Road rage takes a new turn

精彩導讀

隨著生活節奏的加快，“路怒癥”這一社會疾病也日趨嚴重。在路上駕駛的人們很容易產生矛盾，發生沖突。然而，本文中的兩位“狹路相逢”，由最初的互不禮讓到最終成功克服“路怒癥”，他們之間到底發生了怎樣的故事呢？

題材 體裁 文章詞數 難度 建議用時人與社會 記敘文 549 ★★★ 11分鐘

Tonight,on my way home,a car cut me off.I turned my bright lights on him and I drove right behind him.At the next stop light,Ipulled upbeside him.He was angry,and Igave him the birdas he seemed to shout rudely at me.

I rolled down my window and said,“Really?You're mad at me when YOU cut me off?”He answered,“YES！” and then threw his coffee in my face！

It covered my face,my car,and my steering（轉向裝置）wheel.Thankfully,it was cold.I was angry,so I followed behind him with my bright lights on.

I called 911 to report an attack by a taxi driver.A very nice and calm operator answered.She told me not to follow him since I could get hurt.She told me to give her the license plate number and type of car,and they would follow up.

Something in me rethought the whole experience.I told the 911 operator that I changed my mind.I did not want the police involved after all.“I am fine,” I told her before hanging up.

The car turned down a narrow roadquickly,trying to lose me,but I followed patiently.The car pulled over to the right,and a youngish man got out.He didn't look so mean or scary actually—more sad,really.I sensed I didn't have to worry and I wasn't afraid.

I pulled over to the left side ahead of him and got out of my car.I shouted at him,“Really?You are going to throw your coffee on me?”He tried toreason with meas he was approaching.

“Stay back,”I yelled out. “I won't hurt you,”he replied.I could tell that he meant it.I started to sob.He was walking toward me,kindly.

“Please don't cry,” he said，“I should not have thrown my ice coffee on you.This is my second job today,I am just delivering pizzas—that's what I do.I am in a rush,like everyone else.”

“This is not who I am.I am not this guy,”he added.

“I believe you,” I said， “I am sorry,” I said through my tears.

“It has been a hard day.I am not a bad guy,” he said. “I am not a bad woman.I am sorry,too.This is not my way,” I said.“It is not my way either,”he said.

“Please wait here,”he said as he went back to his car to get a towel.He also brought a bottle of water.“Please drink,” he said,“It will make you feel better.”Then,he began to clean my jacket and my car.

“This is not who I am,” he repeated. “I have a son,I am working two jobs,I am just trying to do my best.I am not this person you think I am.”

“I am not this person either,” I said.As if to start over,I ased,“My name is Mia.What is your name?”“Mohammed.”“I am sorry this happened,Mohammed.”“Me too,” he said.

We both hugged,apologizing to each other.These are turbulent（混亂的）times for our world. “I don't want to add to the darkness,”I told him.“Me too,”he said.

Reading check

Read the text and answer the questions.

1.Why did the author call 911?

2.Why did the author change the mind at last?

3.Driving etiquette plays an important role in driving.What should be done to deal with road rage and improve driving etiquette？

Language study

Difficult sentences

1.The car turned down an alley quickly,trying to lose me,but I followed persistently.

翻譯：____________________________________

【點石成金】本句是由but連接的兩個并列句。句中，現在分詞trying to lose me作目的狀語從句。

2.I should not have thrown my ice coffee on you.

翻譯：__________________________

【點石成金】本句考察虛擬語氣。句中should not have done表示 “不應該做某事而做了”。

Using language

Ⅰ.Important phrases in the text

pull up停下來

give sb the bird嘲笑某人

reason with sb 與某人理論；規勸某人

yell out叫喊；吼叫

Ⅱ.Complete the following sentences in correct forms with the phrases given above.

1.The cab_____________________and the driver jumped out.

2.To__________________the boss,Mr Green has been waiting for the whole afternoon at the office door.

3.It makes her relaxed that no one in the class________________.

4.The child___________________in pain.

Cultural background

Driving etiquette

駕駛禮儀

Driving etiquette relates to the general courtesy （禮貌）rules which people expect the operators of vehicles to follow while they are driving.The use of the term dates back to the early 1900s and the use ofhorse-drawn carriages. Good driving etiquette typically involves being polite and staying alert（警惕的）which varies by vehicle,situation,and location involves different rules.The general guiding principle behind driver etiquette is “one good turn deserves another”.It is considered vital that everyone observes good driving etiquette.Speeding and aggressive driving,both examples of poor driving etiquette,have been cited as negative factors related to highways.Drivers need education aboutdriving etiquette to prevent them getting into accidents.

駕駛禮儀是指人們希望車輛操作人員在駕駛過程中應遵守的一般禮節。這個詞的使用可以追溯到20世紀初對馬車的使用上。良好的駕駛禮儀通常包括保持禮貌和保持警惕，而這在不同的車輛、情況和地點涉及不同的規則。駕駛禮儀背后的一般指導原則是“禮尚往來”。每個人都必須遵守良好的駕駛禮儀，這被認為是十分重要的。超速駕駛和咄咄逼人的駕駛都是缺乏駕駛禮儀的例子，都被認為是與公路相關的負面因素。司機需要有關駕駛禮儀的教育，以防止他們發生事故。