| Despite ongoing negotiations with its
unions, United Airlines has told the bankruptcy court that the "likely result"
will be a decision to terminate all of its pension plans. That would precipitate the biggest pension default in history, more than twice the size of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation default in 2002. The move is expected to destabilize the already struggling airline industry, prompting other old-line carriers like Delta to eventually follow suit to maintain competitiveness. It would also put additional pressure on the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), the federal agency that insures traditional pensions in case companies go belly up. It’s already facing more than a $9 billion shortfall. A default by United would saddle it with an additional $ 8.4 billion in unfunded obligations. If other airlines follow, the PBGC may have to A. The trouble that the airline industry faces is due to the impact of globalization and competition from low-wage companies. B. Retirement for US workers just is not what it used to be. C. The dispute over United’s pension has become a burning, blazing campaign is-sue. D. There are numerous threats to retirement in the future. [单项选择]
{{B}}TEXT C{{/B}} Despite its many useful properties, the use of alcohol has produced some difficult personal and social problems. In fact, alcoholism is one of our most troublesome public health situations. It has been estimated that six of every ten adults in the United States use alcoholic beverages, and that one of every fifteen persons who drink becomes an alcoholic. What is it that impels some individuals to drink excessively to become an alcoholic The term "alcoholism" is not easy to define. It is generally used to cover a whole range of individual and social problems connected with the use of alcoholic beverages. People whose drinking causes them to become enmeshed in these problems are called "alcoholics". Modern psychiatric opinion suggests a significant reason for the use and misuse of alcohol. Man has often used alcohol to help him cope with the problems and crises growing out of his continuing struggle to A. More than 6% of American adults are alcoholics. B. 60% of Americans drink alcoholic beverages. C. Less than 7% of American adults who drink are alcoholics. D. Less than 7% of American adults use alcoholic beverages. [单项选择]Despite the doubts, and despite complaints from shop owners, London’s congestion charge --introduced in February 2003 -- has managed to ease the gridlock in the city centre. Traffic is down by 18%, jams by 30%. The scheme’s biggest weakness is that it is crude: drivers pay ￡ 8 ($14) to enter the zone between 7am and 6:30pm, regardless of how congested the roads are, or how long they stay.
So road-pricing fans are watching trials by Transport for London (TfL) of a new detection system, called tag-and-beacon, with interest. Under such a scheme (used in Singapore and on some European roads) cars are fitted with electronic tags that are read by roadside masts. If the trial is successful, TfL says that the city could switch to the system once the contract to run the congestion charge is re-let in 2009. Currently, cameras are used to read license plates and track motorists. They are not always reliable: an individual camera identifies only around 70% of cars. Most driven get photog A. It will re-let the contract to run the congestion charge. B. It conducts the trim of the new detection system. C. It is thinking of charging drivers once for an entire day’s travel. D. Its boss ever wanted to extend the congestion charge to other cities. 我来回答: 提交
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