中口0409聽(tīng)力原文

SECTION 1: LISTENING TEST

Part A: Spot Dictation

Travelling by air is one of the major conveniences of modern times. So last summer when we planned a holiday abroad, we decided to take advantage of such a modern, convenient means of transportation.

We began preparations for our trip early by calling the airline and making the reservation. A few days later we received our tickets telling us our flight number and the time of departure from our city and arrival at our destination. We were advised to arrive at the airline terminal an hour before takeoff in order to check in for our flight, receive our seat assignments, and check our baggage. It is important not to be late, or you might miss the flight. On the day of the flight, we went to the ticket counter where we were directed to the waiting area of the gate from which the airplane would depart. As we entered this area we were checked through security system. While we were waiting, I noticed how busy everyone was. The mechanics were checking the plane for last minute repairs, and a large truck was fueling the plane with gasoline to make it ready for take off.

When our flight was called we boarded the airplane. We were pleasantly greeted by the flight attendants and offered newspapers and magazines, drinks and food. The weather was good, and there was no air turbulence to cause us worry or discomfort. Although our flight was trouble-free, during the holidays air travel becomes more hectic. Often airlines sell to many tickets for a flight and are then overbooked.

Some unlucky passengers will e bumped and asked to reschedule on a later flight. Bad weather might also cause a later takeoff, and this delay often results in missed connections at the next stop. One of the most annoying aspects of air travel at holiday season is the possibility of losing your luggage. I always try to carry with me enough clothing for several days. On the whole, however, traveling by air is worth the expense. It is fast, safe, and usually reliable.