Microsoft PowerPoint is the world’s most common presentation tool. It emerged from software company Forethought Inc in the 1980s. Bob Gaskins was the man behind it.
“I knew in the early 80s that there were as many as a billion, a thousand million presentation slides being made per year just in America,” Gaskins says, “but they were all made by hand and almost nobody was using computers to do them.”
“It was clear to me that here was a huge application worth billions and billions of dollars a year that could be done on computers as soon as there was a revolution in the kinds of computers that we had.”
Gaskins was onto something, but it was a hard sell at the time. The software wouldn’t run on any existing personal computers. Anyone wanting to use it had to buy a new machine. Even so, people bought personal computers for the first time in order to be able to use PowerPoint, says Wired magazine journalist Russell Davies.
Davies explains that before PowerPoint, people used slides to convey information to groups—but anyone creating a presentation had to send away to get their materials made. It took a long time to do, was difficult to make changes and because it was so expensive, only the most senior people in an organisation got to do it.
“PowerPoint.” Davies says, “made it possible for everyone in an organisation to stand up and say their piece.”
PowerPoint has helped turn us all into presenters, but it’s also been accused of over-simplifying ideas and distracting us from clear thinking.
Sarah Kaplan is a management professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. She has noticed that, rather than people asking for new analysis or insights in meetings, they were asking for more PowerPoint slides.
Kaplan says that some CEOS, such as Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, have banned its use. “He felt, and I think many people feel, that PowerPoint became such an object of the process that they lost the ideas inside of it and that is the risk.”
1. What drove Bob Gaskins to develop PowerPoint?| A．His personal needs at the office. |
| B．The support from Forethought Inc. |
| C．The great potential market demand. |
| D．His interest in science and technology. |
| A．It was very expensive. |
| B．It was very difficult to use. |
| C．It couldn’t be used on old computers. |
| D．It couldn’t satisfy young people’s needs. |
| A．It falls to solve practical problems. |
| B．It fails to convey messages effectively. |
| C．It makes something valuable unavailable. |
| D．It results in creative thinking getting ignored. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】ONLINE EXHIBITS AND TOURS
The coming of International Museum Day on 18 May this year is a timely reminder that even when wonderful collections are closed, many have become more accessible than ever—online.
See the Mona Lisa like never before
Among the Louvre’s online resources are in-depth pieces on three of its leading ladies, including the Mona Lisa. Get close enough to see the fine cracks in the paint, and learn some secrets on the way. focus.louvre.fr/en.
Take a close look at the Met Museum
Get a feel for New York’s culture with the Met 360° Project, videos where you can turn the camera as it tracks through different galleries, or set the kids loose on an interactive illustrated map of the museum. metmuseum.org/online-features.
Go back to old Las Vegas at the Neon Museum
Enter the password ‘Neon’ (霓红灯) to access a virtual Las Vegas Strip’s worth of salvaged signs, including Aladdin’s lamp and a giant Hard Rock Cafe guitar containing three-quarters of a mile of neon tube. neonmuseum.app/guide.
Roam with dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum
Online offerings at London’s terracotta temple of nature include skeletal (骸骨的) dinosaur, game-changing scientific discoveries and a tour of the tank room, which is normally open only for specially booked visits. artsandculture.com/museum.
1. On which website can you taste New York’s culture?| A．focus.louvre.fr/en | B．neonmuseum.app/guide |
| C．artsandculture.com/museum | D．metmuseum.org/online-features |
| A．Watch Aladdin’s lamp. |
| B．Witness scientific discoveries. |
| C．Learn some secrets of painting. |
| D．Explore an interactive illustrated map. |
| A．More virtual exhibitions are available. |
| B．Tours have to be booked in advance |
| C．Visitors are less crazy about offline exhibits. |
| D．Fewer private collections are on display. |
【推荐2】Many might think that social media is the exclusive domain of the younger generation. However, many of our older adults have enthusiastically adopted it to keep up with the times as well as their old acquaintances and younger family members. It has become a healthy emotional outlet and word of its benefits has spread like wildfire among the elderly.
According to the Pew Research Center, Internet use among those 65 and older grew 150 percent between 2009 and 2011, the largest growth in a demographic group. Furthermore, their 2012 study showed that of those that go online, 71 percent do so daily and 34 percent use social media. The elderly use these tools to bridge the geographic gap between them and their loved ones far away and as a way to re-connect with friends from a far off time. Studies show that the Internet has become an important portal for reducing isolation, loneliness and other depressive symptoms.
Research shows the Internet has become an important way to exercise the minds of seniors. A new study out of England and Italy finds that when the elderly are trained in the use of social media as well as Skype and email, they perform better cognitively and experience improved health. During a two-year period, 120 seniors in the UK and Italy aged 65 and above were given specially designed computer training and were compared against a control group that did not receive any. Among those that used these tools, the mental and physical capacity improved as opposed to a steady decline experienced in the control group.
As more and more of the population ages and sticks closer to home, the Internet as a support and educational tool becomes even more important. Technology has greatly ameliorated the potential of our seniors feeling isolated and alone. Let’s help them take advantage!
1. The elderly use the Internet for the following reasons except that ____________.| A．social media can help to reduce their loneliness |
| B．they would like not to fall behind in modern world |
| C．the Internet can bridge the generation gap between them and the young |
| D．the Internet is of great benefit to their mental health |
| A．Seniors in the UK and Italy are given computer training. |
| B．Seniors can exercise their minds by using social media. |
| C．Social media gains more and more popularity among the elderly. |
| D．A new study about social media was made by England and Italy. |
| A．Inspire. | B．Influence. |
| C．Reduce. | D．Deepen. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Opposed. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Concerned. |
【推荐3】Many people have participated into lots of virtual meetings these years. Some research shows this adjustment might not impact workplace productivity to any great degree. A new study, though, suggests otherwise.
In the study, 602 participants were randomly paired and asked to come up with creative uses for a product. They were also randomly selected to work together either in person or virtually. The pairs were then ranked by assessing their total number of ideas, as well as those concepts’ degree of novelty, and asked to submit their best idea. Among the groups, virtual pairs came up with significantly fewer ideas, suggesting that something about face-to-face interaction generates more creative ideas. The findings could stiffen employers' resolve to urge or require their employees to come back to the office.
“We ran this experiment based on feedback from companies that it was harder to innovate with remote workers,” said lead researcher Melanie Brucks.“Unlike other forms of virtual communication, like phone calls or e-mail, videoconferencing copies the in-person experience quite well, so I was surprised when we found meaningful differences between in-person and video interaction for idea generation.”
When random objects were placed in both the virtual and physical rooms, the virtual pairs of participants spent more time looking directly at each other rather than letting their look wander about the room and taking in the entire scene. Eyeing one's whole environment and noticing the random objects were associated with increased idea generation. On platforms, the screen occupies our interactions. Our look wavers less. “Looking away might come across as rude,” said Brucks,“so we have to look at the screen because that is the defined context of the interaction, the same way we wouldn't walk to another room while talking to someone in person.”
Like most educators, Brucks has primarily taught virtually in the past three years, and she did notice some benefits of the approach as well. Her students were more likely to take turns speaking and her shyer students spoke up more often, rid of the anxiety that comes from addressing a large classroom. Brucks found that one solution to improving virtual idea generation might be to simply turn off the camera, for her students felt “freer” and more creative when asked to do so. And this may be sound advice for the workplace.
1. What does the underlined word “stiffen” in Paragraph 2 most probably mean?| A．Shake. | B．Revise. | C．Challenge. | D．Strengthen. |
| A．Creative ideas may emerge from casual thoughts. |
| B．Participants should make eye contact in an online meeting. |
| C．The feedback from companies were surprising and valuable. |
| D．Videoconferencing can't compare with in-person communication. |
| A．By giving example. | B．By drawing conclusions. |
| C．By raising questions. | D．By comparing situations. |
| A．They relieved anxiety by speaking up. | B．They progressed in focusing attention. |
| C．They took advantage of virtual learning. | D．They displayed talent for public speaking. |
【推荐1】Litterati is an app that people can use to upload information about litter they collect outside, such as its appearance, material, location, and brand. Shared online, this information contributes to building a global database of “litter maps” , which can influence policy and packaging design.
“Society’s failure to solve the litter problem is not from a lack of trying. There have been public service announcements, and coastal cleanups. But I believe two components are missing from the discussion—community and data,” said Jeff Kirschner, the developer of Litterati app.
Uploading pictures to an app shows users that they are not the only ones picking up litter from public places and that others are invested in cleaning the planet, too. And the data accumulates rapidly telling a story that helps people understand who picked up what, where, and when. In this way, people are encouraged to do more.
In San Francisco, the Litterati app was able to identify and map more than 5,000 pieces of litter in order to determine how much was caused by cigarettes specifically. Using this information, the city successfully challenged a lawsuit by tobacco companies and doubled an existing cigarette sales tax, bringing in US $4 million annual revenue (税收).
By joining forces with others using the same platform, individuals are able to take their anti-litter activism to another level. The power of combined data leads to more Extended Producer Responsibility, which is precisely what we want and advocate here-producers are forced to be responsible for dealing with their own products once consumers no longer find them useful and are incentivized to create more environmentally friendly packaging or better policies as a result of that new responsibility.
Litterati takes a refreshingly non-judgmental approach. It shows a positive we-can-do-it attitude. Just as Jeff Kirschner said, “Our goal isn’t to shame. It’s to provide transparency to the problem. We provide access to data and share insights with cities, citizens and businesses, guiding us all to identify the root cause of the problem,and make informed decisions of how to clean the planet.”
1. What makes the society fail to solve the litter problem according to Kirschner?| A．People’s poor environmental awareness. | B．The absence of government publicity and support. |
| C．The inaction of the community. | D．The lack of shared statistics |
| A．To show the influence of Litterati. | B．To describe the details of the map. |
| C．To warn people of the harm of cigarettes. | D．To prove the large consumption of tobacco. |
| A．People can be encouraged to pick up litter only if others are doing so. |
| B．Individuals hardly get involved in picking up litter until the release of Litterati. |
| C．The use of Litterati inspires producers to fulfil further obligations for the society. |
| D．Kirschner developed the app with the aim of appealing to individuals to pick up litter. |
| A．Litter Maps: Make litter-picking a Fun Way | B．Litterati: Transparent Data for a Cleaner World |
| C．Litterati App: Guide People Where to Collect Litter | D．Litterati Campaign: Everyone Counts in Litter Picking |
【推荐2】Cool inventions
Powerful snowmobile
With this turbocharged (涡轮增压的) snowmobile, getting over snow and ice will be snow problem. The Snow Crawler snowmobile is designed with two skis under its front end. Below its back end is a pair of tracks, or rubber belts around a set of wheels. Inside it's heated, so jump inside, start up the engine, and listen as the wheels start to turn the tracks. Each track is designed to grip (抓住) slippery surfaces easily, allowing the snowmobile to move over them without difficulty. Let it snow!
Floating furniture
It's easy to fall asleep in the special bed. This comfortable sleeping place is a plastic, water﹣filled mattress (气垫) that's designed to adapt to the shape of the person lying on it. Simply kick off your shoes and climb onto the bed. As you lie there, the mattress will hug your body. Meanwhile, the water in the mattress will gently rock you from side to side. It's a similar feeling to floating on your back in a pool. The mattress even heats up to make you extra comfortable. Now that's a dream bed.
Smart insoles (鞋垫)
This might take shoes in a new direction. The Lechal company has created shoe insoles that "tell" wearers how to get from one place to another. How do they work? Put the insoles into your shoes. The insoles are built to vibrate(震动). They are also connected wirelessly to your smartphone. Pull up the Lechal app on your phone and type in your destination. The app uses GPS to map out the quickest path for you to walk. Every time you need to take a left or right, the app signals the correct insole to vibrate so you know which direction to turn. That's amazing.
1. What can we learn about the Snow Crawler snowmobile？| A．It uses little energy. | B．It can work in snowy areas. |
| C．It is designed to clear snow. | D．It loses control on icy surfaces. |
| A．They would feel silly. | B．They would feel strange. |
| C．They would feel tired. | D．They would feel relaxed. |
| A．By vibrating. | B．By working out the path. |
| C．By letting out voice signals. | D．By sending messages to their phone. |
A new University College London-led study finds that staring at a deep red light for three minutes a day can greatly improve declining (下降) eyesight.
Scientists believe the discovery, published in the Journal of Gerontology, could signal the dawn of new affordable home-based eye therapies (治疗) helping millions of people globally with naturally declining vision.
Doctors say a three-minute daily does of the special red light for two weeks could help improve age-related vision problems. However, they say not any red light will help improve eyesight. The lead author, Professor Glen Jeffery said, "I strongly suggest that people should not just go and buy a red light online. They have to produce the right wavelength. We are looking for a commercial partner to do this and to price them at $20 to $25."
The study was carried out by a team from University College London. Researchers conducted tests on 24 men and women aged between 28 and 72. They said some cells that could help us process light had become worse in the older people. Doctors say the red light improved the ability of these people to detect different colors, particularly blue. The vision of these older people improved by as much as 22 percent, Jeffrey said, "Populations are ageing rapidly and this is going to be a major issue in the future. We need to get ready for this." He added, "If you can't see clearly, you can't read or watch TV. You also tend to fall down and break bones. Our lights are a step in this direction."
1. What is the function of Paragraph1?| A．To lead to the main topic. | B．To discuss the study. |
| C．To introduce a university. | D．To give some advice. |
| A．Red light only lasts three minutes. |
| B．The red light with the right wavelength can be helpful. |
| C．Everyone needs to buy a red light online. |
| D．Doctors need partners to sell red lights. |
| A．The problem of populations. | B．The process and results of the study. |
| C．The vision of the old people. | D．The usage of different colors. |
| A．A medical magazine. | B．A story book. |
| C．A book review. | D．A history book. |
【推荐1】Body language plays a big role in communication as it gives us messages about the other person that we can interpret non-verbally just based on our feeling. There are four types to be aware of.
Eye contact is one of the most direct and powerful facial expressions. The eyes are always talking. The use of eye contact varies significantly from culture to culture. In some regions, direct eye contact is often considered a sign of trustworthiness. So, if you're in America, you should know soft, attentive eye contact would convey honesty. However, a hard, unblinking stare will send a much different message, similar to the meaning of direct eye contact in some regions.
Gestures can be used to emphasize（强调）meaning. Pressing fingers together to form a steeple slows interest and determination. Touching the nose or rubbing eyes indicates discomfort. A hand to the back of the neck may indicate you are not interested in a conversation.
Body posture can be closed or open. A firm handshake will give the impression of honesty. Folding arms across your chest or body is protective. People with arms folded, legs crossed and bodies turned away reject messages. A head held straight up signals a neural attitude. A head sidewards indicates interest. A head down is negative.
The position of speakers and listeners: face-to-face, side-to-side, or back-to-back, can send powerful messages. In a group situation, when the leader faces the group and turns toward the one who is speaking, this conveys strong attention. When two people are communicating, competitors more possibly sit facing each other while cooperators sit side-by-side.
1. Which of the following body language can mean or express honesty？| A．A head sidewards or touching the nose. |
| B．Attentive eye contact or a firm handshake. |
| C．A firm handshake or folding arms across one's chest. |
| D．Attentive eye contact or folding arms across one's chest |
| A．Touching the nose or rubbing eyes. |
| B．Folding arms across your chest or body. |
| C．Putting a hand to the back of the neck. |
| D．Pressing fingers together to form a steeple. |
| A．Feel down. | B．Care for. |
| C．Turn down. | D．Agree with. |
| A．Facial expressions. | B．Gestures. |
| C．Body posture. | D．Space relationship. |
| A．Types of body language. | B．The origin of body language. |
| C．How to learn body language. | D．How to use body language. |
【推荐2】Artificial intelligence (AI) is showing promise in earthquake prediction, challenging the long-held belief that it is impossible. Researchers at the University of Texas, Austin, have developed an AI algorithm (算法) that correctly predicted 70% of earthquakes a week in advance during a trial in China and provided accurate strength calculations for the predicted earthquakes.
The research team adopted a relatively simple machine learning approach. The AI was provided with a set of statistical features based on the team’s knowledge of earthquake physics, and then instructed to train itself using a five-year database of earthquake recordings. Once trained, the AI provided its prediction by listening for signs of incoming earthquakes within the background rumblings (隆隆声) in the Earth.
This work is clearly a milestone in research for AI-driven earthquake prediction. “You don’t see earthquakes coming,” explains Alexandros Savvaidis, a senior research scientist who leads the Texas Seismological Network Program (TexNet). “It’s a matter of milliseconds, and the only thing you can control is how prepared you are. Even with the 70% accuracy, that’s a huge result and could help minimize economic and human losses and has the potential to remarkably improve earthquake preparation worldwide.”
While it is unknown whether the same approach will work at other locations, the researchers are confident that their AI algorithm could produce more accurate predictions if used in areas with reliable earthquake tracking networks. The next step is to test artificial intelligence in Texas, since UT’s Bureau TexNet has 300 earthquake stations and over six years worth of continuous records, making it an ideal location for these purposes.
Eventually, the authors hope to combine the system with physics-based models. This strategy could prove especially important where data is poor or lacking. “That may be a long way off, but many advances such as this one, taken together, are what moves science forward,” concludes Scott Tinker, the bureau’s director.
1. How does the AI predict earthquakes?| A．By identifying data from the satellites. |
| B．By analyzing background sounds in the Earth. |
| C．By modeling data based on earthquake recordings. |
| D．By monitoring changes in the Earth’s magnetic field. |
| A．The ways to reduce losses in earthquakes. |
| B．The importance of preparing for earthquakes. |
| C．The significance of developing the AI prediction. |
| D．The limitation of AI algorithms in earthquake prediction. |
| A．Conducting tests in different locations. |
| B．Applying the AI approach to other fields. |
| C．Building more earthquake stations in Texas. |
| D．Enlarging the database to train the calculation accuracy. |
| A．Stable but outdated. | B．Effective but costly. |
| C．Potential and economical. | D．Advanced and promising. |
【推荐3】For thousands of years, humans have been making fire by transforming mechanical energy into heat energy through friction (摩擦). There are many ways to create fire by friction, but the most common and easiest to learn is to use a bow drill set.
A bow drill set consists of a wooden drill (carved to minimize friction at one end and maximize friction at the other), a dry fire board, a slightly bending bow, to which a bowstring is attached, and a hard bearing block, which is used to press down on the top of the drill. The bowstring is designed to be wrapped tightly around the wooden drill.
First , the fire maker uses the string to rapidly spin (旋转) one end of the drill, which is attached to the string, against the fire board, while at the same time pressing the other end down with the bearing block. Friction causes a rapid increase in temperature where the drill meets the fire board. As the drill continues to spin, it produces a small amount of hot carbon dust, which will eventually form a hot, red pile. Then it is transferred to highly flammable materials, such as dry leaves or dead tree barks. The fire maker blows in to further raise the temperature by increasing oxygen flow. Eventually, the materials burst into flame, after which the fire maker can make it into a larger fire.
Understanding the physics of fire by friction and the different variables involved can help the fire start more quickly with less effort. First, an ideal wooden drill should be dry and just 1-1. 25cm across. This is because thin drills can concentrate heat created in friction on a small area on the fire board. Second, the fire board should be dead, driest possible wood. Third, how fast the friction force generates heat is directly related to how fast the fire maker moves the bow. The faster the drill spins, the more heat it will create.
Bow-drill performs reliably in challenging survival conditions compared to other techniques. It can be incredibly inspiring to witness, and rewarding to do it yourself! It takes a while to get everything right but it will come. Have a try and enjoy this primitive method of fire starting!
1. What is the function of the bowstring in the bow drill set?| A．Producing friction. | B．Making a beautiful bow. |
| C．Securing the wooden drill. | D．Applying pressure to the fire board. |
| A．The process of creating fire. | B．The materials for making fire. |
| C．The right temperature for a fire. | D．The advantages of the wooden drill. |
| A．Using living plants as the fire board. | B．Lifting the fire board frequently. |
| C．Keeping concentrated during friction. | D．Setting the bow drill in fast motion. |
| A．To encourage a try. | B．To explain a principle. |
| C．To stress potential risks. | D．To present human achievements. |
【推荐1】I had the chance to go to college locally in Jamaica, but knew that going to school in the U.S. would give me more career opportunities. So I went to the U.S. and studied engineering, an area traditionally held by men. While in school, I interned (实习) for three years with Bell Atlantic's (Now Verizon) science and technology lab. They offered me a job when I graduated, but I rejected it, thinking I wouldn't have the same opportunities as males in the organization.
I chose to take a position in a French company. A few years later, I made re-entry into Bell Atlantic because it was bought by the French company.
My experiences over the years have helped me to grow and promote within the organization. I am now the president of Verizon Telecom's New England Area, overseeing, 4,000 employees who deliver excellent service to customers and businesses in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
I recognize that I am where I am today as a result of people reaching out and guiding me — I've been lucky throughout my career, and that's why it is important for me to be able to give back. I am extremely enthusiastic about youth development. In 2009, my husband and I set up the Global Venture Foundation in the Caribbean, which intended to inspire and develop youth leadership through a combination of athletic and educational programs.
The foundation has different functions, including youth guiding, summer programs based in the US, and college students placement help and funding. Having recently moved to greater Boston area, I am looking forward to setting up roots in the community that will allow me to continue touching the lives of the youth.
1. Why did the author turn down the offer from Bell Atlantic?| A．She wanted to find her job by herself. |
| B．She wanted to find her job in the US. |
| C．She wouldn't have the equal chances as males are. |
| D．She found most of the positions were held by men there. |
| A．She helps train more women employees. |
| B．She pays back for what she has gained. |
| C．She plans to quit her job in Bell Atlantic. |
| D．She gets promotion in her position. |
| A．Helping the disadvantaged. |
| B．Supporting universe education. |
| C．Youth training and promoting. |
| D．Athletic Training. |
【推荐2】Walter, a 3-year-old dog that survived on its own for almost a year recently came back to his owner, who said she never gave up hope that he was still out there.
Kate Olson, who lives in New Hampshire, celebrated the safe return of Walter, who was lost last year. “There is a part of me that just always knew that I was going to get him,” Olson said.
Olson was visiting her boyfriend's parents in St. Louis for the holidays when Walter escaped. Walter was on a walk with her boyfriend's parents and “he just got so frightened that he backed out of his collar and he just took off,” she said.
Olson, who got Walter as an 8-week-old puppy, searched for Walter for two weeks without any luck. She said it was hard to go back home knowing he was missing.
To continue her search for Walter, Olson posted (发帖子) all over social media asking for help. She created a Facebook group called “Where's Walter?” to get help from people in the community.
A member of that Facebook group saw a post about a dog sighting (目睹) and sent it to Olson. Luckily, the dog in the photo was Walter.
Walter was caught by an organization called Lost Paws Trapping. “13 days shy of living in the woods, avoiding everyone he met and finally on Friday the 13th, Walter has been trapped.” Lost Paws Trapping wrote on its Facebook page.
Olson said seeing Walter after nearly a year was extremely emotional. “I had to control my feelings just because…I was in shock,” she said.
Despite living on his own for the past year, Olson said Walter seemed physically unharmed and should be OK. She is thankful for her happy ending and her friends on social media who helped track down Walter. Her advice to anyone with a missing pet is “just to keep trying.”
“Not everybody does have this ending,” she added. “I never in a million years thought that I would be one of them.”
1. What did Olson do to find her dog?| A．She searched and created a Facebook group. | B．She turned to her friends for help in St. Louis. |
| C．She asked the Lost Paws Trapping for help. | D．She went back home to wait for its return. |
| A．A member of the Facebook group. | B．An organization called Lost Paws Trapping. |
| C．Olson's friends in New Hampshire. | D．The parents of Olson's boyfriend. |
| A．Don't give up trying. | B．Post on the Internet. |
| C．Be thankful. | D．Believe in your pet. |
| A．Everybody has the luck to find their missing dogs. | B．It takes a long time to find a missing dog. |
| C．Olson was really very lucky to find her dog. | D．Olson never thought that she would lose her dog. |
【推荐3】Selfdriving cars are so popular that the University of Michigan has even established a town called Mcity to allow car manufacturers to safely test their autonomous cars.
While Mcity can be used to simulate(模拟) many reallife road conditions，it cannot help test gestures drivers use to communicate their intention to other drivers，pedestrians or cyclists.To find a solution，US car manufacturer Ford，with researchers from Virginia Tech，firstly considered using text as a way to communicate the car’s intention，but decided it would probably not work universally.The option of using symbols was also discarded，because research shows that a majority of people do not have a good understanding of what they mean.
Finally，the researchers settled on light signals.A white light warned that there were no humans in the car.A slow blinking one indicated that the car was coming to a stop，while a rapidly flashing light cautioned passersby that the car was about to accelerate.
Then came the big challenge—testing the signals on real road.“We needed to try out this new lighting to communicate the intention of the vehicle，but if you’ve got a driver behind the seat，you still have natural communication between humans，” said Andy Shaudt，who led the Virginia Tech research team.“So we needed to make it look like a driverless car.”
The team designed a car seat costume(服装) that the driver would wear to cover his or her face and upper body.Of course，the drivers could see very clearly.The researchers then equipped the car with cameras to capture human reactions to a light bar on the windshield(挡风玻璃)，which flashed one of the three signals when appropriate.Six drivers，all keeping their hands low on the wheel so as not to be detected，took turns to test driving the car through the busy streets.
The overall reaction to the flashing lights was very encouraging.Who knew costumes could be useful for more than Halloween?
1. What did the team first consider using as a way to communicate the car’s intention?| A．Light. | B．Language. |
| C．Symbols. | D．Sound. |
| A．Symbols. | B．Drivers. |
| C．Researchers. | D．Flashes. |
| A．amuse the drivers |
| B．attract the pedestrians |
| C．warn the cyclists |
| D．confuse the people |
