八、The Advantages and Disadvantages of Cars

　　The use of the motor is becoming more and more widespread in the twentieth century; as an increasing number of countries develop both technically and economically, so a larger proportion of the world's population is able to buy and use a car. Possessing a car gives a much greater degree of mobility, enabling the driver to move around freely. The owner of a car is no longer forced to rely on public transport and is, therefore, not compelled to work locally. He can choose from different jobs and probably changes his work more frequently as he is not restricted to a choice within a small radius. Traveling to work by car is also more comfortable than having to use public transport; the driver can adjust the heating in winter and the air-conditioning in the summer to suit his own needs and preference. There is no irritation caused by waiting for trains, buses or underground trains, standing in long patient queues, or sitting on windy platforms, for as long as half an hour sometimes. With the building of good, fast motorways long distances can be covered rapidly and pleasantly. For the first time in this century also, many people are now able to enjoy their leisure time to the full by making trips to the country or seaside at the weekends, instead of being confined to their immediate neighborhood. This feeling of independence, and the freedom to go where you please, is perhaps the greatest advantage of the car.

　　when considering the drawbacks, perhaps pollution is of prime importance. As more and more cars are produced and used, so the emission from their exhaust-pipes contains an ever larger volume of poisonous gas. Some of the contents of this gas, such as lead, not only pollute the atmosphere but cause actual harm to the health of people. Many of the minor illnesses of modern industrial society, headaches, tiredness, and stomach upsets are thought to arise from breathing polluted air; doctors'surgeries are full of people suffering from illnesses caused by pollution. It is also becoming increasingly difficult to deal with the problem of traffic in towns; most of the important cities of the world suffer form traffic jams.

　　In fact, any advantage gained in comfort is often cancelled out in city driving by the frustration caused by traffic jams: endless queues of cars crawling one after another at the intersections. As an increasing number of traffic regulation schemes are devised, the poor bewildered driver finds himself diverted and forced into one-way systems which cause even greater delays than the traffic jams they are supposed to prevent. The mounting cost of petrol and the increased tolls and road tax all add to the driver''s worries. In fact, he must sometimes wonder if the motor car is such a blessing and not just a menace.

　　mobility n. 1.流動(dòng)性，移動(dòng)性 2.機(jī)動(dòng)性

　　mobilize vt. 1.動(dòng)員 2.調(diào)動(dòng) vi.動(dòng)員起來

　　[聯(lián)想詞]

　　summon vi. 1.召喚 2. （up）鼓起勇氣 3.召開，召集

　　irritate vt. 1.使惱怒，使煩躁 2.使（身體某部分）不適，使疼痛

　　radius n. 半徑

　　air-conditioning n. 空調(diào)設(shè)備，空調(diào)系統(tǒng)

　　drawback n. 缺點(diǎn)，欠缺，不利條件

　　[聯(lián)想詞]

　　setback n. 挫折，倒退，失敗

　　handicap n. 1.缺陷 2.障礙 vt. （handicapped；handicapping） 妨礙，使不利

　　productive a. 1.多產(chǎn)的，富饒的 2.富有成效的

　　productivity n. 生產(chǎn)力，生產(chǎn)率

　　surgery n. 1.外科，外科手術(shù) 2.手術(shù)室

　　surgeon n. 外科醫(yī)生

　　[聯(lián)想詞]

　　dentist n.牙科醫(yī)生

　　ward n.病房

　　bandage n.繃帶 vt.用繃帶包扎

　　intersection n.道路交叉口，交點(diǎn)

　　[聯(lián)想詞]

　　junction n.聯(lián)結(jié)點(diǎn)，交叉口，樞紐

　　overpass n.天橋，立交橋

　　barricade n. 路 vt.在……設(shè)路障

　　bewilder vt. 使迷惑，難住

　　[聯(lián)想詞]

　　perplex vt. 使困惑，使復(fù)雜化

　　baffle vt. 使困惑，難住

　　toll n. 1.過路費(fèi) 2.（事故等的）傷亡人數(shù)，損失 v.（緩慢而有規(guī)律的）敲（鐘）

　　divert vt. 1.使轉(zhuǎn)向，使改道 2.轉(zhuǎn)移，轉(zhuǎn)移……的注意力 3.使娛樂

　　diversion n. 1.轉(zhuǎn)移，轉(zhuǎn)向 2.消遣，娛樂 3.臨時(shí)繞行路

　　bless v. 1.使有幸得到，使具有 2.為……祈神賜福

　　blessing n. 1.祈神賜福 2.幸事，恩惠

　　menace n. 1.具有危險(xiǎn)的人 2.威脅，威嚇 vt. 威脅，威嚇

　　[聯(lián)想詞]

　　intimidate vt. 恐嚇，威脅

　　bully vt.欺負(fù)，威嚇 n.恃強(qiáng)欺弱者

　　jeopardize vt. 危及，損害

　　terrify vt. 使害怕，使驚嚇

　　terrific a. 1.可怕的，嚇人的 2.極度的，極大的