英语听力精选进阶版 13954

No time for Russian trains

Summary

28 September 2012

The Russian state railway company has had to postpone¹ selling tickets for all international services due² to depart³ after October the 28th. It's because nobody in the country yet knows whether the clocks will change to winter time at the end of next month. Last year Russia ended the bi-annual time change. This year it is considering returning to the summer time/winter time system. But no decision has yet been made.

Reporter:

Daniel Sandford

Report

Imagine trying to timetable cross-border train services without knowing just a month before, whether the clocks are going to change. That's the situation that RZhD, the Russian state railway company faces. 

The company runs trains to - among other places - Ukraine and Finland. Both of those countries will switch⁴ back to winter time on October the 28th. But Russia abandoned⁵ the bi-annual clock change last year, choosing to stay on summer time throughout⁶ the winter months. 

If that was certain to be true this year too, things would be easier for RZhD, and for the airlines for that matter. But still, with only a month to go, nobody knows whether Russia will switch to winter time on October the 28th or remain on permanent⁷ summer time. So RZhD has announced that it will be selling no tickets for international services after the end of October, until the government makes a decision one way or another.

1 postpone   

v.延期，推迟

参考例句：

• I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
• She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。

2 due   

n.应得物；adj.预定的，应付的，到期的，应有的

参考例句：

• I received nothing except what was due to me.除了我应得的东西，我并未接受任何东西。
• The rocket is due to lift off at noon on Friday.火箭定于星期五中午发射。

3 depart   

v.离开，启程

参考例句：

• The train will depart at 7:30 a.m.早七点半发车。
• Before you depart,let me give you a word of advice.在你走之前，我给你一句忠告。

4 switch   

n.开关，电闸，转换，软枝；vt.转变，切换，摆动，转换，使转轨；vi.转换，变换，摆动

参考例句：

• The switch on the wall was beyond the baby's reach.墙上的开关小孩子是够不到的。
• There's been a switch in our plans.我们的计划改变了。

5 abandoned   

adj.被抛弃的，废置的

参考例句：

• The baby had been abandoned by its mother. 这个婴儿被母亲遗弃了。
• The child was found abandoned but unharmed. 该弃儿被人们发现时安然无恙。

6 throughout   

adv.到处，自始至终；prep.遍及，贯穿

参考例句：

• These magazines are sold at bookstores throughout the country.这些杂志在全国各地书店均有发售。
• Guilin is known throughout the world for its scenery.桂林以山水著称于世。

7 permanent   

adj.永久的，不变的，固定的

参考例句：

• The coat gives permanent protection against heavy rain.这种防雨衣经久耐用。
• It's difficult to find a permanent cure for this disease.这病很难除根。