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World Airport Website Report - Terminal Map Try to provide some answers to your questions about SFO: 1) I believe "terminal" means "terminal building". The (light) colored shapes illustrate buildings. You may then see the extent of each terminal. There is a hallway between terminals 1 and 2, and also 2 and 3. 2) Thus, Gates 40-48 are in terminal 3. 3) I believe the letters designate underground parking areas. People mostly go there by car, thus the significance. SFO is large and complex. Complex, because it has been expanded from the old airport (essentially the current domestic part). In some sense, one must be familiar with the airport to appreciate everything on the map. On the other hand, I would not be surprised this is a map they have copied from somewhere else, say an existing paper brochure. In reality, not too many people would look at this map on the web to find out details of the airport. It provides me just a general layout of the place. Services are detailed maybe they were paid to put the details there for the commercial concerns. |
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Taihu - From Shanghai, By Bike According to my understanding, a freeway in the U.S. is a road without another road intersecting it. In other words, a freeway is "free" of intersections. The only way to get on or off a freeway is via one of its on-ramps, off-ramps, or possibly the road which is at one end of and becomes the freeway. All the freeways I know of in the U.S. are numbered, but not all numbered roads are freeways. Highways usually refer to major thorough fares as opposed to local streets. |
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Is English Skill That Important Language itself is a tool or skill, which is neutral by nature. In that sense, the more language skills one possesses the better. However, there is a culture associated with each language. In that sense, language is very powerful. In Europe, the appearance of so many languages might have played an important role in dividing the land into almost as many countries. Diversity in language and culture makes the richness of our human society. During 20th century, half of the spoken languages have disappeared, from about 6,000 to about 3,000. Mandarin is still one of the first three languages (together with English and Spanish) in terms of being spoken by the number of people. So, it is not about to disappear. However, the protection of Chinese cultural identity is an important issue. For China to play an important role in the world community, there is a need for some Chinese to have a good knowledge of English as it has become the dominant language in commerce as well as in technology. So, the challenge is to learn English without losing Chinese cultural identity. To make the point clearer: China has one of the greatest civilizations of our world. Chinese are and should be proud of their culture and heritage. Not all things Western are necessary good. As China opens its door, pick the good from the West and leave the bad. Language skill is not a bad one, but individualism is one aspect of Western culture Chinese could do better without. |