VOA标准英语2008年-Millions of Truckers in India Begin Strike

In India, millions of trucks have gone off the roads to protest rising operating costs triggered by higher fuel prices and rising taxes. As Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, high oil prices are hurting India's economy.
　
A driver dismounts his truck during a nationwide strike in Ahmadabad, India, 2 July 2008

Nearly five million trucks stopped throughout India. Truckers say the rising cost of diesel¹ and taxes levied² by the government are wiping out profits.

India has hiked petrol and diesel prices twice this year by about 17 percent, following the spiraling cost of crude oil in the international market.

Truckers want the government to reduce other taxes levied on them to compensate³ for the rising cost of diesel. For example, they are asking for a repeal⁴ of a hike in tolls⁶ gathered on highways.

A consultant⁷ to the All India Motor transport Congress, Pradeep Singhal, says it is becoming unviable to run trucks.

"The toll⁵ tax is increasing day by day and there is no mechanism⁸ to check how the toll tax is levied," he said. "There are many taxes which are levied in the name of development and road maintenance, so there is no need for raising the tax or levying⁹ new taxes."

Transportation minister T.R. Baalu says there is not much leeway to reduce taxes. He says the increase in tolls and taxes is needed to fund road construction and maintenance.

The government has appealed to the truckers to call off the strike, but the truckers have vowed¹⁰ to stay off the roads till their demands are met.

One round of talks with the government has failed, but more talks have been planned.

Trucks are a lifeline for India's economy, hauling nearly 70 percent of goods transported across the country. There are fears that a prolonged strike could lead to shortages and increase inflation, which is running at a 13-year-high of more than 11 percent.

India has been hit hard by surging oil prices because it imports more than two thirds of its fuel requirements, and analysts¹¹ say the high economic growth the country has witnessed in recent years could slow.

 

1 diesel   

n.柴油发动机，内燃机

参考例句：

• We experimented with diesel engines to drive the pumps.我们试着用柴油机来带动水泵。
• My tractor operates on diesel oil.我的那台拖拉机用柴油开动。

2 levied   

征（兵）( levy的过去式和过去分词 )； 索取； 发动（战争）； 征税

参考例句：

• Taxes should be levied more on the rich than on the poor. 向富人征收的税应该比穷人的多。
• Heavy fines were levied on motoring offenders. 违规驾车者会遭到重罚。

3 compensate   

vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消

参考例句：

• She used her good looks to compensate her lack of intelligence. 她利用她漂亮的外表来弥补智力的不足。
• Nothing can compensate for the loss of one's health. 一个人失去了键康是不可弥补的。

4 repeal   

n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消

参考例句：

• He plans to repeal a number of current policies.他计划废除一些当前的政策。
• He has made out a strong case for the repeal of the law.他提出强有力的理由，赞成废除该法令。

5 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

6 tolls   

（缓慢而有规律的）钟声( toll的名词复数 )； 通行费； 损耗； （战争、灾难等造成的）毁坏

参考例句：

• A man collected tolls at the gateway. 一个人在大门口收通行费。
• The long-distance call tolls amount to quite a sum. 长途电话费数目相当可观。

7 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

8 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

9 levying   

征（兵）( levy的现在分词 )； 索取； 发动（战争）； 征税

参考例句：

• The high tax will be given levying to the foreign country car. 对外国汽车要予以征收高税。
• Levying estate income tax are considered to be goods tax. 遗产税是在财产所有者死亡后所征收的税。

10 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

11 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。