英语访谈对话 373 Train Ride

 　　Adrienne: I understand you recently rode a train from Milwaukee to Minneapolis. Was this the first time you ever rode a train?

　　Vivian: No, I have been on a train many times as a young person but recently in the past 3 or 4 years I have ridden a train again several times. There was a period of time in my life that I did not ride the train, and I thoroughly¹ enjoyed every minute of it.

　　Adrienne: How is it different riding the train now then it was back when you were younger?

　　Vivian: When I was younger they had a different set of train people. Back then, you weren't served meals at your seat. You had, if they had a dining car, if they had a dining car, you could go into the dining car and eat but some trains, especially on short distances, like when I lived in Jaffy, Missouri, it was halfway² between Memphis and St. Louis. Those were short routes³ and they did not have dining cars. On this trip that we just got back from yesterday, we had our, we were in the lower⁴ car because it's a handicap⁵ car. My sister is handicapped⁶, and they brought us a menu, and they brought us a full dinner, including salad and dessert and coffee or tea, whatever we would like to drink.

　　Adrienne: How was the food on the train? Was it better than plain food?

　　Vivian: Oh, much better. Much better. It was fixed⁷. The chef's did a fantastic job and I understand that it is cooked on the train. It may not be all cooked on the train but it certainly is prepared and the salads are prepared on the train so that you don't get these package food tastes.

　　Adrienne: That sounds fun though.

　　Vivian: Oh, it was great fun! We enjoyed every minute of it.

1 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

2 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

3 routes   

n.路( route的名词复数 )；（公共汽车和列车等的）常规路线；途径；渠道

参考例句：

• Drivers are advised to seek alternative routes. 驾车者被告知需另寻其他路线。
• The company plans to run trains on key intercity routes. 公司计划在主要城际路线上开通火车。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 lower   

adj.较低的；地位较低的，低等的；低年级的；下游的；vt.放下，降下，放低；减低

参考例句：

• Society is divided into upper,middle and lower classes.社会分为上层、中层和下层阶级。
• This price is his minimum;he refuses to lower it any further.这个价格是他开的最低价，他拒绝再作任何降价。

5 handicap   

n.障碍（身体或智力方面的），缺陷；vt.妨碍

参考例句：

• Losing our best player was a handicap to the team.失去最棒的运动员对我队不利。
• His physical handicap prevented him from standing.因为他身体残废，无法站立。

6 handicapped   

a.残疾的，有智力缺陷的

参考例句：

• a visually handicapped child 弱视儿童
• mentally and physically handicapped 身心俱残

7 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。