单选题
A. accountable B. capacity C. controlled D. entail E. forged F. incentives G. occasionally H. overstated I. persisting J. pessimistic K. professionals L. slash M. specializing N. spectators O. subsequently Travel websites have been around since the 1990s, when Expedia, Travelocity, and other holiday booking sites were launched, allowing travelers to compare flight and hotel prices with the click of a mouse. With information no longer 42 by travel agents or hidden in business networks, the travel industry was revolutionized, as greater transparency helped 43 prices. Today, the industry is going through a new revolution—this time transforming service quality. Online rating platforms 44 in hotels, restaurants, apartments and taxis—allow travelers to exchange reviews and experiences for all to see. Hospitality businesses are now ranked, analyzed and compared not by industry 45 , but by the very people for whom the service is intended—the customer. This has 46 a new relationship between buyer and seller. Customers have always voted with their feet; they can now explain their decision to anyone who is interested. As a result, businesses are much more 47 , often in very specific ways, which creates powerful 48 to improve service. Although some readers might not care for gossipy reports of unfriendly bellboys (行李员) in Berlin or malfunctioning hotel hairdryers in Houston, the true power of online reviews lies not just in the individual stories, but in the websites 49 to aggregate a large volume of ratings. The impact cannot be 50 Businesses that attract top ratings can enjoy rapid growth, as new customers are attracted by good reviews and 51 provide yet more positive feedback. So great is the influence of online ratings that many companies now hire digital reputation managers to ensure a favorable online identity.
【答案解析】该空格位于动词helped之后,名词prices之前,据此判断应填入动词原形,构成help do sth. 的结构。由第一段首句可知,游客可以在旅游网站上比较航班和酒店的价格,也就是说,旅游网站可以帮助游客选择报价更低的航班和酒店。结合备选项,slash“大幅度削减”符合题意。故答案为L。