A (2018·北京卷·D)
Preparing Cities for Robot Cars
The possibility of selfdriving robot cars has often seemed like a futurist's dream, years away from materializing in the real world. Well, the future is apparently now. The California Department of Motor Vehicles began giving permits in April for companies to test truly selfdriving cars on public roads. The state also cleared the way for companies to sell or rent out selfdriving cars, and for companies to operate driverless taxi services. California, it should be noted, isn't leading the way here. Companies have been testing their vehicles in cities across the country. It's hard to predict when driverless cars will be everywhere on our roads. But however long it takes, the technology has the potential to change our transportation systems and our cities, for better or for worse, depending on how the transformation is regulated.
While much of the debate so far has been focused on the safety of driverless cars(and rightfully so), policymakers also should be talking about how selfdriving vehicles can help reduce traffic jams, cut emissions (排放) and offer more convenient, affordable mobility options. The arrival of driverless vehicles is a chance to make sure that those vehicles are environmentally friendly and more shared.
Do we want to copy — or even worsen — the traffic of today with driverless cars? Imagine a future where most adults own individual selfdriving vehicles. They tolerate long, slow journeys to and from work on packed highways because they can work，entertain themselves or sleep on the ride, which encourages urban spread. They take their driverless car to an appointment and set the empty vehicle to circle the building to avoid paying for parking. Instead of walking a few blocks to pick up a child or the dry cleaning, they send the selfdriving minibus. The convenience even leads fewer people to take public transport — an unwelcome side effect researchers have already found in ridehailing (叫车) services.
A study from the University of California at Davis suggested that replacing petrolpowered private cars worldwide with electric, selfdriving and shared systems could reduce carbon emissions from transportation 80% and cut the cost of transportation infrastructure(基础设施) and operations 40% by 2050.Fewer emissions and cheaper travel sound pretty appealing. The first commercially available driverless cars will almost certainly be fielded by ridehailing services, considering the cost of selfdriving technology as well as liability and maintenance issues (责任与维护问题). But driverless car ownership could increase as the prices drop and more people become comfortable with the technology.
Policymakers should start thinking now about how to make sure the appearance of driverless vehicles doesn't extend the worst aspects of the carcontrolled transportation system we have today. The coming technological advancement presents a chance for cities and states to develop transportation systems designed to move more people, and more affordably. The car of the future is coming. We just have to plan for it.
【语篇解读】 本文是一篇议论文。文章主要讨论了有关无人驾驶汽车的发展前景和面临的问题。
1．According to the author, attention should be paid to how driverless cars can ________.
A．help deal with transportationrelated problems
B．provide better services to customers
C．cause damage to our environment
D．make some people lose jobs
A [细节理解题。根据第二段第一句“While much of the debate so far has been focused on the safety...offer more convenient, affordable mobility options.”可知，人们对无人驾驶汽车的关注点在于其安全性以及有助于减少交通拥堵等方面。故选A。]
2．As for driverless cars, what is the author's major concern?
A．Safety. B．Side effects.
C．Affordability. D．Management.
D [推理判断题。根据最后一段第一句“Policymakers should start thinking now about ... the carcontrolled transportation system we have today.”并结合上文内容可知，作者希望政策的制定者要考虑这些无人驾驶车辆的管理，不要扩大现有汽车管理运输系统中的最糟糕的方面，故选D。]
3．What does the underlined word “fielded” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A．Employed. B．Replaced.
C．Shared. D．Reduced.
A [词义猜测题。根据第四段中画线词所在句的前半部分内容“The first commercially available driverless cars will almost certainly”并结合下句中“as the prices drop and more people become comfortable with the technology”可知，随着价格的降低以及人们对这项技术开始应用自如，第一批上市的无人驾驶车辆会“被应用”到“叫车服务”中。故选A。]
4．What is the author's attitude to the future of selfdriving cars?
A．Doubtful. B．Positive.
C．Disapproving. D．Sympathetic.
B [观点态度题。根据最后一段最后两句“The car of the future is coming. We just have to plan for it.”可知，无人驾驶车辆的时代马上来到，准备好迎接它的到来吧。由此推断作者对于这种新科技持积极乐观的态度。]
