四级复习资料大全阅读(13)

　　Passage 3

　　Some cynical experts feel that the automobile is bound to fall into disuse. They see a day in the not-too-distant future when all autos will be abandoned. Other authorities, however, think the auto is here to stay. They hold that the car will remain a leading means of city travel in the immediate future.

　　The motorcar will undoubtedly change significantly over the next 30 years. It should become smaller, safer, and more economical, and should not be powered by the gasoline engine. The car of the future should be far more pollution-free than present models.

　　Regardless of its power source, the auto in the future will still be the main source of traffic congestion in cities. One proposed solution to this problem is the computerized highway system.

　　When the auto enters the highway system, a retractable arm will drop from the auto and make contact with a rail, which is similar to those powering subway trains electrically. Once attached to the rail, the car will become electrically powered from the system, and control of the vehicle will pass to a central computer. The computer will then monitor all of the cars movements.

　　The driver will use a telephone to dial instructions about his destination into the system. The computer will calculate the best route, and reserve space for the car all the way to the correct exit from the highway. The driver will then be free to relax and wait for the buzzer that will warn him of his coming exit. It is estimated that a computerized highway will be able to handle 10,000 vehicles per hour, compared with the 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles that can be carried by a present-day highway.

　　11. One significant improvement in the future car will probably be ________.

　　its power source

　　its driving system

　　its monitoring system

　　its seating capacity

　　12. What is the authors main concern?

　　How to make automobiles pollution-free

　　How to abandon automobiles in the future.

　　How to solve the problem of traffic jams.

　　How to develop a computerized subway system.

　　13. What provides autos with electric power in a computerized highway system?

　　A rail.

　　An engine.

　　A retractable arm.

　　A computer controller.

　　14. In a computerized highway system, all the driver needs to do is ________.

　　keep in the right lane

　　wait to arrive at his destination

　　keep in constant touch with the computer center

　　inform the system of his destination by phone

　　15. What is the authors attitude toward the future of autos?

　　Enthusiastic. Cynical. Optimistic. Cautious.