The Japanese railway system is regarded as one of the best in the world.If you ever find yourself riding a train in Tokyo, you’ll notice that the conductors have a peculiar habit.As each operator runs the train, they proceed through a ritual of pointing at different objects and calling out commands.When the train approaches a signal, the operator will point at it and say, “Signal is green.”As the train pulls into and out of each station, the operator will point at the speedometer and call out the exact speed.When it’s time to leave, the operator will point at the timetable and state the time.Out on the platform, other employees are performing similar actions.Before each train departs, staff members will point along the edge of the platform and declare, “All clear!”Every detail is identified, pointed at, and named aloud.This process, known as Pointing-and-Calling, is a safety system designed to reduce mistakes.It seems silly, but it works incredibly well.Pointing-and-Calling reduces errors by up to 85 percent and cuts accidents by 30 percent.The MTA subway system in New York City adopted a modified version that is “point-only,” and “within two years of implementation, incidents of incorrectly berthed subways fell 57 percent.”
The Japanese railway system is regarded as one of the best in the world.
日本铁路系统被公认为是世界上最好的铁路系统之一。
regard/rɪˈɡɑːrd/
v. 认为;看待
Ex: He is regarded as an expert.
例句翻译:他被认为是一位专家。 分析:be regarded as 被认为是……
If you ever find yourself riding a train in Tokyo, you’ll notice that the conductors have a peculiar habit.
如果你曾在东京坐过火车,你会注意到列车员有一个奇怪的习惯。
conductor/kənˈdʌktər/
n. 列车员;售票员
Ex: The conductor checked our tickets.
例句翻译:列车员检查了我们的票。 分析:指负责列车运行或票务的人员。
peculiar/pɪˈkjuːliər/
adj. 奇怪的;特有的
Ex: The food had a peculiar taste.
例句翻译:这食物有一种奇怪的味道。 分析:形容词,指不寻常或古怪的。
As each operator runs the train, they proceed through a ritual of pointing at different objects and calling out commands.
当每位操作员驾驶列车时,他们会进行一套指着不同物体并喊出口令的仪式。
operator/ˈɒpəreɪtər/
n. 操作员;驾驶员
Ex: He is a machine operator.
例句翻译:他是一名机器操作员。 分析:指操作机器或设备的人。
ritual/ˈrɪtʃuəl/
n. 仪式;惯例
Ex: Morning coffee is part of my daily ritual.
例句翻译:早晨喝咖啡是我日常惯例的一部分。 分析:指按固定程序进行的一系列行动。
When the train approaches a signal, the operator will point at it and say, “Signal is green.”
当列车接近信号灯时,操作员会指着它说:“信号灯是绿色的。”
approach/əˈproʊtʃ/
v. 接近;靠近
Ex: The train is approaching the station.
例句翻译:列车正在进站。 分析:动词,指移动得更近。
signal/ˈsɪɡnəl/
n. 信号;信号灯
Ex: Wait for the traffic signal to change.
例句翻译:等待交通信号灯变化。 分析:指传达信息的标志或装置。
As the train pulls into and out of each station, the operator will point at the speedometer and call out the exact speed.
当列车进出每个车站时,操作员会指着速度计喊出确切的速度。
pull into/pʊl ˈɪntuː/
phr. 进站;驶入
Ex: The bus pulled into the stop.
例句翻译:公交车驶入站点。 分析:动词短语,特指车辆到达停靠点。
speedometer/spiːˈdɒmɪtər/
n. 速度计
Ex: Check the speedometer while driving.
例句翻译:开车时查看速度计。 分析:测量并显示速度的仪表。
When it’s time to leave, the operator will point at the timetable and state the time.
到了出发时间,操作员会指着时刻表报出时间。
timetable/ˈtaɪmˌteɪbəl/
n. 时刻表;时间表
Ex: The train runs according to a timetable.
例句翻译:列车按时刻表运行。 分析:列出事件发生时间的表格。
Out on the platform, other employees are performing similar actions.
在站台上,其他员工也在做类似的动作。
platform/ˈplætfɔːrm/
n. 站台;平台
Ex: The train departs from platform 3.
例句翻译:列车从3号站台出发。 分析:火车站供乘客上下车的区域。
Before each train departs, staff members will point along the edge of the platform and declare, “All clear!”
在每列火车发车前,工作人员会指着站台边缘宣布:“一切正常!”
depart/dɪˈpɑːrt/
v. 出发;离开
Ex: The flight departs at 9 AM.
例句翻译:航班上午9点起飞。 分析:正式用语,表示离开。
declare/dɪˈklɛər/
v. 宣布;声明
Ex: He declared his intention to run for office.
例句翻译:他宣布打算竞选公职。 分析:动词,指公开或正式地陈述。
Every detail is identified, pointed at, and named aloud.
每一个细节都被识别出来,指出来,并大声说出来。
identify/aɪˈdɛntɪfaɪ/
v. 识别;认出
Ex: Can you identify this plant?
例句翻译:你能认出这种植物吗? 分析:动词,指确认某人或某物的身份。
aloud/əˈlaʊd/
adv. 大声地
Ex: Please read the text aloud.
例句翻译:请大声朗读课文。 分析:副词,指出声地,不是默读。
This process, known as Pointing-and-Calling, is a safety system designed to reduce mistakes.
这个过程被称为“指差确认”,是一个旨在减少错误的安全系统。
process/ˈprɒsɛs/
n. 过程;流程
Ex: Learning a language is a long process.
例句翻译:学习语言是一个漫长的过程。 分析:指一系列导致特定结果的行动。
It seems silly, but it works incredibly well.
这看起来很傻,但效果却出奇地好。
silly/ˈsɪli/
adj. 愚蠢的;傻的
Ex: Don't be silly.
例句翻译:别傻了。 分析:形容词,指缺乏判断力或滑稽的。
incredibly/ɪnˈkrɛdəbli/
adv. 难以置信地;极其
Ex: She is incredibly talented.
例句翻译:她极其有才华。 分析:副词,用于强调程度之高。
Pointing-and-Calling reduces errors by up to 85 percent and cuts accidents by 30 percent.
指差确认能减少高达85%的错误,并降低30%的事故率。
reduce/rɪˈduːs/
v. 减少;降低
Ex: We need to reduce our expenses.
例句翻译:我们需要减少开支。 分析:动词,指使某物变小或变少。
The MTA subway system in New York City adopted a modified version that is “point-only,” and “within two years of implementation, incidents of incorrectly berthed subways fell 57 percent.”