Directions: In the following text, some sentences have been removed. For Questions 41-45, choose the most suitable one from the list A-F to fit into each of the numbered blanks. There is| one extra choice, which does not fit in any of the blanks. Mark your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. (10 points)
Ghost ships
Autonomous cargo vessels could set sail without a crew under the watchful eye of captains in shore-based simulators
Military drones already fly frequent missions and civilian operations using unmanned aircraft are coming. Driverless cars are clocking up thousands of test miles. (41) Indeed, the maritime industry has started to think about what would be required to launch a latter-day Marie C deste.
(42) The bridges of some modern vessels are now more likely to contain computer screens and joysticks than engine telegraphs and a giant ship’s wheel. The latest supply ships serving the offshore oil and gas industry in the North Sea, for instance, use dynamic positioning systems which collect data from satellites, gyrocompasses, and wind and motion sensors to automatically hold their position when transferring cargo (also done by remote control) to and from platforms, even in the heaviest of swells.
(43) As in the air and on the road, robust control systems will be needed to conform to existing regulations.
The maritime industry is interested in crewless ships for two reasons. The first is safety. Most accidents at sea are the result of human error, just as they are in cars and planes. (44)
The second reason is, of course, cost. It is becoming increasingly difficult to sign up competent crew prepared to spend months away at sea. Moreover, some voyages are likely to get even longer for ships carrying non-urgent cargo. By some accounts, a 30% reduction in speed by a bulk carrier can save around 50% in fuel. (45) Removing the crew, though, also removes the need for their accommodation and its associated equipment, like heating and plumbing. And that provides room to carry more cargo.
A. Ships, like aircraft and cars, are increasingly controlled by electronic systems, which makes automation easier.
B. So, if human operators are replaced by sophisticated sensors and computer systems, autonomous vessels should, in theory, make shipping safer.
C. So why not let remote-controlled ships set sail without a crew?
D. Something similar is being proposed for autonomous civil drones, with ground-based pilots responding to communications and air-traffic control instructions as if they were in the cockpit.
E. This means slower steaming could provide big savings in fuel costs, but it would be at the expense of increased expenditure on crew for these longer voyages, both in wages and for the “hotel” facilities required on board.
F. However, as is also the case with pilotless aircraft and driverless cars, it is not so much a technological challenge that has to be overcome before autonomous ships can set sail, but regulatory and safety concerns.
【选项释义】
A. Ships, like aircraft and cars, are increasingly controlled by electronic systems, which makes automation easier. A. 像飞机和汽车一样，船舶越来越多地由电子系统控制，这使得自动化更容易。
B. So, if human operators are replaced by sophisticated sensors and computer systems, autonomous vessels should, in theory, make shipping safer. B. 因此，如果人工操作员被先进的传感器和计算机系统取代，自动驾驶船舶理论上应该会使航运更安全。
C. So why not let remote-controlled ships set sail without a crew? C. 那么，为什么不让遥控船只在没有船员的情况下启航呢？
D. Something similar is being proposed for autonomous civil drones, with ground-based pilots responding to communications and air-traffic control instructions as if they were in the cockpit. D. 类似的东西也被提议用于自主民用无人机，让地面飞行员对通信和空中交通管制指令做出反应，就像他们在驾驶舱里一样。
E. This means slower steaming could provide big savings in fuel costs, but it would be at the expense of increased expenditure on crew for these longer voyages, both in wages and for the “hotel” facilities required on board. E. 这意味着减速航行可以大幅节省燃料成本，但这将以增加船员在这些长途航行中的支出为代价，包括工资和船上所需的“酒店”设施。
F. However, as is also the case with pilotless aircraft and driverless cars, it is not so much a technological challenge that has to be overcome before autonomous ships can set sail, but regulatory and safety concerns. F. 然而，就像无人驾驶飞机和无人驾驶汽车一样，在无人驾驶船舶起航之前，需要克服的与其说是技术挑战，不如说是监管和安全方面的担忧。
41.前一句提到“无人驾驶汽车的测试里程已达数千英里”，后一句说到“海运业已经开始考虑建造现代的船舶需要什么条件”，从中可以推测，空格这一句应该是问无人驾驶的船舶，C项正确。
42.该段第二句提到“现在，一些现代船只的船桥上更有可能装有电脑屏幕和操纵杆，而不是发动机电报和巨型轮船的轮子”，并且后面用北海海上石油和天然气行业服务的船舶举例，来描述船舶上的电子系统控制，所以该段第一句与电子系统控制有关，故A项正确。
43.根据该段第二句“就像在空中和道路上一样，鲁棒控制系统将需要符合现有法规（existing regulations）”，可知这一段与上一段是转折关系，这一段描写的是无人驾驶船舶将遇到的一些问题，F项正确。
44.该段讲的是海运业对无船员船舶感兴趣的其中一个原因，即安全，所以最后一句也是对安全的描述，只有B项符合。
45.该段讲的是海运业对无船员船舶感兴趣的另外一个原因，即成本，所以该段都是对成本的阐述，E项正确。
