You slip the key into the ignition and crank the engine to life. But before you put the car into gear, you tap a key on the keyboard mounted by the steering wheel, and your newest e-mail flashes up on the windscreen.

This seductive satyr is what you get when you cross a car and a computer. Dubbed the "network vehicle", or net-mobile, it may soon come to a driveway near you (probably the one belonging to your rich neighbour). In a net-mobile, a motorist could tap into a regional road system but also to map out a route around rush-hour traffic snags. Drivers and passengers will be able to send and receive e-mail, track the latest sports scores or stock quotes, surf the Web, and even play video games. Or so, at least, say a number of computer-industry firms such as Microsoft, Sun, IBM and Netscape.

The modern car is already an electronic showcase on wheels. On-board microcomputers improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. They operate anti-lock brake systems, and on some cars even regulate the firmness of the shock absorbers. But much of the technology needed to add extra is available now. A prototype network vehicle, produced by a consortium of Netscape, Sun, IBM and Delco (an automotive electronics firm based in Michigan), was introduced at the recent annual computer-industry show in Las Vegas.

It not only offered such desktop-computer-like services as e-mail, but allowed a driver to use them without looking away from the road. It was operated by voice commands and projected its data on to the windscreen, using the same sort of head-up display system found in modern fighter jets. Members of the consortium think a real-world network vehicle could be in production in as little as four years.

Car-makers have already begun rolling out some of the features found on these prototype net-mobiles. If the driver of a General Motors car equipped with its On-Star system locks his key in the car, for example, an emergency centre can transmit a digital signal to unlock the doors. On-star also calls automatically for help if an accident triggers the airbags. Toyota and General Motors are among a growing list of firms offering such in-car navigation systems. And in Europe, BMW and Mercedes-Benz recently introduced navigation hardware that can not only plot out a route, but alert a driver to traffic jams.［419 words］

6.The future car can be defined as the machine which--.

［A］ sends and receives e-mails, and surfs the Web

［B］ taps into a regional road system to get directions

［C］ combines car functions and computer functions

［D］ tracks the latest sports scores and stock quotes

7."An electronic showcase on wheels"probably means--.

［A］ a computer industry show

［B］ a network car

［C］ a car that exhibits electronic achievements

［D］ a computer that has wheels

8.Compared with an ordinary modern car, the network vehicle will have an on-board microcomputer which--.

［A］ projects data on the windscreen

［B］ improves fuel economy and reduces emissions

［C］ operates anti-lock brake systems

［D］ regulates the firmness of the shock absorbers

9.The in-car navigation system has all of the following functions EXCEPT--.

［A］ calling for help if an accident triggers the airbag

［B］ transmitting a digital signal to unlock the doors

［C］ alerting emergency centre if the key is locked in the car

［D］ plotting out route and alert one to traffic jams

10.The passage is written probably to--.

［A］ promote electronic culture

［B］ advertise for the motor manufacturers

［C］ attract potential motor consumers

［D］ provide information about the net vehicle

核心词汇

prototype n. ［C］ 原型，模型；典型，榜样；proto 前缀，表示"原，第一，原始的"，如protovirus原始病毒；protozoology原生动物学

roll out ① 辗平，铺开 例：roll out the red carpet for sb.展开红地毯隆重地欢迎某人 *② 滔滔不绝地说出；洪亮地讲出或唱出 例：roll out verses朗诵诗句

超纲词汇

consortium n. ① 社团，联盟 ② 合股，合伙，联合 *③ 企业集团

crank n. ① 曲柄 ② 怪人，脾气坏的人；怪想法 *v.转动曲柄（发动汽车）

dub *v. 把......称为，授予......新称号 n. 笨蛋

snag n./v. 障碍，阻碍

长难句分析

It was operated by voice commands and projected its data onto the windscreen, using the same sort of head-up display system found in modern fighter jets.

该句主干是It was operated by... and projected its data...。现在分词短语using... 做方式状语，修饰谓语动词projected；在using分词短语中，过去分词短语found in... 做后置定语，修饰display system。

语篇分析

本文题材涉及汽车技术，作者介绍未来汽车的功能与特点，并指出这种汽车很快将成为现实生活中的消费品。本文属于介绍新事物型文章，可分为"提出新事物--比较旧事物--突出新事物"三部分。

第一、二段为第一部分：引入话题，介绍网络汽车（新事物）的功能。

第一段：直观地描述使用未来汽车的场景：敲击方向盘上安装的键盘（tap a key on the keyboard mounted by the steering wheel）；挡风玻璃上闪现你的最新邮件（your newest email flashes up on the windscreen）。

第二段：首句承接上文，指出第一段所描述的是电脑与汽车相结合的网络汽车（network vehicle/ net mobile）。接着预测这种汽车将很快成为现实生活中的消费品(it may soon come to a driveway near you)。然后介绍网络汽车的使用功能：驾驶者可以①接进地域性公路系统（tap into a regional road system）；②在交通拥挤的时候画出路线图绕过交通障碍（map out a rout around rushhour traffic snags）。司机和乘客可以①收发邮件（send and receive email）；②跟踪最新的体育比分和股票行情（track the latest sports scores or stock quotes）；③上网冲浪（surf the Web）；④玩电视游戏（play video games）。段末借用微软等公司的观点指出，以上这些功能都可以实现。

第三段为第二部分：介绍现代汽车（旧事物）已经具备的技术。

第三段：将现代汽车比喻为电子陈列柜，介绍其微型计算机（onboard microcomputers）能够：①节约燃料，减少气体排放（improve fuel economy and reduce emissions）；②操纵反锁刹车系统（operate antilock brake system）；③调节防震器的松紧度（regulate the firmness of the shock absorbers）。最后两句指出，增加了额外技术的未来汽车模型（a prototype network vehicle）已经存在。

第四和五段为第三部分：介绍未来汽车的新功能及发展前景。

第四段：介绍网络汽车模型的功能：①提供台式电脑式的服务，如收发邮件（offer -desktop-compute-like services）；②允许司机安全便利地使用这些服务（use the services without looking away from the road）；③由声音指令操作（voice commands）；④使用最先进的平视显示器，将数据投射在挡风玻璃上(head-up display system，proje