¡¡¡¡Section ¢òReading Comprehension

¡¡¡¡Text 1

¡¡¡¡Violent lyrics in songs increase aggression-related thoughts and emotions and could indirectly create a more hostile social environment, a study released on Sunday by a U.S. psychology association found. The Washington D.C.ª²based American Psychological Association (APA) released the study, resulting from five experiments involving over 500 college students, in the May issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

¡¡¡¡The violent songs increased feelings of hostility without provocation or threat, according to the study. It said the effect was not the result of differences in musical style, specific performing artist or arousal properties of the songs. Even the humorous violent songs increased aggressive thoughts, the study said.

¡¡¡¡The group said the study contradicts a popular notion that listening to angry, violent music actually serves as a positive catharsis for people.

¡¡¡¡The music industry came under criticism from lawmakers in October for failing to use more descriptive parental advisory labels that specify whether the music contains sex, violence or strong language.

¡¡¡¡But the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has said that current CD labels give parents enough information without violating the right to free expression. The RIAA is the trade group for the world¡¯s five big labels, including AOL Time Warner Inc., EMI Group Plc., Bertelsmann AG, Vivendi Universal¡¯s Universal Music and Sony Corp.

¡¡¡¡Results of the APA¡¯s experiments showed that violent songs led to more aggressive interpretations of ambiguously aggressive words and increased the relative speed with which people read aggressive versus non-aggressive words. ¡°Such aggression-biased interpretations can, in turn, instigate a more aggressive response, verbal or physical, than would have been emitted in a nonbiased state, thus provoking an aggressive escalatory spiral of antisocial exchanges,¡± said researcher Craig Anderson, in a statement.

¡¡¡¡While researchers said repeated exposure to violent lyrics could indirectly create a more hostile social environment, they said it was possible the effects of violent songs may last only a fairly short time.

¡¡¡¡21. According to the study by APA, intensified aggression had nothing to do with          .

¡¡¡¡A. actual performers of music B. a more hostile environment

¡¡¡¡C. feelings of hostility D. violent humors of the songs

¡¡¡¡22. The word ¡°catharsis¡± in Para. 3 most probably means         .

¡¡¡¡A. an unpopular notion B. the removal of strong feelings

¡¡¡¡C. an increase of aggressive emotions D. the overreaction to violent lyrics

¡¡¡¡23. Which of the following statements is true?

¡¡¡¡A. The researchers¡¯ work was unpopular because of its biased conclusions.

¡¡¡¡B. The music industry was accused of unclear specification of the nature of the songs.

¡¡¡¡C. The current CD labels failed to specify whether the music is appropriate for youth.

¡¡¡¡D. The music industry would have to yield to the pressure from the politicians.

¡¡¡¡24. Craig Anderson would probably agree that         .

¡¡¡¡A. the relation between violent music and aggressive thoughts was ambiguous

¡¡¡¡B. more experiments were needed to justify the results achieved so far

¡¡¡¡C. antisocial exchanges could be ultimately attributed to violent songs

¡¡¡¡D. nonbiased interpretations might cause more aggressive social responses

¡¡¡¡25. It can be concluded from the passage that         .

¡¡¡¡A. some musical styles would lead to a short period of increased social hostility

¡¡¡¡B. researchers were divided about the fundamental causes of aggressive emotions

¡¡¡¡C. parents needn¬ðt worry a lot about their kids¬ð occasional exposure to violent songs

¡¡¡¡D. music industry would have to be more alert to violent words in its music

¡¡¡¡Text 2

¡¡¡¡The biggest danger facing the global airline industry is not the effects of terrorism, war, SARS and economic downturn. It is that these blows, which have helped ground three national flag carriers and force two American airlines into Chapter 11 bankruptcy, will divert attention from the inherent weaknesses of aviation, which they have exacerbated. As in the crisis that attended the first Gulf War, many airlines hope that traffic will soon bounce back, and a few catastrophic years will be followed by fuller planes, happier passengers and a return to profitability. Yet the industry¡¯s problems are deeper¡ªand older¡ªthan the trauma of the past two years implies.

¡¡¡¡As the centenary of the first powered flight approaches in December, the industry it launched is still remarkably primitive. The car industry, created not long after the Wright Brothers made history, is now a global industry dominated by a dozen firms, at least half of which make good profits. Yet commercial aviation consists of 267 international carriers and another 500ª²plus domestic ones. The world¡¯s biggest carrier, American Airlines, has barely 7% of the global market, whereas the world¡¯s biggest carmaker, General Motors, has (with its associated firms) about a quarter of the world¡¯s automobile market.

¡¡¡¡Aviation has been incompletely deregulated, and in only two markets: America and Europe. Everywhere else deals between governments dictate who flies under what rules. These aim to preserve stateª²owned national flagª²carriers, run for prestige rather than profit. And numerous restrictions on foreign ownership impede crossª²border airline mergers.

¡¡¡¡In America, the big network carriers face barriers to exit, which have kept their route networks too large. Trade unions resisting job cuts and Congressmen opposing route closures in their territory conspire to block change. In Europe, liberalization is limited by bilateral deals that prevent, for instance, British Airways (BA) flying to America from Frankfurt or Paris, or Lufthansa offering transatlantic flights from London¡¯s Heathrow. To use the car industry analogy, it is as if only Renaults were allowed to drive on French motorways.

¡¡¡¡In airlines, the optimists are those who think that things are now so bad that the industry has no option but to evolve. Frederick Reid, president of Delta Air Lines, said earlier this year that events since the September 11th attacks are the equivalent of a meteor strike, changing the climate, creating a sort of nuclear winter and leading to a ¡°compressed evolutionary cycle¡±. So how, looking on the bright side, might the industry look after five years of accelerated development?

¡¡¡¡26. According to the author, the deeper problems of aviation industry         .

¡¡¡¡A. are the effects of various disasters

¡¡¡¡B. are actually not fully recognized

¡¡¡¡C. are attracting a lot of attention

¡¡¡¡D. are not the real cause of airlines¡¯ bankruptcy

¡¡¡¡27. One of the facts that reflect the primitiveness of airline industry is         .

¡¡¡¡A. its history is much longer than that of car industry

¡¡¡¡B. it is composed of international and domestic carriers

¡¡¡¡C. its market is divided by many a relatively small carrier

¡¡¡¡D. it is still an industry of comparatively low profits

¡¡¡¡28. What does the author mean by ¡°Aviation has been incompletely deregulated, ¡±(Para.3)?

¡¡¡¡A. Governmental restrictions are still imposed on aviation industry in many areas.

¡¡¡¡B. Governments help establish rules for aviation industry only in America and Europe.

¡¡¡¡C. Some countries hope to help their national carriers keep up their national prestige.

¡¡¡¡D. Many countries discourage merger plans between foreign and domestic carriers.

¡¡¡¡29. It can be inferred from the passage that         .

¡¡¡¡A. free competition may help solve the problems confronting aviation industry

¡¡¡¡B. problems in America are more of a political nature than that in Europe

¡¡¡¡C. car industry should exert a more powerful influence on aviation industry

¡¡¡¡D. there is still a long way to go before the problems can be solved

¡¡¡¡30. According to Fredrick Reid, the aviation industry         .

¡¡¡¡A. is facing a very serious situation

¡¡¡¡B. will confront a difficult evolution

¡¡¡¡C. has no way out of the present difficulty

¡¡¡¡D. will experience a radical reform