英美报刊选读Lesson 8

Lesson8OurLoveAffairwithCarsSortsofVehicleCar:avehiclewiththreeorusuallyfourwheelsanddrivenbyamotor,especiallyoneforcarryingpeople.Jeep:atypeofsmallcarsuitablefortravelingoverroughground.Taxi:acarwhichmaybehiredbythepublicalongwithitsdriver,thepriceofajourneyusuallybeingcalculatedbyaspecialmachine(taximeter)SortsofVehicleSedan:acarforfourorsevenpassengers,witharoof,closedsides,andwindows.Sportscars:afast,usuallysmallerandlightercarwithatopthatfoldsbackanddownLimousine:alargecarwithdriver’sseatseparatedfromthebackbyasheetofglassSortsofVehicleVan:acoveredroadvehicleforcarryinggoodsandsometimespeopleLorry:alargemotorvehicleforcarryingbiggoodsTanker:aheavylorrywithalargetankforcarryingoilorotherliquidsTractor:apowerfulmotormobilevehiclewithlargewheelsandthicktiresusedforpullingfarmmachineryAmericanCarCultureLivesAtPetersenAutomotiveMuseumRAYBROWN’S1932FORDDRYLAKESRACINGROADSTERHere’san1897AnthonyElectric,partofthefirst-floordisplay.Thisisthe1927FordRoadsterthathelpscelebrateHotRodMagazine’s50thanniversary.ThiscariscalledThe1959Outlaw,acustomcreationbyEd“BigDaddy”Roth.CarCultureinAmericaWhentheyfirstmadetheirbumpyarrivalontheAmericanstreetsceneintheearly1900s,automobileswereconsideredfussytoysfortherichandfamous.TheircostmadetheminaccessiblefortheaverageAmerican.HenryFordwasthefirsttounderstandthatwhilemostAmericanscouldn'taffordacar,actuallyallofthemwantedone.HisModelTbroughttheautomobiletomiddleclasscitizensandwasthebeginningofAmerica'sloveaffairwithitscars.CarCultureinAmericaInthe1950s,thepost-warboomproducedagenerationofteenagerswithenoughincometobuytheirowncars.Thesecarsbecamesomuchmorethanjustmodesoftransportation.Theywerereflectionsofalifestyle.ThecarsgaveaverageJoestheopportunitytoshowofftheirpower,theirspeedandtheirstyleinawaythatpersonifiedthecarascharacter.10CommandmentsofGoodDrivinginAmerica:Yieldtovehicleswhohavetherightofway.Don'tcutinfrontofothervehicles.Drivewithinthespeedlimit.Obeyallroadsignsandpoliceofficers.Pullovertothesideoftheroadwhenyouhearasiren.10CommandmentsofGoodDrivinginAmerica:Stopcompletelyatredlightsandstopsigns.Yieldtopedestriansincrosswalks.Parkonlyinadesignatedparkingspace.Useyourturnsignalswhenturningorchanginglanes.Don'tdrinkanddrive.NewWords:defer:1).toputoff;postponee.g.Shedeferredwritingtheletter2).tosubmittotheopinion,wishese.g.Theydeferredtohisopinionemancipate:v.~sb(from)sthsetsbfree,espfrompolitical,legalorsocialrestrictionse.g.emancipateslaves→n.emancipationemulate:1).~sb(atsth)trytodoaswellasorbetterthane.g.emulatehersisteratthepiano2).imitate,touseorfollowasamodelfacilitate:tomakeeasyoreasiere.g.Itwouldfacilitatemattersifyouweremoreco-operative.→n.facilitationinflict:tomakesomeonesuffersomethingunpleasantinflictsthon/uponsb:e.g.inflictedheavylossesontheenemystifle:feelormake(sb)unabletobreathe(easily)becauseoflackoffreshaire.g.Wewerestiflinginthathotroomwithallthewindowsclosed.suffocate:1).(causesbto)dieasaresultofnotbeingabletobreathee.g.Passengerssuffocatedintheburningaircraft.2).havedifficultyinbreathinge.g.I’msuffocatinginhere;can’tweopenafewwindows?OutlineI.Autoindustry’scentennialcelebration(paragraph1-2)II.Cars’impactonthe(paragraph3)(1).Problemsofexhaustandfatality(2).Comparisonofcars’problemswithhorses’problemIII.Cars’impactonthe(paragraph4-5)(1).Increasingproductivity&workers’purchasingpower(2).StimulatinginsuranceindustryandincreasinglandvalueOutlineIV.Cars’impactonthe(paragraph6-9)(1).Problemsofurbandecline,criminals’mobility,mollificationofAmerica,breakdownofcommunity(2).Benefitofconqueringruralloneliness(3).Establishmentofaspecialyouthculture(4).CreationofanersatzclassstructureV.Conclusion(paragraph10-11)Celebratingthevirtuesofautomobility