Question

Taxi-sharing could have a good effect on car numbers.

Taxi-sharing services could reduce the number of cars on the road by 75%,a study has suggested.The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study found that a number of 3,000 four-passenger taxis could take the place of the present number of 13,000 yellow taxis in New York City.But it would mean that people would have to travel with strangers.The study was based on data from 3 million taxi rides.

Most experts who are looking at our city future agree that there is a real need to do something about the heavy traffic.Studies suggest that around the world people waste 7 billion hours each year sitting in traffic.And the effects on the environment are also severe-with cars in traffic burning 3 billion more gallons of gas.

Prof Daniela Rus from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab writes,"Instead of taking one person at a time,drivers could transport two to four people at once,leading to fewer trips in less time to make the same amount of money."The team developed a math method that could arrange cars based on real-time requests."A system like this could allow drivers to work shorter time,while also creating less traffic,cleaner air and less stressful rush hour,"said Prof Rus.Such a system would be particularly suitable for smart cars controlled by computer systems, she added.

1.What's the shortcoming of sharing a taxi?

A. Passengers have to wait longer.

B. Passengers have to face strangers.

C. Passengers have to talk more.

D. Passengers have to pay more.

2.What is the main cause that leads to taxi-sharing?

A. The busy people.    B. The serious pollution.

C. The heavy traffic.    D. The gas shortage.

3.According to Prof Daniela Rus,who can also benefit from taxi-sharing?

A. The gas companies.    B. The math experts.

C. The car producers.    D. The taxi drivers.

4.The taxi-sharing trips had better to be carried out by       .

A. cars controlled by computer systems

B. cars driven by the latest robots

C. the Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab

D. the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.D

4.A

【解析】本文讲述了专家针对交通拥挤的情况采取的措施-共享出租的实行，虽然选择出租车共享服务就意味着人们不得不和陌生人一起旅行，但是共享出租不仅可以缓解现在的交通压力，出租车司机也能从中获益。

1.细节理解题。根据文章第一段“But it would mean that people would have to travel with strangers”可知，选择出租车共享服务就意味着人们不得不和陌生人一起旅行。故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据文章第二段“Most experts who are looking at our city future agree that there is a real need to do something about the heavy traffic”可知，大多数关注我们城市未来的专家都认为，确实需要对交通拥挤的情况采取措施。共享出租就是解决这一问题的措施。故选C。

3.细节理解题。根据文章第三段“Instead of taking one person at a time, drivers could transport two to four people at once, leading to fewer trips in less time to make the same amount of money.”可知，实行出租共享后，司机可以一次运送两到四个人，而不是在同一时间运送两个人到同一个人，这样一来，在更短的时间内就可以挣到同样数量的钱。可见共享出租也为出租车司机带来利益。故选D。

4.细节理解题。根据文章第三段“Such a system would be particularly suitable for smart cars controlled by computer systems”可知，这样一个共享出租智能系统将特别适合由计算机系统控制的智能车。故选A。