A Closer Look at Smart Cities
Chicago, USA
Population: 2.7 million
To support a new smart electric grid(电网) in the city, 300,000 smart meters have been installed, and all Chicago residents will have one by 2017. When completed, the grid is expected to reduce energy waste and save customers US$170 million. Special computer software has helped reduce the city’s crime rate. The city’s open data portal has been used to build apps that tell citizens where to get a flu shot and alert them that their street is about to be swept, among other things.
Geneva, Switzerland
Population: 196,257
Geneva is testing a new electric bus system called the Tosa, a 133-person vehicle that does not require overhead electrical wires. At certain bus stops along its route, overhead high-speed charging stations deliver 400 kilowatts of power in less than 15 seconds. During a 10-month test of one bus line the Tosa traveled more than 8,000 miles and charged more than 4,200 times without major problems.
Hamburg, Germany
Population: 1.8 million
Hamburg is working to make its port smarter by improving traffic flow and the transportation of goods. The city is working to develop several pilot projects(实验项目)， including a system to manage the parking and loading of vehicle, as well as ways to make lighting more efficient, collect emissions data, and monitor railways with sensors. The city is also considering developing mobile GPS sensors to keep track of heavy machinery within the port.
London, England
Population: 8.4 million
The UK’s largest city is predicted to reach 10 million residents by 2030. TO prepare for this growth, Mayor Boris Johnson created a special board in 2013 to implement technology aimed at addressing anticipated issues with traffic, health care, waste management and energy. London’s goals --- to build a smart grid and cut transport emissions in half by 2020---are ambitious but build on earlier successes. The city has dealt with congestion(拥堵)by charging a fee for driving in central business areas during the busiest times of the day.
21. If you want to know where to get a flu shot, you can use__________.
A. Apps based on the city’s open data portal
B. a new smart electric grid
C. a new electric bus system
D. mobile GPS sensors
22. Where can you find a system to manage the parking and loading
of vehicles?
A. In Chicago, USA. B. In Geneva, Switzerland.
C. In Hamburg, Germany. D. In London, England
23. What does the writer intend to tell us?
A. The judgment of a goal should be made free from prejudice.
B. Cities around the world are doing wonderful things with technology.
C. Big cities should take measures to protect the environment.
D. Vehicles have not only made our lives easier but also caused a lot of problems.