新概念英语第二册Lesson 84 On strike
First listen and then answer the question.
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Who will be driving the buses next week?
Busmen have decided to go on strike next week. The strike is due to begin on Tuesday. No one knows how long it will last. The busmen have stated that the strike will continue until general agreement is reached about pay and working conditions. Most people believe that the strike will last for at least a week. Many owners of private cars are going to offer 'free rides' to people on their way to work. This will relieve pressure on the trains to some extent. Meanwhile, a number of university students have volunteered to drive buses while the strike lasts. All the students are expert drivers, but before they drive any of the buses, they will have to pass a special test. The students are going to take the test in two days' time. Even so, people are going to find it difficult to get to work. But so far, the public has expressed its gratitude to the students in letters to the Press. Only one or two people have objected that the students will drive too fast!
New words and expressions 生词和短语
strike n. 罢工
busman n. 公共汽车司机
state v. 正式提出，宣布
agreement n. 协议
relieve v. 减轻
pressure n. 压力，麻烦
extent n. 程度
volunteer v. 自动提出，自愿
gratitude n. 感激
Press n. 新闻界
object v. 不赞成，反对
参考译文
公共汽车司机决定下星期罢工。罢工定于星期二开始，谁也不知道会持续多久。司机们声称此次罢工将一直持续到就工资和工作条件问题达成全面协议的时候为止。多数人认为此次罢工至少会持续一个星期。很多私人汽车的车主正准备为乘车上班的人们提供“免费乘车”的服务，这将在某种程度上减轻对火车的压力。与此同时，有一部分大学生自愿在罢工期间驾驶公共汽车。所有的学生都是开车的能手，但在驾驶公共汽车之前，他们必须通过一项专门测验。学生们准备在两天后就接受测验。即使这样，人们仍会感到上班有困难。但到目前为止，公众已经向新闻界写信表达他们对学生们的感激之情了。只有一两个人提出反对意见，说学生们会把车开得太快！
自学导读
课文详注 Further notes on the text
1．go on strike，罢工。
on strike表示“在罢工”：
The workers are on strike.
工人们在罢工。
It is not clear yet when the teachers on strike will return to their classrooms.
目前还不清楚罢课的教师何时会回到教室去。
Must we go on strike?
我们必须罢工吗？
2．The strike is due to begin on Tuesday. 罢工定于星期二开始。
due表示“预定的”、“约定的”，后面可以跟带to的不定式，也可以不跟。它后面通常有确定的时间状语：
The plane is due（to arrive）in London at 9 o'clock.
飞机预定9点抵达伦敦。
The performance is due to begin at 7 o'clock in the evening.
演出定于晚上7点开始。
due to后面若是名词，则它表示“由于”、“因为”（通常用于系动词be之后）：
Our delay was due to the heavy traffic.
我们被耽搁了是因为交通拥挤。
3．…the strike will continue until general agreement is reached about pay and working conditions.……此次罢工将一直持续到就工资和工作条件问题达成全面协议的时候为止。
在until引导的时间状语从句中，主语agreement的定语about pay and working conditions被谓语隔开了。因为谓语很短，如果定语紧跟agreement，则句子读起来会头重脚轻。这种修饰语与被修饰语隔开的情况通常在不会引起误解时使用。如He looked at the girl with large blue eyes这句话就容易引起误解，with large blue eyes既可修饰he也可修饰the girl。
4．to some extent，在某种程度上。
也可以用to a certain extent：
The weather has helped me to some/a certain extent.
天气在某种程度上帮了我的忙。
5．press，新闻界，报界；记者们（集合名词，后面动词用单数或复数均可）。
Ian is a member of the press.
伊恩是位新闻界人士。
The press is/are waiting to see the president．
记者们在等着见总统。
6．Only one or two people have objected that the students will drive too fast!只有一两个人提出反对意见，说学生们会把车开得太快！
object作动词时后面可以跟从句，表示“提出异议”、“反对”；它后面也可以跟介词to+名词/动名词，表示“反对”、“不喜欢”、“不赞成：
They objected that the book was too difficult for them.
他们提出异议，说这本书对他们来说太难了。
A lot of people object to smoking in public places.
许多人不赞成在公共场所吸烟。
Do you object to my sitting beside you?
你反对我坐在你旁边吗？
词汇学习 Word study
1．it作先行宾语
it除了可以作虚主语（如It's 9 o'clock）外，还可以作先行主语（如It's a pleasure to be here），或用于分裂句（即强调句）中，如It was George who phoned Jack last night（是乔治昨晚给杰克打了电话）。另外，在主语+动词+宾语+宾语补足语这个句型中，常用it作先行宾语，真正的宾语为后面的动词不定式或从句：
People are going to find it difficult to get to work.
人们会感到上班有困难。（to get to work为find的真正宾语）
除find外，常用于这种结构的动词还有think，consider，feel，make，keep等：
He thought it easy to get the tickets.
他以为搞到票很容易。
They consider it impossible to finish the work in three days.
他们认为这项工作不可能在3天之内完成。
She felt it wrong that they should leave the patient alone in the hospital.
她觉得他们把病人独自留在医院是不对的。
She felt it right for them to arrest the thief.
她认为他们逮捕小偷是对的。（for them是后面不定式的逻辑主语）
2．relieve vt.
（1）缓解，减轻：
This will relieve pressure on the trains to some extent.
这将在某种程度上减轻对火车的压力。
This medicine has relieved my toothache.
这药减轻了我的牙疼。
（2）使……宽心/宽慰，松一口气：
He was much relieved to hear that the operation had been successful.
听说手术成功，他大大地松了一口气。
The news relieved the whole family.
这消息使全家人放了心。
3．volunteer
（1）vt. , vi.自愿，自动提出，自愿提供：
Some college students have volunteered to drive buses while the strike lasts.
一些大学生自愿在罢工期间驾驶公共汽车。
After the fire, many people volunteered their services.
大火之后，许多人自愿提供服务。
Frank has volunteered for the army.
弗兰克自愿参军。
（2）n. 自愿参加者，志愿者：
The road was built by volunteers.
这条路是由志愿者筑成的。
Are there any volunteers for a try?
有自愿试一试的人吗？
练习答案 Key to written exercises
1．关键句型练习答案
A What will happen: will last (1.2) ; will continue until…is reached (11.3-4) ; will last (1.5); are going to offer (1.6);will relieve (1.7); will have to pass (1.10); are going to take (1.10); are going to find (11.10-11); will drive (1.12)
2．难点练习答案
1 He thought it safe to cross the road.
2 He finds it unnecessary to practise for long.
3 You'll find it hard to find a job.
4 She thinks it important to speak clearly.
5 I thought it unwise for him to wait so long.
6 I considered it a good thing that she gave up smoking.
3．多项选择题答案
1c 2c 3a 4b 5d 6c
7c 8c 9d 10a 11c 12d
