1、Unit 4Public transport从北京到上海，只需要288分钟！中国的高铁时代已经到来，越来越多的旅客会放弃飞机而选择火车。Bin Railway DreamsImagine, one day, getting out of bed in Beijing and being at your office in Shanghai in only a couple of hours，and then，after a full day of work, going back home to Beijing and having dinner there.Sounds unusual，do
2、esnt it? But its not that unrealistic, with the development of Chinas highspeed railway plan to connect the country with Southeast Asia, and eventually Eastern Europe.China is negotiating to extend its own highspeed railway network to up to 17 countries in 10 to 15 years, eventually reaching London
3、and Singapore.If Chinas plan for the highspeed railway goes forward, people could zip over from London to Beijing in under two days.The new system would still follow Chinas highspeed railway standard.And the trains would be able to go 346 kilometers an hour, almost as fast as some airplanes.Of cours
4、e, there are some technical challenges to overcome.There are so many issues that need to be settled, such as safety, rail gauge(轨距), maintenance(维修) of railway tracks.So, its important to pay attention to every detail.Itll be a winwin project.For other countries, the railway network will definitely
5、create more opportunities for business, tourism and so on, not to mention the better communication among those countries.For China, such a project would not only connect it with the rest of Asia and bring some muchneeded resources, but would also help develop Chinas far west.We foresee that in the c
6、oming decades, millions of people will migrate to the western regions, where the land is empty and resources are unused.With highspeed trains, people will set up factories and business centers in the west once and for all.And theyll trade with Central Asian and Eastern European countries.1unrealisti
7、c adj.不现实的，不切实际的2negotiate vi.&vt. 谈判，协商3zip vi. 疾行前往4technical adj. 技术的，技术上的5definitely adv. 确切地，肯定地6migrate vi. 迁徙，移居1What benefits do you think the highspeed railway system can bring us?_2Are there any problems in the railway network? Please make a list._【答案】1.It can create more opportunities for business, tourism，and make better communication and so on.2.There are some technical challenges to overcome, such as safety, rail gauge, maintenance of railway tracks.
