VOA慢速英语2020--加沙首位女出租车司机上岗

A mother of five children in Gaza is the Palestinian territory's first woman taxi driver.

Thirty-nine-year-old Naela Abu Jibba says she likes her job although some people make fun of her for doing it.

"I get lots of offensive¹ (social media) comments," she recently told Reuters news agency. "But the encouraging comments are far greater."

Abu Jibba says some of the negative comments target her driving abilities.

"Some say this is a job for men, others say we cause accidents, when the fact is, women are calmer and more careful drivers than men," she said.

Abu Jibba only takes women in her taxi. They must request service ahead of time. Many tell her they feel calmer being driven by her than men.

"When a woman exits a hair-dresser shop - going to a party dressed and wearing makeup² - she feels better riding with a woman," she said.

One rider, 28-year-old Sousan Abu Ateila, told Reuters she does "feel more comfortable."

Abu Jibba studied and got a degree in community service. But she decided³ to start her taxi business after failing to find work in her field.

She drives a white Kia vehicle and wears a top showing the name of her taxi service - Al-Mukhtara – which means chieftain in Arabic.

Abu Jibba says she hopes to expand her business once the COVID-19 pandemic passes. The health crisis⁴ has led to big reductions in travel and social activities in Gaza. The territory of two million people has reported more than 12,000 virus cases and at least 56 deaths.

Abu Jibba says she dreams of, one day, owning a whole Al-Mukhtara fleet.

Words in This Story

encourage – v. to make someone more hopeful and sure of themselves

negative – adj. harmful or bad, not wanted

comfortable –adj. producing a good feeling physically⁵

chieftain – n. chief, the head or leader of a group

fleet – n. a group of vehicles that work together and are controlled by one owner or company

1 offensive   

adj.令人不快的，侮辱的，攻击用的；n.进攻

参考例句：

• His mode of doing business is offensive to me.他干事情的方式叫我很不喜欢。
• If all else fails,I will take the offensive.如果其他方法不行，我将采取攻势。

2 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

3 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。

4 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

5 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。