中级美语L127 - 开口英语

127 A Shocking Experience Taking a taxi in a certain Eastern European country can be a shocking experience. It is said that some taxi drivers have metal wires stuck into the passenger seats. And when a button is pushed,the seat will give you an electric shock. These taxi drivers don't do this for fun. They do it to tourists who argue about the ridiculous fares they charge. Some drivers charge as much as ten times the legal fare. They have a secret switch which makes the meters run faster. If you refuse to pay, you are really in for a shock. In one case,a German woman had no choice but to pay US$120 for a US$20 ride from the airport. She said that she was "really taken for a ride," but what could she do? Besides the electric shock,she was verbally abused and threatened with physical violence. She has only one piece of advice to tourists:"Take the bus or stay at home."