A
Thehistory of the automobile begins as early as 1769, with the creation of steamengined automobiles capable of human transport. In 1806, the first cars poweredby an internal combustion engine running on fuel gas appeared, which led to theintroduction in 1885 of the ubiquitous modern petrol-fueled internal combustionengine.
B
It isgenerally acknowledged that the first really practical automobiles withpetrol/gasoline-powered internal combustion engines were completed almostsimultaneously by several German inventors working independently: Karl Benzbuilt his first automobile in 1885 in Mannheim. Benz was granted a patent forhis automobile on 29 January 1886, and began the first production ofautomobiles in 1888 in a company later became the famous Mercedes-Benz.
C
Atthe beginning of the century the automobile entered the transportation marketfor the rich. The drivers of the day were an adventurous lot, going out inevery kind of weather, unprotected by an enclosed body, or even a convertibletop. Everyone in town knew who owned what car and the cars were soon to becomeeach individual's token of identity. However, it became increasingly popularamong the general population because it gave travelers the freedom to travelwhen they wanted to and where they wanted. As a result, in North America andEurope the automobile became cheaper and more accessible to the middle class.This was facilitated by Henry Ford who did two important things. First hepriced his car to be as affordable as possible and second, he paid his workersenough to be able to purchase the cars they were manufacturing.
D
Theassembly line style of mass production and interchangeable parts had beenpioneered in the U.S. This concept was greatly expanded by Henry Ford,beginning in 1914. The large-scale, production-line manufacturing of affordableautomobiles was debuted Ford's cars came off the line in fifteen minuteintervals, much faster than previous methods, increasing productivity eightfold(requiring 12.5 man-hours before, 1 hour 33 minutes after), while using lessmanpower. Ford's complex safety procedures—especially assigning each worker to a specific location instead ofallowing them to roam about—dramatically reduced the rate of injury. The combination of highwages and high efficiency is called "Fordism," and was copied by mostmajor industries.
E
Theoriginal Jeep vehicle that first appeared as the prototype Bantam BRC becamethe primary light 4-wheel-drive vehicle of the United States Army and Alliesand made a huge leap in sale during World War IT, as well as the postwarperiod. Many Jeep variants serving similar military and civilian roles havesince been created and kept being improved on general performance in othernations.
F
Throughoutthe 1950s, engine power and vehicle speeds rose, designs became more integratedand artful, and cars spread across the world. The market changed somewhat inthe 1960s, as Detroit began to worry about foreign competition, the Europeanmakers adopted ever-higher technology, and Japan appeared as a seriouscar-producing nation. General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford tried radical smallcars, like the GM A-bodies, but had little success. Captive imports and badgeengineering swept through the US and UK as amalgamated groups like the BritishMotor Corporation consolidated the market. BMC's revolutionary space-savingMini, which first appeared in 1959, captured large sales worldwide. Minis weremarketed under the Austin and Morris names, until Mini became a marque in itsown right in 1969. The trend for corporate consolidation reached Italy as nichemakers like Maserati, Ferrari, and Lancia were acquired by larger companies. Bythe end of the decade, the number of automobile marques had been greatlyreduced. G
InAmerica, performance became a prime focus of marketing, exemplified by ponycars and muscle cars. But everything changed in the 1970s as the 1973 oilcrisis, automobile emissions control rules, Japanese and European imports, andstagnant innovation wreaked havoc on the American industry. Though somewhatironically, full-size sedans staged a major comeback in the years between theenergy crisis, with makes such as Cadillac and Lincoln staging their best salesyears ever in the late 70s. Small performance cars from BMW, Toyota, and Nissantook the place of big-engined cars from America and Italy.
H
Onthe technology front, the biggest developments in Post-war era were thewidespread use of independent suspensions, wider application of fuel injection,and an increasing focus on safety in the design of automobiles. The hottesttechnologies of the 1960s were NSU's "Wankel engine", the gasturbine, and the turbocharger. Of these, only the last, pioneered by GeneralMotors but popularised by BMW and Saab, was to see widespread use. Mazda hadmuch success with its "Rotary" engine which, however, acquired areputation as a polluting gas-guzzler. Other Wankel licensees, includingMercedes-Benz and General Motors, never put their designs into production afterthe 1973 oil crisis. (Mazda's hydrogen-fuelled successor was later todemonstrate potential as an "ultimate eco-car".) Rover and Chryslerboth produced experimental gas turbine cars to no effect. I
Themodern era has also seen rapidly rising fuel efficiency and engine output. Oncethe automobile emissions concerns of the 1970s were conquered with computerizedengine management systems, power began to rise rapidly. In the 1980s, apowerful sports car might have produced 200 horsepower (150 kW) - just 20 yearslater, average passenger cars have engines that powerful, and some performancemodels offer three times as much power.
J
Mostautomobiles in use today are propelled by an internal combustion engine, fueledby gasoline or diesel. Both fuels are known to cause air pollution and are alsoblamed for contributing to climate change and global warming. Rapidlyincreasing oil prices, concerns about oil dependence, tightening environmentallaws and restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions are propelling work on alternative powersystems for automobiles. Efforts to improve or replace existing technologiesinclude the development of hybrid vehicles, plug-in electric vehicles andhydrogen vehicles. Vehicles using alternative fuels such as ethanolflexible-fuel vehicles and natural gas vehicles are also gaining popularity insome countries.
Questions 15-19
Look at the following statements (Questions15-19) and the list of auto companies or car types in the box belong:
Match each statement with the correctperson A-G
Write the appropriate letter A-G in boxes15-19 on your answer sheet.
15. The company which began the firstmanufacture of automobiles
16. The company that produces theindustrialized cars that consumers can afford
17. The example of auto which improved thespace room efficiency
18. The type of auto with greatest upgradedoverall performance in Post-war era
19. The type of autos still keeping anadvanced sale even during a seemingly unproductive period
A. The Ford (American, Henry Ford)
B. The BMC's Mini
C. Cadillac and Lincoln (American)
D. Mercedes-Benz (German)
E. Mazda
F. Jeep
G. NSU's "Wankel engine" car
H. Mascrati, Ferrari, and Iancia
Questions 20-26
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR ANUMBER from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 20-26 on youranswer sheet.
20. What is a common feature of modem cars'engine type since late 19th century
21. In the past, what did the rich takeowing a car as?
22. How long did Ford's assembly line taketo produce a car?
23. What does people call the Mazda cardesigned under Wankel engine?
24. What is the major historical event thatled American cars to suffer when competing with Japanese imported cars?
25. What has greatly increased withcomputerised engine management systems?
26. What factor is blamed for contributingto pollution, climate change and global warming?
Questions 27
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
Write your answers in boxes 27 on youranswer sheet
27 What is the main idea of this passage?
A. the historical contribution of theFord's mass production assembly line
B. the historical development andinnovation in car designs
C. the beginning of the modern designedgasoline engines
D. the history of human and the Autoindustry
答案：
15.D 16.A 17.B 18.G 19.C 20.Petrol-fueled internalcombustion
21.Token of identity 22.minutes/ (1 hour 33 minutes) 23.Polluting gas-guzzler
24.0il crisis 25.Power 26.Fuel或者 gasoline ordiesel 27.B
