TPO 57 托福综合写作+独立写作范文.pdf

TPO57
综合写作
阅读原文：
AmtrakisanintercitytrainservicecurrentlyownedbytheUnitedStatesgovernment.There
areanumberofcriticswhobelievethatthegovernmentshouldnotownAmtrakandthat
Amtrakshouldbesoldtoaprivately-ownedcompany.Thesecriticsputforwardseveral
argumentstosupporttheirposition.

First,thecriticspointoutthatthegovernmentlosesmoneyonmanyAmtrakroutes.Inits
efforttoservecitizensinallpartsofthecountry,Amtrakmaintainsrouteseveninremoteand
lesspopulatedareas.Thoseroutesarenotusedbyenoughpassengerstocoverthecostof
maintainingthem.Theamountofmoneylosteveryyearduetounderuseissizeable:the
governmentlosesuptoseveralhundreddollarsperpassengeronsomeroutes,andthetotal
lossesduetounderuseadduptohundredsofmillionsofdollarseveryyear.IfAmtrakwas
privatized,theseunprofitableroutescouldbecut.

Second,governmentownershipofAmtrakisunfairtoprivatelyownedtransportation
companiessuchasairlines.GovernmentfundingofAmtrakmeansthatticketpricesonAmtrak
arecheaperthantheyotherwisewouldbe.However,thegovernmentdoesnotgiveairline
companiesmoneysotheycanlowertheirticketprices.Thissituationclearlyisunfairtoairlines
andotherprivatetransportationcompaniesbecausetheymustcompeteagainsttrainsfor
customers.

Third,criticsmaintainthatifthegovernmentwantstosupportnationaltransportation,it
shouldspenditsmoneyelsewhere.RailtravelisrelativelyunimportantintheUnitedStates:
Amtrakcurrentlytransportslessthan1percentofthepeopletravelingbetweencities.Alarge
majorityofintercitytravelersuseothermeansoftransport,suchasprivatecars.Thecritics
arguethatratherthanfinanceAmtrak,thegovernmentshoulddirectitsfundingat
maintainingandimprovingthehighwaysystemsothatintercitycartravelbecomesfasterand
moreefficient.

听力原文：
ShouldthegovernmentsellAmtrakandletaprivatecompanyrunitinstead?Theansweris
no.

First,losingmoneyduetounderusedroutes:Peoplewhocomplainaboutthisfailto
understandthatthemainpurposeofAmtrakisnottomakeaprofitbuttoprovideneeded
transportationservicestocitizensoftheUnitedStates.Someofthesecitizensliveinremote
areas,andyes,it