Narrator:

　　“Public transportation should be encouraged instead of private cars.” Do you agree with this statement? Please give reasons for your answer.

　　You may begin to prepare your response after the beep.

　　[2 seconds beep]

　　Preparation time: 15 seconds

　　Response time: 45 seconds

　　Narrator:

　　Please begin speaking after the beep.

　　[2 seconds beep]

　　Suggested Answer:

　　With the improvement of living standards, some people can afford to buy their own cars. They drive to work or drive to the suburbs, enjoying the happy holidays. Yet, private cars can’t replace public transportation, such as buses or subways. Compared with private cars, buses and subways have several advantages. First, they are very cheap. A monthly ticket enables one to go from almost any part of the city to another by bus or subway. Second, the bus and subway schedules are well planned and seldom does one have to wait very long to catch them. Third, they have comfortable seats and some of them are air-conditioned. Therefore, public transportation should be encouraged.

　　词汇与解析：

　　WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

　　1. enable v. 使能够

　　2. replace v. 取代， 替换

　　3. schedule n. 时间表

　　4. seldom adv. 很少， 不常

　　5. suburb n. 市郊，郊区

　　答案解析：

　　随着生活水平的提高，一些人有能力购买汽车。私家车给人们的出行带来了许多便利，但是否就可以认为它能取代公共交通工具了呢?参考答案的回答显而易见：它不能代替公共交通。公共汽车和地铁价格便宜，到站准时，还有舒适的座位，有些公交车还带有空调，结论自然是应该鼓励大力发展公共交通。

　　答案用词简洁，序数词 first, second and third的使用清晰地说明了发展公共交通的三点好处，层次清楚。表示因果关系的副词therefore自然而然地引导出结论。

　　当然，如果你赞成用私家车，也可以列出几点理由。私家车可以带家人和朋友外出度假，欣赏沿途的风景，时间、地点都很灵活;私家车还能使你免受恶劣天气之苦。