原文Can a small group of drones (无人机) guarantee the safety and reliability of railways and, at the same time, help railway operators save billions of euros each year? That is the very likely future of applying today's “eyes in the sky” technology to make sure that the millions of kilometres of rail tracks and infrastructure (基础设施) worldwide are safe for trains on a 24/7 basis.
Drones are already being used to examine high-tension electrical lines. They could do precisely the same thing to inspect railway lines and other vital aspects of rail infrastructure such as the correct position of railway tracks and switching points. The more regularly they can be inspected, the more railway safety, reliability and on-time performance will be improved. Costs would be cut and operations would be more efficient (高效) across the board.
That includes huge savings in maintenance costs and better protection of railway personnel safety. It is calculated that European railways alone spend approximately 20 billion euros a year on maintenance, including sending maintenance staff, often at night, to inspect and repair the rail infrastructure. That can be dangerous work that could be avoided with drones assisting the crews' efforts.
By using the latest technologies, drones could also start providing higher-value services for railways, detecting faults in the rail or switches, before they can cause any safety problems. To perform these tasks, drones for rail don't need to be flying overhead. Engineers are now working on a new concept: the rail drones of the future. They will be moving on the track ahead of the train, and programmed to run autonomously. Very small drones with advanced sensors and AI and travelling ahead of the train could guide it like a co-pilot. With their ability to see ahead, they could signal any problem, so that fast-moving trains would be able to react in time.
28. What makes the application of drones to rail lines possible? A. The use of drones in checking on power lines. B. Drones' ability to work at high altitudes. C. The reduction of cost in designing drones. D. Drones' reliable performance in remote areas. 29. What does “maintenance” underlined in paragraph 3 refer to? A. Personnel safety. B. Assistance from drones. C. Inspection and repair. D. Construction of infrastructure. 30. What function is expected of the rail drones? A. To provide early warning. B. To make trains run automatically. C. To earn profits for the crews. D. To accelerate transportation. 31 Which is the most suitable title for the text? A. What Faults Can Be Detected with Drones B. How Production of Drones Can Be Expanded C. What Difficulty Drone Development Will Face D. How Drones Will Change the Future of Railways 译文一小群无人机能否保证铁路的安全性和可靠性，同时帮助铁路运营商每年节省数十亿欧元？这是应用今天的“天空之眼”技术以确保全球数百万公里的铁轨和基础设施全天候安全的未来。
无人机已经被用于检查高压电线。他们可以做同样的事情来检查铁路线和铁路基础设施的其他重要方面，如铁轨和道岔的正确位置。越是定期检查，铁路的安全性、可靠性和准时性就越能得到提高。成本将被削减，运营将全面提高效率。
这包括大幅节省维护成本和更好地保护铁路人员安全。据计算，仅欧洲铁路每年就花费约200亿欧元用于维护，包括派遣维护人员（通常在夜间）检查和修复铁路基础设施。这可能是一项危险的工作，无人机协助机组人员可以避免这项工作。
通过使用最新技术，无人机还可以开始为铁路提供更高价值的服务，在铁路或道岔出现故障之前检测出故障。为了执行这些任务，铁路无人机不需要在头顶上飞行。工程师们正在研究一个新概念：未来的轨道无人机。它们将在列车前方的轨道上移动，并被编程为自主运行。配备先进传感器和人工智能的超小型无人机可以像副驾驶一样引导列车。凭借他们的预见能力，他们可以发出任何问题的信号，以便快速行驶的列车能够及时做出反应。
28.是什么使无人机在铁路线上的应用成为可能？ A.使用无人机检查电线。B.无人机在高空工作的能力。 C.无人机设计成本的降低。D.无人机在偏远地区的可靠性能。 29.第3段中加下划线的“维持”指的是什么？ A.人员安全。B.来自无人机的援助。 C.检查和修理 D.基础设施建设。 30.轨道无人机的预期功能是什么？ A.提供早期预警。B.使列车自动运行。 C.为船员赚取利润。D.加速运输。 31哪一个标题最适合这篇文章？ A.无人机可以检测到哪些故障 B.如何扩大无人机的生产 C.无人机开发将面临哪些困难 D.无人机将如何改变铁路的未来

1 段译 一小群无人机能否保证铁路的安全性和可靠性，同时帮助铁路运营商每年节省数十亿欧元？这是应用今天的“天空之眼”技术以确保全球数百万公里的铁轨和基础设施全天候安全的未来。

Can a small group of drones (无人机) guarantee the safety and reliability of railways and, at the same time, help railway operators save billions of euros each year? 句译 一小群无人机能否保证铁路的安全性和可靠性，同时帮助铁路运营商每年节省数十亿欧元？ That is the very likely future of applying today's “eyes in the sky” technology to make sure that the millions of kilometres of rail tracks and infrastructure (基础设施) worldwide are safe for trains on a 24/7 basis. 句译 这是应用今天的“天空之眼”技术以确保全球数百万公里的铁轨和基础设施全天候安全的未来。

2 段译 无人机已经被用于检查高压电线。他们可以做同样的事情来检查铁路线和铁路基础设施的其他重要方面，如铁轨和道岔的正确位置。越是定期检查，铁路的安全性、可靠性和准时性就越能得到提高。成本将被削减，运营将全面提高效率。

Drones are already being used to examine high-tension electrical lines. 句译 无人机已经被用于检查高压电线。 They could do precisely the same thing to inspect railway lines and other vital aspects of rail infrastructure such as the correct position of railway tracks and switching points. 句译 他们可以做同样的事情来检查铁路线和铁路基础设施的其他重要方面，如铁轨和道岔的正确位置。 The more regularly they can be inspected, the more railway safety, reliability and on-time performance will be improved. 句译 越是定期检查，铁路的安全性、可靠性和准时性就越能得到提高。 Costs would be cut and operations would be more efficient (高效) across the board.句译 成本将被削减，运营将全面提高效率。

3 段译 这包括大幅节省维护成本和更好地保护铁路人员安全。据计算，仅欧洲铁路每年就花费约200亿欧元用于维护，包括派遣维护人员（通常在夜间）检查和修复铁路基础设施。这可能是一项危险的工作，无人机协助机组人员可以避免这项工作。

That includes huge savings in maintenance costs and better protection of railway personnel safety.句译 这包括大幅节省维护成本和更好地保护铁路人员安全。 It is calculated that European railways alone spend approximately 20 billion euros a year on maintenance, including sending maintenance staff, often at night, to inspect and repair the rail infrastructure. 句译 据计算，仅欧洲铁路每年就花费约200亿欧元用于维护，包括派遣维护人员（通常在夜间）检查和修复铁路基础设施。 That can be dangerous work that could be avoided with drones assisting the crews' efforts. 句译 这可能是一项危险的工作，无人机协助机组人员可以避免这项工作。

4 段译 通过使用最新技术，无人机还可以开始为铁路提供更高价值的服务，在铁路或道岔出现故障之前检测出故障。为了执行这些任务，铁路无人机不需要在头顶上飞行。工程师们正在研究一个新概念：未来的轨道无人机。它们将在列车前方的轨道上移动，并被编程为自主运行。配备先进传感器和人工智能的超小型无人机可以像副驾驶一样引导列车。凭借他们的预见能力，他们可以发出任何问题的信号，以便快速行驶的列车能够及时做出反应。

By using the latest technologies, drones could also start providing higher-value services for railways, detecting faults in the rail or switches, before they can cause any safety problems.句译 通过使用最新技术，无人机还可以开始为铁路提供更高价值的服务，在铁路或道岔出现故障之前检测出故障。 To perform these tasks, drones for rail don't need to be flying overhead.句译 为了执行这些任务，铁路无人机不需要在头顶上飞行。 Engineers are now working on a new concept: the rail drones of the future. 句译 工程师们正在研究一个新概念：未来的轨道无人机。 They will be moving on the track ahead of the train, and programmed to run autonomously. 句译 它们将在列车前方的轨道上移动，并被编程为自主运行。 Very small drones with advanced sensors and AI and travelling ahead of the train could guide it like a co-pilot.句译 配备先进传感器和人工智能的超小型无人机可以像副驾驶一样引导列车。 With their ability to see ahead, they could signal any problem, so that fast-moving trains would be able to react in time. 句译 凭借他们的预见能力，他们可以发出任何问题的信号，以便快速行驶的列车能够及时做出反应。

28. What makes the application of drones to rail lines possible?翻译 28.是什么使无人机在铁路线上的应用成为可能？

A. The use of drones in checking on power lines.翻译 使用无人机检查电线。

B. Drones' ability to work at high altitudes.翻译 无人机在高空工作的能力。

C. The reduction of cost in designing drones.翻译 无人机设计成本的降低。

D. Drones' reliable performance in remote areas.翻译 无人机在偏远地区的可靠性能。

29. What does “maintenance” underlined in paragraph 3 refer to?翻译 29.第3段中加下划线的“维持”指的是什么？

A. Personnel safety. 翻译 人员安全。

B. Assistance from drones.翻译 来自无人机的援助。

C. Inspection and repair.翻译 检查和修理

D. Construction of infrastructure. 翻译 基础设施建设。

30. What function is expected of the rail drones?翻译 30.轨道无人机的预期功能是什么？

A. To provide early warning. 翻译 提供早期预警。

B. To make trains run automatically.翻译 使列车自动运行。

C. To earn profits for the crews.翻译 为船员赚取利润。

D. To accelerate transportation.翻译 加速运输。

31 Which is the most suitable title for the text?翻译 31哪一个标题最适合这篇文章？

A. What Faults Can Be Detected with Drones翻译 无人机可以检测到哪些故障

B. How Production of Drones Can Be Expanded翻译 如何扩大无人机的生产

C. What Difficulty Drone Development Will Face翻译 无人机开发将面临哪些困难

D. How Drones Will Change the Future of Railways翻译 无人机将如何改变铁路的未来

答案 28.A 29.C 30.A 31.D   温馨提示：选项可点击，红色为错误选项，绿色为正确选项