2017年6月英语四级真题第2套 Part II Section A (1)

Automakers and tech companies are working hard to offer the first true self-driving car. But 75% of drivers say they wouldn't feel safe in such a vehicle.

转折类 But However Yet Nevertheless Nonetheless Still Though

这个 but 背后的 implication 非常 profound：尽管 automakers 和 tech companies 正在 invest heavily 并且 work hard，但 consumer trust 这个 fundamental prerequisite 还没有 establish 起来。75% 这个 overwhelming majority 的 negative sentiment 暗示了 technology 和 market readiness 之间存在 substantial gap。对于整篇文章的 main theme 来说，这个 implication 奠定了 core conflict 的基础，它告诉读者这不是一个 simple tech success story，而是一个关于 innovation 如何面对 human psychology barrier 的 complex narrative。这为后面讨论 trust-building 和 gradual acceptance 做了 essential setup。

But 75% of drivers say they wouldn't feel safe in such a vehicle. Still, 60% of drivers would like to get some kind of self-driving feature

让步转折类 Still Nonetheless Even so All the same That said At the same time On the other hand

这个 still 揭示了一个 crucial psychological insight：consumers 虽然 distrust full autonomy，但他们对 partial automation 是 open 的。这个 implication 对文章 main point 极为重要，因为它暗示了一条 viable path forward —— incremental adoption 而非 revolutionary leap。60% 这个 number 虽然低于 75%，但仍然代表 majority acceptance of certain features，这意味着 trust-building 可以通过 gradual exposure 来 achieve。这为后面 John Nielsen 提出的"comfort level will increase"提供了 data foundation，同时也 support 了文章的 underlying argument：self-driving future 不是 impossible，只是需要 time 和 strategic approach。

Advocates of self-driving cars argue they would be safer than cars driven by humans because they wouldn't get distracted or drive when tired.

情态词类 argue... would be would be could be might be should be may be argue that

这里的 implication 非常 subtle：通过把 safety argument 标记为 advocates 的 position 并使用 would be 这个 conditional form，文章在 subtly distance itself from this claim。它没有说 self-driving cars are safer，而是说 advocates argue they would be，这暗示这个 safety benefit 目前还是 theoretical 而非 empirically proven。对于 article's main theme 来说，这个 implication 强化了 public skepticism 的 legitimacy —— 如果连 safety advantage 都还只是 projected benefit 而非 demonstrated fact，那么 75% 的人 feeling unsafe 就变得更 understandable 了。这为后面提到的"technology is too new and unproven"提供了 linguistic foreshadowing。

Advocates of self-driving cars argue they would be safer... But those surveyed by AAA say they trust their own driving skills.

转折对比类 But However In contrast On the contrary Conversely Meanwhile Whereas

这个 but 的 deep implication 是：public resistance 并非 irrational fear，而是基于 self-confidence in their own abilities。Drivers trust their own skills 这个 statement 暗示了一个 psychological barrier —— 人们更相信 familiar human capability 而非 unfamiliar technology。对文章 main argument 来说，这个 implication 揭示了 trust gap 的 root cause：这不仅仅是 technology maturity 的问题，更是 human psychology 中 overconfidence bias 的问题。这为下一段 John Nielsen 指出"drivers may be overestimating their own abilities"做了 perfect setup，形成了一个 problem-diagnosis narrative arc。

Many feel the technology is too new and unproven.

模糊限制语 too new and unproven too new unproven untested uncertain unclear not yet established

Too new and unproven 这个 phrase 的 implication 是 drivers 的 skepticism 有 rational basis —— 这不是 blind resistance to change，而是 prudent caution about adopting untested technology。这对文章 main point 非常 critical，因为它 validate 了 75% 的 safety concern，暗示这个 trust gap 不能简单地被 dismiss 为 technophobia。同时，这个 implication 也 set up 了 article's solution narrative：既然问题是 insufficient proof，那么解决方案就是 more exposure and demonstrated reliability over time。这完美地 bridge 到最后一段关于"comfort level will increase in 5-10 years"的 prediction。

John Nielsen, AAA's managing director of automotive engineering and repair, said tests suggest drivers may be overestimating their own abilities.

情态词委婉表达类 may be overestimating might be mistaken could be wrong perhaps underestimating possibly overconfident seem to overlook appear to ignore

May be overestimating 这个 carefully worded statement 的 implication 非常 powerful：它 tactfully refute 了前面 drivers trusting their own skills 的 rationale。通过 citing test results 和用 may 这个 modal，Nielsen 在 suggest 人们的 self-confidence 可能是 misplaced，而 self-driving tech 的 safety advantage 可能确实 valid。对 article's main narrative 来说，这个 expert intervention 是 turning point —— 它 shift 了 discussion from "people don't trust tech" to "people's self-assessment may be flawed"。这个 implication 为文章的 ultimate message 做了 crucial preparation：trust will grow not just because tech improves，而是因为 people will realize their own limitations through experience with automated features。

He also believes they will be more likely to trust self-driving cars as they become more familiar with features such as automatic braking or parking.

条件因果类 as they become more familiar with as they become more familiar once they experience when they get used to after repeated exposure through gradual adoption with increasing experience

As they become familiar 这个 phrase 的 deep implication 是：trust gap 的 solution 不是 better marketing 或 more safety data，而是 experiential learning through incremental exposure。提到 automatic braking and parking 这些 specific features 暗示了一个 clear strategy：让人们先 experience 可控的 partial automation，通过 positive experiences gradually build confidence toward full autonomy。对 article's conclusion 来说，这个 implication 非常关键，它 explain 了为什么 60% want some features 这个 earlier data point 是 hopeful sign —— 因为 partial adoption 是通向 full acceptance 的 necessary pathway。这让文章的 main message 从"people don't trust self-driving cars"变成"trust will develop through strategic, gradual adoption"。

He estimated that the "comfort level" will increase considerably in five to ten years.

情态词委婉类 estimated... will increase estimated projected anticipated expected forecasted predicted

Estimated... 5 to 10 years 这个 carefully hedged projection 的 implication 是：虽然 expert 相信 trust will grow，但这需要 substantial time 并且 outcome 不是 certain。Five to ten years 这个 relatively long timeframe 暗示 current 75% distrust 不会 quickly disappear。对文章 main point 来说，这个 ending 非常 strategic —— 它既 acknowledge 了 serious current challenges (需要这么长时间)，又 maintain 了 cautious optimism (will increase considerably)。这个 implication 给文章一个 balanced conclusion：self-driving future 是 possible 的，但 industry 和 public 都需要 patience 和 realistic expectations。它避免了 both excessive pessimism 和 unfounded hype，which aligns perfectly with 整篇文章的 measured, data-driven tone。