英语听力精选进阶版 13774

Beijing cleans up its toilets

Summary

24 May 2012

Beijing city government has decreed that no public toilet should have more than two flies flying around at any one time. This is just one of a series of new rules set by the authorities to improve the city's public toilets.

Reporter:

Michael Bristow

Report

Six city departments have put their heads together to come up with the new rules. They cover cleaning, the use of equipment and training for attendants. 

No public toilet should have more than two flies buzzing around - although the regulations don't state how that's to be checked. There's also an ordinance¹ covering what's confusingly referred to as "discarded items". There should be no more than two of these left in any public convenience. 

The new standards also detail how smelly a lavatory² should be. Most people who've paid a visit to a Beijing public toilet, know at the moment they're very pungent³ indeed. 

Of course, there is a serious side to these new regulations. Many people who live in the city's old neighbourhoods still don't have their own toilet and have no choice but to use public conveniences. For them, these rules might make an unavoidable daily necessity, a touch more palatable⁴.

1 ordinance   

n.法令；条令；条例

参考例句：

• The Ordinance of 1785 provided the first land grants for educational purposes.1785年法案为教育目的提供了第一批土地。
• The city passed an ordinance compelling all outdoor lighting to be switched off at 9.00 PM.该市通过一条法令强令晚上九点关闭一切室外照明。

2 lavatory   

n.盥洗室，厕所

参考例句：

• Is there any lavatory in this building?这座楼里有厕所吗？
• The use of the lavatory has been suspended during take-off.在飞机起飞期间，盥洗室暂停使用。

3 pungent   

adj.（气味、味道）刺激性的，辛辣的；尖锐的

参考例句：

• The article is written in a pungent style.文章写得泼辣。
• Its pungent smell can choke terrorists and force them out of their hideouts.它的刺激性气味会令恐怖分子窒息，迫使他们从藏身地点逃脱出来。

4 palatable   

adj.可口的，美味的；惬意的

参考例句：

• The truth is not always very palatable.事实真相并非尽如人意。
• This wine is palatable and not very expensive.这种酒味道不错，价钱也不算贵。