新概念英语第二册Lesson 84 On strike

Lesson 84 On strike 罢工

First listen and then answer the question.
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Who will be driving the buses next week?
   
Busmen have decided¹ to go on strike next week. The strike is due² to begin on Tuesday. No one knows how long it will last. The busmen have stated that the strike will continue until general agreement is reached about pay and working conditions. Most people believe that the strike will last for at least a week. Many owners of private cars are going to offer 'free rides' to people on their way to work. This will relieve³ pressure on the trains to some extent⁴. Meanwhile, a number of university students have volunteered to drive buses while the strike lasts. All the students are expert drivers, but before they drive any of the buses, they will have to pass a special test. The students are going to take the test in two days' time. Even so, people are going to find it difficult to get to work. But so far, the public has expressed its gratitude⁵ to the students in letters to the Press. Only one or two people have objected that the students will drive too fast!

New words and expressions 生词和短语

strike n. 罢工
busman n. 公共汽车司机
state v. 正式提出，宣布
agreement n. 协议
relieve v. 减轻
pressure n. 压力，麻烦
extent n. 程度
volunteer v. 自动提出，自愿
gratitude n. 感激
Press n. 新闻界
object v. 不赞成，反对

参考译文 

公共汽车司机决定下星期罢工。罢工定于星期二开始，谁也不知道会持续多久。司机们声称此次罢工将一直持续到就工资和工作条件问题达成全面协议的时候为止。多数人认为此次罢工至少会持续一个星期。很多私人汽车的车主正准备为乘车上班的人们提供“免费乘车”的服务，这将在某种程度上减轻对火车的压力。与此同时，有一部分大学生自愿在罢工期间驾驶公共汽车。所有的学生都是开车的能手，但在驾驶公共汽车之前，他们必须通过一项专门测验。学生们准备在两天后就接受测验。即使这样，人们仍会感到上班有困难。但到目前为止，公众已经向新闻界写信表达他们对学生们的感激之情了。只有一两个人提出反对意见，说学生们会把车开得太快！

 

　　自学导读
课文详注 Further notes on the text
1．go on strike，罢工。
on strike表示“在罢工”：
The workers are on strike.
工人们在罢工。
It is not clear yet when the teachers on strike will return to their classrooms.
目前还不清楚罢课的教师何时会回到教室去。
Must we go on strike?
我们必须罢工吗？
2．The strike is due to begin on Tuesday. 罢工定于星期二开始。
due表示“预定的”、“约定的”，后面可以跟带to的不定式，也可以不跟。它后面通常有确定的时间状语：
The plane is due（to arrive）in London at  9 o'clock.
飞机预定9点抵达伦敦。
The performance is due to begin at 7 o'clock in the evening.
演出定于晚上7点开始。
due to后面若是名词，则它表示“由于”、“因为”（通常用于系动词be之后）：
Our delay⁶ was due to the heavy traffic.
我们被耽搁了是因为交通拥挤。
3．…the strike will continue until general agreement is reached about pay and working conditions.……此次罢工将一直持续到就工资和工作条件问题达成全面协议的时候为止。
在until引导的时间状语从句中，主语agreement的定语about pay and working conditions被谓语隔开了。因为谓语很短，如果定语紧跟agreement，则句子读起来会头重脚轻。这种修饰语与被修饰语隔开的情况通常在不会引起误解时使用。如He looked at the girl with large blue eyes这句话就容易引起误解，with large blue eyes既可修饰he也可修饰the girl。
4．to some extent，在某种程度上。
也可以用to a certain extent：
The weather has helped me to some/a certain extent.
天气在某种程度上帮了我的忙。
5．press，新闻界，报界；记者们（集合名词，后面动词用单数或复数均可）。
Ian is a member of the press.
伊恩是位新闻界人士。
The press is/are waiting to see the president．
记者们在等着见总统。
6．Only one or two people have objected that the students will drive too fast!只有一两个人提出反对意见，说学生们会把车开得太快！
object作动词时后面可以跟从句，表示“提出异议”、“反对”；它后面也可以跟介词to+名词/动名词，表示“反对”、“不喜欢”、“不赞成：
They objected that the book was too difficult for them.
他们提出异议，说这本书对他们来说太难了。
A lot of people object to smoking⁷ in public places.
许多人不赞成在公共场所吸烟。
Do you object to my sitting beside you?
你反对我坐在你旁边吗？

　　词汇学习 Word study
1．it作先行宾语
it除了可以作虚主语（如It's 9 o'clock）外，还可以作先行主语（如It's a pleasure to be here），或用于分裂句（即强调句）中，如It was George who phoned Jack⁸ last night（是乔治昨晚给杰克打了电话）。另外，在主语+动词+宾语+宾语补足语这个句型中，常用it作先行宾语，真正的宾语为后面的动词不定式或从句：
People are going to find it difficult to get to work.
人们会感到上班有困难。（to get to work为find的真正宾语）
除find外，常用于这种结构的动词还有think，consider，feel，make，keep等：
He thought it easy to get the tickets.
他以为搞到票很容易。
They consider it impossible to finish the work in three days.
他们认为这项工作不可能在3天之内完成。
She felt it wrong that they should leave the patient alone in the hospital.
她觉得他们把病人独自留在医院是不对的。
She felt it right for them to arrest the thief.
她认为他们逮捕小偷是对的。（for them是后面不定式的逻辑主语）
2．relieve vt.
（1）缓解，减轻：
This will relieve pressure on the trains to some extent.
这将在某种程度上减轻对火车的压力。
This medicine has relieved⁹ my toothache.
这药减轻了我的牙疼。
（2）使……宽心/宽慰，松一口气：
He was much relieved to hear that the operation had been successful.
听说手术成功，他大大地松了一口气。
The news relieved the whole family.
这消息使全家人放了心。
3．volunteer
（1）vt. , vi.自愿，自动提出，自愿提供：
Some college students have volunteered to drive buses while the strike lasts.
一些大学生自愿在罢工期间驾驶公共汽车。
After the fire, many people volunteered their services.
大火之后，许多人自愿提供服务。
Frank¹⁰ has volunteered for the army.
弗兰克自愿参军。
（2）n. 自愿参加者，志愿者：
The road was built by volunteers.
这条路是由志愿者筑成的。
Are there any volunteers for a try?
有自愿试一试的人吗？

练习答案 Key to written exercises
1．关键句型练习答案
A What will happen: will last (1.2) ; will continue until…is reached (11.3-4) ; will last (1.5); are going to offer (1.6);will relieve (1.7); will have to pass (1.10); are going to take (1.10); are going to find (11.10-11); will drive (1.12)
2．难点练习答案
1 He thought it safe to cross the road.
2 He finds it unnecessary¹¹ to practise for long.
3 You'll find it hard to find a job.
4 She thinks it important to speak clearly.
5 I thought it unwise for him to wait so long.
6 I considered it a good thing that she gave up smoking.
3．多项选择题答案
1c  2c  3a  4b  5d  6c
7c  8c  9d  10a  11c  12d

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 due   

n.应得物；adj.预定的，应付的，到期的，应有的

参考例句：

• I received nothing except what was due to me.除了我应得的东西，我并未接受任何东西。
• The rocket is due to lift off at noon on Friday.火箭定于星期五中午发射。

3 relieve   

v.缓解，减轻，解除(痛苦、忧虑、麻烦)

参考例句：

• We played games to relieve the tedium of the journey.我们玩游戏，来解除旅行的沉闷。
• The doctors did their best to relieve the patient.医生们尽力减轻病人的痛苦。

4 extent   

n.程度，范围，限度；广度，宽度，大小

参考例句：

• The new race track is nearly six miles in extent. 这条新跑道将近六英里长。
• What's the extent of the damage? 损坏的程度如何?

5 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

6 delay   

v./ n.拖延，延误，延迟，延期；耽搁

参考例句：

• The strike caused a great delay in the delivery of the mail.这次罢工严重地延误了邮件的投递。
• I couldn't judge whether the delay was good or bad.我不能断定这样延迟是好还是坏。

7 smoking   

n.吸烟，抽烟；冒烟

参考例句：

• He was wise to give up smoking.他戒烟是明智的。
• He has decided to cut out smoking and drinking.他已决心戒烟、戒酒。

8 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

9 relieved   

a.如释重负的

参考例句：

• You'll be relieved to know your jobs are safe. 现在知道你们的工作保住了，可以放心了。
• Your coming relieved me of the bother of writing a long letter. 你来了，省去我写长信的麻烦了。

10 frank   

adj.坦白的，直率的，真诚的

参考例句：

• A frank discussion can help to clear the air.坦率的谈论有助于消除隔阂。
• She is frank and outgoing.她很爽朗。

11 unnecessary   

adj.不必要的，无用的，无益的

参考例句：

• There's no sense in taking unnecessary risks.做不必要的冒险毫无意义。
• It's unnecessary to go into details.无须细说。