新西兰英语 127 Faster Broadband

　　Before the elections¹, the National Party promised to spend money on a fast broadband network if the Party was elected. Now the government has decided² to spend $1.5 billion to make this happen. They hope that private companies would spend another $1.5 billion to help. The government’s plan is to lay fibre optic cables³ to replace copper⁴ wires.
High speed broadband will happen gradually. First to get this will be schools, universities, hospitals and businesses. Later it will be homes but only in cities and towns. In 10 years time, about 75% of New Zealanders will have high speed internet.
Rural⁵ areas are more of a problem because of the cost of laying fibre optic cables where not many people live. Probably there will be some other form of technology for rural areas. The government has promised a separate $48 million for rural areas. Farming is our main industry so it is important that farmers keep up to date with technology.
We also have a number of IT companies which sell graphics⁶, computer games and other kinds of programs overseas. They need high speed broadband to send their work overseas. This is important for our economy and to keep Kiwis living and working in New Zealand.

1 elections   

n.选举，当选，推举( election的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Republicans got shellacked in the elections. 共和党在选举中一败涂地。
• He emerged victorious in the elections. 他在竞选中脱颖而出获得胜利。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 cables   

n.电报( cable的名词复数 )；电缆；（系船用的）缆绳；（船只、桥梁等上的）巨缆

参考例句：

• Use the crocodile clips to attach the cables to the battery. 用鳄鱼嘴夹把电缆接到蓄电池上。
• Please don't touch these metal cables inside a plastic sleeve. 请不要碰那些套着塑料管的金属电缆。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

5 rural   

adj.乡下的，田园的，乡村风味的

参考例句：

• He lived a rural life.他过着田园生活。
• We left the city for a rural home.我们离开城市，去农村安家。

6 graphics   

n.制图法，制图学；图形显示

参考例句：

• You've leveraged your graphics experience into the video area.你们把图形设计业务的经验运用到录像业务中去。
• Improved graphics took computer games into a new era.经改进的制图技术将电脑游戏带进了一个新时代。