The United States is a nation of car owners. Ninety-five percent of households own a car, and 85 percent of people get to work in one. This lifestyle contributes to congestion on our roads and damages the environment. As autonomous vehicles begin to hit the streets over the next decade or so, it's believed that all this will change.
Autonomous vehicles will most likely decrease the number and severity of crashes, allow cars to travel more closely together and improve cooperation between vehicles, all of which tend to reduce traffic jams and increase capacity.
However, this future is not assured. To realize the full potential benefits of driverless cars, we will have to act soon to encourage a culture in which transportation is shared. Many people in the automobile industry assume that driverless vehicles will automatically be shared, but there is little evidence that this is true. Most estimates suggest that driverless cars will eventually be only slightly more expensive than traditional cars, which means they'll be within reach of many consumers, so users are not willing to share rides.
If most people are going to buy-in to a shared-ride culture, they need to get a significant benefit. Saving a few dollars off the fare isn't likely to promote the movement dramatically. A better benefit would be knowing that you're going to reach your destination more quickly. The way to guarantee quick passage is to redesign our roads to give priority to ride-sharing autonomous vehicles like building priority lanes. The cost of travel will also be varied based on how efficiently a vehicle uses the roads. Autonomous vehicles carrying multiple people should get higher priority than those carrying one or none at all.
Decision-makers must push for incentives that encourage the most efficient use of our limited roadway infrastructure(基础设施). The autonomous future is rapidly approaching; it is critical that we act now, while the impacts of autonomous vehicles on traffic jams and emissions are still largely within our control.
【小题1】What's the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To introduce the topic. |
| B．To tell the severe traffic problem. |
| C．To prove the necessity of autonomous vehicles. |
| D．To show the damage of cars to the environment. |
| A．Autonomous vehicles worsen traffic jams on roads. |
| B．Autonomous vehicles are likely to reduce traffic jams. |
| C．Saving some fares contributes to shared-ride significantly. |
| D．Many people have ridden autonomous vehicles to avoid traffic jams. |
| A．To save a large amount of money. |
| B．To promote the development of science and technology. |
| C．To redesign roads to prioritize car-shared modes. |
| D．To allow you to reach your destination much more quickly. |
| A．Driverless Cars Will Make Our Traffic Problems Worse. |
| B．Autonomous Vehicles Will Make a Difference to Traffic. |
| C．Decision-makers Should Take Some Measures Quickly. |
| D．The Current Situation of Cars in the United States is Serious. |
Traveling by train can be a romantic way to see the world. Since it was one of the original forms of transportation worldwide, here are some fantastic train trips to add to your travel list.
Qinghai-Tibet Railway
Where it goes: Xining to Lhasa
Why not start with the world's highest train ride? The Qinghai-Tiber Railway climbs to great heights of over 16,0000 feet as it snakes trough the Himalayas. The wonderful 1215-mile journey only makes seven stops.
Eurostar
Where it goes: London to/from Paris
Eurostar is a popular way for folks to get from London to Paris, thanks to its quick travel time, but it has another attraction that makes it a great train trip. For 20 minutes, you will actually be riding 150 feet underwater through the famous English Channel.
Trans-Siberian Railway
Where it goes: Moscow to Vladivostok
The Trans-Siberian Railway is another historically famous railroad that should be on your travel list. It is also the world's longest continuous railway. Along the way, you will pass through eight time zones and have plenty of time to see the beautiful Russian countryside.
Glacier Express
Where it goes: St. Moritz to Zermatt in the Swiss Alps
This train ride is a favorite among many, as it's arguably the best way to experience the Swiss Alps. It's much more about the journey than the destination, and it gives new meaning to the term slow travel, taking over seven hours to pass just 180 miles. But it's one of the most scenic train journeys out there, so the slow pace is welcomed.
【小题1】What's special about Eurostar?| A．It passes through the most time zones. | B．It travels underwater for some time. |
| C．It is the highest speed train ride in the world. | D．It offers you beautiful European scenery. |
| A．Qinghai-Tibet Railway. | B．Eurostar. |
| C．Trans-Siberian Railway. | D．Glacier Express. |
| A．A science magazine. | B．A travel brochure. | C．A biography. | D．A textbook. |
My mum is always at work and my sisters are never around, so I have nothing to do. My house is boring. The train lets me escape and explore.
I have been taking the train for five years. I've learned that it's fast and convenient. I live about two miles from the Blue Line Imperial Station. I like taking the train because it gives me freedom.
My favourite place to go is downtown. I take the train to Macy's Plaza in front of the 7th Street Station to do some shopping at Borders or Victoria's Secret, or to get something to eat at the food court. With 25 cents, you can take the DASH bus from the station to get to the Fashion District. Since I like making accessories(首饰) like earrings, love going there because of all the deals on jewelry supplies.
I take the train to the Museum of Contemporary Art with friends on the first Sunday of every month since we can get in for free. We tour around the museum and get to do an art project at the end. like going to the museum because there are a lot of wonderful things.
The cool thing about the train is that it connects to other train lines, which lets you see different parts of the city. The Gold Line runs from Union Station northeast to Pasadena and now east to East LA. The Red Line goes from downtown to Hollywood. The Green Line goes from Norwalk to several beaches. When I don't know how to get somewhere, I go to mta. net, type in my starting point and end point and get times and routes. I hardly ever get lost.
【小题1】We can infer from Paragraph 1 that________.| A．the writer's sisters are always busy with their work |
| B．the writer doesn't get along well with her family |
| C．the writer doesn't know how to kill time |
| D．the writer doesn't like staying at home alone |
| A．To do some shopping. |
| B．To eat pizza. |
| C．To visit her friends. |
| D．To make accessories. |
| A．she often takes a map with her |
| B．she is familiar with every line |
| C．she often has a travel guide with her |
| D．she often refers to a website for bus and train lines |
Getting Around Britain
In Britain, we still calculate distances in miles and we still drive on the left. Many of Britain’s roads follow ancient Roman roads and you have to pay at some old roll（收费）bridges dating back hundreds of years. In London, we still have red double-decker buses and black London taxis. Before they can work, London taxi drivers still have to spend about 18 months learning all about the streets of London to get ‘the knowledge’.
Despite all of this, there are some fantastic ways of getting around the country and enjoying yourself at the same time.
| A．For example, you can go on a cycling holiday. |
| B．However, not everything about British transport is as it used to be fifty years ago. |
| C．Nevertheless, there is one road in London, where you have to drive on the right! |
| D．And even though we invented the railways, our train network is not in a terribly good state. |
| E．If you want something a bit safer and less energetic, go on a narrow boat. |
| F．To sum up, Britain is a country that puts traditional and modern elements together. |
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