Long bus rides are like television shows.They have a beginning,a middle and an end—with commercials thrown in every three or four minutes.The commercials are unavoidable.They happen whether you want them or not.Every couple of minutes a billboard glides by outside the bus window."But Super Clean Toothpaste.""Drink Golden Wet Root Beer.""Fill up with Pacific Gas." Only if you sleep,which is equal to turning the television set off,are you spared the unending cry of"You Need It! But It Now! "
The beginning of the ride is comfortable and somewhat exciting,even if you've traveled that way before.Usually some things have changed—new houses,new buildings,sometimes even a new road.The bus driver has a style of driving and it’s fun to try to figure it out the first hour or so.If the driver is particularly reckless or daring,the ride can be as thrilling as a suspense story.Will the driver pass the truck in time? Will the driver move into the right or the left-handed lane? After a while,of course,the excitement dies down.Sleeping for a while helps pass the middle hours of the ride.Food always makes bus rides more interesting.But you've got to be careful of what kind of food you eat.Too much salty food can make you very thirsty between stops.
The end of the ride is somewhat like the beginning.You know it will soon be over and there's a kind of expectation and excitement in that.The seat,of course,has become harder as the hours have passed.By now you’ve sat with your legs crossed,with your hands in your lap,with your hands on the arm rests—even with your hands crossed behind your head.The end comes just at the right time.There are just no more ways to sit.
注釋：
1.Long bus rides are like television shows.like 在此句中是介詞，意思是"像，如;跟……一樣"。如：He is like an athlete.他像個運動員。
2.commercials：商業(yè)廣告，特別指電臺、電視臺播出的商業(yè)廣告。
3.Every couple of minutes a billboard glides by outside the bus window?每隔幾分鐘一塊廣 聲牌就從車窗外閃過。 ?
4……Only if you sleep,which is equal to turning the television set off,are you spared the unending cry of "You Need It! Buy It Now!"只有當(dāng)你睡著的時候，就和關(guān)掉電視機一樣，才會兔受那些沒完沒了的"你需要它，現(xiàn)在就來買吧!的干擾。
5.to figure it out：計算出;解決
6.…… the ride can be as thrilling as a suspense story.- 乘車就像讀懸念故事一樣令人興奮。此句中的as ……as結(jié)構(gòu)是比較結(jié)構(gòu)的一種，常稱之為同級比較，表示與……一樣。 在as與as之間的形容詞或副詞必須是原級。
7.The end of the ride is somewhat like the beginning.乘車結(jié)束有點兒像開始。此甸中的 somewhat是副詞，意思是"一點兒，有幾分"。
練習(xí)：
1.According to the passage,what do the passengers usually see when they are on a long bus trip?
A) Buses on the road.
B) Films on television.
C) Advertisements on the board.
D) Gas stations.
2.What is the purpose of this passage?
A) To give the writer's opinion about long bus trips.
B) To persuade you to take a long bus trip.
C) To explain how bus trips and television shows differ.
D) To describe the billboards along the road.
3.the writer of this passage would probably favor
A) bus drivers who weren't reckless
B) driving alone.
C) a television set on the bus.
D) no billboards along the road.
4.The writer feels long bus rides are like TV shows because
A) the commercials both on TV shows and on billboards along the road are fun.
B) they both have a beginning,a middle,and an end,with commercials in between.
C) the drivers are always reckless on TV shows just as they are on buses.
D) both traveling and watching TV are not exciting.
5.The writer thinks that the end of the ride is somewhat like the beginning because both are
A) exciting.
B) comfortable.
C) tiring.
D) boring
