英语听力：自然百科 印度铁路
时间：2019-01-22 作者：英语课 分类：自然百科2010年
英语课
At Victoria Terminus in Mumbai, India, it always seems to be rush hour. Everyday some 2 million passengers pass through this train station. Coming into Mumbai is often a very tense commute 1. But in this country of over a billion people, the best way to get from point A to B is by riding the rails.
In India, the railways are a legacy 2 of British rule. Since the first steam beast rolled down its track in 1853, the Indian railway system has expended 3 to cover over 38,000 miles of track. Many of the trains still carry stately names, like the Himalayan Queen and Grand Trunk Express which has travelled nearly the length of the country since 1929.
Major cities tend to fit about the India railways 4 billion passengers a year, but even rural villagers are really more than a day's walk on a station. With over 1.5 million people on staff, India’s railways are the world's largest employer. From the Indian railways minister, down to the key men who make sure every inch of tracks sturdy. The vast workforce 4 keeps this sprawling 5 system running.
The railway station is often a swirling 6 mix of people, parkers, porters and occasional performance artists fight for traveler’s attention and money. The railway is more than just a way to get around, it is a microcosm of India itself.
In the 3-tier berths 7 of second class, people from all over the country, from different classes and cultural backgrounds find a place to mix. They talk, play games, and tell stories. For travelers, no matter what their destination, the Indian railways are their own adventure.
vi.乘车上下班；vt.减(刑)；折合；n.上下班交通
- I spend much less time on my commute to work now.我现在工作的往返时间要节省好多。
- Most office workers commute from the suburbs.很多公司的职员都是从郊外来上班的。
n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西
- They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
- He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。
v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽
- She expended all her efforts on the care of home and children. 她把所有精力都花在料理家务和照顾孩子上。
- The enemy had expended all their ammunition. 敌人已耗尽所有的弹药。 来自《简明英汉词典》
n.劳动大军，劳动力
- A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
- A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。
adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）
- He was sprawling in an armchair in front of the TV. 他伸开手脚坐在电视机前的一张扶手椅上。
- a modern sprawling town 一座杂乱无序拓展的现代城镇
v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 )
- Snowflakes were swirling in the air. 天空飘洒着雪花。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- She smiled, swirling the wine in her glass. 她微笑着，旋动着杯子里的葡萄酒。 来自辞典例句