阅读材料： THINK ABOUT IT!
想一想
How do you travel to some other places?
你去其他地方的时候用怎样的交通方式？
Who invented the steam engine?
谁发明了蒸汽机？
When did the first passenger railway open?
最早的载人客车是什么时候开放的？
Who invented the steam engine?
In the 1700s, many inventors were working on the steam engine.
在十八世纪，许多发明家都致力于蒸汽机的研究。
In the 1760s, a scientist in England invented a way to put steam engines and wheels together. 在十八世纪六十年代，一位英国的科学家发明了一种将蒸汽机与轮子结合在一起的方式。 Soon, people had a new type of transportation:
很快，人们有了一种新的运输工具：
the steam locomotive.
蒸汽机车。
What happened to the first steam locomotive?
第一辆蒸汽机车怎样了呢？
An English engineer drove the first steam locomotive on a road, but it exploded!
一位英国工程师驾驶第一辆蒸汽机车上路，但是它爆炸了！
Who invented railways?
谁发明了铁路？
In 1804, a locomotive carried about seventy passengers a short distance on some iron rails. 在1804年，一辆火车在铁轨上运送了大约70位乘客一小段路程。
It was the first railway!
它就是最早的铁路！
It was in England.
它在英国。
When did the first passenger railway open?
最早的客运铁路是什么时候开放的呢？
The first passenger railway opened in England in 1825.
最早用于客运的铁路是1825年在英国出现的。
The first passenger train was called the Rocket.
第一辆客运火车被称为“火箭”。
During 1830s, countries all over the world started to build railways.
在十九世纪三十年代期间，世界各国都开始修建铁路。
After fifty years, railways covered most countries.
五十年后，铁路覆盖了大部分国家。
Many train stations were built to make it easier for passengers to get on and off the trains. 人们建造了很多火车站以方便乘客上、下火车。
How fast do trains go?
火车能跑多快呢？
Early trains, like the Rocket, had a top speed of 50 kilometres per hour.
早期的火车，像“火箭”，最高时速是50千米。
Even the best steam locomotives were slow.
即使是最好的蒸汽火车也很慢。
They could only go about 80 kilometres per hour.
它们只能每小时行驶大约80千米。
Today's trains are much faster.
今天的火车快多了。
They travel at about 240 kilometres an hour.
它们每小时行驶大约240千米。
The fastest trains can go 380 kilometres an hour.
最快的火车每小时可以行驶380千米。
"Railways" are made of two "rails"!
“铁路”是由两根“铁轨”组成的！
How fast this train is!
这火车多快啊！
FASCINATING FACT
惊人的事实
High-speed trains of the future will have no wheels.
未来的高速火车将不再有轮子。
They will use magnetic forces or jet engines and they will ride on air. 它们将会利用磁力或者是喷气发动机悬空行驶。
LET'S DO IT!
做一做！
Discuss the following questions with a partner:
和你的搭档谈论下列问题。
What do you know about the railways in China?
关于中国的铁路你了解哪些？
What is the speed of the trains in China?
中国列车的时速是多少？
Which do you like better, a high-speed train or a low-speed train? Why? 高速火车和低速火车你更喜欢那一种？为什么？