Beijing car ownership exceeds 5 mln

 　　BEIJING, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The number of cars registered in the Chinese capital passed 5 million in February, 11 months later than previously¹ predicted, said the city's traffic police Thursday.

　　Beijing's traffic police bureau attributed the slow-down to the car number plates issuance lottery² that has been in place since last year.

　　There are 5.017 million cars registered in Beijing as of Feb. 15, with 173,000 new ones registered in 2011, according to the bureau.

　　In 2010, the average monthly increase in registered new cars was 66,000, so it was predicted that, without restrictions³, the total number of cars would reach 5 million in March 2011, officials said.

　　As soaring vehicle ownership had caused traffic woes⁴, the municipal government decided⁵ to limit the number of new cars on the roads by controlling the issuance of new license⁶ plates.

　　Since January 2011, getting a license plate has required participation⁷ in a monthly lottery process run by the municipal government. Last year's quota⁸ was set at 240,000, about a third of the number of cars registered in Beijing in 2010.

　　Given the annual quota, car ownership will hit 6 million in 2016, officials now expect.

1 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

2 lottery   

n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事

参考例句：

• He won no less than ￡5000 in the lottery.他居然中了5000英镑的奖券。
• They thought themselves lucky in the lottery of life.他们认为自己是变幻莫测的人生中的幸运者。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 woes   

困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉

参考例句：

• Thanks for listening to my woes. 谢谢您听我诉说不幸的遭遇。
• She has cried the blues about its financial woes. 对于经济的困难她叫苦不迭。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

7 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

8 quota   

n.（生产、进出口等的）配额，（移民的）限额

参考例句：

• A restricted import quota was set for meat products.肉类产品设定了进口配额。
• He overfulfilled his production quota for two months running.他一连两个月超额完成生产指标。