[单项选择]Despite ongoing negotiations with its unions, United Airlines has told the bankruptcy court that the "likely result" will be a termination to its pension plans. That would precipitate the biggest pension default in history. The move is expected to destabilize the already struggling airline industry, prompting other carriers 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 belly up. 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 go to Congress and plead for a bailout. More broadly, what all this means is that retirement for US workers just isn’t what it used to be. The impact of globalization and competition from low—wage companies that don’t provide benefits has shifted the onus of retirement security from larger firms onto i
A. infuriating.
B. partial.
C. personal.
D. realistic.

[单项选择]Despite ongoing negotiations with its unions, United Airlines has told the bankruptcy court that the "likely result" will be a termination to its pension plans. That would precipitate the biggest pension default in history. The move is expected to destabilize the already struggling airline industry, prompting other carriers 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 belly up. 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 go to Congress and plead for a bailout. More broadly, what all this means is that retirement for US workers just isn’t what it used to be. The impact of globalization and competition from low—wage companies that don’t provide benefits has shifted the onus of retirement security from larger firms onto i
A. a default carried out by United Airlines.
B. pressure for companies to remain competitive.
C. companies that do not pay pension at all.
D. immorality of the companies.

[单项选择]Every land has its own dining custom, and the Unites States is no exception. Americans feel that the first rule of being a polite guest is to be on time. If a person is invited to dinner at 6:30, the hostess expects him to be there at 6:30 or not more than a few minutes after. Because she usually does her own cooking, she times the meal so that the coffee and meat will be at their best at the time she asks the guest to come. If he is late, the food will not be so good, and the hostess will be disappointed. When the guest cannot come off time, he calls his host or hostess on the telephone, gives the reason, and tells at what time he thinks he can come.
"No exception" in the first sentence can be explained by
A. the same
B. different
C. particular
D. polite

[单项选择]What did the labor unions worry about
A. They might lose control of their members because of the increase in immigration.
B. Their members might find it difficult to get along with the newcomers.
C. The working condition of their members might deteriorate.
D. Their members might lose their jobs to the newcomers.

[单项选择]How many unions of the airline accept the financial rescue package offered by Spain
A. 1.
B. 7.
C. 6.
D. 5.

[填空题]When workers are organized in trade unions, employers ______________________ (发现很难解雇他们).

[填空题]

The bank also denied claims by the unions that the action had put as many as possible

[填空题]Same-sex unions are under judicial review in Arizona.

[单项选择]To the growing perturbation of the unions, the Ministry of Labour has been pressing for a stringent income policy（）
A. satisfaction
B. disappointment
C. relief
D. anxiety

[单项选择]At one time few judges were friendly to unions, as demonstrated by a steady stream of decisions______strikes, boycotts, picket lines, and other collective actions.
A. permitting
B. attenuating
C. intensifying
D. proscribing
E. remitting

[单项选择]The （） of this policy would relieve the unions of a tremendous burden.
A. reference
B. adoption
C. assumption
D. innovation

[单项选择]Harvard is committed to（）ongoing communication and cooperation as project plans are（）
A. maintain, shaping
B. maintaining, shaping
C. maintain, shaped
D. maintaining, shaped

[单项选择]

As part of an ongoing campaign against polyvinyl chloride (聚氯乙烯), a Virginia-based environmental advocacy group today called on manufacturers and retailers to phase out its use in shower curtains. The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ), released the results of a small study indicating that PVC (聚氯乙烯)-containing shower curtains are capable of emitting scores of potentially harmful materials, into people’s bathrooms. A previous study, conducted by Environmental Protection Agency researchers, also found that plastic shower curtains can emit toxic compounds into the air.
There’s still debate among scientists about just how serious the health effects are especially at low doses. However, CHEJ urges consumers to avoid using PVC shower curtains, as well as many other PVC products.
For people who are concerned about their shower curtains, there are alternatives. IKEA phased out PVC shower curtains 11 years ago, switching to ethylene vinyl acetat
A. They are see-through.
B. They are too expensive.
C. They may cause mildew.
D. They emit harmful materials.