A device that stops drivers from falling asleep at the wheel is about to undergo testing at Department of Transport laboratories and could go on sale within 12 months.
The system, called Driver Alert, aims to reduce deadly road accidents by 20% - 40% that are caused by tiredness. Airline pilots can also use it to reduce the 30% of all pilot-error accidents that are related to fatigue.
Driver Alert is based on a computerized wristband. The device, worn by drivers or pilots, gives out a sound about every four minutes during a car journey. After each sound the driver must respond by squeezing the steering wheel. A sensor in the wristband detects this pressing action and measures the time between the sound the driver’s response.
Tiredness is directly related to a driver’s response time. Usually, a watchful driver would take about 400 milliseconds to respond, but once that falls to more than 500 milliseconds, it suggests that the driver is getting sleepy.
In such cases the device gives out more regular and louder sounds, showing that the driver should open a window or stop for a rest. If the driver’s response continues to slow down, the sounds become more frequent until a nonstop alarm warns that the driver must stop as soon as possible.
The device has been delivered to the department’s laboratories for testing. If these tests, scheduled for six months’ time, are successful, the makers will bring the product to market within about a year.
小题1:According to the text, Driver Alert ______.
A．aims to reduce tiredness-related accidents
B．has gone through testing at laboratories
C．aims to prevent drivers from sleeping
D．has been on sale for 12 months小题2:How should a driver respond to the sounds from Driver Alert?
A．By sounding a warning.
B．By touching the wristband.
C．By checking the driving time.
D．By pressing the steering wheel.小题3:We can learn form the text that the driver needs to stop for a break when his response time is ______.
A．about 400 milliseconds
B．below 500 milliseconds
C．over 500 milliseconds
D．about 4 minutes小题4:When the driver gets sleepy while driving, Driver Alert ______.
A．moves more regularly
B．stops working properly
C．opens the window for the driver
D．sounds more frequently and loudly
小题1:A
小题2:D
小题3:C
小题4:D
题目分析：本文介绍了一个旨在于减少由于司机疲劳驾驶而导致事故的装置Driver Alert，详细说明了它的工作原理和具体作用。
小题1:A 细节题。根据文章第二段1，2行The system, called Driver Alert, aims to reduce deadly road accidents by 20% - 40% that are caused by tiredness.可知这项装置旨在于减少由于疲惫而导致的事故。故A正确。
小题2:D 细节题。根据文章第三段前3行The device, worn by drivers or pilots, gives out a sound about every four minutes during a car journey. After each sound the driver must respond by squeezing the steering wheel.可知D项正确。
小题3:C 细节题。根据文章第四段Usually, a watchful driver would take about 400 milliseconds to respond, but once that falls to more than 500 milliseconds, it suggests that the driver is getting sleepy.可知C项内容正确。
小题4:D 细节题。根据文章倒数第二段最后2行If the driver’s response continues to slow down, the sounds become more frequent until a nonstop alarm warns that the driver must stop as soon as possible.可知如果司机回应较慢，Driver Alert 就会叫的更频繁，声音更大。故D项正确。
点评：本文介绍了一个旨在于减少由于司机疲劳驾驶而导致事故的装置Driver Alert。本文细节题居多，答题时在文章找到对应的地方，用笔进行标记，这有利于后期有时间检查时可以立刻找到答案的位置。仔细理解作者所讲的意思，再结合选项，通过排除法和自己对全文的把握，选出正确答案。