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 car 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 21^st 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 bum about ten percent 0f the normal amount, and so produce about ten percent of the pollution.”
【小题1】 We know from the passage that governments and car manufacturers        .

A. in line         B. sidelong

C. side by side     D. shoulder to shoulder

Art is everywhere in our lives.Every man?made object is linked with art—a house，a motor car，a bridge，a chair，a teapot，or a piece of cloth.Throughout history，humans have made articles for a wide variety of purposes；generally for everyday practical requirements.The style of practical objects reflects the outlook and the spirit of the times in which they are made and in consequence style is constantly changing.

It seems that humans possess a natural urge to improve constructed objects with decoration：sometimes for beautification，sometimes for religious reasons，sometimes to show off their wealth and power，and sometimes to tell a story.Decoration is not art in itself.Unnecessary decoration can ruin the form and perhaps the function of an object，but when decoration is used with care，it can beautify，produce variety，and add interest.

The first essential(要点) in every creation is that it should properly fulfil its purpose；for instance，a teapot should pour perfectly，an easy chair should provide comfortable relaxation，a block of flats should be a pleasant place in which to live，and a factory or commercial building should be a suitable building in which to work.

The second essential is that an object should please the eye with its form，line，proportion(比例)，colour and texture(质地)，and it should be capable of inspiring the emotions.For example，contemporary furniture designers must think of form，function and structure，and have taken their lead from the outstanding Scandinavian designs of Denmark，Finland and Sweden，whose preference was for simple functional furniture to suit the architectural environment of the day.Heavy furniture is no longer desirable，and by contrast，modern furniture is often characterised by its good proportion，pleasing lines，simple fittings and attractive structures.

Motor vehicles are a perfect example of how design has changed to suit function.Early car design was greatly influenced by the horse?drawn carriage，but today we find functional design satisfying every requirement of practical use and good appearance.Designs in the 1980s and 1990s included streamlining(流线型) to reduce wind resistance in fast?moving vehicles，and，at the same time，satisfy an important art principle—rhythm.But the cars of today，often half size of their predecessors(前身)，have taken the concept of industrial design way beyond simple strength，comfort and beauty.They now include safety and ecological characteristics，reflecting the need to be environmentally friendly through，for example，reduced fuel consumption，while at the same time satisfying the need to be stylish，and appealing to the eye.For many people，the 21st?century car represents the greatest work of art.

1.What point does the writer make about decorating objects?

A．It is something people have always done.

B．It can show the object has a range of functions.

C．It always improves the appearance of an object.

D．It is usually done to make the object more noticeable.

2.The underlined word “fulfil” in Paragraph 3 means “________”．

A．keep? B．find

C．change? D．realize

3.What is the best title for the text?

A．Form Follows Function

B．Life Is Art，Art Is Life

C．Art in Everyday Life

D．The Best Work of Art

There are little cars that may some day take the place of today’s automobiles(汽车). If everyone drives such a little car in the future, there will be less pollution in the air, there will be more parking space in cities, and the streets will be less crowded. The space now for one car of the usual size can hold at least three such little cars.

The little cars will cost much less to own and to drive. Driving will be safer, too, as these little cars can go only 65 kilometers an hour.

The cars of the future will be fine for going around the city, but they will not be useful for going far away. If the car is powered by electricity, it will have two batteries—one battery for the motor and the other for the horn (喇叭), signals (信号灯), etc. Little cars which are powered by gas will go 45 kilometers before needing to stop for more gas.

If big cars are still used along with the small ones, two sets of roads will be needed to set up in the future. Some roads will be used for the big, fast cars, and other roads will be needed for the small, slower ones.

1. What’s the advantage (优势) of the small cars?

A．There won’t be so much pollution and the small cars won’t be so expensive as the big ones.

B．It will be safer to drive these small cars.

C．There will be more space for cars to park.

D．All of the above.

2.  Two sets of roads are necessary in the future in order to      .

A．prevent car accidents

B．make the city more beautiful

C．let small cars run fast

D．limit the speed of the cars

3.  Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．A car of the usual size now is three times as big as the small car.

B．The small car with a speed of 65 kilometers an hour is much more useless than a car of the usual size.

C．the little car will be safer but cost more.

D．The little car will need more gas.

4.  The best title for this passage should be      .

A．Big Cars and Small Cars                   B．How to Drive Small Cars

C．Cars for Tomorrow                      D．Cars for Everyone

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 car 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 21^st 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 bum about ten percent 0f the normal amount, and so produce about ten percent of the pollution.”

1. We know from the passage that governments and car manufacturers        .

2. Which of the following will be the characteristic of the cars of 2020?

3.The leader of the research team believes that the present car culture will change because        .

4.The expression closest in meaning to the phrase “in convoy” in the last paragraph is        .

5. What will happen if cars are joined to each other electronically in 2020？

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, which are taken seriously, not only by government but also by car 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 2030 all cars will be computerized, which will mean much saving, no accidents and better use of roads. The super-intelligent car of the 21^st 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 (自动的) 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 2020. 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 2030, cars will travel in convoy, linked to each other electronically. Cars will be connected to the car in front, just like a train. “The front vehicle in such a train burns the normal amount of fuel.” 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.”

We know from the passage that governments and car manufacturers_______.

A. are devoted to the technological revolution in car industry

B. consider the predictions seriously

C. do not believe the prediction that no one will own cars by 2030

D. have put the super-intelligent car into mass production

Which of the following will be the characteristic of the cars of 2030?

A. The car will speed up out of control.

B. We will own as many cars as we want.

C. Cars will produce more pollution than present ones.

D. All cars will be driven by computers.

The expression closest in meaning to the phrase “in convoy” in the last paragraph is________.

A. sidelong         B. in line    

C. side by side         D. shoulder to shoulder

What will happen if cars are joined to each other electronically in 2020?

A. There will be less pollution caused by car.

B. Motorists will get a clear view of the road.

C. The weather condition will not have effect On motorists.

D. All trains will burn less fuel than present.