四级阅读精选练习：唐纳德·卡蒂的声明
Let me just provide some basic facts about the flight today. It was American Airlines Flight 587, an Airbus A3005 aircraft en route6 from New York Kennedy to Santo Domingo. The airplane was lost today shortly after take off from Kennedy Airport. The preliminary passenger list indicated the aircraft carried 246 passengers and a crew of nine .
Family members wishing to receive information about passengers may contact American Airlines at our toll-free7 number at 800 245 0999.
As you would imagine, today’s news comes at a difficult time for the nation, for the airline industry and for American Airlines. Given the changed world we live in today, it will be as important as it has ever been to quickly and accurately determine the cause of this accident. First and foremost8 , however, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of our passengers and employees of those lost today. I will be leaving immediately for New York.
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阅读练习题：
Ⅰ. Fill in e ach bla nk with a p rop er word, the first letter is given :
1. Depression g him much for he would have no money to support his family.
2. Our p concern is the safety of the pupils in their vacations.
3. There is no i of who is behind this terrorist attack.
4. We endeavor to carry a complete i to find the technical problem of this
Ⅱ. Questions :
1. Who is the head of New York State ?
2. Who is the mayor of New York City?
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参考答案
Ⅰ. 1. grieves 2. primary 3 . indication 4. investigation / accident
Ⅱ. 1. Pataki 2 . Guiliani
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参考译文：
唐纳德·卡蒂的声明
这 是不幸的一天。我怀着万分悲痛的心情向各位宣布, 今天上午美洲航空公司的一架飞机在纽约失事。针对今天的事件,“ 美洲航空公司救援组”已经组成, 我将立即赶往纽约主持救援工作。我们的工作重点是向航班上遇难乘客和机组人员的家属, 向美洲航空公司的全体员工和飞机坠毁所殃及的纽约市民尽可能地提供帮助。
目前飞机失事的原因还不清楚。但是我们已经对此次事故做出迅速的反应, 并且尽一切力量配合事故原因的调查工作。为此, 我已经与布什政府参谋长安德鲁· 卡德、纽约朱利安尼、纽约州州长帕塔基以及多米尼加共和国首都圣多明各的官员取得了联系。让我来告诉大家一些关于此次飞行的基本情况。失事飞机是美洲航空公司587 次航班, 一架正从纽约肯尼迪机场飞往多米尼加共和国首都圣多明各的空中客车A300 型客机。此次航班从肯尼迪机场起飞后不久便坠毁, 乘客名单显示航班上共有246 名乘客, 9 名机组人员。
乘客家属可以拨打美洲航空公司的免费电话800 - 245 - 0999 , 查询机上乘客的有关具体情况。
大家可以想象, 在这个多事之秋, 今天的这起机毁人亡的事件对我们的国家、对航空业以及美洲航空公司无疑是雪上加霜。鉴于目前的国际形势的变化, 尽快地、准确地找到飞机失事的原因是我们目前的重要任务。但首先还是让我们向在此次事故中遇难的乘客和机组人员的家属表示慰问。我将立即动身前往纽约。