2020届二轮复习阅读理解热点话题专题之十五：飞行的汽车离我们有多远？

2020届二轮复习阅读理解热点话题专题之十五：飞行的汽车离我们有多远？

‎2020届二轮复习阅读理解热点话题专题之十五： 飞行的汽车离我们有多远？‎ Possibility or pipe dream: How close are we to seeing flying cars?‎ 飞行的汽车离我们有多远？‎ 经济学人 读前导读：‎ 近年来，很多公司在研发能代替汽车的小型载入飞行器。目前有多种设计方案，有些带有可折叠的机翼，有些就像是巨大的无人机。那么，我们什么时候能用上这些“飞行的汽车”呢？‎ 一：高级实词荟萃 1. auto /ˈɔːtəʊ/ adj. ‎ 2. giant /ˈdʒaɪ(ə)nt/ n. ‎ 3. evolve /ɪˈvɒlv/ v. ‎ 4. startup /ˈstɑːtʌp/ n. ‎ 5. increasingly /ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli/ adv 6. consumer /kənˈsjuːmə(r)/ n. ‎ 7. surface /ˈsɜːfɪs/ n. ‎ 8. innovation /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃ(ə)n/ n 9. vehicle /ˈviːɪk(ə)l/ n. ‎ 10. driveway /ˈdraɪvweɪ/ n. ‎ 11. hurdle /ˈhɜːd(ə)l/ n. ‎ 12. overcome /ˌəʊvəˈkʌm/ v. ‎ 13. concept /ˈkɒnsept/ n. ‎ 14. short /ʃɔːt/ adj. ‎ 15. regulation /ˌreɡjuˈleɪʃ(ə)n/ n. ‎ 16. Uber 1. high-valued ‎ 2. Boeing ‎ 3. ambitious /æmˈbɪʃəs/ adj. ‎ 4. revolutionary /ˌrevəˈluːʃ(ə)n(ə)ri/ adj. magical /ˈmædʒɪk(ə)l/ adj. ‎ 5. projection /prəˈdʒekʃ(ə)n/ n. ‎ 6. unusable /ʌnˈjuːzəb(ə)l/ adj. ‎ 7. aircraft /ˈeəkrɑːft/ n. ‎ 8. capacity /kəˈpæsəti/ n.‎ 9. relatively /ˈrelətɪvli/ adv. ‎ 10. ambiguous /æmˈbɪɡjuəs/ adj. ‎ 11. congestion /kənˈdʒestʃ(ə)n/ n. ‎ 12. roadway /ˈrəʊdweɪ/ n. ‎ 13. associate /əˈsəʊsiət/ director ‎ 14. urban /ˈɜːb(ə)n/ adj. ‎ 15. regional /ˈriːdʒ(ə)n(ə)l/ adj. ‎ 16. mobility /məʊˈbɪləti/ n. ‎ 17. argue /ˈɑːɡjuː/ v. ‎ 18. displace /dɪˈspleɪs/ v. dis-）‎ 19. arguably /ˈɑːɡjuəbli/ adv. ‎ 20. actual /ˈæktʃuəl/ adj. ‎ 21. regulation /ˌreɡjuˈleɪʃ(ə)n/ n. ‎ 22. operate /ˈɒp(ə)reɪt/ v. ‎ 23. unclear /ʌnˈklɪə(r)/ adj. ‎ 24. mosquito /məˈskiːtəʊ/ n. ‎ 25. occupy /ˈɒkjupaɪ/ v. ‎ 26. lengthy /ˈleŋθi/ adj. ‎ 27. process /ˈprəʊses/ n. ‎ 28. craft /krɑːft/ n. ‎ 29. estimate /ˈestɪmeɪt/ v. ‎ 二：高级词汇拓展 1. evolve /ɪˈvɒlv/ v. 演变、逐步发展 n. _________________‎ 2. increasingly /ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli/ adv. 越来越多地 vt ___________ adj ___________‎ ‎3.consumer /kənˈsjuːmə(r)/ n. 消费者 vt ___________ n.消费___________‎ ‎4. innovation /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 创新 ___________/ˈɪnəveɪt/ vt创新 ___________ /ˈɪnəveɪtə(r)/ n 革新者 5. revolutionary /ˌrevəˈluːʃ(ə)n(ə)ri/ adj. 革命性的 n. ___________‎ 6. ‎ magical /ˈmædʒɪk(ə)l/ adj. 有魔力的、神奇的 adj ___________‎ 7. ‎ unusable /ʌnˈjuːzəb(ə)l/ adj. 无法使用的 反义词：___________ ‎ 8. capacity /kəˈpæsəti/ n. 容量 adj有能力的___________‎ 9. relatively /ˈrelətɪvli/ adv. 相对而言 adj ___________‎ 10. associate /əˈsəʊsiət/ director 副主任 n.联系；协会___________‎ 11. regional /ˈriːdʒ(ə)n(ə)l/ adj. 地区性的n ___________‎ 12. ‎ mobility /məʊˈbɪləti/ n. 移动能力 adj ___________‎ 13. argue /ˈɑːɡjuː/ v. 主张 ___________ /ˈɑːɡjuəbli/ adv. 恐怕是 14. actual /ˈæktʃuəl/ adj. 事实存在的 adv ___________‎ 15. regulation /ˌreɡjuˈleɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 规章制度 adj regular ‎ 16. operate /ˈɒp(ə)reɪt/ v. 运营、运作 n ___________ ‎ 17. unclear /ʌnˈklɪə(r)/ adj. 不清楚的 反义词： ___________‎ 18. ‎ occupy /ˈɒkjupaɪ/ v. 占用 adj ___________ n. ___________‎ 19. lengthy /ˈleŋθi/ adj. 漫长的n ___________‎ 20. ‎ estimate /ˈestɪmeɪt/ v. 估计 n. ___________‎ 三：高级短语荟萃 1. let alone ‎ 2. have yet to do something ‎ 3. pinch /pɪntʃ/ point ‎ 4. in terms of ‎ 1. at best ‎ 2. take off ‎ 3. come up with ‎ 4. go through ‎ 5. make sure ‎ 6. test flight ‎ 原汁文章思维能力提升训练 How close are we to seeing flying cars?‎ The auto industry, aviation（航空） giants and an ever-evolving list of startups are increasingly entering the race toward producing consumer-ready flying cars and air taxis, many of which are touted（吹嘘） as fully electric.‎ On the surface, there are so many innovations happening that it's easy to forget that the world hasn't even seen a fully autonomous（自主的） car yet, let alone an electric, multirotor（多旋翼的） flying vehicle you can park in your driveway.★‎ In fact, there are several hurdles that have yet to be overcome before commuters（上下班往返者） are whizzing（高速移动） through the air. "What we see today is a whole pile of concepts that aren't necessary solutions," said Mark Jennings-Bates, vice president at the flying cars startup PAL-V. "They are short on technology, and they are short on regulation."‎ Uber, one of the world's highest-valued startups, and Boeing, a leader in aviation, have announced ambitious plans for revolutionary air taxis. However, the types of vehicles the companies have in mind would require magical electric batteries that don't exist yet.‎ ‎"The best the industry has seen so far with an electric drone（无人机） vehicle is a projection that it can fly for 20 minutes," said Jennings-Bates. "That makes it an unusable aircraft because it must have a half-hour spare capacity."‎ Whether the United States actually needs flying cars remains relatively ambiguous. Aviation experts say that air vehicles help solve congestion problems in big cities. "Today, we have a lot of ‎ traffic congestion on the roadways," said Laurie Garrow, associate director for the Center for Urban and Regional Air Mobility at Georgia Tech. "Air taxis would provide a solution for bypassing（绕过） the pinch points."‎ Others argue that putting traffic in the skies doesn't solve very much. "We aren't going to change the world in terms of traffic with flying cars," said Jennings-Bates. "At best, it may displace traffic in the area, which is arguably less pleasant."‎ Since there are no certified（经认证的） actual flying cars yet, regulations surrounding operating them don't exist. It also remains unclear whether consumers feel comfortable with taking mosquito-like machines from point A to point B.‎ Some experts say it's not a question of if flying cars will take off. Instead, it's a question of how soon the concepts would be safe enough for humans to occupy. "Everyone is very excited and they're coming up with very different designs," Garrow said. "But you have a lengthy certification（认证） process that will need to go through to make sure the craft and flights are safe." She estimates that it'll be about 20 years before the U.S. sees more than test flights.‎ 1. We are now close to seeing flying cars.( true or false)‎ 2. What are the hurdles before workers are riding cars through the air?‎ 3. Do you think flying cars can solve the traffic jams?‎ 五：报刊复杂句式品鉴。‎ On the surface, there are so many innovations happening that it's easy to forget that the world ‎ hasn't even seen a fully autonomous（自主的） car yet, let alone an electric, multirotor（多旋翼的） flying vehicle you can park in your driveway.‎ 翻译：‎ 解析：这句话的最后一个逗号相当于and，其作用是让electric和multirotor并列，一起修饰后面的_________________‎ 双语赏析 How close are we to seeing flying cars?‎ 我们离飞车还有多远？‎ The auto industry, aviation（航空） giants and an ever-evolving list of startups are increasingly entering the race toward producing consumer-ready flying cars and air taxis, many of which are touted（吹嘘） as fully electric.‎ 汽车工业、航空业（巨人）和不断发展的初创企业越来越多地进入制造消费者准备的飞车和航空的士的竞赛中，其中许多被吹捧为完全电气化。‎ On the surface, there are so many innovations happening that it's easy to forget that the world hasn't even seen a fully autonomous（自主的） car yet, let alone an electric, multirotor（多旋翼的） flying vehicle you can park in your driveway.‎ 从表面上看，有太多的创新正在发生，以至于人们很容易忘记，世界上甚至还没有看到一辆完全自主的汽车，更不用说一辆你可以把它停在车道上的电动多旋翼飞行。‎ ‎ In fact, there are several hurdles that have yet to be overcome before commuters（上下班往返者） are whizzing（高速移动） through the air. "What we see today is a whole pile of concepts that aren't necessary solutions," said Mark Jennings-Bates, vice president at the flying cars startup PAL-V. "They are short on technology, and they are short on regulation."‎ 事实上，在通勤者在空中呼啸之前，还有几个障碍需要克服。”“我们今天看到的是一大堆并非必要解决方案的概念，”飞车初创公司PAL-V副总裁马克•詹宁斯•贝茨（Mark Jennings Bates）表示，“它们缺乏技术，也缺乏监管。”‎ Uber, one of the world's highest-valued startups, and Boeing, a leader in aviation, have ‎ announced ambitious plans for revolutionary air taxis. However, the types of vehicles the companies have in mind would require magical electric batteries that don't exist yet.‎ Uber是世界上价值最高的初创公司之一，波音公司是航空业的领导者，宣布了革命性的航空出租车的雄心勃勃的计划。然而，公司考虑到的汽车类型将需要不存在的神奇电动电池。‎ ‎"The best the industry has seen so far with an electric drone（无人机） vehicle is a projection that it can fly for 20 minutes," said Jennings-Bates. "That makes it an unusable aircraft because it must have a half-hour spare capacity."‎ 詹宁斯·贝茨说：“迄今为止，业界对电动无人驾驶飞机（electric drone）的最好预测是，它可以飞行20分钟。”这使它成为一架无法使用的飞机，因为它必须有半小时的备用容量。”‎ Whether the United States actually needs flying cars remains relatively ambiguous. Aviation experts say that air vehicles help solve congestion problems in big cities. "Today, we have a lot of traffic congestion on the roadways," said Laurie Garrow, associate director for the Center for Urban and Regional Air Mobility at Georgia Tech. "Air taxis would provide a solution for bypassing（绕过） the pinch points."‎ 美国是否真的需要飞车，目前还相对模棱两可。航空专家说，航空车辆有助于解决大城市的拥堵问题。”“今天，我们在道路上有很多交通堵塞，”佐治亚理工大学城市和区域空气流动中心副主任Laurie Garrow说，““空中出租车将提供绕过拐点的解决方案。”。‎ Others argue that putting traffic in the skies doesn't solve very much. "We aren't going to change the world in terms of traffic with flying cars," said Jennings-Bates. "At best, it may displace traffic in the area, which is arguably less pleasant."‎ 其他人则认为，把交通放在空中解决不了太多问题。”詹宁斯·贝茨说：“我们不会用飞车来改变世界。”充其量，它可能会取代该地区的交通，这可以说不太令人愉快。”‎ Since there are no certified（经认证的） actual flying cars yet, regulations surrounding operating them don't exist. It also remains unclear whether consumers feel comfortable with taking mosquito-like machines from point A to point B.‎ 由于没有真正的飞车认证，围绕其运行的法规是不存在的。目前还不清楚消费者是否对从A点到B点使用类似蚊子的机器感到满意。‎ Some experts say it's not a question of if flying cars will take off. Instead, it's a question of ‎ how soon the concepts would be safe enough for humans to occupy. "Everyone is very excited and they're coming up with very different designs," Garrow said. "But you have a lengthy certification（认证） process that will need to go through to make sure the craft and flights are safe." She estimates that it'll be about 20 years before the U.S. sees more than test flights.‎ 一些专家说，飞行汽车是否会起飞不是问题。取而代之的是，这些概念安全到足以让人类占领的程度还有多久。”“每个人都很兴奋，他们提出了非常不同的设计，”加罗说但你需要经过一个漫长的认证过程，才能确保飞机和航班的安全，“她估计，美国大约要20年才能看到比试飞更多的东西。‎ 同话题泛读材料 Different Ideas About Self-Driving Cars Many businesses are considering different plans to make automotive artificial intelligence profitable.‎ 许多企业正在考虑各种计划，利用汽车人工智能盈利。‎ The founders of Argo AI – along with automaker partners Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen AG - believe their plan will work.‎ Argo AI的创始人及其合作伙伴汽车制造商福特和大众相信他们的计划将会奏效。‎ It is different from those of some of their more highly valued rivals.‎ 他们的计划不同于某些强劲竞争对手的那些计划。‎ Argo AI wants to get customers that will use robot vehicles for many purposes, including transporting goods and people.‎ Argo AI希望可以吸引客户，用机器人车辆实现包括货物和人员运输等许多目的。‎ Bryan Salesky, the leader of Argo AI, started developing automated vehicles 12 years ago, in a competition.‎ Argo AI的领导者布莱恩·萨利斯基在12年前的一项竞赛中开始研发自动驾驶汽车。‎ The self-driving systems developer is now at the center of a multibillion-dollar investment.‎ 无人驾驶系统开发者现在正在价值数十亿美元的投资中心。‎ Argo AI and its partners think that self-driving vehicle technology must be good for more than just ‎ replacing taxi drivers.‎ Argo AI及其合作伙伴认为，自动驾驶汽车技术必须不仅有利于取代出租车司机，还要有更多好处。‎ ‎“I hate the word robotaxi,” Salesky said in a rare interview at Argo’s Pittsburgh headquarters.‎ 萨利斯基在Argo匹兹堡总部的一次罕见采访中说：“我讨厌‘robotaxi’（机器人出租车）这个词。‎ ‎"There are so many applications and businesses to be built."‎ 还有很多应用程序和业务要建立完善。”‎ A profit-sharing deal is at the heart of The Argo business plan.‎ 利润共享协议是Argo商业计划的核心。‎ Ford and VW will pay Argo fees based on the distance traveled by vehicles equipped with Argo’s technology.‎ 依据装载Argo技术的车辆的行驶距离，福特和大众向Argo支付费用。‎ Details of that deal have not been reported until now, notes the Reuters news agency.‎ 路透社指出，有关此协议的具体细节，至今还未有相关报道。‎ Among the possible uses of Argo’s technology: Long-distance trucking for e-commerce.‎ Argo技术的可能用途包括：用于电子商务的长途货运。‎ Argo’s plan is to provide self-driving systems that Ford will launch in late 2021 in three U.S. cities.‎ Argo的计划是提供自动驾驶系统，福特将于2021年下半年在美国三个城市推出此系统。‎ VW leaders told Reuters they expect to follow in 2022 or 2023 with a VW-designed all-electric vehicle.‎ 大众负责人告诉路透社，他们预计将在2022或2023年推出大众设计的全电动汽车。‎ Some rivals are not persuaded that Argo has any lead.‎ 一些竞争对手并不认可Argo处于领先地位。‎ Glen De Vos is chief technology officer of Aptiv, which recently bought self-driving startups nuTonomy and Ottomatika.‎ 格伦·德·沃斯是Aptiv的首席技术官，Aptiv公司最近收购了自动驾驶的初创公司nuTonomy和Ottomatika。‎ He noted Aptiv’s partnership with the ride-sharing company Lyft.‎ 他提到了Aptiv与拼车公司Lyft的合作关系。‎ He said the companies are testing self-driving vehicles,‎ 他说，两家公司正在对自动驾驶汽车进行测试，‎ and added that Argo "doesn’t have the component engineering capability that Aptiv has."‎ 并补充道，Argo “不具备像Aptiv所具有的组件工程能力。”‎ Investors so far see less value in Argo than companies whose work centers on robotaxis.‎ 到目前为止，在投资者眼中，与以“robotaxi”（机器人出租车）为中心的公司相比，Argo的价值要更低。‎ For example, the company Waymo is valued at $105 billion. Another, Cruise, is valued at $19 billion.‎ 例如，Waymo公司的估值为1050亿美元。另一个，Cruise公司，价值190亿美元。‎ Argo’s value is estimated at $7.25 billion following Volkswagen’s $1.9 billion investment.‎ 在大众汽车公司投资19亿美元之后，Argo公司的价值估计为72.5亿美元。‎ 你的泛读笔记