CCTV9英语新闻：中国的铁路里程达到100000公里

Good news for millions of commuters just ahead of the country’s busiest travel season of the year. China’s railway network topped 100,000 kilometers in total mileage¹ on Saturday, after several new rail links started operations.

Capturing a moment in history... as the first commercial high-speed train makes its maiden² voyage from China’s southwestern Guangxi Zhuang autonomous³ region.

The new rail line, slashing⁴ an estimated 15 hours per trip, can deliver passengers from the picturesque⁵ city of Guilin to the Chinese capital in just under 10 hours.

Though costing twice as much as a normal train ride, or about 800 yuan... there’s certainly no shortage of commuters thinking it’s worth the price.

And for others, even if there’s really no need for travelling, just experiencing this historical moment is enough to stand in line.

And across China on Saturday, new rail links started operation.. in places like the northeastern city of Harbin, the north-western city of Xi’an, and the eastern port city of Tianjin.

The new links added 2,000 kilometers to China’s railway network in just a single day, bringing the country’s total mileage to over 100,000 kilometers. Certainly a long way from when China opened its very first railway more than a century ago in 1876. Now the country boasts the world’s biggest railway network. And even the Chinese premier⁶ is playing his part by pitching China’s high-speed railway technology to the world.

1 mileage   

n.里程，英里数；好处，利润

参考例句：

• He doesn't think there's any mileage in that type of advertising.他认为做那种广告毫无效益。
• What mileage has your car done?你的汽车跑了多少英里？

2 maiden   

n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的

参考例句：

• The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
• The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。

3 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

4 slashing   

adj.尖锐的；苛刻的；鲜明的；乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减

参考例句：

• Slashing is the first process in which liquid treatment is involved. 浆纱是液处理的第一过程。 来自辞典例句
• He stopped slashing his horse. 他住了手，不去鞭打他的马了。 来自辞典例句

5 picturesque   

adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的

参考例句：

• You can see the picturesque shores beside the river.在河边你可以看到景色如画的两岸。
• That was a picturesque phrase.那是一个形象化的说法。

6 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。