Unlocking
Word Meanings
Read
the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. aviation (n.) [ey-vee-ey-shuhn, av-ee-] – the operation,
development, management and use of air crafts
Example: My brother, who
wants to be a pilot, is studying aviation
engineering.
2. accommodate (v.) [uh-kom-uh-deyt] – to provide
room or space for something or someone
Example: She prepared the
guest room to accommodate their
visitors.
3. investment (n.) [in-vest-muhnt] – using or
putting money, time and energy into something that will produce profit in the
future
Example: Purchasing your
own house is a good investment.
4. unprecedentedly (adv.) [uhn-pres-i-den-tid-lee] –
happening unexpectedly as something that has never been seen or experienced
before
Example: The sudden increase
of Internet users happened unprecedentedly.
Article
Read
the text below.
China plans to construct fifty-five additional airports in the next five years in order to
meet the increasing number of trips which is expected to reach 450
to 500 million every year by 2015.
Chinese aviation officials claim this figure is twice as high as the 230-million trips in 2009. In Beijing alone, the number of passengers reached 73.9 million in 2010 making Beijing Capital International the second busiest airport in the world, replacing UK’s London Heathrow.
In addition, the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
also predicts a 66.87% increase in the number of international passengers in
2015. The additional 55 airports are seen to accommodate the
growing passenger demand and lessen the pressure in China’s 175 existing
airports.
With its growing number of flights, China now provides half the
entire market for air travel in Asia. Li Jiaxing , head of Civil Aviation
Administration of China (CAAC) says that investment in China’s air travel is expected to reach
about US$230 billion.
Analyst Nick Cunningham says flights increase twice as fast as
the economy which, in China’s case, is rising unprecedentedly. The
US remains to be the largest economy in the world with 15,095 airports serving
300 million citizens. While, China only has 175 airports for 1.3 billion
people.
Viewpoint
Discussion
Enjoy
a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion
A
·
What
are the benefits of good transportation to the economy?
·
Do
you think it is possible to have a good economy but poor transportation? Why or
why not?
Discussion
B
·
What are the disadvantages of increasing the
number of airports in terms of security?
·
What are some things that the government can
do to keep airports safe?
