By Shaunacy Ferro/姜仲华（编）

◆语篇导读

在世界上大多数国家，人们都是在公路的右侧边驾车，唯独在英国和它的殖民地，人们是在左侧边驾车。他们这样做究竟是为什么呢？一直以来，有没有什么力量在影响着甚至是在迫使着他们去做出改变呢？在公路左侧驾车是不是有什么优势呢？

As a visitor，when I cross the street in the UK，I often lose my sense of direction.While traffic in almost all of the world passes on the right side，cars in Britain drive on the left.Just why do Brits drive on the opposite side of the road from most other countries?

In fact，the practice goes back to the Middle Ages.In the old days，when traveling down a highway put you at risk of being attacked or robbed，traveling on the left was a matter of safety.Since most people were （and still are）right-handed，passing on the left meant leaving your sword-hand free to take on any challengers.Whether on foot，horseback，or in a carriage，you needed to be able to take out your sword，pitchfork，or staff in response to a threat—and quickly.

According to the BBC，this practice was widespread outside of Britain，too，dating back as far as ancient Greece and Rome.The UK wasn't the only place with dangerous roads，after all.But in the end different pressures made travelers change to the right.

Especially，Napoleon（拿破仑）was a fan of right-side driving，and brought the practice to places he controlled by force.That included Germany，and Hitler（希特勒）continued to spread the tradition across Europe as he took power，forcing Austria to change to right-side driving.

America has been driving on the right side of the road，probably because it made it easier to control a wagon.Drivers either sat on the left of their wagon or led their horses on foot on the left-hand side，so it was much easier to see oncoming traffic by traveling on the right side of the road.

Britain has considered changing over to right-side driving，but the idea isn't possible to take hold anytime soon.

◆词块收藏

lose one's sense of direction某人失去方向感

on the opposite side of the road在路的对面

the practice goes back to这种做法（惯例）可以追溯到

put sb.at risk of being done使某人面临被……的危险

take on any challengers与任何挑战者较量in response to a threat以应对威胁

take power掌权；夺取权力

take hold anytime随时接受；随时待命

◆典句赏析

1.Whether on foot，horseback，or in a carriage，you needed to be able to take out your sword，pitchfork，or staff in response to a threat—and quickly.无论是步行、骑马、还是坐马车，你都需要能够迅速地拿出你的剑、杈子或拐杖来应对威胁。

选择连词whether...or...连接三种交通方式，作方式状语；on foot（步行）、on horseback（骑马）为固定词组，名词前不用冠词；in a carriage意为“坐马车”，carriage意为“（旧时载客的）四轮马车；（火车的）客车厢”。

2.America has been driving on the right side of the road，probably because it made it easier to control a wagon.美国一直在道路右侧行驶，可能是因为这样更容易控制马车。

has been driving是现在完成进行时，表示动作从过去某一时间开始一直持续到现在，或者刚刚结束，或者可能还要继续下去。该时态的结构为“have/has+been+doing”；句中的“it made it easier to control a wagon”使用的是句型“It makes it+adj.+to do sth.”，第一个it代表上文的“driving on the right side of the road”，第二个it是形式主语。

◆理解自测

根据短文内容，从A、B、C、D四个选项中选择最佳答案。

1.The writer makes a mistake in direction crossing the street in the UK because______.

A.she never has a good sense of direction

B.driving on the left makes her lose her sense of direction

C.there is always too much traffic in the street there

D.the streets in the UK look the same here and there

2.What was the possible reason for driving on the left side in the beginning?

A.Just a practice in the UK.

B.The order from the kings.

C.Left-hand people's hobby.

D.A matter of safety.

3.What does the underlined word pressures probably mean in the 3rd paragraph?

A.Rules. B.Influences.

C.Orders. D.Dreams.

◆词句微练

根据所给汉语句子，完成下列英语句子。每空一词。

1.她说话有幽默感。

Shespeaks______ ______ ______ ______ ______.

2.我住在学校对面，我每天步行上学。

I live in________ ________ ________ ________our school.I go to school ________ ________ every day.

3.无论你在学校还是在家里，你都要努力学习。

________you are at school________at home，you should study hard.

4.这个风俗要追溯到约100年前的那次灾难。

This custom________ ________ ________ the disaster about 100 years ago.

5.这些天一直在下雨，使得我们无法去远足了。

It________ ________ ________ these days，which________ ________ ________ for us to go hiking.

（答案见第63页）