Busmen have decided to go on strike next week. The strike is due to begin on Tuesday. No one knows how long it will last. The busmen have stated that the strike will continue until general agreement is reached about pay and working conditions. Most people believe that the strike will last for at least a week. Many owners of private cars are going to offer 'free rides' to people on their way to work. This will relieve pressure on the trains to some extent. Meanwhile, a number of university students have volunteered to drive buses while the strike lasts. All the students are expert drivers, but before they drive any of the buses, they will have to pass a special test. The students are going to take the test in two days' time. Even so, people are going to find it difficult to get to work. But so far, the public has expressed its gratitude to the students in letters to the Press. Only one or two people have objected that the students will drive too fast!
strike [straik] n. 罢工
busman [ˈbʌsmən] n. 公共汽车司机
state [steit] v. 正式提出，宣布
agreement [əˈɡri:mənt] n. 协议
relieve [riˈli:v] v. 减轻
pressure [ˈpreʃə] n. 压力，麻烦
extent [iksˈtent] n. 程度
volunteer [ˌvɔlənˈtiə] v. 自动提出，自愿
gratitude [ˈɡrætitju:d] n. 感激
Press [pres] n. 新闻界
object ['ɔbdʒikt, -dʒekt, əb'dʒekt] n. 目标；物体；客体；宾语 v. 不赞成，反对
The performance is due to begin at 7 o'clock in the evening.
演出定于晚上7点开始。
due to后面若是名词，则它表示“由于”、“因为”（通常用于系动词be之后）：
Our delay was due to the heavy traffic.
我们被耽搁了是因为交通拥挤。
3．…the strike will continue until general agreement is reached about pay and working conditions.……此次罢工将一直持续到就工资和工作条件问题达成全面协议的时候为止。
在until引导的时间状语从句中，主语agreement的定语about pay and working conditions被谓语隔开了。因为谓语很短，如果定语紧跟agreement，则句子读起来会头重脚轻。这种修饰语与被修饰语隔开的情况通常在不会引起误解时使用。如He looked at the girl with large blue eyes这句话就容易引起误解，with large blue eyes既可修饰he也可修饰the girl。
4．to some extent，在某种程度上。
也可以用to a certain extent：
The weather has helped me to some/a certain extent.
天气在某种程度上帮了我的忙。
5．press，新闻界，报界；记者们（集合名词，后面动词用单数或复数均可）。
Ian is a member of the press.
伊恩是位新闻界人士。
The press is/are waiting to see the president．
记者们在等着见总统。
6．Only one or two people have objected that the students will drive too fast!只有一两个人提出反对意见，说学生们会把车开得太快！
it除了可以作虚主语（如It's 9 o'clock）外，还可以作先行主语（如It's a pleasure to be here），或用于分裂句（即强调句）中，如It was George who phoned Jack last night（是乔治昨晚给杰克打了电话）。另外，在主语+动词+宾语+宾语补足语这个句型中，常用it作先行宾语，真正的宾语为后面的动词不定式或从句：
People are going to find it difficult to get to work.
Do u think the busmen will achieve what they want by going on strike? Why or why not?
Why do u think so many owners of private cars and so many university students offer to help to relieve pressure on the trains and to drive buses? Do they support the busmen or do they not support the busmen?
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