Motoring Technology

　　1.2 million road deaths worldwide occur each year,plus a further 50 million injuries.To reduce car crash rate,much research now is focused on safety and new fuels-though some electric vehicle and biofuel research aims at going faster.

　　Travelling at speed has always been dangerous.One advanced area of research in motoring safety is the use of digital in-car assistants.They can ensure you don’t miss important road signs or fall asleep.Most crashes result from human and not mechanical faults.

　　Some safety developments aim to improve your vision.Radar can spot obstacles in fog,while other technology“sees through”big vehicles blocking your view.

　　And improvements to seat belts,pedal(脚踏)controls and tyres are making driving smoother and safer.The colour of a car has been found to be linked with safety,as have,less surprisingly,size and shape.

　　But whatever is in the fuel tank,you don’t want a thief in the driving seat and there have been many innovations(创新).Satellite tracking and remote communications can also come into play if you crash,automatically calling for help.

　　Accidents cause many traffic jams,but there are more subtle interplays between vehicles that can cause jams even on a clear but busy road.Such jams can be analyzed using statistical tools.Robotic drivers could be programmed to make traffic flow smoothly and will perhaps one day be everyons’s personal chauffeur(司机),but their latest efforts suggest that won’t be soon.

　　1.To reduce car crash rate,many scientists are working hard to

　　A.design fully automatic cars.

　　B.develop faster electric vehicles.

　　C.analyze road deaths occurring worldwide each year.

　　D.improve the safety of cars and develop new fuels.

　　2.According to the second paragraph,most road accidents happen due to

　　A.heavy traffic.

　　B.human mistakes.

　　C.engine failure.

　　D.bad weather.

　　3.Which of the following safety developments is NOT mentioned in the passage?

　　A.Windscreens that can help drivers to improve their vision.

　　B.Radars that can help drivers to see obstacles in fog.

　　C.Devices that can help drivers to see through big vehicles.

　　D.Improvements in seat belts,pedal controls and tyres.

　　4.Satellite tracking and remote communication systems cna be used to

　　A.reduce oil consumption.

　　B.remove the obstacles on the road.

　　C.call for help when one’s car crashes.

　　D.help drivers get out of a traffic jam.

　　5.Which of the following statements is true of robotic drivers?

　　A.It will take some time before robotic drivers are available.

　　B.Robotic drivers are not allowed to driveon busy roads.

　　C.Robotic drivers can never replace human drivers.

　　D.Robotic drivers are too expensive to use.

　　参考答案：D、B、A、C、A

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