Background: 一家用來只供寵物飛行使用的航空公司聽起來很奇怪，不過美國(guó)最新的 Pet Airways 寵物航空改裝了幾架貨運(yùn)飛機(jī)就準(zhǔn)備來運(yùn)送寵物們。寵物的主人們只要付250美元 （大約合人民幣1,700元）就可以把他們親愛的寵物伙伴送上這次寵物之旅，此次旅程出發(fā)日期是2009年7月14日。

Questions: 請(qǐng)?jiān)诼犗旅驿浺舻臅r(shí)候試著回答這些問題。這是一個(gè)用來幫助你提高聽力技能的練習(xí)。

1. How many pets were on Pet Airways' first flight?

2. What can the pets do before their flight takes off?

3. Do the pets get on the flight alone?

4. Does Pet Airways look like it might be a financial success?

Pet Airways 寵物專用航空公司

Listen to Thomas Baecker's report 點(diǎn)擊此處下載錄音材料

An estimated one million animals fly each year in America, usually in a plane's cargo hold. One such trip for Jack Russell Terrier Zoe was enough to convince her owners Alysa Binder and Dan Wiesel that pets needed to travel in style. The husband and wife team came up with the idea of Pet Airways.

Some of the 50 'pawssengers', as they're called on America's newest airline, probably couldn't help but wag their tails when the maiden flight was ready for take off on Tuesday. One of the first to board was Vito, a Border Collie and Australian Shepherd mix. Her owner, Heather Donahue, saw her off:

Heather Donahue:

"Well it was important for me that my dog Vito had a comfortable flight. And he's not a suitcase, you know, he's a family friend and a part of the family, so it was really important for us that he be safe and comfortable and be able to have a vacation with us."

Cats and dogs are able to enjoy pre-boarding walks and at each of the five airports Pet Airways serves, there is even a pet lounge providing pre-flight entertainment.

Upon boarding, the jet-setters are escorted by pet attendants who see to their every need during the flight.

The first flight, from New York to Los Angeles, was a success says Pet Airways. Flights are booked solid for the next two months and the airline is already considering expanding. Within the next three years it hopes to serve the pet jet-set in 25 North American cities.

GLOSSARY 詞匯表 (收聽發(fā)音, 請(qǐng)單擊英語單詞)

cargo hold 貨艙	saw her off 送行，告別
Jack Russell Terrier 杰克羅素梗 （一種白色梗類犬）	pre-boarding 登機(jī)前
pawssengers 指乘客 'passenger'，這里用了爪子'paw' ，蹄，意思就是這些乘客都是動(dòng)物	jet-setters 乘飛機(jī)到處旅行的人（這里指乘坐此次航班的寵物）
wag their tails 搖尾巴	see to their every need 照看及滿足它們一切需求
maiden flight 首航	booked solid （航班）完全預(yù)訂滿了
Border Collie and Australian Shepherd mix 邊境柯利犬和澳洲牧羊犬混血	expanding 擴(kuò)大
escorted 護(hù)送

 

Answers

1. How many pets were on Pet Airways' first flight?

50.

2. What can the pets do before their flight takes off?

They can go on a walk and enjoy entertainment in a pet lounge.

3. Do the pets get on the flight alone?

No, they are escorted by pet attendants who serve them on the flight.

4. Does Pet Airways look like it might be a financial success?

Yes. Flights are booked solid for two months and the airline wants to expand.