英国车速监控系统

The Treasury could pocket 20 million a year in extra fines once the country‘s speed camera network is expanded. Motoring organizations warned that the __1__could become a poll tax on wheels’，__2__huge number of drivers. There could be many more incidents of vandalism __3__cameras.The warnings came__4__a Daily Mail survey found almost all the 23 police forces in England and Wales were either__5__to expansion plans or considering __6__.

Nationwide，the number of speeding tickets is expected to treble，__7__ 90 million a year.__8__the scheme，police keep some of the cash from fines to __9__the costs of fitting and maintaining extra cameras and__10__that existing ones always have film in them. The rest will go to the Treasury. Both Ministers and police insist the scheme is aimed__11__at making roads safer. They point to trials in eight areas which cut collisions by a quarter and deaths and serious injuries by __12__a half.

But motoring organizations fear cameras will be sited on relatively safe__13__fast stretches to catch as many drivers as possible. Some forces are also expected to__14__the“threshold”speeds at which cameras are__15__to the absolute legal minimum-15 mph in a 10 mph limit，and 26 mph in a 20 mph zone. This could encourage drivers to stare at their speedometers instead of concentrating on the road，and __16__to more accidents. Sue Nicholson，head of campaigns at the RAC，said，“We don‘t have a problem with speed cameras __17__. But we do have concerns about__18__they are sited. Police risk losing credibility __19__motorists if cameras are seen as revenue-raising __20__safety devices.”

1. [A] promotions [B] punishments [C] penalties [D] payments

2. [A] isolating [B] separating [C] alienating [D] detaching

3. [A] towards [B] against [C] before [D] over

4. [A] so [B] once [C] as [D] where

5. [A] subjected [B] engaged [C] intended [D] committed

6. [A] taking part [B] keeping silence [C] making exception [D] paying respect

7. [A] financing [B] profiting [C] funding [D] netting

8. [A] From [B] Under [C] On [D] With

9. [A] hide [B] cover [C] conceal [D] veil

10. [A] pledging [B] assuring [C] confirming [D] ensuring

11. [A] essentially [B] strongly [C] wholeheartedly [D] purely

12. [A] in all [B] fewer than [C] at most [D] up to

13. [A] but [B] whereas [C] though [D] while

14. [A] fit [B] put [C] set [D] fix

15. [A] levered [B] geared [C] handled [D] triggered

16. [A] lead [B] add [C] contribute [D] resort

17. [A] any less [B] by itself [C] after all [D] as such

18. [A] who [B] when [C] where [D] which

19. [A] in [B] with [C] against [D] for

20. [A] in spite of [B] far from [C] rather than [D] by means of

答案

1. C 2. C 3. B 4. C 5. D 6. A 7. D 8. B 9.B 10. D

11. D 12.D 13. A 14. C 15. B 16. A 17. D 18. C 19.B 20.C

总体分析

本文讲述了英国车速监控摄像体系扩张计划的内容及影响，着重阐述了这一计划的支持者(警察和财政部门)和反对者(机动车管理机构)的观点。

全文翻译

一旦扩大车速监控摄像体系，这个国家财政部每年就能从罚款中额外增加2000万收入。机动车管理机构警告说这种罚款可能变成对汽车征收的人头税，从而疏远很多驾驶者。也可能出现更多破坏摄像机的事件。警告出现的同时，《每日邮报》的调查发现英格兰和威尔士的23支警力几乎都有所行动，不是致力于部署监控体系的扩张计划，就是在考虑加入其中。

预计(在实施监控系统后)全国范围内违章超速行驶的罚单数量会增加两倍，罚金数目一年达9000万。按照计划，警察保留一部分罚金用以支付安装和维修新摄像机的费用，并且保证现有的摄像机中总是装有胶卷。其余的罚金将上缴财政部。财政部长们和警察都坚持认为该计划的目的是提高公路的安全性。他们指出八个试点地区撞车事故减少了四分之一，严重伤亡事故减少至一半。

但是机动车管理机构担心警察为了多开罚单会把摄像机装在相对安全但行车速度较快的直行道上，还会为车速监控摄像机设置最低合法车速标准，如把正常的每小时10英里限速提高到每小时15英里，每小时20英里限速提高到每小时26英里。这样做会使司机盯着自己的里程计而不把精力集中到路面上，从而引发更多的交通事故。英国皇家汽车俱乐部(RAC)活动负责人休。尼科尔森说，“严格上说，我们对车速监控摄像机并无意见，我们担忧的是它们被安放的地点。如果把监控摄像机视为(政府)聚敛财政收入的手段而不是安全设施，那么警察就可能丧失他们在驾驶者心目中的威信”。