6.Global Positioning Systems are now a part of everyday driving in many countries.These satellite-based systems provide turn-by-turn directions to help people get to where they want to go.But,they can also cause a lot of problems,send you to the wrong place or leave you completely lost.Many times,the driver is to blame.Sometimes a GPS error is responsible.Most often,says Barry Brown,an expert in human-computer interaction,it is a combination of the two.
We spoke to Mr.Brown by Skype.He told us about an incident involving a friend who had flown to an airport in the eastern United States.There he borrowed a GPS-equipped car to use during his stay.Barry Brown:"And they just plugged in an address and then set off to their destination.And,then it wasn't until they were driving for thirty minutes that they realized they actually put in a destination back on the West Coast where they lived.They actually put their home address in.So again,the GPS is kind of'garbage in garbage out'".
Mr.Brown says this is a common human error.But,he says,what makes the problem worse has to do with some of the shortcomings,or failures,of GPS equipment.Barry Brown:"One problem with a lot of the GPS units is they have a very small screen and they just tell you the next turn.Because they just give you the next turn,sometimes that means that it is not really giving you the overview that you would need to know that it's going to the wrong place."
Barry Brown once worked on a project with Eric Laurier from the University of Edinburgh.The two men studied the effects of GPS devices on driving by placing cameras in people's cars.They wrote a paper based on their research.It is called"The Normal,Natural Troubles of Driving with GPS".It lists several areas where GPS systems can cause confusion for drivers.These include maps that are outdated,incorrect or difficult to understand.They also include timing issues related to when GPS commands are given.
Barry Brown says to make GPS systems better we need a better understanding of how drivers,passengers and GPS systems work together.
28.In Paragraph 2,Mr.Brown mentioned his friend in the conversation toD.
A.build up his own reputation
B.laugh at his stupid friend
C.prove the GPS system is only garbage
D.describe an example of human error
29.Which of the followings is one of the shortcomings of GPS equipment?A
A.It tells the driver to turn once at a time.
B.It gives the driver the overview.
C.Its screen is too small to be seen clearly.
D.It is only suitable for passive drivers.
30.Which of the following statements would Barry Brown most likely agree with?D
A.GPS units are to blame for most GPS service failures.
B.We should introduce higher standards for the driving license.
C.Cameras are urgently needed to help improve GPS systems.
D.Drivers,GPS systems and passengers should unite to improve GPS systems.
31.What is Mr.Brown's attitude towards GPS?B
A.Unconcerned.
B.Objective.
C.Negative.
D.Critical.
分析 本文是一篇科技說明文.通過科學調(diào)查分析表明:全球定位系統(tǒng)出現(xiàn)的問題是司機和全球定位系統(tǒng)失誤兩個方面的原因造成的.為了使全球定位系統(tǒng)更好的為我們服務,需要司機、乘客和全球定位系統(tǒng)的協(xié)調(diào)工作.
解答 28.D 寫作意圖題.根據(jù)第二段的They actually put their home address in.和下面的句子:Mister Brownsays this is a common human error.可知Mr Brown是在舉人的錯誤的例子.故選D.
29.A 細節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文章第三段的One problem with a lot of the GPS units is that theyhave a very small screen and they just tell you the next turn.可知,GPS的一個問題是屏幕很小,并且它僅僅告訴你下一個轉(zhuǎn)彎.所以它只能一次告訴司機轉(zhuǎn)一次.故A正確.
30.D 細節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)最后一段的Barry Brown says to make GPS systems better we needa better understanding of how drivers,passengers and GPS systems worktogether.可知Barry Brown認為GPS系統(tǒng),司機和乘客應該一起努力提高.故D正確.
31.B 推理判斷題.作者在文章中只是客觀的評價GPS的優(yōu)缺點,故作者的態(tài)度是客觀的.故B正確.
點評 本文是科教類閱讀,主要考查細節(jié)理解題和推理判斷題.在做細節(jié)理解題時,首先根據(jù)題目要求迅速在文章里找出相應的段落、句子或短語.認真比較選項和文中細節(jié)的區(qū)別,在做推理判斷題時不要以個人的主觀想象代替文章的事實,要根據(jù)文章事實進行合乎邏輯的推理判斷.