Ever driven into a traffic jam just after the guy on the radio said the road was all clear? Or prepared yourself for the crowdedness he warned about only to zip right through?

     A large number of private companies say they have the one thing that can ease such frustrations: better information.

     Now one of those companies, SpeedInfo Inc., has fixed 50 solar--powered, wireless radar sensors along main roads in the District of Columbia that take readings of average traffic speeds twice a minute in both directions.

     The company says the sensors provide a far more accurate picture of road conditions than can be collected from helicopters or highway patrol alerts.

     In a business model that SpeedInfo hopes will develope around the country, the San Jose, California--based company is letting the city use the data for traffic planning free of charge, in exchange for access to the side of the road. Speedlnfo plans to sell the information to paying customers, including broadcasters and companies that provide information for in--car navigation equipment.

The problem with traditional traffic reports is that in most of the country, they rely on highway patrol accident reports that come 30 to 40 minutes late and a few helicopters that get into the sky during rush hour, SpeedInfo Chief Executive Doug Finlay said.

      "Chopper Bill gets in the sky and says, 'Oh, I'm looking at the road and the cars are going slow, "' Finlay said. "Chopper Bill is the best data you got."

     Tim Lomax, a researcher at the Texas Transportation Institute, said a recent increase of high--tech traffic data systems is good for drivers.

      "Even if it doesn't get rid of traffic crowdedness, they at least give people an idea of what sort of choices they're facing and more control over their destiny, which is part of the frustrating element of traffic crowdedness," Lomax said.

 

71. The author uses two questions at the beginning of the passage for the purpose of____________

    A. expecting the readers' reply               B. gathering readers' information

    C. asking the readers' for help                D. introducing the theme

72. SpeedIn{o Inc. has fixed radar sensors in Columbia____________

    A. to provide more accurate road conditions quickly

    B. to have a better idea of passers--byes privacy

    C. to protect the capital from being attacked

    D. to keep an eye on helicopters or highways

73. According to Tim Lomax, ____________

    A. the high--tech traffic data systems is of little use for traffic jam

    B. the Solar--powered sensors can get rid of all traffic problems

    C. the system can cause drivers to be more aware of road conditions

    D. the facilities can change a person's fortune in the near future

74. All the following are true EXCEPT that____________

    A. the city of Washington uses the data for traffic planning for free

    B. broadcasters and companies get the information without pay

    C. highway patrol accident reports often come 30 to 40 minutes late

    D. Finlay tries to persuade people to use their collected data

75. The passage is mainly concerned with____________

    A. solar--powered sensors that provide traffic data

    B. Speedlnfo Inc. that produces radar sensors

    C. a business model that will develope around U. S

   D. the problem that traditional traffic reports ever have

Ever driven into a traffic jam just after the guy on the radio said the road was all clear? Or prepared yourself for the crowdedness he warned about only to zip right through?

A large number of private companies say they have the one thing that can ease such frustrations: better information.

Now one of those companies, SpeedInfo Inc., has fixed 50 solar--powered, wireless radar sensors along main roads in the District of Columbia that take readings of average traffic speeds twice a minute in both directions.

     The company says the sensors provide a far more accurate picture of road conditions than can be collected from helicopters or highway patrol alerts.

     In a business model that SpeedInfo hopes will develop around the country, the San Jose, California--based company is letting the city use the data for traffic planning free of charge, in exchange for access to the side of the road. Speedlnfo plans to sell the information to paying customers, including broadcasters and companies that provide information for in--car navigation equipment.

The problem with traditional traffic reports is that in most of the country, they rely on highway patrol accident reports that come 30 to 40 minutes late and a few helicopters that get into the sky during rush hour, SpeedInfo Chief Executive Doug Finlay said.

"Chopper Bill gets in the sky and says, 'Oh, I'm looking at the road and the cars are going slow, " Finlay said."Chopper Bill is the best data you got."

Tim Lomax, a researcher at the Texas Transportation Institute, said a recent increase of high--tech traffic data systems is good for drivers.

"Even if it doesn't get rid of traffic crowdedness, they at least give people an idea of what sort of choices they're facing and more control over their destiny, which is part of the frustrating element of traffic crowdedness," Lomax said.

1. The author uses two questions at the beginning of the passage for the purpose of____________

    A. expecting the readers' reply               B. gathering readers' information

    C. asking the readers' for help                D. introducing the theme

2. SpeedInfo Inc. has fixed radar sensors in Columbia____________

    A. to provide more accurate road conditions quickly

    B. to have a better idea of passers--byes privacy

    C. to protect the capital from being attacked

    D. to keep an eye on helicopters or highways

3. According to Tim Lomax, ____________

    A. the high--tech traffic data systems is of little use for traffic jam

    B. the Solar--powered sensors can get rid of all traffic problems

    C. the system can cause drivers to be more aware of road conditions

    D. the facilities can change a person's fortune in the near future

4. All the following are true EXCEPT that____________

    A. the city of Washington uses the data for traffic planning for free

    B. broadcasters and companies get the information without pay

    C. highway patrol accident reports often come 30 to 40 minutes late

    D. Finlay tries to persuade people to use their collected data

5. The passage is mainly concerned with____________

    A. solar--powered sensors that provide traffic data

    B. Speedlnfo Inc. that produces radar sensors

    C. a business model that will develop around U. S

D. the problem that traditional traffic reports ever have

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