新西兰英语 117 ACC in financial trouble

　　The Head of the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) was fired from his job on Monday because the ACC was in debt. The costs are more than the income.
Our ACC means that we cannot sue anyone who causes an accident. This is different from countries like the United States. In return for this, ACC pays the costs for doctors, physio-therapists and other health workers when people have an accident. This is to help people get back to work as soon as possible. Serious accidents cost ACC a great deal. There is the cost of long-term hospital care, perhaps a wheel chair and the cost of making changes to a home for someone in a wheelchair.
We all pay for this cost in our car registration¹ fee and through our work. Some of our pay goes to ACC. A little money comes from petrol tax. The Minister of ACC, Nick Smith, would like to increase the petrol tax so that people who use more petrol pay more towards ACC. If you drive more, you have a greater chance of an accident.
Perhaps New Zealand’s ACC means that we take more risks than people in other countries. Many New Zealanders are involved in all kinds of sport, from traditional sports such as rugby, soccer, cycling, skiing, netball, cricket, and tennis to adventure sports like rafting, surfing, rock climbing, hang gliding² and many other activities. Sometimes there are minor³ accidents like sprained⁴ ankles.
Sometimes accidents are more serious. ACC pays the costs of health care in all these cases.

1 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

2 gliding   

v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的

参考例句：

• Swans went gliding past. 天鹅滑行而过。
• The weather forecast has put a question mark against the chance of doing any gliding tomorrow. 天气预报对明天是否能举行滑翔表示怀疑。

3 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

4 sprained   

v.&n. 扭伤

参考例句：

• I stumbled and sprained my ankle. 我摔了一跤，把脚脖子扭了。
• When Mary sprained her ankles, John carried her piggyback to the doctors. 玛丽扭伤了足踝，约翰驮她去看医生。