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Who's to blame? The trail of responsibility goes beyond poor maintenance of British railways, say industry critics. Stingy governments-both Labor and Tory-have cut down on investments in trains and rails.ln the mid-1990s a Conservative government pushed through the sale of the entire subsidy-guzzling rail network. Operating franchises were parceled out among private comparues and a separate firm,Railtrack, was awarded ownership of the tracks and stations. In the future, the theory ran back then, the private sector could pay for any improvements-with a little help from the state-and take the blame for any failings.
Today surveys show that travelers believe privatization is one of the reasons for the railways 's failures. They ask whether the pursuit of profits is compatible with guaranteeing safety. Worse, splitting the network between companies has made coordination nearly impossible. "The railway was tom apart at privatization and the structure that was put in place was. . . designed, if we are honest, to maximize the proceeds to the Treasury," said Railtrack boss Gerald Corbett before resigning last month in the wake of the Hatfield crash.
Generally, the contrasts with mainland Europe are stark. Over the past few decades the Germans, French and Italians have invested 50 percent more than the British in transportation infrastructure. As a result, a web of high-speed trains now crisscross the Continent, funded by governments willing to commit state funds to major capital projects. Spain is currently planning l,000 miles of new high- speed track.ln France superfast trains already shuttle between all major cities, often on dedicated lines. And in Britain? When the Eurostar trains that link Paris, London and Brussels emerge from the Channel Tunnel onto British soil and join the crowded local network, they must slow down from 186 mph to a maximum of 100 mph-and they usually have to go even slower.
For once, the government is listening. After all, commuters are voters, too. In a pre-vote spending spree, the govemment has committed itself to huge investment in transportation, as well as education and the public health service. Over the next 10 years, the railways should get an extra £60 billion, partly through higher subsidies to the private companies. As Blair ackoowledged last month, " Britain has been underinvested in and investment is central to Britain's future. " You don't have to tell the 3 million passengers who use the railways every day. Last week trains to Darlington were an hour late-and crawling at Locomotion No.l speeds.
51. In the first paragraph, the author tries to
[ A] trace the tragedy to its defective origin.
[ B] remind people of Britain's glonous past.
[ C] explain the failure of Britain's rail network.
[ D] call for impartiality in assessing the situation.
第1题:
A. cut off
B. cut up
C. cut away
D. cut down on
第2题:
第3题:
第4题:
第5题:
第6题:
Which of the following is not true of British iron and steel industry?()
第7题:
help poor people
develop new technology
expand its own business
increase the power of information
第8题:
she had not consulted the government before the visit
she was ill-informed of the government’s policy
they were actually opposed to banning landmines
they believed that she had misinterpreted the situation in Angola
第9题:
Tobacco is bad for people’s health but good for the national economy.
Tobacco has had a favourable economic impact in many countries in recent years.
Developed countries such as UK and the U.S. should transfer their technology in the tobacco industry to the developing countries.
Tobacco industry is bad for the economy for rich and poor countries alike.
第10题:
the starting air supply is cut off and fuel is injected into the cylinders
the fuel feeding is cut off and the turning gear is put in
the starting air supply is cut off and turning gear is taken out
the electric blower is shut down and fuel is injected into the cylinders
第11题:
The Liberal Party
The Conservative Party
The Labor Party
The Liberal Democratic Party
第12题:
people living in the country
non government officials
people with insurance
the poor and the old
第13题:
The author is most critical of_____.
[A] the media [B] doctors [C] U. S. Legislators [D] the British government
第14题:
第15题:
第16题:
第17题:
The government is spending()on railways.
Amillions of dollars
Bmillion of dollars
Cmillions of dollar
Dmillion dollars
第18题:
people living in the country
non-government officials
people with insurance
the poor and the old
第19题:
millions of dollars
million of dollars
millions of dollar
million dollars
第20题:
Increasing government’s handouts to the poor.
Government’s creation of more jobs.
Encouraging people to find jobs themselves.
Relying on government relief.
第21题:
第22题:
discipline
abdicate
bash
challenge
第23题:
Ways to cut down the cost of the coverage,
How to make the report more attractive.
To describe the work of the executive producer.
To introduce the style and features of the news programme.