外研版选修三册第二单元听力练习

Unit 2 A life's work

What do you know about London taxis? These black cabs are in many ways a symbol of London, and everyone who has visited this great city has seen or even ridden in them. But did you know that it can take up to four years of training to become a London cabbie? In order to become one, you have to first learn “the Knowledge”. The Knowledge not just includes the names of the city streets: it also includes the names and locations of every pub, hotel, park, museum, government office, cinema, police station and point of interest in London. A cabbie must not only be able to take customers on the best routes to their destinations, he or she must also be able to explain and describe everything they might see along the way.

The Knowledge has been a requirement for London cabbies since 1865, making it a great tradition and source of pride. However, it is now under threat.

One reason is the minicab. A ride in a London black cab is perhaps the most expensive in the world. However, minicabs are quite a bit cheaper, so many Londoners prefer to use them. And unlike black cab drivers, minicab drivers are not required to learn the Knowledge.

Another factor is satellite navigation. It seems like every new car has satellite navigation nowadays, so why spend four years learning the Knowledge?

London cabbies reply that they can give better customer service than minicab drivers by being able to explain city sights, and that satellite navigation almost never shows the best routes. This all may be true. However, with many people caring more about price than customer service, and satellite navigation systems getting better and better, it could be that the Knowledge will soon be a thing of the past.