Driverlesscars⽆⼈驾驶汽车my favourite food
t out
什么样的汽车不需要司机就可以在道路上驰骋？随着不断发展⾰新的技术，⽬前已有越来越多的公司决定接受研发⽆⼈驾驶汽车的挑战。驾驶员这⼀⾓⾊在未来会成为过去式吗？本期《随⾝英语》讨论⾃动汽车这⼀概念的历史、现状及发展前景。
美国大选结果公布时间课⽂内容
Vocabulary: driverless cars 词汇：⽆⼈驾驶汽车
As the relentlesspaceof technology continues to advance, companies must adaptor get left behind. One of the key areas of contentionthe days is the driverless car. Autonomouscars have long been featured in science fiction movies and books, but in recent years they have moved from a pipe dreamto a reality.
The development of the autonomous car actually started in the 1920s, but it wasn't until the 1980s that the first prototypeswere successfully created, one of which was designed by Mercedes-Benz.
Since then the technology has gone from strength to strengthand the days many companies are jumping on the bandwagon. Uber is the latest to announce its plan to unrolla fleet of driverless cars. It f
usually什么意思ollows Apple and Ford, who have announced similar plans, and Google and Tesla, who already have autonomous cars on the road.
Two questions ari: Do we really need them? And are they really safe? Advocatesof driverless cars would argue 'yes' to both. Vehicularautonomy, if perfected, could lead to much safer road conditions for all, lower insurance costs and enhance mobilityfor the elderly, the sick and tho with disabilities. They would also allow roads to increa their capacitybetween 200 – 400%.
Perfection, though, ems to be just out of reachat the moment. To date Google's lf-driving car, launched in 2012, has had 14 minor accidents. Even wor, Tesla's Autopilot has caud one fatalityin 2015, where the vehicle simply did not e the obstacle.
While the technology exists, driverless cars and full vehicular autonomy is still embryonic. That said, you can rest assured that further development in the field is inevitable. And what’s the future? Well, George Marcus, co-founder of Geometric Intelligence – Uber's autonomous development department – imagines a world of flying cars taking us to work. He says "They're going to allow people to take long commutes at 75 or 150 mph where you'd otherwi get stuck in traffic. It's really, in a not-too-distant future, going to be something that is practical." Wouldn't that be fine?
栏杆英文
词汇表
relentless 持续不断的
pace 步伐
adapt 适应，改变
contention 争议，争论
autonomous ⽆⼈驾驶的，⾃动的
pipe dream 幻想，不现实的计划
prototype （机器、⼯业产品等）原型
go from strength to strength ⽇益强⼤，蒸蒸⽇上
jumping on the bandwagon 跟风，紧跟潮流忠犬八公的故事电影
unroll 公开展⽰，发布
a fleet of cars ⼀组车队
advocates 拥护者，提倡者
vehicular autonomy 车辆⾃动驾驶（技术）assisted
mobility ⾏动能⼒
capacity 负荷
out of reach 遥不可及的
fatality 死亡事故
embryonic 未成熟的，初期的
inevitable 必然会发⽣的
测验与练习
1. 阅读课⽂并回答问题。
1. Which two car companies already have driverless cars on the road?
2. True or Fal: Mercedes-Benz created the first driverless car prototype.
3. What advantages will driverless cars bring to society?
4. Are driverless cars 100% safe?
5. Which expression in the text means not maintain progress with?
2. 请你在不参考课⽂的情况下完成下列练习。选择⼀个意思合适的单词填⼊句⼦的空格处。
1. I'll never make enough money to go to the moon. It's just a ______.
prototype fleet bandwagon pipe dreamwords
2. I can't get around like I ud to. I just don't have the ______ anymore.
autonomy mobility contention fatality
3. The tiger was ______ in its pursuit of the deer. It followed it over miles of country.
pace inevitable relentless embryonic
4. It is believed that there has been at least one _________ in last night's train crash. fatality out of reach adapt advocate
5. I am a feminist so of cour I'm an ______ of equal pay for women!
contention mobility autonomy advocate
答案
1. 阅读课⽂并回答问题。
1. Which two car companies already have driverless cars on the road?
Google and Tesla, who already have autonomous cars on the road.
2. True or Fal: Mercedes-Benz created the first driverless car prototype.
Fal. ONE was designed by Mercedes-Benz.
3. What advantages will driverless cars bring to society?
Much safer road conditions for all, lower insurance costs and enhance mobility for the elderly, the sick and tho with disabilities. They would also allow roads to increa their capacity between 200 – 400%.
4. Are driverless cars 100% safe?
数据线的英文No. Google's lf-driving car, launched in 2012, has had 14 minor accidents. Tesla's Autopilot has caud one fatality in 2015.
5. Which expression in the text means not maintain progress with?
'Get left behind'.
2. 请你在不参考课⽂的情况下完成下列练习。选择⼀个意思合适的单词填⼊句⼦的空格处。
八年级上册英语听力1. I'll never make enough money to go to the moon. It's just a pipe dream.
2. I can't get around like I ud to. I just don't have the mobilityanymore.
3. The tiger was relentlessin its pursuit of the deer. It followed it over miles of country.
4. It is believed that there has been at least one fatalityin last night's train crash.
5. I am a feminist so of cour I'm an advocateof equal pay for women!
