How can the train operators possibly justify yet another increase to rail passenger fares? It has become a grimly reliable annual ritual: every January the cost of travelling by train rises, imposing a significant extra burden on those who have no option but to use the rail network to get to work or otherwise. This year’s rise, an average of 2.7 per cent, may be a fraction lower than last year’s, but it is still well above the official Consumer Price Index (CPI) measure of inflation.
Successive governments have permitted such increases on the grounds that the cost of investing in and running the rail network should be borne by those who use it, rather than the general taxpayer. Why, the argument goes, should a car-driving pensioner from Lincolnshire have to subsidise the daily commute of a stockbroker from Surrey? Equally there is a sense that the travails of commuters in the South East, many of whom will face among the biggest rises, have received too much attention compared to those who must endure the relatively poor infrastructure of the Midlands and the North.
However, over the past12 months, those commuters have also experienced some of the worst rail strikes in years. It is all very well train operators trumpeting the improvements they are making to the network, but passengers should be able to expect a basic level of service for the substantial sums they are now paying to travel. The responsibility for the latest wave of strikes rests on the unions. However, there is a strong case that those who have been worst affected by industrial action should receive compensation for the disruption they have suffered.
The Government has pledged to change the law to introduce a minimum service requirement so that, even when strikes occur, services can continue to operate. This should form part of a wider package of measures to address the long-running problems on Britain’s railways. Yes, more investment is needed, but passengers will not be willing to pay more indefinitely if they must also endure cramped, unreliable services, punctuated by regular chaos when timetables are changed, or planned maintenance is managed incompetently. The threat of nationalisation may have been seen off for now, but it will return with a vengeance if the justified anger of passengers is not addressed in short order.
21.The author holds that this year’s increase in rail passengers fares?.
A.will ease train operation’s’ burden.
B.has kept pace with inflation.
C.is a big surprise to commuters.
D.remains an unreasonable measure.
22.The stockbroker in 2 is used to stand for?.
A.car drivers
B.rail travellers
C.local investors
D.ordinary taxpayers
23.It is indicated in 3 that train operators?.
A.are offering compensations to commuters.
B.are trying to repair relations with the unions.
C.have failed to provide an adequate service.
D.have suffered huge losses owing to the strikes.
24.If unable to calm down passengers, the railways may have to face?.
A.the loss of investment.
B.the collapse of operations.
C.a reduction of revenue
D.a change of ownership.
25.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A.Who Are to Blame for the Strikes?
B.Constant Complaining Doesn’t Work
C.Can Nationalization Bring Hope?
D.Ever-rising Fares Aren’t Sustainable
| 单词 | 词性 | 原型 | 中文释义 |
|---|---|---|---|
| grimly | 副词 | grim | 冷酷地，令人沮丧地 |
| ritual | 名词 | ritual | 仪式，惯例，例行公事 |
| imposing | 分词/形容词 | impose | 强加的，施加的 |
| burden | 名词 | burden | 负担，压力 |
| fraction | 名词 | fraction | 小部分，少量，分数 |
| pensioner | 名词 | pensioner | 退休人员 |
| inflation | 名词 | inflation | 通货膨胀 |
| successive | 形容词 | successive | 连续的，相继的 |
| permitted | 动词过去式/分词 | permit | 允许 |
| borne | 动词过去分词 | bear | 承担，忍受 |
| subsidise | 动词 | subsidise | 补贴，资助（英式拼写） |
| commute | 名词 | commute | 通勤，日常上下班的路程 |
| stockbroker | 名词 | stockbroker | 股票经纪人 |
| travails | 名词复数 | travail | 艰难困境，痛苦的经历 |
| endure | 动词 | endure | 忍受，承受 |
| infrastructure | 名词 | infrastructure | 基础设施 |
| commuter | 名词 | commuter | 通勤者 |
| trumpeting | 现在分词 | trumpet | 大肆宣扬，鼓吹 |
| strikes | 名词复数 | strike | 罢工 |
| compensation | 名词 | compensation | 补偿，赔偿 |
| disruption | 名词 | disruption | 混乱，中断 |
| investment | 名词 | investment | 投资 |
| indefinitely | 副词 | indefinite | 无限期地，无止境地 |
| cramped | 形容词 | cramp | 狭窄的，拥挤的 |
| punctuated | 过去分词 | punctuate | 被打断的，被点缀的 |
| vengeance | 名词 | vengeance | 报复，强烈的愤怒 |