星火：2008年12月英语六级模拟试卷样题及解析

　　The goal of smart-highway technology is to make traffic systems work at optimum efficiency by treating the road and the vehicles traveling on them as an integral transportation system. Proponents of this advanced technology say electronic detection systems, closed-circuit television radio communication, ramp metering (斜坡坡度计量), variable message signing, and other smart highway technology can now be used at a reasonable cost to improve communication between drivers and the people who monitor traffic.

　　Pathfinder, a Santa Monica, California based smart highway project in which a 14 mile stretch of the Santa Monica Freeway, making up what is called a "smart corridor", is being instrumented with buried loops in the pavement. Closed circuit television cameras survey the flow of traffic, while communications linked to properly equipped automobiles advise motorists of the least congested routes or detours (便道).

　　Not all traffic experts, however, look to smart-highway technology as the ultimate solution to traffic jam. Some say the high-tech approach is limited and can only offer temporary solutions to a serious problem.

　　"Electronics on the highway addresses just one aspect of the problem: how to regulate traffic more efficiently, "explains Michael Renner, senior researcher at the Worldwatch Institute. "It doesn't deal with the central problems of too many cars for roads that can't be built fast enough. It sends people the wrong message. ""They start thinking, ‘Yes, there used to be a traffic congestion problem, but that's been solved now because we have an advanced high-tech system in place. '"Larson agrees and adds, "smart highway is just one of the tools that we will use to deal with our traffic problems. It's not the solution itself, just part of the package. There are different strategies. "

　　Other traffic problem-solving options being studied and experimented which include car pooling, rapid mass-transit systems, staggered or flexible work hours, and road pricing, a system whereby motorists pay a certain amount for the time they use a highway. It seems that we need a new, major thrust to deal with the traffic problems of the next 20 years. There has to be a big change.

　　57. In Para. 1, "a quick fix solution"is closest in meaning to __________.

　　A) a best solution B) a fast solution

　　C) a ready solution D) an efficient solution

　　58. According to the passage, the smart highway technology is aimed to __________.

　　A) deploy sophisticated facilities on the interstate highways

　　B) provide passenger vehicles with a variety of services

　　C) optimize the highway capabilities

　　D) improve communication between driver and the traffic monitors

　　59.According to this passage the method of Highways Get Smart is __________.

　　A) the ultimate solution to traffic congestion

　　B) a wrong solution for the traffic problems

　　C) a venture to remedy traffic woes

　　D) part of the package to relieve traffic gridlock

　　60. According to Larson, to redress the traffic problem, __________.

　　A) car pooling must be studied

　　B) rapid mass-transit systems must be introduced

　　C) flexible work hours must be experimented

　　D) overall strategies must be coordinated

　　61. Which of the following is true according to the whole passage?

　　A) Two contrasting views of a problem are presented.

　　B) Traffic problem is examined and complementary solutions are proposed or offered.

　　C) Latest developments are outlined in order of importance.

　　D) An innovation is explained with its importance emphasized