新西兰英语 253 Young drivers

　　The government is planning to change some of the driving rules for young people. This could happen by the end by this month.
Some of the changes concern young drivers. The plan is to increase the driving age from 15 to 16. We are probably the only country in the world that lets 15-year olds drive and one reason for this is the needs of farming families. Children on farms are used to driving tractors¹ and farm trucks so it is easier for them to drive a car on the roads. Teenagers who live on farms also like to travel to play sport or to meet friends in the town during the weekends. It’s easier for parents to let their teenagers drive themselves.
On the other hand, young drivers in New Zealand cause most of the accidents. Many people believe that 16 is still too young to drive. There will be other changes as well which could help teenagers to drive more carefully. Drivers under 20 will not be allowed to drink alcohol² at all. Restricted³ licences⁴ will be for one year instead of six months and learner drivers will need to have 120 hours practice with a driving instructor⁵ instead of 25 or 30 hours.
The government is also looking at ways to stop young people from driving powerful cars.
Questions to think about
Do you think 15-year olds should be allowed to drive?
Do you think 16-year olds should be allowed to drive? What is the best age?

1 tractors   

拖拉机( tractor的名词复数 )； 牵引机； （牵引式挂车的）牵引车； 拖车头

参考例句：

• Ploughs are pulled by tractors, or in some countries by oxen. 犁由拖拉机牵引，在一些国家则用牛来拉。
• Nowadays tractors are used even in remote mountainous regions. 现在连偏僻的山区也用上了拖拉机。

2 alcohol   

n.酒精，乙醇；含酒精的饮料

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors.法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。
• The alcohol is industrial.这些酒精是供工业用的。

3 restricted   

adj.有限的；受约束的

参考例句：

• Speed is restricted to 30 mph in towns. 在城里车速不得超过每小时30英里。
• a restricted range of foods 有限的食物种类

4 licences   

n.许可( licence的名词复数 )；许可证；放纵；放荡

参考例句：

• Their licences have expired. 他们的执照已到期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• If any manufacturing licences are negotiated it will be his job to prepare the necessary documents. 如果有什么生产许可证谈成了，那准备必要的文件就是他的事。 来自企业管理英语口语（第二版）(1)

5 instructor   

n.指导者，教员，教练

参考例句：

• The college jumped him from instructor to full professor.大学突然把他从讲师提升为正教授。
• The skiing instructor was a tall,sunburnt man.滑雪教练是一个高高个子晒得黑黑的男子。