今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. blacklist /ˈblækˌlɪst/ (v.) – to put someone on a list of people to be banned from doing something
Example: The former shoplifter cannot enter the mall because he was blacklisted.
2. disruptive /dɪsˈrʌp tɪv/ (adj.) – causing interruption or disturbance to an activity
Example: Shouting in class is considered a disruptive behavior.
3. massive /ˈmæs ɪv/ (adj.) – huge and heavy
Example: The failed investments caused massive losses to the company.
4. operating cost /ˈɒp əˌreɪ tɪŋ kɔst/ (n.) – a company’s expenses from the performance of its functions and its maintenance
Example: The recent expansion has increased the company’s operating costs.
5. due /du/ (adj.) – appropriate or sufficient
Example: The problem must be given due attention.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
Five Chinese airlines have agreed to blacklist unruly passengers and ban them from boarding their planes.
Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, and Spring Air created the list as a response to the growing number of incidents involving unruly passengers, or those who exhibit inappropriate and disruptive behavior while on board a plane. Those who threaten the safety of the plane and the people on board are also considered unruly.
An
announcement released in the Chinese state media enumerated some behaviors that
can put a passenger on the blacklist. One of the said behaviors is causing
disruption in ticketing counters, security lines, or gates. Passengers who engage in fights, cause harm to the flight crew, violate airline policies, and refuse to obey crew orders may also end up on the blacklist.
People can also be on the blacklist if they forcibly enter a plane and restricted airport areas, if they intentionally cause damage to plane or airport equipment, and if they talk about terrorist activity.
Out of the overall number of passengers who travel by air, very few passengers exhibit these disorderly behaviors. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), there have been only around 38,000 incidents involving unruly passengers from 2007 to 2014. Despite this, the damages these incidents may cause can be massive. These include causing delays and increasing an airline’s operational cost.
For instance, a flight in 2014 was delayed for five hours when an enraged woman threw a cup of hot noodles at a flight attendant. The pilot had to take a U-turn so that the injured attendant could be given due medical attention back on land.
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ディスカッションテーマ
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· Do you agree with the airlines’ decision to blacklist unruly passengers? Why or why not?
· What are the possible consequences of banning some passengers from certain airlines?
Discussion B
· What type of passengers would you like to avoid while traveling? Why?
· Aside from causing trouble to fellow passengers and to the airline’s crew, what are the other consequences of misbehaving in an airplane? Discuss.
