Motorcar a Boon or a Menace ?
      The use of the motorcar is becoming more and more widespread in the 21st century. Possessing a car gives a much greater degree of mobility, enabling the driver to move around freely. The car owner is no longer forced to rely on public transport to get about. With the building of good, fast motorways long distances can be covered rapidly and pleasantly. And many people are now able to enjoy their leisure time to the full by making trips to the country or seaside at weekends, instead of being confined to their immediate neighborhood.
      When, however, considering the drawbacks, perhaps poilution is of prime problems. As more and more cars are produced and used, so the emission from their exhaust pipes contains an ever larger volume of poisonous gas, which not only pollutes the atmosphere but causes actual harm to the health of people. Another serious problem is traffic congestion, endless queuse of cars crawling bumper to bumper through all the main streets. Difficulties in finding parking lots, and the cost of petrol and road tax all add to the driver' s worries.
      With both of these advantages and disadvantages of the use of a car in mind, I, personally, prefer to have my own car for work and play. I can have a wider choice of jobs as I no longer have to work locally, and I can make better use of my free time by driving out at weekends. The feeling of independence, and the freedom to go where I please, is what I enjoy most.

汽车——是福还是祸?
    21世纪汽车的应用越来越广泛了。有了汽车人们活动范围扩大了，可以自由地到处漫游。  出行时可以不必再依赖公共交通。随着质量好、速度快的高速公路的建成，人们可以迅速愉快地完成长距离的行程，充分享受闲暇时光，在周末做一次乡村旅行或海滨旅游，不必只局限在附近地区转游。
    然而说到汽车的缺点，也许污染问题是第一位的。  由于与日俱增地生产和使用汽车，致使有毒气体的排放量比以往任何时候都多，这不仅污染了空气，也危害人类健康。另一个严重问题是交通堵塞，在所有的主要街道上，汽车长龙首尾相接，缓缓向前爬行。寻找车位的困难，使用汽油的花费和需交纳公路税等问题都增添了驾驶者的烦恼。
    权衡利弊，我个人还是喜欢能拥有自己的车来上班和娱乐。有了汽车选择工作的余地就宽了，因为我不必非要在本地工作。我还能更好地利用空余时间，周末可以开车出去兜风。我最欣赏的就是这种独立的感觉和想去哪就去哪的自由。

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