阅读理解。
Ten students have stopped complaining about gas prices.Instead,they're competing in a
nationwide contest to redesign the cars.Final competitors were chosen from a field of 60
applicants.
"The schools were selected to find technology that will help our country reach the needs
for energy sources,so we don't have to depend on other countries to provide fuel," Pickering
said.He is vice chairman of the US House of Reprentatives Energy and Commerce Committee.
The teams received $10 000 and a Chevrolet Equinox which would be used as a starting place
for modifications.Each team can also get $25 000 in parts and software from GM and other
sponsors.The cars will be taken to the GM proving grounds for a national competition.It's the
finale (结束曲)of a three-year competition.
In the first year,students designed and worked out their plans."At the end of the first year,our
plans for the hybrid (混合动力系统)were approved and we received our own Chevrolet Equinox
to begin construction," said Amanda McAlpin,leader of the outreach team.
In the second year,the students' goal is for their hybrid to exceed the factory Equinox's fuel
efficiency by 50 percent."Our goal is to place in the top five but increase in the areas we lacked in,"
McAlpin said."If we can maintain this strategy,we should be able to obtain our goal."In the final
competition this year,GM technicians would examine the cars to approve the safety and make sure
they meet all contest rules."We would like to be in the top half of each event,but they are all different.
Every team has their own strategy to win," said a computer engineering major.
"By hosting the competition,GM really gets the cream of the crop (优秀毕业生)from the top
engineering schools across the country," McAlpin said."Many of our recent graduates who have
worked on the car have received jobs with GM." And Pickering agreed,"Their brainpower will give
us firepower and horsepower for the future."
1.How long does the contest last?
A.One year.
B.Two years.
C.Three years.
D.Four years
2.What does the underlined word "modifications" in the second paragraph mean?
A.design
B.changes
C.approval
D.examination
3.What's the real purpose for GM to sponsor this contest?
A.To reduce the consumption of fuels.
B.To sell its Chevrolet Equinox.
C.To make advertisements.
D.To find excellent graduates and employ them.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?
A.Students Building Better Hybrid
B.A Competition for Redesigning Cars
C.An Energy-saving Competition
D.GM and the Redesigned Cars
