簡單‧享受生活

Need a taxi? Call a tow truck 要叫車嗎？請來電拖吊

A tow truck hauls away the wreckage of the school bus, Nov. 27, 2006 in Huntsville, Alabama, USA. 去年十一月二十七日在美國阿拉巴馬州的杭特斯維爾，一輛拖吊卡車吊起一輛毀壞的學校巴士。(照片︰美聯社) Photo: AP

In Naperville, Illinois, USA, just outside Chicago, there is a new taxi company. And you can take your car home with you.

The taxi service, run by Smith Cos, started the towing taxi service last week.

The company hopes that businessmen and women who are out drinking at their favorite place will use their service. That way, they can drive when they go out at night but still get their car home safely.

The price of a ride is not cheap. If you call in advance to order a ride, you will have to pay US$65 (NT$2,163). If it is an unplanned pickup, the cost is US$85 (NT$2,828). Riders will also have to pay US$2 (NT$66) for every 1.6km they ride.

Naperville police Captain Gary Bolt said he does not know if the idea is practical. "I applaud their efforts, but I just don't know how well it will be received." (Jason Cox, Staff Writer with AP)

在美國伊利諾州芝加哥城外的拿波維爾，有一家新的計程車行。你還可以把自己的車子一起拖回家。

由史密斯．寇斯經營的計程車行於上週開始提供計程拖吊車服務。

這家車行希望出外暢飲的生意人和女性可以利用他們的服務。如此一來，顧客就可以在夜間開車外出，卻還可讓車子安然返家。

搭一趟車的價格並不便宜。假如你提前預約，得支付六十五美元（新台幣兩千一百六十三元）。假如非事先預約，價格為八十五美元（新台幣兩千八百二十八元）。每搭乘一點六公里，乘客還得支付兩美元（新台幣六十六元）。

拿波維爾警察隊長蓋瑞．鮑爾特表示，他不知道這個點子實用與否。「我推崇他們的努力，但我不知道民眾的接受度如何。」 （翻譯︰賴美君）

TODAY'S WORDS 今日單字

1. service n. 服務

例: Our barber shop offers several services including haircuts, shaves and a shampoo.

(我們的美容院提供剪髮、刮鬍與洗髮等多項服務。)

2. unplanned adj. 未經計劃的

例: You should call Bill before you go to his house. It's rude to make an unplanned visit.

(你到比爾家前應該先打電話給他。突然登門拜訪很失禮。)

3. practical adj. 實用的 ，務實的

例: You should make practical plans for your future if you want to make your dreams come true.

(假如你希望美夢成真，你應該替未來制定務實計畫。)

From: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2007/05/16/2003361203