Extended Reading and Translation

I. Reading Tasks

Reading for Chinese culture 

Read the following passage and the questions after it. Then decide whether each of the following statements is true (T) or false (F).

Driving in China

The driving licence in China

The Chinese driver’s licence is the legal permit for driving in China. It is issued, ratified and regularly inspected by the traffic administration authorities. The legal minimum age for driving varies from 18 (for cars) all the way up to 26 (for large vehicles). Previously, expressways were inaccessible for holders of a normal driver’s licence if they did not possess the licence for more than a full year. Such a regulation has now been invalidated. Drivers with licences held for less than a year, however, are still considered “intern drivers” or “new drivers” and are required to be accompanied by experienced drivers when driving on expressways.

Foreigners are not allowed to drive in China with a foreign or international driver’s licence. If they are staying in China for a short period, they can apply for a temporary driving permit which can be valid for three months at most. Those staying for longer have to apply for an official Chinese driver’s licence. Generally, holders of an official valid foreign driver’s licence need not complete a practical driving test before joining the traffic in China. They can take their foreign driving licences and valid ID cards to the automobile management bureaus, fill up an application form, take a related physical exam, and attend a traffic regulation test. Once they have gone through these procedures and passed related tests and exams, they can get the official driving licence.

Traffic law and regulations in China

The official driving code in China is the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Road Traffic Safety, which was passed by the Standing Committee of the 10th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China on 28 October, 2003, and has been revised several times.

The present traffic law has a number of focus points. It sets stricter requirements for drivers. For example, when an accident occurs between pedestrians or non-motorized vehicles and motor vehicles, except for the case where the pedestrian or the non-motorized vehicle deliberately causes the accident, the motorist must always bear the responsibility. Responsibility for the motorist is reduced if the pedestrian or non-motorized side violated traffic laws. By law, seatbelts must be worn in the front and rear seats of cars where provided and it is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving.

Harsh penalties are put in place for drunk driving and driving by people who do not hold a valid driver’s licence, or drive a vehicle without number plates. Now drunk driving is considered a criminal offence. The current laws state that having blood alcohol level of 20 mg to 80 mg per 100 ml of blood while driving can result in a CNY 1,000 to 2,000 fine and up to six months’ suspension of the licence, while having more than 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood is punishable by a jail term, five years’ suspension of the licence (with a risk of losing it permanently), and a fine which varies depending on situations. The penalty for hit-and-run accidents, besides criminal penalties, is permanent revocation of one’s driver’s licence.

The expressway speed limit is 120 km/h. City express routes (“high-speed public road”) generally have a lower speed limit of 100 km/h. The minimum speed limit on expressways is 60 km/h. On China’s national highways, a common speed limit is 80 km/h. Cases where drivers are speeding 50% in excess of the applicable speed limit will result in the revocation of the driver’s licence.

The law also enforces a vehicle insurance system. Insurance is mandatory for all vehicle owners. Rates of insurance are calculated as a percentage of the value of the vehicle, but previous claims and the level of coverage may additionally be taken into account.

II. Culture in Movie

Watch the movie My Fair Lady, and try to figure out the features of the flower girl's accent and how she was helped to alter her accent to RP. Get ready to report your findings to the class.