世界节假日博览 第161期:骑车上班日

 　　Bike-to-Work Day is held every year across North America on the third Friday of May. It was started by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956. Its aim is to promote the bicycle as a serious choice of getting to and from work. In today's world where global warming is a serious issue, the bicycle is a perfect way of reducing our carbon footprint. Cycling to work is a healthy alternative to driving or taking public transport. A healthier society means there is not so much pressure on the country's health system. Of course, it depends how far you live from your place of work. Cycling is also much kinder on your pocket. Another benefit of cycling is feeling more creative and full of energy once you get to work, which will improve your performance.

　　北美地区每年都会在5月的第三个星期五举办骑车上班日。这一节日是由美国自行车联盟1956年设立的。其主要目标是提醒人们，单车出行是上下班的不错选择。在当今世界，全球变暖是一个严肃的课题，而骑自行车出行是减少我们碳足迹的最佳方式。骑车上班相比于开车或乘公交车更加健康。一个健全的社会意味着国家卫生医疗系统的轻压力。当然，骑车上班也取决于你居住地与工作地点的距离。骑自行车还更省钱。骑自行车的另一个好处是：当你开始工作时，会变得更具创造力，精力充沛，这会提升你的工作表现。

　　Bicycles are the most common form of transport in the world. There are about one billion worldwide. This makes it the most popular invention ever. When we think of some countries, like China, we imagine hundreds of people cycling everywhere. Even in high-tech¹ Japan, it is impossible not to see businessmen, farmers, mothers or workers in the streets on their bikes. Bicycles were invented in the 19th century and haven't changed much since. Bicycles now have gears², better brakes and suspension³, but the shape is the same as before. We use bicycles today for recreation, fitness⁴, policing, Olympic competition, mail delivery⁵ and lots more. Without the bicycle, much of the world might stop working!

　　单车出行是世界上最普通的交通方式，世界范围内大约有10亿辆自行车，这使得自行车成为有史以来最受欢迎的发明。当我们想到一些国家，如中国，我们可以想象到处都有很多人骑自行车。即使是在科技发达的日本，看到商人、农民、妈妈族或工人在街上骑自行车也是有可能的。自行车自19世纪被发明出来后就一直没有太多改变。自行车现在有齿轮、更好的刹车和悬架，但形状还和以前一样。现在，自行车用途很广，可用作：娱乐、健身、维持治安、奥林匹克项目、邮递等等。没有了自行车，世界上很多活动有可能停止运作。

　　1.carbon footprint 碳足迹

　　例句：Usually a carbon footprint is calculated⁶ for the time period of a year.

　　通常情况下，碳足迹是以一年为一个时间段进行计算的。

　　2.take public transport 乘坐公共交通

　　例句：It sounds simple, but leaving the car behind and taking public transport could save you more than you think.

　　或许听起来没什么，把“爱车”抛下，选择公共交通也会带给你意想不到的好处。

　　3.health system 卫生系统

　　例句：He said the system could work within the public health system with the correct technology and systems.

　　他说，利用合适的技术和系统，这个体系可以在公共卫生系统内部运行。

　　4.for recreation 娱乐

　　例句：But with nearly all their energy going to their jobs and their daughter, there's been no time for recreation.

　　但是，他们几乎把所有的精力都放在工作和照顾女儿上，没有任何娱乐时间。

1 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

2 gears   

n.齿轮( gear的名词复数 )；装备；挡；（做某事的）速度

参考例句：

• Careless use of the clutch may damage the gears. 离合器使用不慎可能会损坏传动装置。
• A car has five gears. 汽车有五挡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 suspension   

n.悬挂，悬浮液，暂缓，未决，中止

参考例句：

• The local authorities decided to build a suspension bridge over the river.地方当局决定在这条河上建一座吊桥。
• A four-day suspension was imposed on her.她被勒令停职4天。

4 fitness   

n.适合，适当，健康，健身

参考例句：

• They're doing exercises to improve their fitness.他们为增强体质而做体操。
• No one questions her fitness for the job.没人怀疑她能胜任这项工作。

5 delivery   

n.交付；投递；分娩；解救者；演讲的风格

参考例句：

• The strike caused a great delay in the delivery of the mail.这次罢工严重地延误了邮件的投递。
• He was employed at the local grocery store as a delivery boy.他受雇于当地杂货店当送货员。

6 calculated   

adj.蓄意的

参考例句：

• Cash income is calculated by subtracting total trading income from total receipts. 现金收入是从总收入中减去总贸易收入来计算的。
• I calculated that the trip would take two days. 我估计这段路程要走两天时间。