Culture：Don't evade buying tickets
【明報專訊】Dr Panda and Bill travel in Berlin, Germany (德國柏林), by train. A person tries not to do what he is obligated to do.
「 Ticket inspector: Sir, please show me your ticket. 」
「 Eason: I am a tourist. I don't know how to get one. 」
「 Ticket inspector: Your passport please. You'll be fined 60 euros. 」
「 Dr Panda: Your mischief has finally got you into trouble. 」
■ Culture tips
A person who wants to take the Berlin U-Bahn (underground railway) must buy a ticket if he has not got one and validate it before he boards a train. Like Light rail (輕鐵) stations in Hong Kong, U-Bahn stations in Berlin are not built with ticket barriers that stop people having no tickets from boarding trains. Passengers are taken to be so responsible or honest as not to use transport services without a valid ticket or pass.
■ English highway﹕ obligated
If you are obligated to do something, you have a moral or legal duty to do it.
e.g. Dr Panda felt obligated to stop Eason's misbehaviour.
■ Glossary
evade (v) 逃避
fine (v) 處……以罰款
validate (v) 使……生效
ticket barrier (n) 驗票閘門
