Unit 10 Ode to Public Transport

　　The Importance of Public Transportation

　�、� A US Congressman once proclaimed that, "(1)There can be no doubt that the transportation sector is the most critical sector of our economy." I know exactly what he means.(承上啟下句)In this day and age, access to transportation is considered a necessity.

　�、� Public transportation is defined as a service that is available for use by the general public. It is a cheaper and environmentally friendly alternative. It is not a transportation service that you can arrange privately to suit your own personal convenience (although you may, to a certain extent, such as paying for a cabin or suite on a train or ship) since you have to consider other passengers who are riding and making similar arrangements with you.

　　③ (2)I have experienced first-hand how important public transportation is.

　�、� I live in Saipan, a US territory and the closest things we have to public transportation are tourist and school buses. You have to have your own car or bike, rent a car, or pay upfront for a taxi to go from point A to point B. Otherwise you end up basked in sweat and sunburn traveling to work every day. When I first came here, I walked. I walked going to and from work. I walked to the store and lugged my heavy groceries back to the house. I walked to church and I barely got to go to places farther than a twenty-mile radius from my house since I did not own a car then, and (3)I considered renting a car and riding a taxi such an expense for a starting single mother like I was at that time.

　　本部分重點(diǎn)及難點(diǎn)：

　　1. "There can be no doubt that the transportation sector is the most critical sector of our economy."

　　毫無疑問，交通是我們經(jīng)濟(jì)體系最至關(guān)重要的領(lǐng)域。

　　2. I have experienced first-hand how important public transportation is. 我親身體驗(yàn)過公共交通的重要性。

　　3. I considered renting a car and riding a taxi such an expense for a starting single mother like I was at that time.

　　(1) consider doing sth.

　　consider…(to be) such an expense

　　(2) a starting single mother 剛剛起步的單親媽媽

　�、� For me, public transportation is very important because of the following reasons:

　　1. It saves money.

　　According to research done by the American Public Transportation Association(美國公交協(xié)會), individuals can save up to $9,515 annually by parking their cars at home and using public transportation instead. In this economy, saving money has become a main concern in most households. With the rising prices of fuel and other vehicle-related expenses, doing the public commute to work and school certainly saves money.

　　2. It helps the environment.

　　When you switch from driving your car to taking public transport, you are reducing your carbon footprint(碳足跡;碳排放量)and making a great step forward in saving the environment. The environmental costs of individuals using their cars every day have done massive damage to the environment and if the majority or all individuals like you and me use public transport instead, think of what good we could do for the environment.

　　3. It will wean us out of energy dependence.

　　According to a paper made by Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue and Dr. Claude Comtois, transportation accounts for approximately 25% of world energy demand and for more than 62% of all the oil used each year. Ninety-five percent of transportation is almost completely reliant upon petroleum products with the exception of railways using electrical power. (4)While the use of petroleum for other economic sectors, such as industrial and electricity generation, has remained relatively stable, the growth in oil demand is mainly attributed to the growth in transportation demand.

　　When we strengthen our public transportation services, we are consequently lessening this oil demand and dependence. It will also motivate us to consider alternative energy and fuel resources.

　　本部分重點(diǎn)及難點(diǎn)：

　　4. While the use of petroleum for other economic sectors, such as industrial and electricity generation, has remained relatively stable, the growth in oil demand is mainly attributed to the growth in transportation demand.

　　(1) industry

　　No one doubted his ability, his industry or his integrity. 沒有人懷疑他的能力、勤奮和正直。

　　區(qū)分：industrious / industiral

　　(2) attribute…to… 歸因于，歸功于

　　American parents always attribute their children's success to natural talent and hard work.

　　注意區(qū)分：owe…to…

　　contribute …to…

　　4. It provides ease and convenience.

　　Having public transportation definitely eases some of the burdens of people who do not have cars or prefer not to own one. They are provided with choices to use public transport. (5)Public transportation also provides valuable services not just to local inhabitants in the area but to tourists as well. When a tourist visits a place, which does not have public transportation, their choices are limited and the experience they get is limited, too.

　　請認(rèn)真答題，答題結(jié)果將記入知識點(diǎn)測評的成績!

　　【單選題】21. We ______ Moonlight Sonata(月光奏鳴曲)to Beethoven.

　　· A. distribute

　　· B. tribute

　　· C. contribute

　　· D. attribute

　　【答案】D

　　【解析】本題考查attribute / contribute…to…。attribute…to…相當(dāng)于owe…to…意為"歸功于，歸因于"，contribute…to…意為"捐款，投稿"。本句的意思是"我們把月光奏鳴曲歸功于貝多芬。"

　　【知識點(diǎn)】attribute / contribute…to…

　　⑥ All in all, public transportation improves our way of life, strengthens the community, provides new jobs for the public and gives us a cleaner environment.

　　本部分重點(diǎn)及難點(diǎn)：

　　5. Public transportation also provides valuable services not just to local inhabitants in the area but to tourists as well.

　　not just / only…but …as well相當(dāng)于not only…but also…