2019 年 12 月大学英语四级考试真题（第 3 套）

Millions of people travel by plane every single day. If you're planning on being one of them soon, you might not be looking forward to the __26__ feeling air travel often leaves you with Besides the airport crowds and stress, travelling at a high altitude has real effects on the body. Although the pressure of the cabin is __27__ to prevent altitude sickness, you could still __28__ sleepless or a headache. The lower oxygen pressure found in an aircraft cabin is __29__ to that at 6,000-8,000 feet of altitude. A drop in oxygen pressure can cause headaches in certain __30__. To help prevent headaches, drink plenty of water, and avoid alcohol and coffee.

Airplane food might not really be as tasteless as you __31__ thought. The air you breathe in a plane dries out your mouth and nose, which can affect your sense of taste. Perception of sweet and salty foods dropped by almost __30__ percent in a simulation of air travel. However, you can make your taste buds active again by drinking water. A dry mouth may __32__ taste sensitivity, but taste is restored by drinking fluids.

Although in-flight infections __33__ in dry environments like airplanes, your risk of getting sick from an airplane is actually low because of the air __34__ used. Unless you're sitting next to someone who is coughing or sneezing, you shouldn't worry too much about getting sick. However, bacteria have been shown to live on cabin surfaces, so wash your hands __35__.

The fifth-largest city in the US passed a significant soda tax proposal that will levy (征税) 1.5 cents per liquid ounce on distributors. Philadelphia's new measure was approved by a 13 to 4 city council vote. It sets a new bar for similar initiatives across the country. It is proof that taxes on sugary drinks can gain substantial support outside super-liberal areas. Until now, the only city to successfully pass and implement a soda tax was Berkeley, California, in 2014.

The tax will apply to regular and diet sodas, as well as other drinks with added sugar, such as Gatorade and iced teas. It's expected to raise $410 million over the next five years, most of which will go toward funding a universal pre-kindergarten program for the city.

While the city council vote was met with applause inside the council room, opponents to the measure, including soda lobbyists, made sharp criticisms and a promise to challenge the tax in court.

"The tax passed today unfairly singles out beverages—including low- and no-calorie choices," said Lauren Kane, spokeswoman for the American Beverage Association. "But most importantly, it is against the law. So we will side with the majority of the people of Philadelphia who oppose this tax and take legal action to stop it."

An industry-backed anti-tax campaign has spent at least $4 million on advertisements. The ads criticized the measure, characterizing it as a "grocery tax."

Public health groups applauded the approved tax as a step toward fixing certain lasting health issues that plague Americans. "The move to recapture a small part of the profits from an industry that pushes a product that contributes to diabetes, obesity, and heart disease in poorer communities in order to reinvest in those communities will surely be inspirational to many other places," said Jim Krieger, executive director of Healthy Food America. "Indeed, we are already hearing from some of them. It's not 'just Berkeley' anymore."

Similar measures in California's Albany, Oakland, San Francisco, and Colorado's Boulder are becoming hot-button issues. Health advocacy groups have hinted that even more might be coming.

Popping food into the microwave for a couple of minutes may seem utterly harmless, but Europe's stock of these quick-cooking ovens emits as much carbon as nearly 7 million cars, a new study has found. And the problem is growing. With costs falling and kitchen appliances becoming "status" items, owners are throwing away microwaves after an average of eight years. This is putting sales of new microwaves, which are expected to reach 13.5 million annually in the EU by the end of the decade.

A study by the University of Manchester calculated the emissions of CO2—the main greenhouse gas responsible for climate change—at every stage of microwaves, from manufacture to waste disposal. "It is electricity consumption by microwaves that has the biggest impact on the environment," say the authors. The authors also calculate that the emissions from using 19 microwaves over a year are the same as those from using a car. According to the same study, efforts to reduce consumption should focus on improving consumer awareness and behavior. For example, consumers could use appliances in a more efficient way by adjusting the time of cooking to the type of food.

However, David Reay, professor of carbon management, argues that, although microwaves use a great deal of energy, their emissions are minor compared to those from cars. In the UK alone, there are around 30 million cars. These cars emit more than all the microwaves in the EU. Backing this up, recent data show that passenger cars in the UK emitted 69 million tons of CO2 in 2015. This is 10 times the amount this new microwave oven study estimates for annual emissions for all the microwave ovens in the EU. Further, the energy used by microwaves is lower than any other form of cooking. Among common kitchen appliances used for cooking, microwaves are the most energy efficient, followed by a stove and finally a standard oven. Thus, rising microwave sales could be seen as a positive thing.