Speed and comfort
原文
Lesson 44
Speed and comfort
Which type of transport does the writer prefer, do you think?
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 lull 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.
By comparison, ferry trips or cruises offer a great variety of civilized comforts.
You can stretch your legs on the spacious decks, play games,
meet interesting people and enjoy good food--always assuming, of course, that the sea is calm.
If it is not, and you are likely to get seasick, no form of transport could be worse.
Even if you travel in ideal weather, sea journeys take a long time.
Relatively few people are prepared to sacrifice holiday time for the pleasure of travelling by sea.
Aeroplanes have the reputation of being dangerous and even hardened travellers are intimidated by them.
They also have the disadvantage of being an expensive form of transport.
But nothing can match them for speed and comfort.
Travelling at a height of 30, 000 feet, far above the clouds, and at over 500 miles an hour is an exhilarating experience.
You do not have to devise ways of taking your mind off the journey, for an aeroplane gets you to your destination rapidly.
For a few hours, you settle back in a deep armchair to enjoy the flight.
The real escapist can watch a film and sip champagne on some services.
But even when such refinements are not available, there is plenty to keep you occupied.
An aeroplane offers you an unusual and breathtaking view of the world.
You soar effortlessly over high mountains and deep valleys.
You really see the shape of the land.
If the landscape is hidden from view,
you can enjoy the extraordinary sight of unbroken cloud plains that stretch out for miles before you, while the sun shines brilliantly in a clear sky.
The journey is so smooth that there is nothing to prevent you from reading or sleeping.
However you decide to spend your time, one thing is certain: you will arrive at your destination fresh and uncrumpled.
You will not have to spend the next few days recovering from a long and arduous journey.
译文
第44课
速度与舒适性
你认为作者更喜欢哪种交通工具呢？
长途旅行的人经常需要决定是选择陆路、海路还是航空方式来出行。
几乎没有人能够真正享受在火车上坐上几个小时以上的时光。
火车车厢很快就会变得拥挤不堪、空气也不流通（即非常闷热）。
几乎不可能让你把注意力从这段旅程上移开。
阅读只能提供部分缓解；车轮在铁轨上单调地咔嗒作响，这种声音很快就会让你入睡。
白天里，睡眠总是断断续续的。
到了晚上，当你真的想入睡的时候，却往往难以入睡。
如果你有幸买到一张卧铺票，
你会花上半个晚上盯着天花板上的小蓝灯，或者摸索着找票接受检查。
最终，你几乎精疲力尽地到达了目的地。
长途驾车旅行更加令人不适，因为在这种情况下甚至连看书都几乎不可能做到。
在高速公路上，至少你可以以较高的速度安全地行驶。
但大多数情况下，旅途中的大部分时间都是在那些服务站稀少、交通拥堵严重的道路上度过的。
相比之下，渡轮旅行或游轮旅行提供了多种舒适的设施和服务。
你可以在宽敞的甲板上伸展双腿、玩游戏，
结识有趣的人，享受美味的美食——当然，这一切的前提都是海面必须风平浪静。
如果海面不平静，而你又容易晕船，那就没有比这更糟糕的交通方式了。
即使你在理想的天气条件下旅行，海上航行仍然需要很长时间。
只有少数人愿意牺牲假期时间，去享受海上旅行的乐趣。
飞机一直被认为是一种危险的交通工具，就连那些经验丰富的旅客也会对它们感到恐惧。
它们的另一个缺点是费用昂贵。
但是，在速度和舒适度方面，没有任何东西能比得上它们。
在30,000英尺的高空飞行——远远高于云层之上——并以每小时500英里的速度前进，确实是一种令人兴奋的体验。
你不必费心去寻找方法来转移自己的注意力，因为飞机能迅速将你送到目的地。
你可以安坐在宽大的扶手椅里，享受飞行的乐趣。
在有些航班上，真正想放松的人可以看看电影，喝喝香槟。
但即使没有这些精致的服务，也有足够多的事情让你打发时间。
从飞机上，你可以看到一个独特而令人惊叹的世界景象。
你轻松地翱翔在高山之上，穿过幽深的山谷。
你真的能够清楚地看到这片土地的轮廓和地形特征。
如果地面景色被云层遮挡，
你可以欣赏到那令人惊叹的景象：连绵不断的云层平铺在眼前，一望无际；而太阳则在清澈的天空下闪耀着耀眼的光芒。
旅途非常平稳，没有任何因素会妨碍你阅读或睡觉。
无论你如何度过时光，有一点是确定的：到达目的地时，你会精神焕发，毫无倦意。
在接下来的几天里，你不必花费时间来恢复体力——毕竟你刚刚完成了一段漫长而艰辛的旅程。