Passage seven

　　From the health point of view we are living in a marvelous age. We are immunized from birth against many of the most dangerous diseases. A large number of once fatal illnesses can now be cured by modern drugs and surgery. It is almost certain that one day remedies will be found for the most stubborn remaining diseases. The expectation of life has increased enormously. But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day we witness the incredible slaughter of men, women and children on the roads. Man versus the motor-car ! It is a never-ending battle which man is losing. Thousands of people the world over are killed or horribly killed each year and we are quietly sitting back and letting it happen.

　　It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel, his car becomes the extension of his personality. There is no doubt that the motor-car often brings out a mans very worst qualities. People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become unrecognizable when they are behind a steering-wheel. They swear, they are ill-mannered and aggressive, willful as two-years-olds and utterly selfish. All their hidden frustrations, disappointments and jealousies seem to be brought to the surface by the act of driving.

　　The surprising thing is that society smiles so benignly on the motorist and seems to condone his behaviour. Everything is done for his convenience. Cities are allowed to become almost uninhabitable because of heavy tragic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is desecrated by road networks; and the mass annual slaughter becomes nothing more than a statistic, to be conveniently forgotten.

【2014年职称英语考试基础篇精读荟萃(7)】相关文章：

★ 2014年职称英语考试基础篇精读荟萃(1)

★ 2014年全国职称英语考试句型宝典(8)

★ 职称英语技巧：全国职称英语考试应试新技巧

★ 2014年职称英语考试特典：常见介词on的用法及其词组

★ 轻松攻克职称英语考试三类小题型

★ 2015职称英语考试提升阅读理解能力的三大利器

★ 基础差应该如何备考2015年职称英语考试

★ 2014年职称英语考试词汇复习名师指导之词类

★ 2014年职称英语考试基础篇精读荟萃(13)

★ 2014年职称英语考试词汇复习名师指导之构词法