Some pessimistic experts feel that the automobile is bound to fall into disuse. They see a day in the not-too-distant future when all autos will be abandoned and allowed to rust. Other authorities, however, think the auto is here to stay. They hold that the car will remain a leading means of urban travel in the foreseeable future.
一些悲观的专家认为汽车肯定会弃用。他们认为，在不久的将来，所有的汽车都将被抛弃，直到生锈。然而，其他权威机构认为，汽车将继续存在。他们认为，在可预见的未来，汽车仍将是城市出行的主要方式。
The motorcar will undoubtedly change significantly over the next 30 years. It should become smaller, safer, and more economical, and should not be powered by the gasoline engine. The car of the future should be far more pollution-free than present types.
汽车无疑将在未来30年发生重大变化。它应该变得更小、更安全、更经济，而且不应该由汽油发动机提供动力。未来的汽车应该比现在的汽车更环保。
Regardless of its power source, the auto in the future will still be the main problem in urban traffic congestion. One proposed solution to this problem is the automated highway system.
无论其动力来源如何，汽车在未来仍将是城市交通拥堵的主要问题。针对这个问题提出的一个解决方案是自动化公路系统。
When the auto enters the highway system, a retractable arm will drop from the auto and make contact with a rail, which is similar to those powering subway trains electrically. Once attached to the rail, the car will become electrically powered from the system, and control of the vehicle will pass to a central computer. The computer will then monitor all of the car’s movements.
当汽车进入高速公路系统时，可伸缩的手臂会从汽车上伸出来，与轨道接触，这类似于为地铁列车供电。一旦连接到轨道上，汽车将由系统供电，车辆的控制将传递给中央计算机。然后，计算机将监控汽车的所有运动。
The driver will use a telephone to dial instructions about his destination into the system. The computer will calculate the best route, and reserve space for the car all the way to the correct exit from the highway. The driver will then be free to relax and wait for the buzzer that will warn him of his coming exit. It is estimated that an automated highway will be able to handle 10,000 vehicles per hour, compared with the 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles that can be carried by a present-day highway.
驾驶员将使用电话将有关其目的地的指示拨入系统。计算机将计算出最佳路线，并为汽车从高速公路上一直到正确出口预留空间。然后，司机可以自由放松，等待蜂鸣器提醒他离开。据估计，一条自动化高速公路每小时可容纳10000辆汽车，而现在的高速公路可容纳1500至2000辆汽车。
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