In many parts of the world, cars play an important role in daily life and many societies would not exist without them. So the idea that in 20 years’ time, no one will own cars may be hard to believe. But this is the prediction made by a team of transport researchers who are taken seriously, not only by government but also by car manufacturers.
The Human Science and Advanced Technology Institute at Loughborough in the UK is part of an international research program. The team there believes that by 2020 all cars will be computerized, which will mean much saving, no accidents and better use of roads. The super-intelligent car of the 21st century will drive itself, and it will not be owned by one individual. Instead, we will have a choice of cars and change them as frequently as we change our clothing.
According to Dr. David Davis , who leads the research team, these predictions are based on the rising cost of the car culture, which has blocked up our cities, polluted our air , and caused more deaths than both world wars put together.
Davis says, cars will be fitted with some intelligent devices to regulate the distance between one car and another. The car will automatically speed up, or slow down, to match the speed of the car in front. Computers are much safer drivers than people, so cars in a road train will be able to drive much closer together than cars driven by people.
By 2010, Dr. David Davis believes, car technology will give motorists a clear view of the road, whatever the weather conditions, by projecting an image of the road ahead on to the car’s windscreen. And by 2020, cars will travel in convoy, linked to each other electronically. Cars will be connected by an electronic tow bar to the car in front to form “road–trains”. “The front vehicle in such a train burns the normal amount.” says Davis. “But all the others in the train would burn about ten percent of the normal amount, and so produce about ten percent of the pollution.”
小题1:We know from the passage that governments and car manufacturers _______
A．do not believe the prediction that no one will own cars by 2020
B．are devoted to the technological revolution in car industry
C．consider the predictions seriously
D．have put the super-intelligent car into mass production小题2:Which of the following will be the characteristic of the cars of 2020?
- The car will speed up out of control.
- We will own as many cars as we want.
- All cars will be driven by computers.
- Cars will produce more pollution than present ones.
小题3:The leader of the research team believes that the present car culture should change because_________.
- cars play a very important role in daily life
- many societies would stop functioning without cars
- cars should not be owned by one individual
- it causes many deaths to human society
小题4:The expression closest in meaning to the phrase “in convoy” in the last paragraph is________.
A．in line
B．sidelong
C．side by side
D．shoulder to shoulder小题5:What will happen if cars are joined to each other electronically in 2020?
- Motorists will get a clear view of the road.
- The weather condition will not have effect on motorists.
- There will be less pollution caused by car.
- All trains will burn less fuel than present.