4-7 在英国路上开车

Driving on the Road in England

　  

Almost everyone in England over the age of 17 either owns or has access¹ to a car and uses it frequently, especially for short journeys in suburban¹ areas. This leads to enormous motorway²² congestion³³.The average speed in built up⁴ areas is now 11 miles an hour slower than driving a horse and carriage a hundred years ago.

　　

Driving on the left is traditional and therefore, to the English, indisputably right. The custom dates back to the time when the horse was the main means of getting about, and you kept to the left so as to leave your sword arm free to defend yourself. Nowadays it is more usually extended through the open window to reinforce the helpful hints offered to other motorists.

 

The English are remarkably⁴ well behaved on the roads. They use their horns sparingly⁵ and often give way to each other at crossroads. Punctilious⁵⁶ in their observation of traffic signs, they will wait at traffic-light-controlled pedestrian crossings even if there are no pedestrians⁶ in sight. If there are any, they screech⁷ to a halt⁷ and wait patiently for them to cross the road. This comes as a surprise to foreigners who are used to crossing themselves on the pavement before running like rabbits across the highway.

 

 

注释:

1.access [5Akses] n. 享用机会，享用权

2.motorway [5mEJtEweI] n. 〈英〉高速公路

3.congestion [kEn5dVestFEn] n. 拥塞，挤满

4.built up [bilt Qp] a. 建筑物多的，a～area 建筑物多的地方（或建成区）

5.sparingly [5spZEriNlI] ad. 有节制地，很少地

6.punctilious [pQNk5tiliEs] a. 小心谨慎的，审慎的

7.screech [skri:tF] vi. 尖叫，发出尖锐刺耳的声音，～to a halt 嘎然刹住

 

在英国路上开车

　

17岁以上的英国人几乎每个人都有一辆车或者能弄到一辆车，并且经常开车出门，尤其是在郊区作短途旅行。这种情况造成了高速公路的严重堵塞。在建筑物多的地方，现在的平均时速是11英里--比100年前马车的速度还慢。

靠左行驶是英国的传统，因此，对于英国人来说这是无可质疑的。这种习俗可以追溯到以马为主要交通工具的时代。那时，在路的左边骑马可以空出右手，以便持剑自卫。如今，更常见的情况是将右手伸出打开的车窗，更好地向别的开车人打手势示意。

英国人在路上表现得极有教养，很少按喇叭，在十字路口常常互相让路。他们严格遵守交通标志。在通过有红绿灯控制的人行横道时，即使没看见行人他们也会等。一旦有人他们会紧急刹车，然后耐心地等待别人过去。对那些习惯于先在人行道上在自己胸口上画十字然后像兔子一样跑着过马路的外国人来说，这可是一件令人吃惊的事。

1 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

2 motorway   

n.高速公路，快车道

参考例句：

• Our car had a breakdown on the motorway.我们的汽车在高速公路上抛锚了。
• A maniac driver sped 35 miles along the wrong side of a motorway at 110 mph.一个疯狂的司机以每小时110英里的速度在高速公路上逆行飙车35英里。

3 congestion   

n.阻塞，消化不良

参考例句：

• The congestion in the city gets even worse during the summer.夏天城市交通阻塞尤为严重。
• Parking near the school causes severe traffic congestion.在学校附近泊车会引起严重的交通堵塞。

4 remarkably   

ad.不同寻常地，相当地

参考例句：

• I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
• He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。

5 punctilious   

adj.谨慎的，谨小慎微的

参考例句：

• He was a punctilious young man.他是个非常拘礼的年轻人。
• Billy is punctilious in the performance of his duties.毕利执行任务总是一丝不苟的。

6 pedestrians   

n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Several pedestrians had come to grief on the icy pavement. 几个行人在结冰的人行道上滑倒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Pedestrians keep to the sidewalk [footpath]! 行人走便道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 screech   

n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音

参考例句：

• He heard a screech of brakes and then fell down. 他听到汽车刹车发出的尖锐的声音,然后就摔倒了。
• The screech of jet planes violated the peace of the afternoon. 喷射机的尖啸声侵犯了下午的平静。