【明報專訊】LOOKING like a giant golden starfish, Beijing Daxing International Airport welcomed its inaugural flights (首航) on Sep 25. Its construction started in 2014 and cost 80 billion yuan. A smart airport at its core, the airport has self-service facilities for check-ins, baggage consignment, boarding, etc. It is forecast that it can handle 100 million passengers a year by 2040, making it the largest airline hub.

An embarrassment

ANOTHER embarrassing moment for the government: it says that it has lost 12,000 application forms for its Caring and Sharing Scheme, a cash hand-out programme. The scheme has been criticised for its delay in screening applications and distributing HK$4,000 to citizens. The application period ended last April. (photo.2)

Sales tax

JAPAN raised its sales tax from 8% to 10% early this month. All goods and services, excluding most food, are covered by the new tax rate. Some think that the country will lose more than it will gain. It is because the rate makes people earn less and spend less. The economy will perhaps suffer as a result.

■Gear up

According to the text, circle the correct answer.

(1) The majority of people interviewed think financial education is important. ( True / False )

(2) Beijing Daxing International Airport is smart because it looks like a starfish. ( True / False )

(3) Some Japanese people think they will gain less due to the new sales tax. ( True / False )

(Answers on next text)

■Glossary

hub (n) 樞紐

embarrassing (adj) 尷尬的

rate (n) 比率

suffer (v) 受打擊

[Smarties' Power English 第256期]