英语听力：自然百科 印度铁路

 At Victoria Terminus in Mumbai, India, it always seems to be rush hour. Everyday some 2 million passengers pass through this train station. Coming into Mumbai is often a very tense commute¹. But in this country of over a billion people, the best way to get from point A to B is by riding the rails.

 

 

 

In India, the railways are a legacy² of British rule. Since the first steam beast rolled down its track in 1853, the Indian railway system has expended³ to cover over 38,000 miles of track. Many of the trains still carry stately names, like the Himalayan Queen and Grand Trunk Express which has travelled nearly the length of the country since 1929. 

 

 

 

Major cities tend to fit about the India railways 4 billion passengers a year, but even rural villagers are really more than a day's walk on a station. With over 1.5 million people on staff, India’s railways are the world's largest employer. From the Indian railways minister, down to the key men who make sure every inch of tracks sturdy. The vast workforce⁴ keeps this sprawling⁵ system running.

 

 

 

The railway station is often a swirling⁶ mix of people, parkers, porters and occasional performance artists fight for traveler’s attention and money. The railway is more than just a way to get around, it is a microcosm of India itself.

 

 

 

In the 3-tier berths⁷ of second class, people from all over the country, from different classes and cultural backgrounds find a place to mix. They talk, play games, and tell stories. For travelers, no matter what their destination, the Indian railways are their own adventure.

1 commute   

vi.乘车上下班；vt.减(刑)；折合；n.上下班交通

参考例句：

• I spend much less time on my commute to work now.我现在工作的往返时间要节省好多。
• Most office workers commute from the suburbs.很多公司的职员都是从郊外来上班的。

2 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

3 expended   

v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽

参考例句：

• She expended all her efforts on the care of home and children. 她把所有精力都花在料理家务和照顾孩子上。
• The enemy had expended all their ammunition. 敌人已耗尽所有的弹药。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

5 sprawling   

adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）

参考例句：

• He was sprawling in an armchair in front of the TV. 他伸开手脚坐在电视机前的一张扶手椅上。
• a modern sprawling town 一座杂乱无序拓展的现代城镇

6 swirling   

v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Snowflakes were swirling in the air. 天空飘洒着雪花。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• She smiled, swirling the wine in her glass. 她微笑着，旋动着杯子里的葡萄酒。 来自辞典例句

7 berths   

n.（船、列车等的）卧铺( berth的名词复数 )；（船舶的）停泊位或锚位；差事；船台vt.v.停泊( berth的第三人称单数 )；占铺位

参考例句：

• Berths on steamships can be booked a long while in advance. 轮船上的床位可以提前多日预订。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Have you got your berths on the ship yet? 你们在船上有舱位了吗？ 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》