题目内容
In many parts of the world，cars play an important role in daily life and many societies would not exist without them．So the idea that in 20 years’ time, no one will own cars may be hard to believe．But this is the prediction made by a team of transport researchers who are taken seriously, not only by government but also by ear manufacturers．
The Human Science and Advanced Technology Institute at Loughborough in the UK is part of an international research program．The team there believes that by 2020 all cars will be computerized，which will mean much saving，no accidents and better use of roads，The super-intelligent car of the 21st century will drive itself, and it will not be owned by one individual．Instead，we will have a choice of cars and change them as frequently as we change our clothing．
According to Dr．David Davis，who leads the research team，these predictions are based on the rising cost of the car culture，which had blocked up our cities，polluted our air, and caused more deaths than both world wars put together．
Davis says，cars will be fitted with some intelligent devices to regulate the distance between one car and another．The car will automatically speed up，or slow down，to match the speed of the car in front．Computers are much safer drivers than people，so cars in a road train will be able to drive much closer together than cars driven by people．
By 2010，Dr．David Davis believes，car technology will give motorists a clear view of the road，whatever the weather conditions，by projecting an image of the road ahead on to the car’s windscreen．And by 2020，cars will travel in convoy, linked to each other electronically．Cars will be connected by an electronic tow bar to the car in front to form “road-trains”．“The front vehicle in such a train burns the normal amount．”says Davis．‘‘ But all the others in the train would burn about ten percent of the normal amount，and so produce about ten percent of the pollution．’’
1．We know from the passage that governments and car manufacturers_______．
A．consider the predictions seriously
B．are devoted to the technological revolution in car industry
C．do not believe the prediction that no one will own cars by 2020
D．have put the super-intelligent car into mass production
2．Which of the following will be the characteristic of the cars of 2020?
A．The car will speed up out of control．
B．We will own as many cars as we want．
C，All cars will be driven by computers．
D．Cars will produce more pollution than present ones．
3．The leader of the research team believes that the present car culture will change because ________．
A．cars play a very important role in daily life
B．many societies would stop functioning without cars
C．cars should not be owned by one individual
D．it causes many deaths to human society
4． The expression closest in meaning to the phrase “in convoy” in the last paragraph is________．
A．in line B．sidelong
C．side by side D．shoulder to shoulder
5．What will happen if cars are joined to each other electronically in 2020?
A．Motorists will get a clear view of the road．
B．There will be less pollution caused by car.
C．The weather condition will not have effect on motorists．
D．All trains will burn less fuel than present．
ACDAB
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ractical legal advice to support to a busy, demanding clientele of traders.My father is a smart man. He spent many years of his life listening to people’s arguments, first as assistant district lawyer and then as a judge. My dad knows rubbish rhetoric when he hears it.
One of his favorite phrases is: “If you don’t have anything smart to say, then don’t say it at all.” Yet, for all of his legal training and life experience, he can’t help but keep talking about the Mega Millions jackpot.
We all know the odds(几率)of winning the jackpot this evening with one ticket are extraordinarily low ... 1 in 175, 711, 536, to be exact. Still, people go out and buy hundreds of tickets with the hopes of becoming wealthier beyond their dreams. Why? There are two possible explanations for this “irrationality”(不理智).
One idea is that the way we calculate odds in our heads has nothing to do with mathematical odds in the traditional sense. We don’t go to the mathematical odds table and say, “Well, this would be a terrible investment. I think I’m better off putting my money in the bank!” Rather, it has everything with the ability to picture an event happening.
My father, for instance, watches the news every night and sees people winning the lottery(彩票). Therefore, he thinks the chance of him winning the lottery is much higher than they actually are.
The second thought is that the expected effect of playing cannot be represented merely by the odds. My father and, I’m sure, others get a thrill from the mere idea of winning. He loves imagining what it would be like to actually win and losing doesn’t really affect him. Sure, he’s disappointed, but it’s “better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” When you combine the utility of thinking you can win with the utility of actually winning (no matter how small the chance of that occurring), it’s worth it for many people to spend the one dollar on a ticket.
My analysis is that both factors are at play in taking a chance on the lottery. My father and others really do underestimate the odds of winning, but the thrill of participation is not denied by a realistic assessment of the odds. Still, I would probably put my finger on the scale for the first explanation.
All told, a review of the odds of other events happening confirms that there just aren’t many events that occur with less frequency than your winning the Mega Millions jackpot. Look at the graph below, you may understand some:
In many ways, it’s like the lottery, something that features often on television and about which people fantasize, but that rarely happens.
So, when you watch, along with my Pa, to see if your lucky number is drawn this evening, keep in mind three things: that your number almost certainly won’t come up; that you are still going to have fun; and that, finally, a lot of other things are more likely to happen—but getting eaten by a shark isn’t one of them.
【小题1】It can be learned from the article that ________.
| A．the Mega Millions jackpot is the last lottery to win in the world |
| B．a judge in that country can’t talk about lottery because it is illegal |
| C．the writer doesn’t buy lottery, for he never hopes to become rich |
| D．In spite of little possibility, a lot of people spend money on lottery |
| A．show chances that those things take place are fewer |
| B．support the writer’s arguments on the lottery tickets |
| C．indicate no one can win the Mega Millions jackpot |
| D．say shark attack death will seldom happen this year |
| A．If one has mathematical odds, he can win the prize more easily. |
| B．Only those who have irrationality buy hundreds of lottery tickets. |
| C．The Mega Millions jackpot is very popular in the writer’s country. |
| D．Winning lottery is a shortcut to achieve the dream of being rich. |
| A．effective | B．ridiculous | C．contradictory | D．astonishing |
| A．The Popular Mega Millions Jackpot | B．Lottery is Merely a Trick |
| C．Mega Million is Like a Shark Attack | D．Be rich, Buy Lottery Soon |
