英语听力精选进阶版 6440

Would you like to live in a city where buildings turn the lights off for you, where self-driving cars find the nearest parking space, and where even the rubbish bins¹ know when they're full?

Although it might sound like science-fiction, living in a 'smart' city like this could happen sooner than you think.

Towns we have lived in for centuries are being upgraded, while completely new cities are being built.

One such place is Songdo in South Korea. Every home there will have a built-in 'telepresence' system - allowing users to control the heating and locks; take part in video conferences; and receive education, healthcare and government services.

Around the city, escalators will only move when someone is on them, and offices and schools will all be connected to the network.

The digital mastermind behind Songdo is the company Cisco. Indeed, technology firms around the world such as IBM, Siemens and Microsoft are already selling software to solve a range of city problems, from water leaks and air pollution to traffic congestion².

For example, IBM is gathering³ traffic data in Singapore which it uses to predict where traffic jams will occur - an hour before they happen.

So what is all this smart technology for? Many hope all this connectedness will make cities greener, more sustainable, and more efficient.

And with 75% of the world's population predicted to live in cities by 2050, the transport system and emergency services will need to modernise⁴ to cope with all the new arrivals.

But making cities smarter is only part of the solution, according to Dan Hill, chief executive of research firm Fabrica.

He said: "We don't make cities to be efficient, we make cities for culture, commerce, community - all of which are very inefficient⁵".

In the rush in order to make cities perform better, we could be missing their greatest asset.

"It is going to be smart citizens that make smart cities," he said.

Quiz 测验

1. True or false? Smart cities are just unrealistic science fiction.

False. They are already being built.

2. What will residents of Songdo be able to use their 'telepresence' systems for?

They will be able to use them to control the heating and locks; take part in video conferences; and receive education, healthcare and government services.

3. True or false? IBM has designed a system to ease traffic congestion.

True. It has designed a system in Singapore which can predict where traffic jams will occur.

4.What proportion of people is expected to live in cities halfway⁶ through the 21st Century?

75% of the world's population is expected to live in cities by 2050.

5. What does Dan Hill think the most important thing in smart cities will be?

Smart citizens.

Glossary 词汇表

self-driving car 自动驾驶汽车

science-fiction 科学幻想

to upgrade 重建、改造，改良

one such place 这样的一个地方

built-in 内置的

video conference 视频会议

healthcare 医疗

escalator 自动扶梯

mastermind 策划者

firm 公司，企业

water leak 漏水

congestion 拥堵

data 数据

traffic jam 塞车

connectedness 连通性

sustainable 可持续的

emergency services 紧急救援部门

commerce 贸易，商业

asset 资产，财富

citizen 市民

1 bins   

n.大储藏箱( bin的名词复数 )；宽口箱（如面包箱，垃圾箱等）v.扔掉，丢弃( bin的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Garbage from all sources was deposited in bins on trolleys. 来自各方的垃圾是装在手推车上的垃圾箱里的。 来自辞典例句
• Would you be pleased at the prospect of its being on sale in dump bins? 对于它将被陈列在倾销箱中抛售这件事，你能欣然接受吗？ 来自辞典例句

2 congestion   

n.阻塞，消化不良

参考例句：

• The congestion in the city gets even worse during the summer.夏天城市交通阻塞尤为严重。
• Parking near the school causes severe traffic congestion.在学校附近泊车会引起严重的交通堵塞。

3 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

4 modernise   

vt.使现代化

参考例句：

• If it works,it would help to modernise the entire economy.这项（改革）一旦实施起效，将有助于整体经济的现代化进程。
• They attempted in vain to modernise these antiquated industries.他们企图使这些陈旧的工业现代化，结果劳而无功。

5 inefficient   

adj.效率低的，无效的

参考例句：

• The inefficient operation cost the firm a lot of money.低效率的运作使该公司损失了许多钱。
• Their communication systems are inefficient in the extreme.他们的通讯系统效率非常差。

6 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。