介绍:
This is Scientific American — 60-Second Science. I'm Erika Beras.
Got a minute?
Advocates for self-driving cars love to tout the benefits the cars would bring, such as fewer accidents and less __1__. Another alleged value of being a __2__ rather than a driver is more productivity—you could work rather than concentrate on driving. But most people might not spend their newfound free time in self-driving cars whittling __3__ their to-do lists.
That's according to a study by Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle at The University of Michigan's __4__ Worldwide Transportation program.
The researchers surveyed people in the U.S., Australia, China, __5__, Japan and the U.K. And about 62 percent of respondents said self-driving cars would not make them more __6__. For one thing, 23 percent of the group said they won't ride in a self-driving car in the first place. And then there are the people who get motion sickness—they __7__ can't work. Plus, another 36 percent said they'd be too concerned to do anything but __8__ the road.
The researchers also noted that most trips average 19 minutes—not really long enough to get anything truly __9__ done. Or to catch some quality zzzzz's.
Of course, the level of apprehension people experience in self-driving cars, or about getting into them, may change in the long-run. But this study is another __10__ that there's still a lot to be figured out before automatic autos rule the roadways.
Thanks for the minute for Scientific American — 60-Second Science Science. I'm Erika Beras.
重点讲解：
1. rather than 而非；胜于；而不是；
例句：One should take these precepts in the spirit rather than in the letter.
人们应该去理解这些格言的精神实质而不是死抠字面。
2. concentrate on 全神贯注；集中（心思）；
例句：I can't concentrate on my work when I'm tired.
我累了就无法集中精力工作。
3. whittle down 逐渐减少；逐渐压缩…的人数；
例句：He had whittled eight interviewees down to two.
他已经逐渐将参加面试的人数由8人减少到2人。
4. in the first place 起初；一开始；
例句：In the first place, we should solve this problem.
首先，我们应该解决这个问题。
5. figure out 想出；理解；弄清；
例句：They might have figured out this riddle by now.
他们现在也许已经解开这个谜了。
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