空中出租車或可成真

山東 李全忠

為了緩解城市的交通壓力， 韓國計劃于2025年在首爾推出城市空中汽車（UAM），并希望將這種飛行汽車作為空中出租車，往返于主要機場和首爾市中心之間，從而縮短旅途時間。

題材體裁科技說明文366★★★文章詞數難度建議用時7分鐘

Officials of the Republic of Korea have demonstrated a local air transportation service that could be launched in Seoul as early as 2025.

The recent demonstration involved the country's urban air mobility (UAM)vehicles. The vehicles are designed to transport people between major airports and downtown Seoul. Officials said the taxi service was expected to cut the travel time between the two places by about two-thirds.

Last year, the Republic of Korea announced plans to launch urban air travel services by 2025. The Transport Ministry estimated such services would reduce travel time for distances between 30 and 50 kilometers from 1 hour by car to 20 minutes by air.

Transport Minister Noh Hyeong-ouk attended the demonstration. He said such vehicles are expected to become one of the common means of transportation that citizens use in daily life. Therefore, it is imperative that UAM services are tested in different environments.

During the demonstration, a pilot flew a two-seat air taxi model. The test aimed to demonstrate the vehicle's control. The vehicle is powered by rotors (轉子) that permit it to take off and land like a helicopter does. The model demonstrated can be piloted or operated without a pilot.

However, a Transport Ministry official said that when passengers are on board UAM vehicles, a pilot must also be on board to control the vehicle. This is a safety measure for the taxi service and will also help the vehicles gain public acceptance, the official added.

Designers also showed a model of another UAM vehicle. That one will not be ready for flight tests until next year. The team producing that vehicle plans to develop a fiveseat version, the Transport Ministry said.

Other technology demonstrated at the event included imaging equipment to track the aircraft, as well as lighting systems for specially designed “vertiports” where air taxis will land and take off.

A trip from Incheon International Airport to central Seoul is expected to cost about$93 when the service starts in 2025. That is much more expensive than a current trip with the most costly taxi service. But Transport Ministry officials said the cost is expected to drop to about $17 per trip by 2035, if the market continues to experience strong growth.

Reading Check

1. What's the biggest advantage of the air transportation service?

A. Reducing the cost.B. Saving much time.

C. Bringing more convenience.D. Promoting the job market.

2. What does the underlined word “imperative” in paragraph 4 probably mean?

A. Unusual.B. Practical.C. Possible.D. Urgent.

3. Why must a pilot also be on board to control the vehicle when passengers are on board?

A. To help the vehicle operate in advance.

B. To show off the pilot's wonderful skills.

C. To ensure people's safety and be recognized.

D. To guarantee the vehicle will land like a helicopter does.

4. What can cut the cost of the air taxi services according to Transport Ministry officials?

A. More demand for the services.

B. More advanced technology.

C. Continuous costly taxi services.

D. More seats' version.

Language Study

Ⅰ. Difficult sentence in the text

Other technology demonstrated at the event included imaging equipment to track the aircraft, as well as lighting systems for specially designed “vertiports” where air taxis will land and take off. 此次活動中展示的其他技術包括用于追蹤飛機的成像設備，以及為空中出租車著陸和起飛而專門設計的“垂直機場”的照明系統。

【點石成金】本句是一個主從復合句，demonstrated at the event是過去分詞短語作后置定語；where引導定語從句，修飾先行詞vertiports。

Ⅱ. Text-centered chunks

as early as 早在

aim to do 旨在做……

take off 起飛

as well as 以及；既……又……；除……之外還