Global Positioning Systems are now a part of everyday driving in many countries. These satellite-based systems provide turn-by-turn directions to help people get to where they want to go. But, they can also cause a lot of problems, send you to the wrong place or leave you completely lost. Many times, the driver is to blame. Sometimes a GPS error is responsible. Most often, says Barry Brown, it is a combination of the two.
We spoke to Mr. Brown by Skype. He told us about an incident involving a friend who had flown to an airport in the eastern United States. There he borrowed a GPS-equipped car to use during his stay. Barry Brown: “And they just plugged in an address and then set off to their destination. And, then it wasn’t until they were driving for thirty minutes that they realized they actually put in a destination back on the West Coast where they lived. They actually put their home address in. So again, the GPS is kind of 'garbage in garbage out'.”
Mister Brown says this is a common human error. But, he says, what makes the problem worse has to do with some of the shortcomings, or failures, of GPS equipment. Barry Brown: “One problem with a lot of the GPS units is they have a very small screen and they just tell you the next turn. Because they just give you the next turn, sometimes that means that it is not really giving you the overview that you would need to know that it’s going to the wrong place.”
Barry Brown formerly served as a professor with the University of California, San Diego. While there, he worked on a project with Eric Laurier from the University of Edinburgh. The two men studied the effects of GPS devices on driving by placing cameras in people’s cars. They wrote a paper based on their research. It is called “The Normal, Natural Troubles of Driving with GPS.” It lists several areas where GPS systems can cause confusion for drivers. These include maps that are outdated, incorrect or difficult to understand. They also include timing issues related to when GPS commands are given.
Barry Brown says to make GPS systems better we need a better understanding of how drivers, passengers and GPS systems work together.
【小题1】In Paragraph 2, Mr. Brown mentioned his friend in the conversation to _____________.

A.build up his own reputation
B.laugh at his stupid friend
C.prove the GPS system is only garbage
D.describe an example of human error
【小题2】With which of the following statement would Barry Brown most likely agree?
A.GPS units are to blame for the most GPS service failures.
B.We should introduce higher standard for the driving license.
C.Cameras are urgently needed to help improve GPS systems.
D.Drivers, GPS systems and passengers should unite to improve GPS systems.
【小题3】What is Mr. Brown’s attitude towards GPS?
A.UnconcernedB.PrejudicedC.ObjectiveD.Critical
【小题4】What would be the best title for the text?
A.driving with GPS can be difficult
B.driving confusions can be caused by small screen
C.driving without GPS should be much more convenient
D.GPS equipment in driving: to be deserted or improved?

There are many differences between British English and American English.I used to teach a course about the differences between the two.We speak English on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean but we have many differences in our common language.We have examples of the same words having very d ifferent meanings,differing spellings of the same words as well as completely different words for the same things.Here are some examples.

A cookie in the US is called a biscuit in the UK.A biscuit in the US is a small cake in the UK.Crisps in the UK,are known as chips,but we British people eat a plate of chips that you call fries in the US.In the UK,a pie can be made from either meat or fruit,while in the US pies are normally made from fruit;pot pies are made from meat.Most things are measured in grams and kilograms in the US,not pounds and ounces.

One very obvious(明显的)difference is the side of the road we each choose to drive on.Petrol in the UK is gas in the US.The place where we fill up our cars,in the UK,is a garage;while in the US,it’s a gas station.The term garage is also used as a place to store your car next to or close by your house.In the UK we call a lorry what is known as a truck in the US.

An elevator in the US is called a lift here,and the first floor in the US,is calle d the ground floor here,so many visitors get off on the wrong floor in British hotels.

I could continue with this. There are countless examples of differences within our one shared language.With so many differences,no wonder it’s hard to understand each other well.

1.The passage is mainly about the differences between British English and American English in________.

A.vocabulary           B.grammar         C.sound         D.spelling

2.It’s implied in the passage that the author may be________.

A.a driver from the US

B.a cook from the US

C.a teacher from the UK

D.a gas station worker from the UK

3.In the author’s opinion,________.

A.language differences don’t affect understanding

B.the same words in the two different types of English may have different spellings

C.there will be fewer differences between American and British English in the future

D.it is impossible that some Americans get off on the wrong floor in British hotels

4.What can we learn from the passage?

A.“Elevator”is commonly used in the UK.

B.Pies mean the same thing in the UK and the US.

C.In the UK,things are measured in pounds and ounces. 

D.British and American people drive on the same side of the road.

 

Global Positioning Systems are now a part of everyday driving in many countries. These satellite-based systems provide turn-by-turn directions to help people get to where they want to go. But, they can also cause a lot of problems, send you to the wrong place or leave you completely lost. Many times, the driver is to blame. Sometimes a GPS error is responsible. Most often, says Barry Brown, it is a combination of the two.

We spoke to Mr. Brown by Skype. He told us about an incident involving a friend who had flown to an airport in the eastern United States. There he borrowed a GPS-equipped car to use during his stay. Barry Brown: “And they just plugged in an address and then set off to their destination. And, then it wasn’t until they were driving for thirty minutes that they realized they actually put in a destination back on the West Coast where they lived. They actually put their home address in. So again, the GPS is kind of 'garbage in garbage out'.”

Mister Brown says this is a common human error. But, he says, what makes the problem worse has to do with some of the shortcomings, or failures, of GPS equipment. Barry Brown: “One problem with a lot of the GPS units is they have a very small screen and they just tell you the next turn. Because they just give you the next turn, sometimes that means that it is not really giving you the overview that you would need to know that it’s going to the wrong place.”

Barry Brown formerly served as a professor with the University of California, San Diego. While there, he worked on a project with Eric Laurier from the University of Edinburgh. The two men studied the effects of GPS devices on driving by placing cameras in people’s cars. They wrote a paper based on their research. It is called “The Normal, Natural Troubles of Driving with GPS.” It lists several areas where GPS systems can cause confusion for drivers. These include maps that are outdated, incorrect or difficult to understand. They also include timing issues related to when GPS commands are given.

Barry Brown says to make GPS systems better we need a better understanding of how drivers, passengers and GPS systems work together.

1.In Paragraph 2, Mr. Brown mentioned his friend in the conversation to _____________.

A.build up his own reputation

B.laugh at his stupid friend

C.prove the GPS system is only garbage

D.describe an example of human error

2.With which of the following statement would Barry Brown most likely agree?

A.GPS units are to blame for the most GPS service failures.

B.We should introduce higher standard for the driving license.

C.Cameras are urgently needed to help improve GPS systems.

D.Drivers, GPS systems and passengers should unite to improve GPS systems.

3.What is Mr. Brown’s attitude towards GPS?

A.Unconcerned      B.Prejudiced         C.Objective         D.Critical

4.What would be the best title for the text?

A.driving with GPS can be difficult

B.driving confusions can be caused by small screen

C.driving without GPS should be much more convenient

D.GPS equipment in driving: to be deserted or improved?

 

There are many differences between British English and American English.I used to teach a course about the differences between the two.We speak English on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean but we have many differences in our common language.We have examples of the same words having very d ifferent meanings,differing spellings of the same words as well as completely different words for the same things.Here are some examples.
A cookie in the US is called a biscuit in the UK.A biscuit in the US is a small cake in the UK.Crisps in the UK,are known as chips,but we British people eat a plate of chips that you call fries in the US.In the UK,a pie can be made from either meat or fruit,while in the US pies are normally made from fruit;pot pies are made from meat.Most things are measured in grams and kilograms in the US,not pounds and ounces.
One very obvious(明显的)difference is the side of the road we each choose to drive on.Petrol in the UK is gas in the US.The place where we fill up our cars,in the UK,is a garage;while in the US,it’s a gas station.The term garage is also used as a place to store your car next to or close by your house.In the UK we call a lorry what is known as a truck in the US.
An elevator in the US is called a lift here,and the first floor in the US,is calle d the ground floor here,so many visitors get off on the wrong floor in British hotels.
I could continue with this. There are countless examples of differences within our one shared language.With so many differences,no wonder it’s hard to understand each other well

  1. 1.

    The passage is mainly about the differences between British English and American English in________

    1. A.
      vocabulary
    2. B.
      grammar
    3. C.
      sound
    4. D.
      spelling
  2. 2.

    It’s implied in the passage that the author may be________

    1. A.
      a driver from the US
    2. B.
      a cook from the US
    3. C.
      a teacher from the UK
    4. D.
      a gas station worker from the UK
  3. 3.

    In the author’s opinion,________

    1. A.
      language differences don’t affect understanding
    2. B.
      the same words in the two different types of English may have different spellings
    3. C.
      there will be fewer differences between American and British English in the future
    4. D.
      it is impossible that some Americans get off on the wrong floor in British hotels
  4. 4.

    What can we learn from the passage?

    1. A.
      “Elevator”is commonly used in the UK
    2. B.
      Pies mean the same thing in the UK and the US
    3. C.
      In the UK,things are measured in pounds and ounces
    4. D.
      British and American people drive on the same side of the road

违法和不良信息举报电话:027-86699610 举报邮箱:58377363@163.com

精英家教网