# Electric cars and buses - 科目：雅思听力真题（Part 4） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2011.11.26/2007.9.22/2006.4.8 - 题目数：10 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/f832c1a3-9e32-4e01-bf18-db8ae2e0d39a（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 00:00:01,720 Part four. You will hear a design technology student called Donna Williams presenting the findings of her investigation into the development of vehicles run on electricity. 00:00:15,260 First, you have some time to look at questions thirty-one to forty. 00:01:25,060 Now listen carefully and answer questions thirty-one to forty. 00:01:33,320 Good morning, everyone. For my project, I decided to look not at a brand new technology, but at what I regard as an ingenious application of an existing technology, which was in the development of buses and cars which run on electricity. 00:01:50,720 Now, lots of you will probably be surprised that I chose this topic because I'm not familiar with the field at all. But when I was looking around for a subject, I accidentally came across a feature article reviewing the work of engineer Howard Ross. I was struck by how accessible the science behind these new vehicles was, and it gave me confidence to investigate further. 00:02:17,460 Some of you will also be saying, "Well, haven't electric cars and buses been around for ages? What's so innovative about them?" Well, yes, but as you know, they haven't really caught on. As I see it, the main reason for this, and I'm speaking very much as a non-scientist, mind you, is that in the past, vehicles were stuffed with huge batteries to stop them grinding to a halt every few miles. Ross's solution is to recharge vehicles as they actually drive along, so their batteries need only be of modest dimensions. A plate fitted to the bottom of the vehicle sucks energy from the electrical power points located beneath the surface of the road, which are called charging strips. 00:03:08,080 The basic technology for this system has been around for years. For example, some electric toothbrushes and hand drills use it, but nobody has seen that it could, without too much effort, be used for ecologically friendly transport. 00:03:25,800 But getting down to what I'm really interested in, development and applications. How likely is it that people will give up their dependence on the internal combustion engine and choose electricity? 00:03:40,840 Well, a diesel engine apparently wears out after about five thousand hours, but electric vehicles should still be going strong after twenty thousand hours. 00:03:53,860 Not that I think it'll be that which will convince people to make the switch. I think it'll be because the annual fuel bill could be reduced by sixty percent. 00:04:04,460 Sadly, the obvious fact that this technology is much cleaner and healthier for us all will probably be of only secondary importance. 00:04:14,960 How likely is it that this technology will even make it to the market? 00:04:20,240 Well, they are still in the development stage, but from what I've read, if anyone's going to make it happen, it'll be Howard Ross. I was so impressed by his passion for the project. It's this that has already persuaded several businesses to sponsor further trials. 00:04:39,180 The article reported on one trial for the bus, which I found particularly interesting. Initially, they'd done several runs with the bus over different types of terrain, um, flat, bumpy, up and down hill, et cetera, but they hadn't had any passengers in it. When people came into the picture, boarding the bus and altering the distance between the bus and road, they had to revise their planning. 00:05:12,000 So let's have a closer look at the two vehicles Ross has developed, the bus and the car. They both use the same basic technology, but with interesting modifications to suit their different needs. Starting with the bus. The charging strips are only five meters long, but are placed at bus stops, so the vehicle is charged while the passengers are boarding and paying and so on, and so the charging doesn't significantly hold up progress. Now, these electric buses have been extensively trialed already, principally at a university, because it provided a limited circuit that could be followed. And the only remaining operational concern is that the magnetic field might damage credit cards being carried by passengers. 00:06:01,660 Obviously, that's something that'll have to be ironed out [laughs]. And the cars. Obviously, your average car owner won't want to be stopping every two miles to recharge. So Ross has developed much longer charging strips of approximately three hundred meters, which are placed at an average of every three kilometers. 00:06:24,980 Now, the cars haven't been trialed as much as the buses, for obvious reasons. It's much more difficult to lay such long charging strips. But Ross has managed to lay the strips on parts of the road near his home. They have been extremely successful, although one trial did indicate that there may be problems with interference with TV stations in the immediate area. 00:06:49,280 One more problem to address in the later- 00:06:55,840 That is the end of part four. 00:06:58,620 You now have forty-five seconds to check your answers to part four. ## 题目与答案 ### 31. 31 Donna first chose electric cars and buses for her project because this topic 31 Donna first chose electric cars and buses for her project because this topic - involved the latest technology - was easy to understand - was a field she knew a lot about **答案**：was easy to understand 原文定位：Now, lots of you will probably be surprised that I chose this topic because I'm not familiar with the field at all. But when I was looking around for a subject, I accidentally came across a feature article reviewing the work of engineer Howard Ross. I was struck by how accessible the science behind these new vehicles was, and it gave me confidence to investigate further 同义替换：「easy to understand」↔「accessible」 ### 32. 32 Donna felt the main problem with previous electric vehicles was that they 32 Donna felt the main problem with previous electric vehicles was that they - were extremely hard to manoeuver - needed large batteries to run them - had to stop very frequently to recharge **答案**：needed large batteries to run them 原文定位：As I see it, the main concern;is that in the past, vehicles were stuffed with huge batteries to stop them grinding to a halt every few miles 同义替换：「problem」↔「concern」；「previous」↔「in the past」 ### 33. 33 The ‘charging strip’ technology has been used for several years in 33 The ‘charging strip’ technology has been used for several years in - equipment used in homes - simple electric cars - environmental schemes **答案**：equipment used in homes 原文定位：The basic technology for this system has been around for years. For example, some electric toothbrushes and hand drills use it, but nobody has seen that it could, without too much effort, be used for ecologically friendly transport ### 34. 34 Donna feels that what will persuade the public to accept electric vehicles is their 34 Donna feels that what will persuade the public to accept electric vehicles is their - longer life - non-polluting technology - low running costs **答案**：low running costs 原文定位：Not that I think it'll be that which will convince people to make the switch. I think it'll be because the annual fuel bill could be reduced by sixty percent. Sadly, the obvious fact that this technology is much cleaner and healthier for us all will probably be of only secondary importance 同义替换：「persuade」↔「convince」；「accept」↔「make the switch」；「low running costs」↔「annual fuel bill could be reduced by sixty percent」 ### 35. 35 What does Donna admire about Howard Ross? 35 What does Donna admire about Howard Ross? - his business sense - his realism - his enthusiasm **答案**：his enthusiasm 原文定位：I was so impressed by his passion for the project. It's this that has already persuaded several businesses to sponsor further trials 同义替换：「admire」↔「so impressed by」；「enthusiasm」↔「passion」 ### 36. 36 In a bus trial, unexpected results were obtained due to the effect of 36 In a bus trial, unexpected results were obtained due to the effect of - sleep gradients - the weight of passengers - large bumps in the road **答案**：the weight of passengers 原文定位：Initially, they'd done several runs with the bus over different types of terrain;but they hadn't had any passengers in it. When people came into the picture, boarding the bus and altering the distance between the bus and road, they had to revise their planning 同义替换：「unexpected results」↔「had to revise their planning」 ### 37. | 标题1 | Length of charging strip | Location of strips | Main trail area | Concerns | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Bus | 5 metres | At bus 37_____ | 38..... (limited circuit) | Magnetism might affect passengers’ credit cards | | Car | About 39..... | Every 3 kms | Sections of a nearby road | Might interfere with local 40..... | | 标题1 | Length of charging strip | Location of strips | Main trail area | Concerns | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Bus | 5 metres | At bus 37_____ | 38..... (limited circuit) | Magnetism might affect passengers’ credit cards | | Car | About 39..... | Every 3 kms | Sections of a nearby road | Might interfere with local 40..... | **答案**：stops 原文定位：The charging strips are only five meters long, but are placed at bus stops, so the vehicle is charged while the passengers are boarding and paying and so on ### 38. | 标题1 | Length of charging strip | Location of strips | Main trail area | Concerns | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Bus | 5 metres | At bus 37..... | 38_____ (limited circuit) | Magnetism might affect passengers’ credit cards | | Car | About 39..... | Every 3 kms | Sections of a nearby road | Might interfere with local 40..... | | 标题1 | Length of charging strip | Location of strips | Main trail area | Concerns | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Bus | 5 metres | At bus 37..... | 38_____ (limited circuit) | Magnetism might affect passengers’ credit cards | | Car | About 39..... | Every 3 kms | Sections of a nearby road | Might interfere with local 40..... | **答案**：university 原文定位：Now, these electric buses have been extensively trialed already, principally at a university, because it provided a limited circuit that could be followed ### 39. | 标题1 | Length of charging strip | Location of strips | Main trail area | Concerns | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Bus | 5 metres | At bus 37..... | 38..... (limited circuit) | Magnetism might affect passengers’ credit cards | | Car | About 39_____ | Every 3 kms | Sections of a nearby road | Might interfere with local 40..... | | 标题1 | Length of charging strip | Location of strips | Main trail area | Concerns | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Bus | 5 metres | At bus 37..... | 38..... (limited circuit) | Magnetism might affect passengers’ credit cards | | Car | About 39_____ | Every 3 kms | Sections of a nearby road | Might interfere with local 40..... | **答案**：300 metres 原文定位：So Ross has developed much longer charging strips of approximately three hundred meters, which are placed at an average of every three kilometers 同义替换：「About」↔「approximately」 ### 40. | 标题1 | Length of charging strip | Location of strips | Main trail area | Concerns | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Bus | 5 metres | At bus 37..... | 38..... (limited circuit) | Magnetism might affect passengers’ credit cards | | Car | About 39..... | Every 3 kms | Sections of a nearby road | Might interfere with local 40_____ | | 标题1 | Length of charging strip | Location of strips | Main trail area | Concerns | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Bus | 5 metres | At bus 37..... | 38..... (limited circuit) | Magnetism might affect passengers’ credit cards | | Car | About 39..... | Every 3 kms | Sections of a nearby road | Might interfere with local 40_____ | **答案**：TV stations 原文定位：They have been extremely successful, although one trial did indicate that there may be problems with interference with TV stations in the immediate area 同义替换：「Concerns」↔「problems」 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。