托福听力短文 II-14-1
时间：2018-12-11 作者：英语课 分类：托福听力短文
英语课
(WB) I'm going to talk about a train that exemplifies the rise and fall of passenger trains in the United States: the Twentieth Century Limited. Let me go back just a bit. In 1893, a special train was established to take people from New York to an exposition in Chicago. It was so successful that regular service was then set up between these cities.
The inaugural 1 trip of the Twentieth Century Limited was made in 1902. The train was different from what anyone had ever seen before. It was pulled by a steam engine and had five cars: two sleepers 2, a dining car, an observation car, and a baggage car, which --- believe it or not --- contained a library. The 42 passengers the train could carry were waited on by a large staff. There were even secretaries and a barber on board.
It wasn't long before people had to wait two years to get a reservation. As time passed, technical improvements shortened the trip by a few hours. Perhaps the biggest technological 3 change occurred in 1945 --- the switch from steam to diesel 4 engines.
By the 1960's, people were traveling by car and airplane. Unfortunately, the great old train didn't survive until the end of the century it was named for.
The inaugural 1 trip of the Twentieth Century Limited was made in 1902. The train was different from what anyone had ever seen before. It was pulled by a steam engine and had five cars: two sleepers 2, a dining car, an observation car, and a baggage car, which --- believe it or not --- contained a library. The 42 passengers the train could carry were waited on by a large staff. There were even secretaries and a barber on board.
It wasn't long before people had to wait two years to get a reservation. As time passed, technical improvements shortened the trip by a few hours. Perhaps the biggest technological 3 change occurred in 1945 --- the switch from steam to diesel 4 engines.
By the 1960's, people were traveling by car and airplane. Unfortunately, the great old train didn't survive until the end of the century it was named for.
1 inaugural
adj.就职的；n.就职典礼
- We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
- Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。
2 sleepers
n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环
- He trod quietly so as not to disturb the sleepers. 他轻移脚步，以免吵醒睡着的人。 来自辞典例句
- The nurse was out, and we two sleepers were alone. 保姆出去了，只剩下我们两个瞌睡虫。 来自辞典例句
3 technological
adj.技术的；工艺的
- A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
- Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。