China’s High-Speed Rail Network Unsafe and Unprofitable
中國高速鐵路網不安全且不賺錢
本則影音新聞出處：新唐人電視台英語新聞
http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/news_china/2011-03-21/china-s-high-speed-rail-network-unsafe-and-unprofitable.html
【新聞關鍵字】
１. Unprofitable: [ʌnˋprɑfɪtəb!] adj.無利益的
２. corrupt: [kəˋrʌpt] n.腐敗
３. in charge of: [ɪn] [tʃɑrdʒ] [ɑv] ph.照料
４. behind bars: ph.在監獄服刑
５. embezzle: v. [bɪˋhaɪnd] [bɑrz] 盜用;侵佔
６. plague: v. [pleg] 使苦惱;煩憂;折磨
７. shoddy: [ˋʃɑdɪ] adj.劣等的
８. cheaply: [ˋtʃiplɪ] adv.便宜地
９. agents: [ˋedʒənt] n. 作用劑
１０. wrap: v. [ræp] 彎曲
１１. debt-ratio: [dɛt ˋreʃo] n.負債比率
１２. stands at: [stænd] [æt] ph. (身高,溫度,得分等)是…
１３. dismal: [ˋdɪzm!] adj.陰暗的
China’s massive high-speed rail network is being called unsafe, unprofitable and corrupt.
中國龐大的高速鐵路網被稱為不安全的、不賺錢的、和貪污腐敗的。
The Chinese Railways Ministry Chief, Liu Zhijun was in charge of the construction of the railway, spanning almost 8,100 miles across China and reportedly costing $395 billion U.S. dollars.
中國鐵路部長劉志軍負責鐵路建造，幾乎跨越中國8,100英里，據報導耗資3950億美元。
Liu was fired In February. He’s now behind bars and under investigation for “severe violations of discipline.” During his seven years as chief, he embezzled a personal fortune of $120 billion U.S. dollars.
劉志軍在二月被開除。他現在身陷囹圄，因「嚴重違反紀律」而被調查中。他當部長在位7年期間，個人貪污1200億美元財產。
Corruption is not the only problem plaguing China’s railways. Experts say shoddy materials were used to cut costs. According to a source for the New York Times, the concrete bases for the tracks were so cheaply made, with insufficient hardening agents that the tracks would warp in five years.
貪污並不是困擾中國鐵路唯一的問題。專家說，還有使用劣質材料以降低成本。據紐約時報消息指出，混凝土基地的軌道是廉價製造，用不夠硬度的作用劑，軌道可能在五年內彎曲。
On top of the safety risks, high-speed trains are more expensive. A passenger on the Shanghai-Hangzhou line last year said first class was completely empty and he was the only passenger in his second-class cabin.
安全風險最高，高速火車更昂貴。去年一位乘坐上海杭州線的旅客說，頭等艙完全是空的，他是唯一在二等艙的乘客。
With high construction costs, safety risks and dissatisfied passengers, the debt-ratio of the Chinese regime’s Railway ministry, which stands at about 70 percent, could face an even more dismal future.
由於建設成本高、安全風險和不滿的乘客，中共政權的鐵道部負債比率約是70%，可能會面臨更加慘淡的未來。
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本專欄由前衛英語李德良老師主編 www.davidlee.url.tw
