单选题
The commuter train that crashed on Sunday in the
Bronx shouldn't have derailed. The four people who died should still be alive.
And they would be, if only New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority had
deployed safety technology already used elsewhere and pushed by rail safety
watchdogs for 40 years. A dazed engineer barreled into a 30 mph
curve at 82 miles per hour. No alarm sounded to shake him out of his stupor. No
automatic brakes kicked in. Disaster was guaranteed. However, five years ago, in
the wake of a fatal train accident in California, Congress mandated that all
railroads install an automated braking system that could have prevented the
crash. The deadline is 2015, but many railroads—wary of the cost—have failed to
comply and are pushing for delay. It's fair to wonder what the MTA thinks of
that strategy today. In 1969, after the NTSB investigated a
deadly collision of two Penn Central trains in Connecticut, the board began
calling for development of an automated backup system to slow or stop trains
that missed signals or exceeded speed limits. Back then, the technology didn't
exist. Today digital communications combined with GPS can monitor train
locations and speeds, talk to trains and automatically take charge when a train
needs to be slowed. About a third of train accidents from 2000 to 2009 were
caused by human error, including cases when an engineer fell asleep or became
distracted. It took the horrific 2008 collision in California
to finally get Congress' attention. A Metrolink passenger train operator was
texting, ran through a stop signal and collided with a freight train. The 25
deaths and 135 injuries pushed lawmakers to mandate that "positive train
control" technology be installed on trains that carry passengers or hazardous
materials by the end of 2015. The safety program is undoubtedly
complex and costly. But there's one problem with the industry's insistence that
the deadline couldn't be met, some railroads will meet it. If they can do it,
why can't others? Some of the obstacles sound real. Commuter systems are often
strapped for money. Congress has made available only one-fifth of what was
supposed to be a ＄250 million fund to help with improvements.
Even so, extending the deadline is no solution. It takes the pressure off the
delinquents and is unfair to the railroads that have complied. Accidents happen.
But this one was preventable. So is the next one, but only if the railroads
act.
单选题
What is the direct cause for Sunday's accident?
A.Over-speeding.
B.Braking systems failed.
C.The driver was sleeping.
D.Poor safety technology.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。由第二段第一句“A dazed engineer barreled into a 30 mph curve at 82 miles per hour.”可知：在发生事故的弯道处，其规定时速是“30 mph”，而实际的行驶速度却达到“82 miles per hour”，这是发生事故的直接原因，这与A项内容相符。所以本题正确答案是A。
单选题
Why did so many railroads fail to install the automated braking
systems?
A.They couldn't afford them.
B.There is still some time before the deadline.
C.They thought it is unnecessary to install them.
D.The possible accidents don't deserve the price they would pay.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。由第二段第六句“The deadline is 2015, but many railroads—wary of the cost—have failed to comply and are pushing for delay.”可知：地方铁路局未能安装自动刹车系统原因就在于费用过高，这与A项内容相符，所以本题正确答案是A。
单选题
The functions of an automated backup system do NOT include that ______.
A.it can stop the train
B.it can substitute with the driver
C.it can remind the driver of the possible risks
D.it can take charge if the train exceed the speed limit
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 推理题。由第三段第三句“...take charge when a train needs to be slowed.”可知：火车超速时，备用系统可以直接接管火车，这与D项内容相符。由第三段第三句“Today digital communications combined with GPS can monitor train locations and speeds, talk to trains...”可知：备用系统可以直接联系司机，并给予指令，这与C项内容相符。由第三段第一句“...the board began calling for development of an automated backup system to slow or stop trains that missed signals or exceeded speed limits.”可知：备用系统可以直接控制火车并将其停止，这与A项的内容相符。文章没有提及备用系统可以完全替代司机，这与B项内容不符，所以本题正确答案是B。
单选题
What can be inferred from the last 2 paragraphs?
A.The safety program has collected enough funds.
B.The local railroads are satisfied with the deadline.
C.Congress will invest 50 million to the safety program.
D.All of the railroads will have met the requirements by the
deadline.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 推理题。由第五段第六句“Congress has made available only one-fifth of what was supposed to be a ＄250 million fund to help with improvements.”可知：整个安全系统需要的投资是＄250 million，而国会的拨款却只是总款项的五分之一，即为＄50 million，这与C项内容相符，所以本题正确答案是C。
单选题
Which of the following can best summarize the text?
A.Accidents call for safety program for commuter systems.
B.An automated system will prevent accidents effectively.
C.Human errors are to blame for Sunday's tragedy.
D.The more we do, the less accident there will be.