The Hong Kong government has issued a red travel alert (警报)for South Korea following the spread of MERS virus in the country.

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam says:"The Security Bureau issues a red travel alert for South Korea to help the travel industry on their coordination(协调) and follow-up (后续)work. I call on again that all residents should avoid non-essential travels to South Korea."

The red alert comes just one day after the government issued a separate health advice with similar wording.Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung says only a formal alert could help tour operators on refunds(退款).

"Because insurance mention very clearly, if it is a red alert, then they will do some payment. But if it is a health advice, nothing can be done. After this case, I am sure we will talk to the government, the concerned department, to see whether we can force similar arrangement to avoid confusions."

Following the alert, all tours to South Korea this month have been canceled in Hong Kong, affecting about 12-thousand tourists in 600 groups. But voyage trips to the country would still go ahead as ship captains have the power to decide whether to cancel the trip or not.

Some airlines in Hong Kong have already agreed to change tickets date.

Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man says they will improve their work to avoid confusion in the future.

A red alert, the second highest of three levels in Hong Kong, is defined as a "significant threat" to Hong Kong residents if they travel to the country.

This is the first health-related security warning it has ever issued. The last "red" travel alert was issued for Nepal in late April, following the shocking earthquake.

Other countries on the "red alert" list includes Egypt, Lebanon and Pakistan, while a higher 'black' warning is in place for Syria.

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1.Why does the Hong Kong government issue the red travel alert for South Korea?

A Because of the spread of MERS virus in the country.

B Because of the threat of the South Korea government.

C Because all the residents’ travel to South Korea is non-essential.

D Because they want to help the travel industry in South Korea.

解析：选A。A。细节理解题。由第一段...following the spread of MERS virus in the country可知, 随着中东呼吸综合征在韩国的漫延,香港政府因此发布了前往韩国的红色警报。

2.When it is a red alert,_________will do some payment.

A travel agencies

B Hong Kong government

C insurance companies

D Travel Industry Council

解析：选C。C。推理判断题。由第二,三,四段可知, 只有在红色警报的情况下，保险公司才作部分赔偿,故选C。

3.What is the meaning of the underlined word “cancel” in paragraph 5 ?

A 抵消

B 注销

C 报消

D 取消

解析：选D。D。词义猜测题。响应红色警报, 所有前往韩国的旅游行程都“取消”了。

4.Under what condition does the Hong Kong government issue a ‘red travel alert’?

A When they want to improve their work to avoid confusion.

B When there is a great threat to residents.

C When the captains have the power to decide their voyage trips.

D When the airlines agree to change tickets date.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。由倒数第三段可知,‘红色警报’是香港政府在香港市民受到威胁的时候才能发布的（B选项）。

5.From the passage we can infer that this year Hong Kong has issued ‘red travel alert’________.

A once

B twice

C three times

D five times

解析：选B。B。推理判断题。由文章倒数第二段可知，这是香港政府首次颁发的与健康安全有关的红色警报， 而上次香港政府在四月份尼泊尔地震时颁发过红色警报(有关安全）。所以这两次都是针对旅游的，故选B。