Increasing reading speed
Directions： Do the phrase recognition drill below. Quickly underline or mark the key phrase every time it appears in the columns. Try to finish in 10 seconds or less by reading down the column， not left to right.
Starting Time：
Key phrase： a navigation computera navigation computeran automation computer
a digital computer a navigation computer
an analogue computer an electrical computer
a navigation computer a computer language
a personal computer a navigation computer
a simulation computer an electronic computer
a navigation computer a computer transistor
a logical computer a navigation computer
a navigation computer a steering computer
a computer utility a navigation computer
a computer programmer a highspeed computer
a superfast computer an onachip computer
a navigation computer a computer simulation
a computer capacity a navigation computer
Finishing Time： Total Reading Time：
Check each line very carefully. Key phrase appears 10 times.
Computers in CarsYoure far from home on a lonely road. Shadowy forests stretch away on both sides. A thick mist makes it difficult to see far beyond your cars windshield.
"Can this be route 90A？" you wonder. If it is， you should be near a town. Yet theres no hint of one. Night is closing in. And youre low on gasoline.
This is a situation where an inear computer that can navigate （help you find your way） would be a big help.
A car computer that navigates？ Yes. Such computers exist. Several experimental models are being tested by General Motors， Ford， Chrysler， and several foreign car makers. These computers vary in detail. But they all contain series of maps on videodiscs or videotapes. For example， one computer system contains 13，300 maps covering the continental U. S……
Before starting out on a trip， a driver can type in the code for the region he or she plans to drive through. The computer then shows a map of that region. At the same time， a tiny radio receiver linked to the computer goes to work. It picks up signals from navigation satellites such as the Nust all be on the SAME line network. Using these signals， the computer pinpoints the cars position at all times and displays this position on the map. The computer can also calculate and display the best route to follow.
A navigation computer may also receive and use data about road construction， weather conditions， and traffic jams. This information would be displayed to the driver and the computer would also use the information to work out alternate routes.
Navigation computers may not be on the market until around 1988. Yet most new cars do contain computers. These are hidden computers that help cars run more efficiently.
Engine ControlPractically all new cars contain microprocessors （basic computer chips） to control certain engine functions. Microprocessors regulate the mixing of fuel vapor and air and the firing of the spark plugs. This helps keep the engine running well while keeping fuel consumption and pollutant emissions as low as possible. In some cars， computer controls prevent engine knocking and regulate lubrication （oiling）。 They also keep ignition， acceleration and braking smooth.
Data on car speed， oil pressure， revolutions per minute， engine temperature， and fuel level can be displayed as digital data （numbers） or warning lights. Some cars also use warning beepers or voice synthesizers to warn drivers.
Some auto designers suggest that a central computer display be used to clearly present such timely information as car speed and fuel level. Warning lights would indicate a drop in oil pressure or a sudden rise in engine temperature. To get more information on these conditions， the driver could call it up on the computer display screen. When needed， the computer could be "asked" to provide navigation aid or information about the cars condition.
——from Science World， March 29，1985
Time： 197 words=wpm
MinutesEXERCISESⅠ。 READING COMPREHENSION
Select the answer which is most accurate according to the information given in the passage.
1. By describing a typical situation of a lost driver on the road， the author intends to .
A. make us believe how complex the highway network is
B. tell us how similar the roads look
C. convince us how helpful a navigation computer can be （in such a situation）
D. let us know how useful road signs can be （in such a situation）
2. The navigation computers adopted by different automobile manufacturers may vary in detail. Yet they all have one thing in common： they all .
A. contain a series of maps stored in videodiscs or videotapes
B. contain 13，300 maps covering the continental U. S.
C. work automaticallyD. cost a lot of money
3. Without the signals from navigation satellites， the incar computer .
A. would still be able to locate the cars position at all times
B. would fail to locate the cars position
C. could still calculate and display the best route to follow
D. would seek help from the radio receiver linked to it
4. Of the following functions， which is not possessed by the navigation computer？
A. Showing a map of the region a driver plans to drive through.
B. Predicting a crash on the road.
C. Processing received data about road construction， weather conditions， and traffic jams.
D. Pinpointing the cars position at all times and displaying this position on the map.
5. People find navigation computers on the market 1988.
A. are sure to……by the yearB. may not……until after
C. may not……until about D. may ……before
6. Most new cars contain computers that help .
A. concealed…… them run faster
B. concealed……them run more efficiently
C. navigation……drivers find their positions
D. navigation……motorists decide the best routes
7. We may conclude that .
A. the amount of pollutants in exhaust gas relates closely to the mixing proportion of vaporized gasoline and air
B. different data of a running car can be displayed in different modes
C. future cars will be larger in size because more complicated computers will be installed in them
D. all of the above
8. With what topic is the passage mainly concerned？
A. Future carsB. Cars and computers
C. Incar computers and navigation satellitesD. Navigation computers
Ⅱ。 CONTEXTUAL REFERENCE
Read the following article and figure out the meaning of the words in italics using the context given and wordbuilding skills.
Many countries are working to improve railroad passenger service along heavily traveled intercity routes. Because they use less energy per passenger than other means of transportation， efficient railroads could help conserve the worlds energy resources and reduce air pollution.
The magnetic levitation vehicle， known as the Movies， is a new type of highspeed passenger train. An MLV track consists of a single rail that lies under the center of the train， but the train doesnt touch the track when it is moving. MLVS are powered by electric motors. A powerful magnetic force， created by a magnet， in both the motor and the track itself， levitates the train. This magnetic force holds the train about fifteen centimeters above the rail and moves the vehicle forward. The train， which was designed by French， German， and Japanese engineers， is expected to travel more than 480 kilometers per hour.
——from English Alfa， Book 6
Ⅲ。 CLOZE
Complete the following passage by filling in the blanks with appropriate words.
The Computer and the Motorcar
When a man is driving a car for long distances along a main road or motorway， two of his problems are to keep the car at a fairly steady speed and to make sure that he does not run into the car in front of him. Easy 1， you may think - but it is 2 easier on a long motorway 3 for a mans attention 4 wander. Some experiments have been made 5 a system which involves computer 6 of these two problems. The cars computer 7 the speed steady. At the same time the 8 between the car and any 9 car in front of it is measured by a beam of light 10 forwards. The beam 11 the fear reflectors（反射鏡） of the car in 12 and is reflected 13， so enabling the distance to 14 measured. This information is 15 to the computer， which adjusts its speed control accordingly.
There are also to be 16 with a system called "Minigap." This system will be 17 useful to drivers stuck in long 18 of cars， as the compater would control not only the speed and the distance 19 the car in front， but also the 20. Using this system， a driver could switch over to Minigap， take out his newspaper and do the crossword puzzle while his car drives most of the way home automatically. To the roadside observer， the line of cars would seem like a train which carriages could join or leave at will.
——from English Language Learning， Oct.， 1981
Directions： Do the phrase recognition drill below. Quickly underline or mark the key phrase every time it appears in the columns. Try to finish in 10 seconds or less by reading down the column， not left to right.
Starting Time：
Key phrase： a navigation computera navigation computeran automation computer
a digital computer a navigation computer
an analogue computer an electrical computer
a navigation computer a computer language
a personal computer a navigation computer
a simulation computer an electronic computer
a navigation computer a computer transistor
a logical computer a navigation computer
a navigation computer a steering computer
a computer utility a navigation computer
a computer programmer a highspeed computer
a superfast computer an onachip computer
a navigation computer a computer simulation
a computer capacity a navigation computer
Finishing Time： Total Reading Time：
Check each line very carefully. Key phrase appears 10 times.
Computers in CarsYoure far from home on a lonely road. Shadowy forests stretch away on both sides. A thick mist makes it difficult to see far beyond your cars windshield.
"Can this be route 90A？" you wonder. If it is， you should be near a town. Yet theres no hint of one. Night is closing in. And youre low on gasoline.
This is a situation where an inear computer that can navigate （help you find your way） would be a big help.
A car computer that navigates？ Yes. Such computers exist. Several experimental models are being tested by General Motors， Ford， Chrysler， and several foreign car makers. These computers vary in detail. But they all contain series of maps on videodiscs or videotapes. For example， one computer system contains 13，300 maps covering the continental U. S……
Before starting out on a trip， a driver can type in the code for the region he or she plans to drive through. The computer then shows a map of that region. At the same time， a tiny radio receiver linked to the computer goes to work. It picks up signals from navigation satellites such as the Nust all be on the SAME line network. Using these signals， the computer pinpoints the cars position at all times and displays this position on the map. The computer can also calculate and display the best route to follow.
A navigation computer may also receive and use data about road construction， weather conditions， and traffic jams. This information would be displayed to the driver and the computer would also use the information to work out alternate routes.
Navigation computers may not be on the market until around 1988. Yet most new cars do contain computers. These are hidden computers that help cars run more efficiently.
Engine ControlPractically all new cars contain microprocessors （basic computer chips） to control certain engine functions. Microprocessors regulate the mixing of fuel vapor and air and the firing of the spark plugs. This helps keep the engine running well while keeping fuel consumption and pollutant emissions as low as possible. In some cars， computer controls prevent engine knocking and regulate lubrication （oiling）。 They also keep ignition， acceleration and braking smooth.
Data on car speed， oil pressure， revolutions per minute， engine temperature， and fuel level can be displayed as digital data （numbers） or warning lights. Some cars also use warning beepers or voice synthesizers to warn drivers.
Some auto designers suggest that a central computer display be used to clearly present such timely information as car speed and fuel level. Warning lights would indicate a drop in oil pressure or a sudden rise in engine temperature. To get more information on these conditions， the driver could call it up on the computer display screen. When needed， the computer could be "asked" to provide navigation aid or information about the cars condition.
——from Science World， March 29，1985
Time： 197 words=wpm
MinutesEXERCISESⅠ。 READING COMPREHENSION
Select the answer which is most accurate according to the information given in the passage.
1. By describing a typical situation of a lost driver on the road， the author intends to .
A. make us believe how complex the highway network is
B. tell us how similar the roads look
C. convince us how helpful a navigation computer can be （in such a situation）
D. let us know how useful road signs can be （in such a situation）
2. The navigation computers adopted by different automobile manufacturers may vary in detail. Yet they all have one thing in common： they all .
A. contain a series of maps stored in videodiscs or videotapes
B. contain 13，300 maps covering the continental U. S.
C. work automaticallyD. cost a lot of money
3. Without the signals from navigation satellites， the incar computer .
A. would still be able to locate the cars position at all times
B. would fail to locate the cars position
C. could still calculate and display the best route to follow
D. would seek help from the radio receiver linked to it
4. Of the following functions， which is not possessed by the navigation computer？
A. Showing a map of the region a driver plans to drive through.
B. Predicting a crash on the road.
C. Processing received data about road construction， weather conditions， and traffic jams.
D. Pinpointing the cars position at all times and displaying this position on the map.
5. People find navigation computers on the market 1988.
A. are sure to……by the yearB. may not……until after
C. may not……until about D. may ……before
6. Most new cars contain computers that help .
A. concealed…… them run faster
B. concealed……them run more efficiently
C. navigation……drivers find their positions
D. navigation……motorists decide the best routes
7. We may conclude that .
A. the amount of pollutants in exhaust gas relates closely to the mixing proportion of vaporized gasoline and air
B. different data of a running car can be displayed in different modes
C. future cars will be larger in size because more complicated computers will be installed in them
D. all of the above
8. With what topic is the passage mainly concerned？
A. Future carsB. Cars and computers
C. Incar computers and navigation satellitesD. Navigation computers
Ⅱ。 CONTEXTUAL REFERENCE
Read the following article and figure out the meaning of the words in italics using the context given and wordbuilding skills.
Many countries are working to improve railroad passenger service along heavily traveled intercity routes. Because they use less energy per passenger than other means of transportation， efficient railroads could help conserve the worlds energy resources and reduce air pollution.
The magnetic levitation vehicle， known as the Movies， is a new type of highspeed passenger train. An MLV track consists of a single rail that lies under the center of the train， but the train doesnt touch the track when it is moving. MLVS are powered by electric motors. A powerful magnetic force， created by a magnet， in both the motor and the track itself， levitates the train. This magnetic force holds the train about fifteen centimeters above the rail and moves the vehicle forward. The train， which was designed by French， German， and Japanese engineers， is expected to travel more than 480 kilometers per hour.
——from English Alfa， Book 6
Ⅲ。 CLOZE
Complete the following passage by filling in the blanks with appropriate words.
The Computer and the Motorcar
When a man is driving a car for long distances along a main road or motorway， two of his problems are to keep the car at a fairly steady speed and to make sure that he does not run into the car in front of him. Easy 1， you may think - but it is 2 easier on a long motorway 3 for a mans attention 4 wander. Some experiments have been made 5 a system which involves computer 6 of these two problems. The cars computer 7 the speed steady. At the same time the 8 between the car and any 9 car in front of it is measured by a beam of light 10 forwards. The beam 11 the fear reflectors（反射鏡） of the car in 12 and is reflected 13， so enabling the distance to 14 measured. This information is 15 to the computer， which adjusts its speed control accordingly.
There are also to be 16 with a system called "Minigap." This system will be 17 useful to drivers stuck in long 18 of cars， as the compater would control not only the speed and the distance 19 the car in front， but also the 20. Using this system， a driver could switch over to Minigap， take out his newspaper and do the crossword puzzle while his car drives most of the way home automatically. To the roadside observer， the line of cars would seem like a train which carriages could join or leave at will.
——from English Language Learning， Oct.， 1981