & Explanations
26. C (determined)。解析：原文缺谓语。由 determined various shades 意为“选择了/确定了”各种蓝色。
27. B (coincidence)。解析：位于 no 之后填名词。固定搭配 it is no coincidence 意为“并非巧合”。
28. A (associated)。解析：位于 is 之后构成被动。固定搭配 be associated with 意为“与...相关”。
29. L (recognizable)。解析：修饰品牌 brand。意为加强品牌并使其更具“辨识度”。
30. I (maximizes)。解析：that 引导定语从句缺谓语。主语是单数 interior，故用 maximizes 意为“最大化”舒适度。
31. N (stressful)。解析：修饰体验 experience。意为使旅行体验不那么“令人紧张”。
32. K (principal)。解析：修饰名词 aim。意为“主要的”目标。
33. J (natural)。解析：与 domestic, earthy 并列，填形容词。意为“自然的”感觉。
34. M (simply)。解析：位于 has 和 stuck (过去分词) 之间填副词。意为这种趋势“仅仅”是持续了下来。
35. O (symbolizes)。解析：that 引导定语从句缺谓语。意为蓝色这种色调“象征着”值得信赖和安全。