Question

Hyperloop: the train of the future?

We’re going through the Nevada desert, north of Las Vegas, for having a look at what its supporters believe is the future of transport. This is Hyperloop - an attempt to send passengers rushing at 700 miles an hour through a vacuum tube.

Many think that’s impossible, but this project came back last year of virgin America Inc. with Sir Richard Branson becoming chari-man. In this 500-metre test track, they say they have shown that the technology works, though they’ve not yet put any human beings on board. The head of engineering, a space scientist from NASA, sees no reason why people might be frightened.

Anita Sengupta, Head of Engineering, Virgin Hyperloop One

“The Hyperloop is a maglev train in a vacuum system. And so you can also think of it as an aircraft flying at 200,000 feet high so people don’t have any problem flying in aeroplanes and people don’t have any problem going in maglev trains. This is simply joining the two and allows you to be more energy - saving.” The Virgin Hyperloop team have said they could take passengers from London to Edinburgh in 50 minutes or cut the journey between. New York and Boston to under half an hour.

Did you know?

The word ‘maglev’ is a combination （结合）of the words ‘magnetic’ and ‘levitation’. This is because the system uses magnets to levitate（使浮起）the train. This reduces friction（摩擦力）-- the force that makes it difficult for things to move freely when they are touching each other -- and increases speed. The first maglev train operated in Hamburg, Germany in 1979.

1.You are likely to see Hyperloop in ________.

A.City of Las Vegas B.Nevada Desert C.NASA Base D.Hamburg, Germany

2.Hyperloop didn’t get support until ________.

A.human beings were put on board B.the vacuum tube was completed last year

C.Sir Richard Branson became chairman D.scientists solved two problems of transport

3.The underlined word “attempt”can be replaced by “________’.

A.effect B.effort C.event D.example

4.A maglev train is fast because it can ________.

A.rise to 200,000 feet high B.rush in a vacuum tube

C.float because of the magnets D.reduce friction of the air

5.Which of the following statement is TRUE?

A.Head of the Virgin Hyperloop Team is a space scientist.

B.The first maglev train was invented in the Untied States.

C.Most people have confidence in the Hyperloop project.

D.Hyperloop has sent passengers from New York to Boston.

6.What is the Hyperloop? The Hyperloop is ________.

A.a vacuum tube testing a maglev train system

B.an aeroplane flying at 700miles an hour

C.a maglev train floating on the railway tracks

D.a maglev tain traveling in a vacuum tube

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.B

4.C

5.A

6.D

【解析】

本文介绍了未来的火车——超级高铁。它试图让乘客以每小时700英里的速度通过真空管。美国国家航空航天局的一位太空科学家，工程部主管认为人们没有理由害怕。超级高铁是真空系统中的磁悬浮列车。这是因为系统使用磁铁使火车悬浮。这就减少了摩擦力，即物体在相互接触时难以自由移动的力，并提高了速度。

1.细节理解题。根据“We’re going through the Nevada desert, north of Las Vegas, for having a look at what its supporters believe is the future of transport.”我们要穿过拉斯维加斯北部的内华达沙漠，看看它的支持者认为未来的交通。可知，你可能会在内华达沙漠看到超级高铁。故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据“Many think that’s impossible, but this project came back last year of virgin America Inc. with Sir Richard Branson becoming chari-man.”可知，很多人认为这是不可能的，但这个项目去年在维珍美国公司推出，理查德·布兰森爵士成为主席。故选C。

3.词意猜测题。根据“This is Hyperloop - an attempt to send passengers rushing at 700 miles an hour through a vacuum tube. ”这是超级高铁——试图让乘客以每小时700英里的速度通过真空管。可知，attempt是“努力”的意思。与所给的单词effort（努力）近义。故选B。

4.细节理解题。根据“This is because the system uses magnets to levitate（使浮起）the train.”这是因为系统使用磁铁使火车悬浮。可知，磁悬浮列车速度很快，因为它能因为磁铁而漂浮。故选C。

5.细节理解题。根据“The head of engineering, a space scientist from NASA, sees no reason why people might be frightened.”可知，美国国家航空航天局的一位太空科学家，工程部主管认为人们没有理由害怕。因此选项A正确；根据“The first maglev train operated in Hamburg, Germany in 1979.”第一列磁悬浮列车于1979年在德国汉堡运营。可知，第一列磁悬浮列车是在德国发明的。而不是在美国。因此选项B错误；根据“Many think that’s impossible,”很多人认为这是不可能的。可知，大多数人对超环线项目没有信心。因此选项C错误；根据“The Virgin Hyperloop team have said they could take passengers from London to Edinburgh in 50 minutes or cut the journey between. New York and Boston to under half an hour.”他们可以在50分钟内将乘客从伦敦送到爱丁堡，或者缩短往返的路程。纽约和波士顿不到半小时。可知，Hyperloop还没有把乘客从纽约送到波士顿。只是未来可以。因此选项D错误。故选A。

6.细节理解题。根据“The Hyperloop is a maglev train in a vacuum system.”超级高铁是真空系统中的磁悬浮列车。故选D。