【英语趣味课堂】路规-Road Regulations

Julia: OK, Nathan. So we're talking about driving and are there any rules or regulations that you'd like to change?

Nathan: You know what, Jules, that an interesting question. I'm not sure that I want to change rules but I'd like the police to be stricter on the rules. Like if people jump the traffic lights, I don't know why there isn't a camera at every set of traffic lights just to stop people from doing that, you know. Or like speeding. It's very, very easy to put speed cameras in places but people seem to think that it's OK like the speed limit is the minimum speed.

 

Julia: Maybe the car manufacturers should have some responsibility then in maybe limiting their engine. What's the point in producing an engine that's big enough and powerful enough that you can go like two hundred kilometres an hour when the speed limits are only...have you ever driven in Germany where they don't have speed limits?

 

Nathan: I've been to Germany and been a passenger in a car but not driven, no.

 

Julia: I've been a passenger on the autobahns. I really enjoyed it actually.

 

Nathan: Yeah. Is that because you're a speed demon¹ - adrenaline freak?

 

Julia: I like the freedom.

 

Nathan: Right.

 

Julia: And I think it takes away a lot of the road rage element.

 

Nathan: Right.

 

Julia: I think people do drive responsibly. Often people break laws simply because the laws are there, you know. If the law isn't there, people drive within their ability range so the autobahns they're, as far as I know, I think they have a high safety rate.

 

Nathan: Oh really?

 

Julia: Yeah, they have less accidents because when you've got speed limits this creates situations that actually present dangers on the road.

 

Nathan: Do those people then maybe I guess in Germany they maybe have better education about self responsibility when driving maybe?

 

Julia: Possibly. They also have very good cars, very safe cars.

 

Nathan: Right.

 

Julia: And you know if you've got like a Porsche or something that can go at that speed then it's so nice to be able to do that.

 

Nathan: Use it properly?

 

Julia: Yeah, and safely because you know there's not going to be somebody in that outside lane obeying the speed limit to the letter who's going to present a danger to you. You're free, you can go at the speed you want. If there's people that want to drive slow, they have a lane that they can drive more slowly in.

 

Nathan: Yeah.

 

Julia: So it kind of balances out. I think it's the restrictions² that create the danger sometimes, based on the autobahns.

 

Nathan: OK.

 

Julia: Obviously driving through a residential³ area or where there's a school you've got to have, but I think those things we have in the UK, those speed policemen.

 

Nathan: Speed bumps⁴.

 

Julia: Those speed bumps that force you to slow down, I think they're a good idea and perhaps the way to go.

 

Nathan: To go, so you don't think fining people is useful?

 

Julia: Not really, no, because that relies on the police time and the police don't have time to police every single driver all the time and do that.

 

重点词汇：

 

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

autobahn

 

I've been a passenger on the autobahns.

 

An autobahn is an expressway for cars in Germany where cars can drive really fast. Notice the following:

 

Like Germany, Switzerland and Austria have autobahns.

There is no speed limit on the autobahns, but there are few accidents.

adrenaline freak

 

 

Is that because you're an adrenaline freak?

 

Adrenaline is a chemical in your body you produce when stressed or excited. An adrenaline freak loves the feeling of adrenaline, so they love adventurous⁶ and dangerous activities. Notice the following:

 

People who like sky-diving are usually adrenaline freaks.

Young men tend to be more adrenaline freaks than old men.

speed demon

 

 

Is that because you're a speed demon?

 

A speed demon is someone who loves to ride or drive really fast. Notice the following:

 

He is a speed demon on his motorcycle.

Most combat⁷ pilots are speed demons⁸.

residential area

 

 

You should drive slow in a residential area.

 

A residential area is an area with lots of housing. Notice the following:

 

He lives in a quiet residential area.

I like that residential area because it is not far from the downtown area.

speed bumps

 

 

Those speed bumps force you to slow down.

 

A speed bump⁵ is a small bump on the road that makes cars drive slowly. Notice the following:

 

There are many speed bumps near the school.

The parking lot has speed bumps so drivers drive slowly.

1 demon   

n.魔鬼，恶魔

参考例句：

• The demon of greed ruined the miser's happiness.贪得无厌的恶习毁掉了那个守财奴的幸福。
• He has been possessed by the demon of disease for years.他多年来病魔缠身。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 residential   

adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的

参考例句：

• The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。
• The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。

4 bumps   

碰撞( bump的名词复数 )； 肿块； 轻微撞车事故； 隆起物

参考例句：

• I had goose bumps when we watched the fireworks. 我们看烟火的时候，我起鸡皮疙瘩。
• E was kind of zig-zagging across the pavement, and I bumps into 'im accidental-like. 他有点歪歪斜斜地在人行道上走，我一不小心撞到了他的怀里。 来自英汉文学

5 bump   

v.（against,into）碰，颠簸；n.碰撞，隆起物

参考例句：

• I heard a bump in the next room.我听到隔壁房间传来“砰”的一声。
• He got a bad bump on his forehead.他碰得前额隆起一个大包。

6 adventurous   

adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的　

参考例句：

• I was filled with envy at their adventurous lifestyle.我很羨慕他们敢于冒险的生活方式。
• He was predestined to lead an adventurous life.他注定要过冒险的生活。

7 combat   

n.战斗，斗争，格斗；vt.与...斗争，与...战斗

参考例句：

• The police are now using computers to help combat crime.警方现在使用电脑打击犯罪活动。
• A reporter interviewed the combat hero.记者访问了这位战斗英雄。

8 demons   

n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念

参考例句：

• demons torturing the sinners in Hell 地狱里折磨罪人的魔鬼
• He is plagued by demons which go back to his traumatic childhood. 他为心魔所困扰，那可追溯至他饱受创伤的童年。 来自《简明英汉词典》