Ⅰ. 阅读理解
A city in the Republic of Korea, which has the world’s
highest smartphone usage rate, has placed flashing lights at a road crossing to warn “smartphone zombies” (低头族) to look up and drivers to slow down, in the hope of preventing accidents.
The designers of the system were motivated by growing worry that more pedestrians (行人) addicted to their phones will become victims in a country that already has some of the highest injury rates among developed countries.
State-run Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology believes its system of flashing lights at crossings can warn both pedestrians and drivers.
In addition to red, yellow and blue LED lights on the road, “smartphone zombies” will be warned by flashing lights and a warning sent to the phones by an app that they are about to step into traffic.
“Increasing numbers of accidents are happening at pedestrian crossings, so these lights are needed to prevent these pedestrian accidents, ” said KICT senior researcher Kim Jong-hoon.
The Republic of Korea has the world’s highest smartphone usage rate, according to Pew Research Center, with about 94 percent of adults owning smartphones in 2017, compared with 77 percent in the United States and 59 percent in Japan.
For now, the warning system is set up only in Ilsan, a city about 30 km northwest of the capital, Seoul, but is expected to go nationwide, according to the institute.
Kim Dan-hee, a 23-year-old citizen of Ilsan, welcomed the system, saying she was often too absorbed in her phone to remember to look at traffic. “This flashing light makes me feel safe as it makes me look around again, and I hope that we can have more of these in town, ” she said.
【语篇概述】本文是一篇科技说明文, 主要讲述的是为了提醒“智能手机低头族”们抬头看路, 并让驾驶人员减速, 避免意外发生, 韩国某市在十字路口安装了闪灯装置。
1. What is the purpose of the Republic of Korea’s new warning system?
A. To prevent pedestrian accidents.
B. To limit the use of phones.
C. To remind pedestrians to look around.
D. To ensure drivers’ safety.
【解析】选A。细节理解题。根据第一段中的to warn “smartphone zombies” to look up and drivers to slow down, in the hope of preventing accidents可知答案选A。
2. How does the writer introduce the high smartphone usage rate of the Republic of Korea?
A. By describing a scene. B. By making comparison.
C. By explaining a subject. D. By raising a question.
【解析】选B。细节理解题。在第六段中通过对韩国与美国和日本2017年成年人拥有手机的百分比进行对比得知韩国是世界上智能手机使用率最高的国家。所以答案选B。
3. What’s Kim Dan-hee’s attitude to the new warning system?
A. Supportive. B. Indifferent.
C. Objective. D. Doubtful.
【解析】选A。细节理解题。根据最后一段中的This flashing light makes me feel safe as it makes me look around again, and I hope that we can have more of these in town可知她对这个装置的态度是支持的。
4. What is the best title for the text?
A. Flashing lights at the crossing in different countries
B. Watching out for safety while crossing the road
C. The Republic of Korea ranking the world’s highest phone usage rate
D. New warning system to prevent accidents in the Republic of Korea
【解析】选D。主旨大意题。根据第一段可知为了提醒“智能手机低头族”们抬头看路, 并让驾驶人员减速, 避免意外发生, 韩国某市在十字路口安装了闪灯装置。所以答案选D。
