In modern societies, cars have become indispensable for most people. They are needed for commuting to work, for shopping, and for leisure purposes. However, this widespread use also poses many traffic-related problems. For example, since the roads are congested most of the day, the meaning of "rush hour" is fast disappearing. A lot of drivers complain that the police are more interested in collecting money from law-breaking commuters than in facilitating the traffic flow. In addition, as more and more demand pressure is put on gasoline supplies, and as more taxes are added by the government to regulate usage, prices are rising dramatically.
Worldwide, the automobile is probably the number-one contributor to air pollution, and policies designed to protect the environment are expensive. So far, mass transportation systems such as subways and buses—and electric or other alternatives to internal combustion engines—have proved inadequate for solving the needs of conveniently moving large numbers of people from place to place.
Adjectives
- Indispensable: Absolutely necessary or essential; something you cannot do without.
- Widespread: Existing or happening over a large area or among many people.
- Traffic-related: Connected to or associated with vehicles moving on roads.
- Congested: So crowded with traffic or people that movement is slowed or difficult. (From the verb to congest).
- Law-breaking: The act of disobeying or violating the law. (A compound adjective formed from the noun "law" and verb "break").
- Dramatically: In a way that is sudden, very noticeable, and often large in effect.
- Number-one: The most important; the biggest or chief. (Informal).
- Mass (transportation): Designed to carry or serve a very large number of people.
- Inadequate: Not good enough in quality or ability; insufficient for the purpose.
- Electric: Using, providing, or producing electricity. (e.g., an electric car).
- Internal combustion (engine): An engine that generates power by burning fuel (like gasoline) inside the engine itself, rather than externally.
Nouns & Noun Phrases
- Societies: Communities of people living together in a more or less ordered community.
- Commuting: The activity of traveling some distance between one's home and place of work on a regular basis.
- Leisure purposes: Activities done for enjoyment or relaxation during free time.
- Rush hour: The times at the beginning and end of the working day when traffic is at its heaviest.
- Traffic flow: The smooth and efficient movement of vehicles along roads and streets.
- Demand pressure: The economic force that occurs when the desire for a product (demand) is high, which can push prices up.
- Gasoline supplies: The amount of gasoline (petrol) that is available to be used or sold.
- Taxes: Mandatory financial charges levied by a government on individuals or businesses to fund public spending.
- Usage: The act of using something; the way in which something is used.
- Automobile: A road vehicle, typically with four wheels, powered by an internal combustion engine and able to carry a small number of people; a car.
- Contributor: Something that plays a part in bringing about a result or helping something to advance.
- Air pollution: The presence of harmful or poisonous substances in the air.
- Policies: A course or principle of action adopted or proposed by an organization or individual (here, by a government).
- Environment: The natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area, especially as affected by human activity.
- Alternatives: Another option or choice that is available instead of something else.
- Subways: An underground electric railroad. (British English: the underground or the tube).
Verbs & Verb Phrases
- Poses (problems): To present, create, or cause (a problem, danger, or difficulty).
- Facilitating: To make an action or process easy or easier.
- Regulate: To control or maintain the rate or speed of something so that it operates properly. (Here, the government uses taxes to control how much people use their cars).
- Designed (to protect): Intended or planned for a specific purpose.
- Proved (inadequate): To be shown or found to be something, especially over time.
Compound and Key Phrases
- Collecting money: Here, it refers to the police issuing fines (financial penalties) for traffic violations.
- Moving large numbers of people: Transporting many individuals from one
在现代社会，汽车已成为大多数人不可或缺的交通工具。无论是通勤上班、购物还是休闲娱乐，人们都离不开汽车。然而，汽车的广泛使用也引发了许多交通相关问题。例如，由于道路几乎全天候拥堵，"高峰时段"的概念正在迅速消失。许多司机抱怨，交警更热衷于对违规通勤者罚款，而非疏导交通流量。此外，随着汽油供应面临的需求压力持续增大，加上政府为调控使用而增加税收，油价正在急剧上涨。
在全球范围内，汽车可能是空气污染的首要元凶，而旨在保护环境的政策成本高昂。迄今为止，地铁和公交车等大众交通系统，以及电力驱动或其他替代内燃机的方案，仍未能有效满足人们便捷出行的需求。
