Lesson 84 On strike

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!

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【Pronouncation】

1. least [li:st]

2. expert  ['ɛkspɝt] n.专家

【Words & Expression】

1. parade 游行

stampede [stæm'pɪːd]踩踏事件

Strike 罢工

be/go on strike; be/come/go out on strike:举行罢工

start a strike:开始罢工

call a strike:号召举行罢工

call off a strike:停止罢工

2. volunteer

(1) v. 自愿，自动提出

volunteer to do 自愿做…

volunteered for 自愿…

(2) n. 自愿参加者，志愿者：

3. express the gratitude 表达感谢

4. nip sth. in bud: stop sth. that is happenings

5. dissenter: someone who strongly disagrees with something

6. patriot [ 'pætrɪət ] n. person who loves his country 爱国者

patriotic  [peɪtri`ɑtɪk] adj. 爱国的

eg: A patriot recognizes his duty to defend his country.

He is very patriotic.

settle scores at an opportune moment 秋后算帐

【Good Sentence】

马丁.尼莫拉(Martin Niemoller)的德国新教牧师留下的发人深省的短诗，在美国波士顿的犹太人大屠杀纪念碑上：

In Germany, they first came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me, but by that time, there was no one left to speak up.

在德国，起初他们追杀共产主义者，我没有说话———因为我不是共产主义者；接着他们追杀犹太人，我没有说话———因为我不是犹太人；后来他们追杀工会成员，我没有说话———因为我不是工会成员；此后他们追杀天主教徒，我没有说话———因为我是新教教徒；最后他们奔我而来，却再也没有人站出来为我说话了。