Since the beginnings of the automobile, there have been numerous and impressive improvements in car designs. It’s safe to say, though, that we haven’t seen anything yet. A headline on the journalistic website called The Conversation boldly predicts “Cars will change more in the next decade than they have in the past century.” The article suggests that the appearance and functions of future autos will continue to evolve rapidly, providing a better and safer driving experience, and that tech companies like Apple and Google may establish their own automotive brands.
Indeed, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2020 trade show in Nevada, Sony—known primarily as a producer of electronic products and as an entertainment company—unveiled a new electric car, although the vehicle was more for show because Sony said it wasn’t planning to actually produce that car anytime soon. Sony’s Vision-S car featured 33 sensors to help the car navigate safely, a dashboard with five screens, and an impressive audio system.
As the displays at CES 2020 demonstrated, the future of the automobile looks exciting, with electric, self-driving cars taking center stage. Other innovations that drivers will be impressed with include the use of biometrics—the use of technology to measure biological functions such as heart rates and breathing patterns—to allow for a more personal driving experience. This can be achieved by adjusting vehicle performance based on how people feel. While it may be some time before these cars make it to the marketplace, people interested in purchasing a flying car or a boat that drives can already do that. Isn’t the future amazing?
1. What does the writer imply about the very beginnings of the automobile?
(A) Cugnot’s invention was designed to move soldiers from one place to another.
(B) The invention of the car was more important than the light bulb or the laser.
(C) People disagree on what exactly the first car was.
(D) The French made the best cars at first.
2. How did Henry Ford change the automotive industry?
(A) He improved the technology of hybrid cars.
(B) He created the first car that was powered by gas.
(C) He put electric vehicles into mass production in America.
(D) He came up with a cheaper and more efficient way of producing cars.
3. Which of the following is NOT true about Sony’s Vision-S car?
(A) It was made in cooperation with Google and Apple.
(B) It was displayed at a prominent exhibition.
(C) It will not soon be available to consumers.
(D) It features dozens of sensors.
素養題 4. According to the passage, which of the following cars incorporates biometric technology?
(A) Ivy EV-33, programmed to use the driver’s fingerprints to lock, unlock, and start the car.
(B) Ivy M2, connected to GPS to create the best route and to project it on the windscreen.
(C) Enjoy MX-5, with the ability to drive on its own and detect people or objects.
(D) Enjoy GT500, equipped with solar panels on its roof to generate power.
