Miss Kao : Taxi! Taxi! (A cab stops and she goes in.)

Cab driver : Where to, miss?

Miss Kao : Diamond Hotel on Beach Avenue. How much do you think the fare will be?

Cab driver : Well, about three dollars. I can't tell exactly, but whatever it is, it will show on the meter.

Miss Kao : I took a taxi yesterday from the station to Diamond Hotel, and the driver charged me six dollars.

Cab driver : Was it rush hour?

Miss Kao : No, it wasn't.

Cab driver : Well, there is nothing I can say, miss.

Miss Kao : Do you think he intentionally drove all around instead of driving directly to Diamond Hotel?

Cab driver : No. Why would he want to do that?

Miss Kao : For more money. He thought I was someone who can be taken advantage of.

Cab driver : I wouldn't say that, miss. Any cab driver would lose his license if he got caught doing a thing like that.

Miss Kao : I didn't know that.

Cab driver : Now you know. Are you new in this city?

Miss Kao : Yes. I'll probably stay here for two more weeks.

Cab driver : In that case, you can try to call a cab company to send you a cab next time when you need one. That'll certainly make you feel safer.... Here you are, Diamond Hotel.

Miss Kao : Thank you for the advice. How much is it?

Cab driver : Two dollars and ninty-eight cents.

Miss Kao : Here is three dollars. Keep the change.

Vocabulary

注释

1. cab n. 即“taxi'，计程车。

2. rush hour 指交通的高峰时间