Beautiful Minds: The London Taxi-driver

Beautiful Minds: The London Taxi Driver 撰文及考題設計 英國文化協會 Joel Finnestad

F

A

or many, long gone are the days of cumbersome maps, wrong turns, and embarrassing pit stops at

the petrol station to ask for directions after succumbing to the reality that you haven't a clue where you are or where you're going. The convenience of satellite navigation technology（GPS）and mobile phone apps make it possible to simply key in your destination, and voila! A digitised map and friendly voice guides you straight to your destination. With such technology, you could be forgiven for assuming that functioning as an effective taxi driver has become a cinch. You'd be terribly mistaken, however, if you were referring to the plight of the would be London cabby.

B To become a licensed driver of one of London's world-famous ubiquitous black taxicabs is a harrowing ordeal indeed. It can take up to four or more years as a

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要成為倫敦計程車司機需經過嚴格考核。（歐新社）

C

"Knowledge boy"（or girl）combing the streets of Lon-

While dropout figures are not available, it is as-

don on motor scooters, pen and paper in hand, in an

sumed that approximately 75% of candidates do not

attempt to prepare for "the Knowledge"—a rigorous

make the grade. The number isn't surprising when you

examination of a candidate’s ability to know by heart

consider that the preparation requires taking in around

the shortest distance and directions between any two

25,000 streets as well as points of interest. And can-

points in London. The exam has been called the "the

didates do not merely sit an examination. They must

hardest test, of any kind, in the world". Some say it's

also attend the much dreaded "appearances" at which

as difficult as a degree in law or medicine, requiring

they are expected to recite the perfect route between

thousands of hours studying in an effort to memorise

any two points. Candidates have to attend sometimes

the complex map of London and endless points of in-

twenty or more of these "appearances" until the exam-

terest.

iners feel they are good enough.

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D Why then, one might ask, could not the London

英 倫 聚 焦

point is, he's set off and he's on his way in the right direction."

E

cabbies just rely on modern technology in the form of GPS navigation devices? There's simply no time!

So for the aspiring want-to-be London cabby who

Traffic backup would be a serious concern if drivers

thinks he or she has what it takes, the first step is to

needed to stay parked at the side of the curb keying

obtain a copy of the "Blue Book " (The Guide to learn-

in coordinates for navigation while traffic builds up

ing the Knowledge of London) and start cramming.

behind them. According to John Mason, Head of Taxi

After all, how hard could it be to turn your mind into a

for Transport for London, "London taxi service means

human navigational device and join the ranks of what

that you can hail a cab, on the street, and before even

must be the most elite and well-trained taxi fleet in the

the driver's really understood exactly where the end

world?

人體導航系統－倫敦計程車司機 中譯 陳怡君 （中央社編譯）

對

許多人 來 說，不便 查詢的大地圖、轉錯彎、

律學位考試，需要花成千上萬小時的努力學習，去

以及因不得不接受不知何去何從的事實，而

記住複雜的倫敦地圖以及無數的觀光景點。

得在加油站尷尬地暫停問路，這些都已成為古老

雖然缺考人數不得而知，估計75%候選人沒有達

的過去事。全球衛星定位系統（GPS）與手機應用

標。這個數據並不令人訝異，因為準備這項考試得

程式的便利，只要輸入目的地，數位地圖與親切語

記上約2萬5,000條街道與觀光名勝，而且應考人不

音就會引領你直達目的地。因為這類科技的問世，

光是坐在那裡應考，還得參加更可怕的「面試」，

而認為成為有效率的計程車司機是件輕而易舉的

必須背誦出兩個地點間的完美路線。要能獲得考

事，若有這種錯誤認知是可以被原諒；不過若認為

官認為他們已經夠格，應考者恐得參加約莫20次

倫敦計程車司機也是這樣，那就大錯特錯，因為想

或以上的「面試」。

成為倫敦司程車司機需經過嚴格考核。

那麼有些人可能會問，為什麼倫敦計程車司機不

要成為倫敦無所不在、舉世聞名的有照「小黑」

依 靠像是GPS等現代 科 技呢？答案僅僅 是沒有時

司機，確實是個非常困難的任務。可能得花上四年

間！如果駕駛必須在路邊停車以輸入GPS，交通阻

以上時間，靠摩托車穿梭倫敦街道、當個手上握有

塞可能是個嚴重隱憂。倫敦運 輸局計程車事務負

紙筆的「知識人」，以準備迎戰「知識大全」考試，

責人梅森（John Mason）表示：「倫敦計程車服務，

要通過 這項嚴格檢定，得能在心裡默記倫敦任 何

代表你可以在街上攔車，甚至早在駕駛確實知道目

兩個地點間的最短距離。這項檢定考被認為是「世

的地在那裡之前，他已經發動車子、駛向正確的方

上所有類型中最困難的考試」，堪可比擬醫學或法

向。」

CNA NEWSWORLD

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因此對於認為自己具有倫敦計程車司機條件、已

要將你的大腦轉換成人體導航系統、並且加入鐵

經躍躍欲試的人來說，第一步就是取得一本《藍皮

定是最菁英與世上最訓練有素的計程車司機行列，

書》（了解倫敦全面路線的聖經）開始填鴨。畢竟，

可不是那麼簡單。

Key Words long gone – 消逝已久的 gone a long time ago

a cinch – 【俚】簡單的事情 easy

cumbersome – 笨重的，（因體積、重量等原因）難處 理的 hard to handle because of size or weight

ubiquitous – 無所不在的 widespread, or often seen in the same place

pit stops – 旅途中的短暫停留、休息 a short stop during a journey

harrowing ordeal – 形容某個經驗或任務非常艱鉅或嚇 人 an experience or task that is difficult or frightening

succumb – 屈服 to stop trying to resist something

rigorous – 非常嚴格與苛刻的 demanding

voila – 【法】用在引起注意或表示滿意、贊同或讚嘆 (French) used to call attention, to express satisfaction or approval, or to suggest an appearance as if by magic

make the grade – 達到標準 to be satisfactory, or to be what is expected

雅思考試模擬試題 IELTS questions

True / False / Not Given 6. Taxi drivers in London rely on a digitized map and friendly voice that guides them straight to their destination 7. The oral examinations taken to become a taxi driver get slightly easier as one progresses through the training 8. London taxi drivers are prohibited from using any form of navigational/GPS technology 9. Most candidates do not complete the training and so do not become London taxi drivers 10."The Knowledge" is primarily a test of a candidate's ability to identify any part of London on a map.

2. A

3.C

4. E

5. D

6. F

7. F

8. NG

IELTS style questions Matching information The passage contains five paragraphs labeled A-E. Which paragraphs contain the following information?

1. a suggestion of possible drawbacks to GPS technology 2. a solution to losing one's way when on a journey 3. a summary of the requirements for becoming a cab driver in London 4. the first step for getting started with "The Knowledge" 5. a description of the experience of hiring a taxi in London

1. D

雅思考試粉絲團： www.facebook.com/ielts.testcentre

very strict and

9. T

10. F

Answers 118

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