练习材料：

L44-1: Speed and comfort

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 your 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.

任务配置：L0+L4

知识笔记：

compartment n.〔飞机、轮船或火车上的〕车厢，舱one of the separate areas into which a plane,ship or train is divided

cramped /kræmpt/ adj.狭小的，狭窄的a cramped room,building etc does not have enough space for the people in it

stuffy /'stʌfi/ adj.〔房间或建筑物〕通风不好，空气不新鲜的，闷热的a room or building that is stuffy does not have enough fresh air in it

take one's mind off sth.把某人的注意力从某事上移开/摆脱某事的困扰

partial adj.部分的，不完全 not complete

partial solution 部分解决方法

monotonous /mə'nɑtənəs/adj.单调的，乏味的boring because of always being the same

rhythm n.节奏 a regular repeated pattern of sounds or movements

lull /lʌl/使昏昏欲睡to make someone feel calm or as if they want to sleep

in snatches 断断续续地

sleeper＝a sleeping car 卧铺车厢

fumble v.胡乱摸找 to try to hold,move,find sth with your hands in an awkward way

inspection n.仔细检查 for inspection

inevitable adj.必然的，难以避免的 certain to happen and impossible to avoid

exhausted adj.精疲力尽的 extremely tired

motorway /'motəwez/n.高速公路

positively adv.绝对地，完全地

练习感悟：

Never leave the things until tomorrow you can do today.