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Some pessimistic experts feel that the automobile is bound to fall into disuse. They see a day in the not-too-distant future when all autos will be abandoned and allowed to rust. Other authorities, however, think the auto is here to stay. They hold that the car will remain a leading means of urban travel in the foreseeable future.

The motorcar will undoubtedly change significantly over the next 30 years. It should become smaller, safer, and more economical, and should not be powered by the gasoline engine. The car of the future should be far more pollution-free than present types.

Regardless of its power source, the auto in the future will still be the main problem in urban traffic congestion（拥挤）. One proposed solution to this problem is the automated highway system.

When the auto enters the highway system, a retractable（可伸缩的）arm will drop from the auto and make contact with a rail, which is similar to those powering subway trains electrically. Once attached to the rail, the car will become electrically powered from the system, and control of the vehicle will pass to a central computer. The computer will then monitor all of the car's movements.

The driver will use a telephone to dial instructions about his destination into the system. The computer will calculate the best route, and reserve space for the car all the way to the correct exit from the highway. The driver will then be free to relax and wait for the buzzer（蜂鸣器）that will warn him of his coming exit. It is estimated that an automated highway will be able to handle 10,000 vehicles per hour, compared with the 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles that can be carried by a present-day highway.

1．One significant improvement in the future car will probably be____.

A．its power source

B．its driving system

C．its monitoring system

D．its seating capacity

2．What is the author's main concern?

A．How to render automobiles pollution free.

B．How to make smaller and safer automobiles.

C．How to solve the problem of traffic jams.

D．How to develop an automated subway system.

3．What provides autos with electric power in an automated highway system?

A．A rail.

B．An engine.

C．A retractable arm.

D．A computer controller.

4．In an automated highway system, all the driver needs to do is to____.

A．keep in the right lane

B．wait to arrive at his destination

C．keep in constant touch with the computer center

D．inform the system of his destination by phone

5．What is the author's attitude toward the future of autos?

A．Enthusiastic.

B．Pessimistic.

C．Optimistic.

D．Cautious.

1．【答案】A

【精析】文章第二段对未来汽车的可能发展做了展望：“It should become smaller, safer, and more economical, and should not be powered by the gasoline engine. The car of the future should be far more pollution-free than present types.”这里提到了5种可能的情况，包括大小（smaller）、安全性（safer）、经济性（more economical）、动力来源（not be powered by the gasoline engine）、环保性（more pollution-free）。四个选项中只有A项与其中一种情况一致，因此选A项。

2．【答案】C

【精析】从文章第三段第一句“...the auto in the future will still be the main problem in urban traffic congestion”可知，作者主要关心的还是如何解决交通堵塞的问题。因此C项为正确答案。

3．【答案】A

【精析】从文章第四段的叙述“...and make contact with a rail... Once attached to the rail...the car will become electrically powered from the system...”可知，A项为正确答案。

4．【答案】D

【精析】从文章最后一段第一句“The driver will use a telephone to dial instructions about his destination in to the system.”（在计算机监控系统下，司机将通过电话告诉系统自己的目的地。）可知，D项为正确答案。

5．【答案】C

【精析】通读全文可以推断，由于计算机监控系统的使用，作者对汽车的前景是持乐观态度的，因此正确答案为C项。