高铁及台铁列车
I. Context
Recently Taiwan HSR (Taiwan High Speed Rail) just tested its trains. Mr. Chang and Mr. Wang are talking about the differences between HSR and MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) as well as their impact on Taiwan Railway Administration and airlines.
II. Dialogue
Chang: Do you know the differences between HSR and MRT as well as the features of each of them?
Wang: No, I don’t. What are the differences and their features?
Chang: The main function of HSR is for long-distance conveyance, so there are fewer stops and the speed is very fast. The HSR train can go up to 300 km/h.
Wang: How about the MRT ?
Chang: The MRT serves as a metropolitan public transportation system, so its main objective is to quickly transport people between short distances.
Wang: MRT in Taipei is called Taipei
Rapid Transit System or
Metro Taipei. I feel very
comfortable in riding Metro Taipei
Chang: Of course you should! Its construction costs were amongst the highest in the world.
Wang: I was planning to take Taiwan HSR the other day, but when I saw many people waiting in lines, I didn’t want to wait, so I went back home.
Chang: The reason why a lot of people are taking the high speed train is that they love the novelty of it and the benefits of the half-priced tickets.
Wang: After the half price ticket promotion is over, the line will return to normal.
Chang: After the high speed train is completed, the west of Taiwan becomes a one-day life circle.
Wang: Yah! I’ll take the early high speed train to visit Taipei the day after tomorrow and take the last train home on the same day.
Chang: As for Taiwan Railway Administration, it must make some physical adjustments, or it will not be able to operate effectively.
Wang: Perhaps there will be a small impact on Taiwan Railway Administration, but it still has some advantages in urban areas.
Chang: I agree, but its historic burden has been too heavy, I think it is supposed to bring its advantages into thorough play.
Wang: I am sure it will survive. What is the impact on airlines?
Chang: I think airlines will adopt united transit to reduce any negative impacts.
Wang: I think they still have to lower their prices to avoid a decrease in passengers.
Chang: In this way, it is the passengers that can benefit the most.
Wang: I hope the owners of the three companies can push Taiwan’s transportation industry to the summit of prosperity under reasonable competition.
III. Vocabulary and Terminology
Taiwan HSR (Taiwan High Speed Rail) (n. Ph.)台湾高铁公司
Our government spent a lot of money helping Taiwan HSR to complete its construction.
我们的政府花了很多钱帮台湾高铁来完成它的建构。
MRT (n.)捷运
MRT has been successful in reducing traffic jams during rush hour in Taipei.
捷运已经成功减少台北尖峰时间的交通阻塞。
Taiwan Railway Administration (n. ph.)台湾铁路管理局
Taiwan Railway Administration was established in 1887.
台湾铁路管理局成立于1887年。
conveyance (n.)运送
This elevator is only used for the conveyance of patients who lie in bed.
这个电梯只被用来运送卧病在床的人。
public transportation (n. ph.)大众运输
This city has a very convenient public transportation system.
这个城市有非常方便的大众运输系统。
novelty (n.)新奇
Cars were still something of a novelty at the beginning of the 20th century.
汽车在20世纪开始时还是一种新奇的东西。
normal (n.)正常
The electricity supply returned to normal again after the blackout.
停电之后电力的供应又恢复正常。
physical (adj.)体质的
The company must make some physical changes, or it’ll lose a lot of money.
这个公司必须做一些体质的改变，否则它会损失很多钱。
burden (n.)负担
Having a family of eight people is a great burden to me.
养活八口之家对我来说是一个很大的负担。
bring…into thorough play (v. ph.)彻底的发挥
We bring our wisdom into thorough play to solve the touchy problem.
我们彻底的发挥我们的智慧来解决这个棘手的问题。
united transit (n. ph.)联合运输
All the airlines should adopt united transit to lower their prices.
所有的航空公司应该要采取联合运输来降低它们的价格。
summit (n.)巅峰
He is now at the summit of power.
他现在正在权力的巅峰。
IV. Sentence patterns
1. feel comfortable in …感到舒服
(1) I feel comfortable in listening to your singing.
听你唱歌我感到很舒服。
(2) He told me that he felt comfortable in working with me.
他告诉我和我工作他感到很舒服。
(3) Did you feel comfortable in living here?
你觉得住在这里舒服吗？
2. It is…that那是…
(1) It is Mary that deserves the praise.
那是玛莉值得这个赞赏。
(2) It is the baby that I took care of yesterday.
那是我昨天照顾的婴儿。
(3) It is in the evening that I saw him.
那是在傍晚时我看到他。
