Question

【题目】 Google has reported progress in its plan called “Project Loon” to provide Internet service to rural (农村的) areas without Internet connectivity around the world. The company has no plans to use traditional wiring, which can be costly. Instead the idea is to float (漂浮) huge balloons (气球) about 20 kilometers above the surface of the Earth.

The balloons would act like telecommunications satellites, providing Internet service to the rural areas. The huge objects would ride air currents (气流) to either stay in place or move to another position high in the skies. At first, the idea was to have a large number of balloons circling the planet. One balloon would move away from an area while another arrived to ensure service in the affected areas. But the company said it has found a way to make balloons float over one area for a long period. In a report published online, the company said its software “can now send small teams of balloons over a specific area where people need Internet access.”

The company said some of the balloons stayed in the same area for as long as three months. The company also said the discovery should speed up the project and reduce costs: “We’ll reduce the number of balloons we need and get greater value out of each one, they said. But Project Loon workers must still find ways to increase the life of the balloons. A British Broadeasting Corporation report said the longest service for a single balloon was 190 days.

Google has also explored the idea of providing Internet service to rural areas using solar—powered drone aircraft (太阳能无人机). However, it gave up that project because of technological difficulties and high costs.

【1】What’s the aim of the “Project Loon”?

A.To float huge balloons above the rural areas.

B.To help rural areas have access to the Internet.

C.To increase Google’s income in the rural areas.

D.To advertise Google’s new product in the rural areas.

【2】Why wouldn’t Google use traditional wiring?

A.It could be too expensive.

B.It could put off the project.

C.It couldn’t provide greater value.

D.It couldn’t work for a long period

【3】What do we know about the balloons?

A.They must be used in a large number.

B.They could provide service as long as 3 months.

C.They’ll be sent up by solar-powered drone aircrafts.

D.They would work like telecommunications satellites.

【4】What is the passage mainly about?

A.An unexpected discovery.

B.Some unknown facts about balloons.

C.Google’s using balloons to provide Internet service.

D.The differences between the new and traditional wiring.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】B

【2】A

【3】D

【4】C

【解析】

本文是一篇新闻报道，报道了谷歌公司的“Project Loon”项目的进展情况。这个项目旨在向世界各地没有互联网连接的农村地区提供互联网服务。漂浮在空中的气球会像通讯卫星一样，为农村地区提供互联网服务。谷歌公司将会对在空中的气球数量和停留时间作出进一步的改进。

【1】推理判断题。根据第1段“Google has reported progress in its plan called “Project Loon” to provide Internet service to rural (农村的) areas without Internet connectivity around the world”可知，谷歌公司的“气球计划”旨在向世界各地没有互联网连接的农村地区提供互联网服务，以帮助农村地区能够连接到互联网。故选B项。

【2】细节理解题。根据第1段“The company has no plans to use traditional wiring, which can be costly”可知，谷歌公司不计划使用传统的线缆，是因为传统的线缆可能会花费很大。故选A项。

【3】细节理解题。根据第2段“The balloons would act like telecommunications satellites, providing Internet service to the rural areas”可知，这些气球在空中的作用就像通信卫星一样，为农村地区提供互联网服务。故选D项。

【4】主旨大意题。本文介绍了谷歌公司的“Project Loon”项目的进展情况。该项目旨在向世界各地没有互联网连接的农村地区提供互联网服务。文章第一句就是全文主题句。因此文章是关于谷歌公司计划利用气球来给农村地区提供互联网服务。故选C项。