Passage Five
Water is the oldest form of transport. The original sailing vessels were replaced by steamboats in the early 1800s and by diesel power in the 1920s. A distinction is generally made between deep-water and navigable inland water transport. Domestic commerce centers on the Great Lakes, canals and navigable rivers.
In 1975 water transport accounted for 22. 6 percent of total intercity tonnage. Its relative share of intercity tonnage was 31. 3 percent in 1947 and 31. 7 percent in 1953. Tonnage declined to 27. 9 percent in 1965 but increase by 1970 to 28. 4 percent. This short-term increase did not stabilize. Market share dropped by 5.8 percent by 1975. Forecasted market share by 1985 is 18. 4 percent of total intercity tonnage. The water transport share of revenue has been less than 2 percent of intercity freight revenue since 1955.
The exact miles of improved waterways in operation depend in part on whether coastwise and intercoastal shipping are included. Approximately 26, 000 miles of improved inland waterways were operated in 1975. Fewer miles of improved inland waterways exist than of any other transportation mode.
The main advantage of water transport is the capacity to move extremely large shipments. Deep-water vessels are restricted in operation, but diesel-towed barges have a fair degree of flexibility. In comparison to rail and highway, water transport ranks in the middle with respect to fixed cost. The fixed cost of operation is greater than that of motor carrier but less than that of railroads. The main disadvantage of water is the limited degree of flexibility and the low speeds of transport. Unless the source and destination of the movement are adjacent to a waterway supplemental haul by rail or truck is required. The capability of water to transport large tonnage at low variable cost places this mode of transport in demand when low freight rates are desired and speed of transit is a secondary consideration.
Freight transported by inland water leans heavily to mining and basic bulk commodities, such as chemicals, cement and selected agricultural products. In addition to the restrictions of navigable waterways, terminal facilities for bulk and dry cargo storage and load-unload devices limit the flexibility of water transport. Labor restrictions on loading and unloading at dock level create operational problems and tend to reduce the potential range of available traffic. Finally, a highly competitive situation has developed between railroads and inland water carriers in areas where parallel routings exist.
Inland Great Lakes water transport will continue to be a viable alternative for future logistical system design. The full potential of the St. Lawrence Seaway has not yet been realized with respect to domestic freight. The slow passage of inland river transport can provide a form of warehousing in transit if fully integrated into overall system design. Improvements in ice-breaking equipment appear on the verge of eliminating the seasonal limitations of water transport.
66. What would be the best title for this passage?
[A] Water
[B] Water Transport
[C] Intercity Freight
[D] Logistical (后勤) Management
67. It can be inferred from the second paragraph that ______.
[A] water transport is the single most important method of intercity transport
[B] water transport tonnage declined slightly between the late 1940s and the late 1950s.
[C] the market share of water transport is showing long-term growth, despite occasional declines
[D] water transport costs less per ton than some other forms of intercity transport
68. According to the passage diesel-towed barges differ from deepwater vessels in that they ______.
[A] are less restricted in operation
[B] are less flexible
[C] can move large shipments
[D] rank lower with respect to fixed costs
69. The first sentence in the final second paragraph, which is closest in meaning to that one?
[A] Heavy shipments, like those connected with mining and basic
bulk commodities, are dangerous because they cause the boats to lean
to one side.
[B] Shipments by inland water of mining material and basic bulk commodities are increasing every year.
[C] A large percentage of freight transported by inland water consists of mining and basic bulk commodities.
[D] Heavy Freight, like mining and basic bulk commodities, must be shipped by inland water.
70. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ______.
[A] the St. Lawrence Seaway cannot handle any more water transport
[B] the slowness of water transport will make it unusable in the future
[C] water transport will be used in the future, but its slowness never has any advantages
[D] water transport is sometimes difficult in the water
Part IV Cloze Test (15 minutes, 10 points)
Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage. You should choose the word that best fits into the passage from the box below. Then fill in the blanks on the Answer Sheet with the correct choices of words.
Even, fear, and, anxious, of, future, afraid, both, lose serious, boss, event, perhaps, adults, longer-lasting, extent, such as, stressful, yet, similar
We are all under stress from a fairly early age. Children are __71__ of the dark, of unfriendly dogs, __72__ losing their parents’ love, of the neighborhood bully, __73__ many adults have __74__ fears. In addition to __75__, there is another kind of stress: __76__. Students are anxious about their grades and their dates and their __77__ plans; parents feel anxiety about their children’s health and their success in life. _78_ the young folks and __79__ may feel another kind of anxiety, a feeling of inadequacy, __80__ about their intelligence or ability to handle their life situations. Many everyday occurrences cause passing stress— _81___like driving in bad traffic, a sudden storm, a quarrel, a frown from the __82__, a feeling of anger or guilt. More _83___ matters such as death in the family cause __84___stress. Other important events, 85____ marriage, a great new job, a divorce, a serious healthy problem, __86__ of hard-earned property, _87___ a joyous reunion with a loved one, can be _88___ too. Yes, we are all under stress. __89__ most of us manage to keep our mind cool to quite an _90___, and keep going in spite of the stresses of our daily life.
