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es, etc.) that are used, as well as the nodes or terminals (such as airports, railway stations, bus stations and seaports). Vehicles traveling on the networks include automobiles, bicycles, buses, trains and aircrafts. The operations deal with the way the vehicles are operated on the network, and the procedures set for this purpose including the legal environment (laws, codes, regulations, etc.). Policies, such as how to finance the system (for example, the use of tolls or gasoline taxes) may be considered part of the operations. 1. vehicle2. operation3. canal4. pipeline5. node6. terminal7. seaport8. law9. code10. regulation11. toll12. gasolineUNIT010Rail transport is the conveyance of passengers and goods by means of wheeled vehicles specially designed to run along railway or railroads. Typical railway tracks consist of two parallel rails, normally made of steel, secured to crossbeams, termed ties. The ties maintain constant distance between the two rails, a measurement known as “gauge” of the track. To maintain the alignment of the track, it is either laid on a bed of ballast or else secured to a solid concrete foundation. Rail transport is an energyefficient and capitalintensive ponent of logistics, in contrast, a traditional wagon can carry no more than several tons of freight. 1. rail transport2. conveyance3. by means of 4. consist of 5. secure to6. crossbeam7. tie8. gauge9. alignment10. ballast11. concrete12. energyefficient13. capitalintensive14. logistics15. wagon16. freightUNIT011Developments in technology have eroded some of the natural monopoly aspects of traditional public utilities. For instance, electricity generation, electricity retailing, telemunication and postal service have bee petitive in some countries, and the trend towards liberalization, deregulation a