Lesson 44 Speed and comfort
Listen to the tape then answer the question below.Which type of transport does the writer prefer, do you think? People travelling long distances frequently have to decide whether they would prefer to go by land, sea, or air. Hardly anyone can positively enjoy sitting in a train for more than a few hours. Train compartments soon get cramped and stuffy. It is almost impossible to take your mind off the journey. Reading is only a partial solution, for the monotonous rhythm of the wheels clicking on the rails soon lulls you to sleep. During the day, sleep comes in snatches. At night, when you really wish to go to sleep, you rarely manage to do so. If you are lucky enough to get a sleeper, you spend half the night staring at the small blue light in the ceiling, or fumbling to find you ticket for inspection. Inevitably you arrive at your destination almost exhausted. Long car journeys are even less pleasant, for it is quite impossible even to read. On motorways you can, at least, travel fairly safely at high speeds, but more often than not, the greater part of the journey is spent on roads with few service stations and too much traffic. By comparison, ferry trips or cruises offer a great variety of civilized comforts. You can stretch your legs on the spacious decks, play games, meet interesting people and enjoy good food -- always assuming, of course, that the sea is calm. If it is not, and you are likely to get seasick, no form of transport could be worse. Even if you travel in ideal weather, sea journeys take a long time. Relatively few people are prepared to sacrifice holiday time for the pleasure of travlling by sea.
Aeroplanes have the reputation of being dangerous and even hardened travellers are intimidated by them. They also have the disadvantage of being an expensive form of transport. But nothing can match them for speed and comfort. Travelling at a height of 30,000 feet, far above the clouds, and at over 500 miles an hour is an exhilarating experience. You do not have to devise ways of taking your mind off the journey, for an aeroplane gets you to your destination rapidly. For a few hours, you settle back in a deep armchair to enjoy the flight. The real escapist can watch a film and sip champagne on some services. But even when such refinements are not available, there is plenty to keep you occupied. An aeroplane offers you an unusual and breathtaking view of the world. You soar effortlessly over high mountains and deep valleys. You really see the shape of the land. If the landscape is hidden from view, you can enjoy the extraordinary sight of unbroken cloud plains that stretch out for miles before you, while the sun shines brilliantly in a clear sky. The journey is so smooth that there is nothing to prevent you from reading or sleeping. However you decide to spend your time, one thing is certain: you will arrive at your destination fresh and uncrumpled. You will not have to spend the next few days recovering from a long and arduous journey.
New words and expressions生词和短语
positively [ˈpɑːzətɪvli] adv. 绝对地，完全地positive [ˈpɑːzətɪv] adj.积极乐观的;自信的;积极的;建设性的;朝着成功的;表示赞同的;拥护的 n.优势;优点;正片;阳性结果(或反应)posit 放，放置 + ive 形容词后缀 → 放在那 → 肯定的Thinking positively is one way of dealing with stress.compartment [kəmˈpɑːrtmənt] n. 列车客车厢内的分隔间（或单间）com强调 + part 分，局部 + ment 名词后缀On the way home we shared our first class compartment with a group of businessmen.cramped [kræmpt] adj. 窄小的cramp [kræmp] n.抽筋;痛性痉挛;(腹部)绞痛 vt.阻碍，阻止(发展或进步)(BrE) to get cramp in your leg(NAmE) to get a cramp in your legstuffy [ˈstʌfi] adj. 憋气的，闷气的monotonous [məˈnɑːtənəs] adj. 枯燥的，乏味的monotone [ˈmɑːnətoʊn] n.单调;单调的声音 adj.(声音或色彩)单调的 vt.单调地读mono 单个，一个 + ton 声音 + e → 只有一种声音 → 单调He spoke in a monotone drawl.It's monotonous work, like most factory jobs...rhythm [ˈrɪðəm] n. 有节奏的运动to dance to the rhythm of the musicThe vibration of the engine lulled the children to sleep .She managed to snatch the gun from his hand.She fumbled in her pocket for a handkerchief.inevitably [ɪnˈevɪtəbli] adv. 必然地，不可避免地motorway [ˈmoʊtərweɪ] n. 快车道fer 带来 + ry 场地，地点，工作处 → 把人从河一边带到另一边 → 渡口He offered to ferry us across the river in his boat.spacious [ˈspeɪʃəs] adj. 宽敞的space 空间 + i + ous 形容词后缀 → 宽敞的White walls can give a feeling of spaciousness.intimidate [ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt] v. 恐吓，恫吓in 强调，进入 + timid 害怕 + ate 动词后缀→ 使害怕 → 恐吓She refused to be intimidated by their threats.exhilarating [ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪŋ] adj. 使人高兴的，令人兴奋的exhilarate [ɪɡˈzɪləreɪt] vt.兴奋;使高兴;使激动ex 出 + hilar 高兴 + ate 使… → 使高兴Speed had always exhilarated him.escapist [ɪˈskeɪpɪst] n. 逍遥者to have/take a sip of waterchampagne [ʃæmˈpeɪn] n. 香槟洒refinement [rɪˈfaɪnmənt] n. 精心的安排refine [rɪˈfaɪn] vt.精炼;提纯;去除杂质;改进;改善;使精练This particular model has a further refinement.breathtaking [ˈbreθteɪkɪŋ] adj.激动人心的；不寻常的s(=ex) + o 连字符 + ar(=air)空气 → 向外升至空中 → 高飞
soaring costs/prices/temperatures crumple [ˈkrʌmpl] v.皱缩;压皱;(使)变皱，起皱;(指脸)沮丧地皱起，哭丧着;(因受伤、失去知觉、喝醉而)瘫倒参考译文
出远门的人常常需要决定是走旱路、水路，还是坐飞机。很少有人能够真正喜欢坐几个小时以上的火车。车厢很快就变得拥挤、闷热，想摆脱开旅途的困扰是很难的。看书只能解决部分问题。车轮与铁轨间单调的嘎喳声很快就会送你进入梦乡。白天是忽睡忽醒，到了夜晚，你真想睡了，却很难入睡。即使你走运弄到一个卧铺，夜间有一半时间你会盯着车顶那盏小蓝灯而睡不着觉；要不然就为查票摸索你的车票。一旦抵达目的地，你总是疲惫不堪。乘汽车作长途旅行则更加不舒服，因为连看书都几乎不可能。在公路上还好，你至少能以相当快的速度安全地向前行。但旅行的大部分时间都花在路上，而且只有很少的服务设施，交通也很拥挤。相比之下，坐船旅行或环游可以得到文明世界的各种享受。你可以在甲板上伸展四肢、做游戏，还能也很见到各种有趣的人，能享用各种美味佳肴——当然，这一切只有在大海风平浪静的情况下才有可能。如果大海肆虐起来，你就可能晕船，那种难受劲儿是任何一种别的旅行的方式都不会带来的。即使风平浪静，坐船旅行也要占用很长时间。没有多少人会为享受坐船旅行的乐趣而牺牲假期的时间。
飞机以危险而著称，连老资格的旅行者也怕飞机。飞机另一个缺点是昂贵。但就速度与舒适而言，飞机是无与伦比的。腾云驾雾，在30，000 英尺高空以500英里的时速旅行，这种经历令人心旷神怡。你不必想办法去摆脱旅途的困扰，因为飞机会迅速地把你送到目的地。几小时之内，你躺在扶手椅上，享受着旅途的欢乐。真正会享受的人还可以在某些航班上看一场电影和喝香槟。即使没有这些消遣条件，也总是有事可做。飞机上，你可以观察世界上非同寻常的奇妙的美景。你毫不费劲地飞越高山幽谷，你确能饱览大地的风貌。如果这种景色被遮住了，你可以观赏一下展现在你面前的、一望数英里的、连绵不断的云海，同时阳光灿烂，天空清澈明朗。旅途平稳，丝毫不妨碍你阅读或睡眠。不管你打算如何消磨时间，有件事是可以肯定的，即当你抵达目的地时，你感到精神焕发，毫无倦意，用不着因为漫长的旅途的辛苦而花几天时间休息来恢复精神。
Journey to the West（西游记）全108集
往期回顾
《新概念英语》第二册全集
Lesson 36 A chance in a million
Lesson 37 The Westhaven Express
Lesson 38 The first calender
Lesson 39 Nothing to worry about
Lesson 40 Who's who
Lesson 41 Illusions of Pastoral peace
Lesson 42 Modern cavemen