新西兰英语 457 Christchurch City without Insurance

 　　Christchurch City Council¹ has been unable to buy any insurance because of the risks of more earthquakes. From today, if there is another big earthquake which causes damage to underground pipes, there will be no insurance to repair them. The city has the same problem with facilities like libraries, swimming pools, sports grounds and city council offices. If they are damaged again, there is no insurance to pay for the repairs.

　　Who will pay? Probably the city will have to increase rates to pay for these things. Already Christchurch City Council has added an extra 1.7% to rates for the next five years to help pay for the earthquake recovery². However, the Minister of Finance³, Bill English said that the government would also help and that means the New Zealand tax payers.

　　Insurance problems might also affect home owners in Christchurch. It is likely that insurance premiums⁴ will become very expensive. It is even possible that insurance companies will not want to insure⁵ Christchurch houses any more.

　　Question

　　The whole of New Zealand is at risk of earthquakes. Is it fair to make Christchurch people pay higher premiums?

1 council   

n.理事会，委员会，议事机构

参考例句：

• The town council passed a law forbidding the distribution of handbills.市议会通过法律，禁止散发传单。
• The city council has declared for improving the public bus system.市议会宣布同意改进公共汽车系统。

2 recovery   

n.恢复，痊愈；追回，寻回，收复

参考例句：

• The doctors said that his recovery was a miracle. 医生们说他的复原是件奇事。
• The quick recovery was truly in response to medication.这次迅速康复确实是对药物治疗的反应。

3 finance   

n.财务管理，财政，金融，财源，资金

参考例句：

• She is an expert in finance.她是一名财政专家。
• A finance house made a bid to buy up the entire company.一家信贷公司出价买下了整个公司。

4 premiums   

n.费用( premium的名词复数 )；保险费；额外费用；（商品定价、贷款利息等以外的）加价

参考例句：

• He paid premiums on his life insurance last year. 他去年付了人寿保险费。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Moves are afoot to increase car insurance premiums. 现正在酝酿提高汽车的保险费。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 insure   

v.保险，给…保险；保证使...得到

参考例句：

• Check your work to insure its accuracy.检查一下你的工作，以保证它的准确性。
• An insurance company will insure your life.保险公司可以给你保寿险。