1 . People have mainly used cars or taxis to travel from one place to another. These forms of land transportation have their constraints. Time has been wasted simply because of the traffic on the road. Well, this issue may be solved soon because a company has made a taxi that can actually fly and avoid the crowded streets.
XPeng, a Chinese carmaker, has created this wonderful innovation and conducted the first global public flight of its electric flying car, the XPeng X2, in Dubai. XPeng Motors’ X2 is a two-seater vehicle featuring a teardrop-shaped design with a complete carbon fiber structure to reduce weight. It can travel as high as 1,000 meters and at a speed of 81 miles per hour. At this point, the built-in battery can store electricity for a 35 -minute flight.
The XPeng X2 used during the demo flight (试飞) is a fifth-generation model, but the company is currently working on the sixth generation that will bring significant upgrades.The future model will be equipped with both manned and unmanned flight driving modes, and will be able to drive in the air and on roads — the fifth-generation vehicle is only capable of flying, not driving.
This first ever public flight came with full support of Dubai’s government. They have been deeply involved in the process. An official called Hashemi said, “The first global public flight of the X2 flying car will change the game of future mobility. The flying car is the combination of ambition, innovation and future-oriented vision that has always inspired Dubai and its leadership. Today, we witnessed a historic moment that will define the next 50 years.”
1. What does the underlined word “constraints” in Paragraph 1 mean?| A．Risks. | B．Rules. | C．Duties. | D．Shortcomings. |
| A．It can generate electricity. | B．It can travel 81 miles at a time. |
| C．It will come onto the market soon. | D．It will provide different driving modes. |
| A．Thrilled. | B．Shocked. | C．Relaxed. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．A new vehicle has won Dubai’s support. |
| B．A Chinese carmaker is devoted to innovation. |
| C．A new way to solve traffic problems is found. |
| D．A flying vehicle has made its first demo flight. |
2 . Remember solar roadways, where solar panels were embedded (嵌入) in roads? The idea of the solar roadway seems attractive because the solar resource is everywhere, and someday there will be a lot of electric cars that will need charging. But for me, the idea has little to recommend it. There is another kind of road — the railway — that might be a much better place for solar panels. And that’s what is happening in Germany, where the British company Bankset Energy is installing solar panels between the rails.
As estimated, 100 kilowatts of electricity can be generated per kilometer of railway line. Since the rail network in Germany is over 60,000 kilometers long, the power that can be generated is comparable to the output of five nuclear power plants in total.
But, why is putting solar panels is a railway better than a roadway? Trains generally stay on the rails, so there is no need to have solar panels designed to take any serious load. Although there is a serious amount of vibration, the panels wouldn’t shake apart. Railways usually own their rights of way and restrict access, so they have much better control. They also own the electrical infrastructure, which is right overhead and can directly use the electricity. German railways have been trying to justify hydrogen-powered trains because it was too expensive to electrify many of their lines. Turning their rail beds into power sources might change the economics.
On the other hand, rail rights of way are generally a lot wider than the tracks; it might make more sense to fix the panels next to the tracks, pointing in the right direction instead of lying flat. German Rail is already a huge consumer of solar power from more conventional installations.
1. What does the author think of solar roadways?| A．He thinks they are attractive. |
| B．He shows disapproval of them. |
| C．He believes they are underused. |
| D．He figures they are energy-saving. |
| A．The solar railway has won wide recognition. |
| B．Germany is leading the world in rail transportation. |
| C．Fixing solar panels on railways in better than on roadways. |
| D．The solar railway has great potential for generating electricity. |
| A．The length of the railway. |
| B．The lower installation costs. |
| C．The safety of the solar panels. |
| D．The wider use of the electricity. |
| A．German roadways start to go downhill. |
| B．Solar railways are coming down the line. |
| C．German railway are facing a great challenge. |
| D．Solar energy becomes a cost-competitive alternative. |
3 . On average, cars sit, doing nothing, 96 percent of the time. That makes them ideal candidates for the sharing economy. The potential to reduce traffic jams is enormous. A handful of car-sharing systems are already having a major impact on the total number of vehicles in our cities. Scholars have estimated that every shared vehicle removes nine to 13 privately owned cars from the streets.
The benefits will grow greatly as autonomous vehicles, that is, self-driving cars, currently available in experimental forms, gain a notable portion of the market. “Your” car could give you a lift to work in the morning and then, rather than sitting in a parking lot, give a lift to someone else in your family—or to anyone else in your neighborhood or social media community.
As a result, a single vehicle could go from one to 24 hours of use a day. A recent paper by our colleagues at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology report s that, under such conditions, the mobility demand of a city like Singapore could be met with only 30 percent of its existing vehicles. In addition to vehicle sharing, autonomy could open up a new wave of ride sharing. Already applications such as Via, uberPOOL and Lyft Line allow different people to share the same ride, cutting operating costs and individual fares. Autonomy could boost ride sharing even more because all trips could be managed online. In cities, the potential for ride sharing is significant, based on analyses by our Sense able City Lab at M. IT.
New York City, for example, is obviously shareable. Our lab’s HubCab project gathered data from 170 million taxi trips involving 13,500 taxis in the city—specifically, the GPS coordinates (协调) for all pickup and drop-off points and corresponding times between the two. We then developed a mathematical model to determine the potential effect of ride sharing applied to those journeys. The project introduced the concept quantitative results revealed how taxi sharing could reduce the number of cars by 40 percent with only rainimal delays for passengers.
Combine car sharing and ride sharing, and a city might get by with just 20 percent the number of cars now in use, with its residents traveling on-demand. Of course, such reductions are theoretical. In real life, they would depend on how willing people are to share rides and adopt self-driving technology. But any drop in the number of vehicles could lower the costs and energy associated with building and maintaining our mobility infrastructure (基础建设). Fewer cars might also mean shorter travel times, fewer traffic jams and a smaller environmental impact.
1. What does the author imply in the first paragraph?| A．Car-sharing is still in its infancy. |
| B．Cars aren’t made full use of at present. |
| C．Privately-owned cars have decreased by 13%. |
| D．There have been fewer traffic jams in big cities. |
| A．They can reduce the mobility demand of big cities. |
| B．They will account for a large portion of the market. |
| C．They can make it convenient for people to share the same ride. |
| D．They will raise people’s awareness of environmental protection. |
| A．how trip-sharing has helped the city |
| B．how ride-sharing can be put into practice |
| C．why people are worried about taxi sharing |
| D．why mathematical models matter in making a city shareable |
| A．We should share not only cars but also rides. |
| B．People have no confidence in self-driving technology. |
| C．The estimated reductions of cars on streets are theoretically groundless. |
| D．Our mobility infrastructure cannot support the development of autonomy. |
4 . If you frequent any kind of public transportation, then you’re well aware of certain types of passengers and passenger habits that are annoying. But it’s not just other passengers that get angry, there are certain things that drive the train attendant crazy.
We’ve all been there in that moment when someone boards a train trying to take several huge items with them to wherever they’re trying to go. They wind up taking up way too much space and blocking seats.
For some reason, people have a bad habit of talking very loudly to one another to a point where you can hear them from opposite sides of the train cart (车厢). This goes for playing music as well. Some people like to play music through their phone. This really bothers fellow passengers on the train.
| A．Being really loud |
| B．Arguing with others |
| C．Here are some of the most annoying things |
| D．Then who would be in charge of playing music on the train |
| E．It’s one thing if you’re having something small such as an apple |
| F．This can make things uncomfortable for everyone else on the train |
| G．Plus when other passengers complain, guess who has to take care of it |
5 . School Bus Safety in the United States
Each school day, millions of children ride school buses. Do you know that the school bus is one of the safest vehicles on the road? Less than 1% of all traffic deaths involve children on school transportation vehicles. However, children are more at risk when approaching or leaving a school bus. It’s important for you to understand school bus safety.
Stop for School Buses
When you see a school bus slowing down or stopping, it’s not just the bus that you need to have your eyes on — but the surrounding area, too. Children wait at least several feet away from a bus and often cross the street when they’re boarding or getting off the bus. This is why you must stop for school buses, and don’t attempt to pass.
Illegal School Bus Passing
Illegal school bus passing poses a significant threat to children and others on the road. In every state, it is illegal for you to pass a school bus while the stop-arm is extended and the red lights are flashing.
Understanding School Bus Lights
Learn the school bus laws in your state and always follow them, as well as the flashing lights that school bus drivers use to warn you.
Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. You should slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle.
Red flashing lights and extended stop-arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. You must stop your car and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving, before you can start driving again.
1. What should you especially pay attention to when a school bus stops?| A．Its driver on duty. | B．The direction in which you pass it. |
| C．Kids getting on or off it. | D．The way to follow closely behind. |
| A．After it has moved. | B．Before it begins moving. |
| C．While its stop-arm is extended. | D．When the red lights are flashing. |
| A．Parents. | B．Drivers. |
| C．Teachers. | D．Students. |
6 . More people are increasingly biking to commute (上下班往返), for exercise, or just for fun. Bicyclists should observe bicycle safety rules to help reduce deaths and injuries on the road.
Wear a helmetsEvery bike ride begins with putting on a helmet. Your helmet can best protect you. For the most comprehensive list of helmet sizes according to manufacturers, click here to visit the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI) website.
Avoid crashesThere are two main types of crashes: the most common (falls) , and the most serious (the ones with cars). Regardless of the reasons for the crash, prevention is the key point.
Be alert (警惕的)Be alert to the road and all traffic around you; anticipate what others may do before they do it. This is defensive driving — the quicker you notice a potential conflict, the quicker you can act to avoid a potential crash.
Pay attention to road signs and road conditionsObey street signs, signals, and road markings, just like a car. Look ahead for risks or situations to avoid what may cause you to fall, like potholes (坑洼) and train tracks. No texting, listening to music or using anything that distracts you by taking your eyes and ears or your mind off the road and traffic.
Ride in the same direction as trafficThis way, if the sidewalk ends, you are already riding with the flow of traffic. If crossing a street, motorists will look left, right, left for traffic. When you are to the driver’s left, the driver is more likely to see you. Slow and look for traffic (left — right — left and behind) when crossing a street from a sidewalk; be prepared to stop and follow the pedestrian signals.
1. What is the most important aspect of avoiding crashes?| A．Putting on a helmet. | B．Cycling slowly. |
| C．Reacting quickly. | D．Prevention in advance. |
| A．Behind — left — right and left. |
| B．Left — right — left and behind. |
| C．Left — behind — left and right. |
| D．Right — left — right and behind. |
| A．A website. | B．A local radio station. |
| C．A popular magazine. | D．A manufacture instruction. |
7 . Getting around Valencia can be exhausting on foot if you want to see it all, but luckily, the city is very bike-friendly.
Valencia Bike Tour From The City To The BeachDuration: 3 Hours
This 3-hour Valencia bike tour takes you on a lovely journey from the historic center to the beach where you’ll enjoy a drink at the end. If you’re looking for a truly personalized experience, this is it. The guide is super knowledgeable and gives lots of inside information about the sites you pass and local culture along the way.
Valencia By Night Bike TourDuration: 2 Hours
With the warm lights of the historic center’s cobbled streets, cycling around Valencia is so different than in the day. The tour takes you through Turia Park to the City of Arts and Sciences which is impressively lit up at night. As you cycle past different tourist attractions, the guide will let you in on the history and culture of the city.
Valencia Bike TourDuration: 3 Hours
Being one of the classical guided bike tours Valencia offers, this takes you to the main tourist attractions in the old town like the Valencia Cathedral, the Silk Exchange, and the Serranos Towers. You’ll bike in Valencia’s longest park, Turia Park, which leads to the City of Arts and Sciences and a must-visit on any trip to the city. On different stops, the guide will fill in with history and anecdotes about the places you pass.
Valencia Group Half-Day Bike TourDuration: 3 Hours
This tour takes you through the old town of Valencia where you’ll see the top tourist spots like the Valencia Cathedral and the Silk Exchange along the way on your own. You’ll pass the City Hall and the complex on your way to Turia Park where Valencia’s bike paths are at their best. Eventually, you’ll reach the City of Arts and Sciences where you can admire the modern architecture and learn more about the impressive complex.
1. What can we know about Valencia?| A．It is a city where you’ll feel tired. |
| B．It has the longest park in the world. |
| C．Its public transport needs improving. |
| D．It is well equipped with bicycle roads. |
| A．Valencia Bike Tour. |
| B．Valencia Group Half-Day Bike Tour. |
| C．Valencia By Night Bike Tour. |
| D．Valencia Bike Tour From The City To The Beach. |
| A．It leads to the Silk Exchange. |
| B．It is a tour without a guide. |
| C．It offers a drink at the end. |
| D．It takes longer to finish the tour. |
8 . Suspension bridges, with their high towers and elegant spans (跨度), are achievements of engineering. This list covers the longest main spans of suspension bridges around the world, not longest total lengths, as those main central spans are where the real engineering magic happens.
Osman Gazi Bridge, TürkiyeThe Osman Gazi Bridge is a splendid suspension bridge. The bridge was finished on July 1, 2016, and at the time, it was the longest suspension bridge in Türkiye and the fourth longest in the world by the length of its main central span, which measures 1,550 meters. It reduced travel time between Istanbul and Izmir from six hours to around five.
Great Belt Bridge, DenmarkThe Great Belt Bridge connects the Danish islands Zealandand Funen. The suspension bridge has a total length of 6,790 meters and a main central span of 1,624meters, making it the world’s sixth longest main span — for now. It enabled a direct driving route from mainland Europe to Sweden through Denmark.
1915 Çanakkale Bridge, TürkiyeThe bridge’s construction, which began in March 2017 and concluded in March 2022, was ambitious from the get-go. Spanning the historic Dardanelles Strait in northwestern Türkiye, the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge is a symbol of national pride. Officially the world’s longest suspension bridge, it stretches a remarkable 2,023 meters in its main central span.
Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge, ChinaOpened to traffic in October 2019, the Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, is the longest suspension bridge in China and the third longest suspension in the world. It spans 1,700 meters across the famous Yangtze River. The bridge notably has the world’s longest double-level bridge span, accommodating various forms of transportation on its two levels.
1. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?| A．To praise the engineers of suspension bridges. |
| B．To introduce some suspension bridges fit for tourism. |
| C．To present the challenge of building suspension bridges. |
| D．To show suspension bridges with the longest main spans. |
| A．Osman Gazi Bridge. | B．Great Belt Bridge. |
| C．1915 Çanakkale Bridge. | D．Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge. |
| A．Its name’s origin. | B．Its double-level design. |
| C．Its splendid views. | D．Its construction difficulties. |
9 . Via Rail
Train Tickets from New York to Washington
Station | Departure | Arrival | Price |
Penn Station—Union Station | 12:20 am | 3:57 am | $19 |
Penn Station Union Station | 4:20 am | 8:33 am | $29 |
Penn Station—Union Station | 6:02 am | 10:14 pm | $60 |
Penn Station—Union Station | 8:00 am | 10:58 am | $70 |
Discount Policies
Seniors (above 60 years old) can benefit from a 20% discount offered by Via Rail, making it a cost-effective choice for their travel needs.
Luggage(行李) Allowance and Restriction
Via Rail allows passengers to bring up to four pieces of luggage. Carry-on items must not exceed (超过) 50 pounds and checked luggage must not weigh more than 50 pounds per item.
Passengers are allowed to bring bicycles and sports equipment on Via Rail trains.
Food and Drink Service
Via Rail provides food and drink service for purchase, offering a variety of dining options to passengers.
Payment
Via Rail accepts various payment methods, including credit cards, Interac Online, and pre-paid credit cards. It is advisable to check the website for the most up-to-date information on accept able payment methods.
Facilities for Passengers with Special Needs
Via Rail is committed to providing accessibility for all passengers. The trains are equipped with accessible restrooms, seating areas, and boarding assistance for passengers with mobility issues. Additionally, staff members are trained to assist passengers with disabilities to ensure a comfortable travel experience.
E-ticketing
Via Rail offers the option to use the e-ticketing system, allowing passengers to present their ticket on a mobile device without the need for printing.
1. Which train takes the least time?| A．The 12:20 am one. | B．The 4:20 am one. | C．The 6:02 am one. | D．The 8:00 am one. |
| A．$60. | B．$96. | C．$112. | D．$120. |
| A．It serves food and drink for free. | B．It is developing a new e-ticketing system. |
| C．It doesn’t allow sports equipment on board. | D．It provides convenient access to the disabled. |
10 . People are flying more than ever. From short trips to traveling around the globe, many are on the move. But finding the way at the airports has never been easy in the US, due to crowding and a lot of tasks like checking in, taking care of baggage, screening and finding your gate. It is often difficult to get to where you are going. If you are in a wheelchair or visually (视觉地) challenged, it’s even harder.
The new terminal (航站楼) at the Kansas City International Airport is designed to fix many of these shortcomings. The new facility features indoor play areas, changing rooms, and a quiet room for people who cannot handle the noise or activity of a busy airport. There is even a pet relief area for people traveling with their fury family members. One innovation (创新) is the glass-walled jet bridge for people who are worried about getting on and off planes. And for people who are uncomfortable with the whole airport and flying process, there are simulators (模拟器) that allow travelers to go from boarding to taking off virtually.
Justin Meyer, with the Kansas City Aviation Department, said the new terminal sets a level of inclusivity that passengers will expect in other airports. “The goal isn’t that we’re forever at the head of the line,” Meyer said. “My goal was just to raise the bar, so if someone else wants to build the most accessible airport in the world, they’re going to have to start from where Kansas City stopped. In the end, passengers win.”
While making airports more accessible to people with different abilities may seem to be expensive or difficult, the benefits certainly outweigh the costs. Accessible airports mean that more people and their families will be able to travel and then the skies will be friendly to all.
1. What is the function of paragraph 1?| A．To call on airports to improve their services. |
| B．To explain the background to the new terminal. |
| C．To stress the annoyance of frequent air travelers. |
| D．To show the complexity of boarding procedures. |
| A．People who take a pet. | B．People who use a wheelchair. |
| C．People who travel with their families. | D．People who have flight anxiety. |
| A．It needs further improvement. | B．It has the best passenger services. |
| C．It sets a higher standard for airport services. | D．It aims to lead the world in accessibility. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Conservative. | C．Unprejudiced. | D．Doubtful. |
