空中出租车或可成真

李全忠

为了缓解城市的交通压力，韩国计划于2025年在首尔推出城市空中汽车（UAM），并希望将这种飞行汽车作为空中出租车，往返于主要机场和首尔市中心之间，从而缩短旅途时间。

Officials of the Republic of Korea have demonstrated a local air tran-sportation service that could be laun-ched in Seoul as early as 2025.

The recent demonstration involved the country's urban air mobility （UAM） vehicles. The vehicles are designed to transport people between major airports and downtown Seoul. Officials said the taxi service was expected to cut the travel time between the two places by about two-thirds.

Last year， the Republic of Korea announced plans to launch urban air travel services by 2025. The Transport Ministry estimated such services would reduce travel time for distances between 30 and 50 kilometers from 1 hour by car to 20 minutes by air.

Transport Minister Noh Hyeong-ouk attended the demonstration. He said such vehicles are expected to become one of the common means of transportation that citizens use in daily life. Therefore， it is imperative that UAM services are tested in different environments.

During the demonstration， a pilot flew a two-seat air taxi model. The test aimed to demonstrate the vehicle's control. The vehicle is powered by rotors （轉子） that permit it to take off and land like a helicopter does. The model demonstrated can be piloted or operated without a pilot.

However， a Transport Ministry official said that when passengers are on board UAM vehicles， a pilot must also be on board to control the vehicle. This is a safety measure for the taxi service and will also help the vehicles gain public acceptance， the official added.

Designers also showed a model of another UAM vehicle. That one will not be ready for flight tests until next year. The team producing that vehicle plans to develop a five-seat version， the Transport Ministry said.

Other technology demonstrated at the event included imaging equipment to track the aircraft， as well as lighting systems for specially designed “vertiports” where air taxis will land and take off.

A trip from Incheon International Airport to central Seoul is expected to cost about $93 when the service starts in 2025. That is much more expensive than a current trip with the most costly taxi service. But Transport Ministry officials said the cost is expected to drop to about $17 per trip by 2035， if the market continues to experience strong growth.

Reading check

1. What's the biggest advantage of the air transportation service？gzslib202204011833

A. Reducing the cost. B. Saving much time.

C. Bringing more convenience. D. Promoting the job market.

2. What does the underlined word “imperative” in paragraph 4 probably mean？

A. Unusual. B. Practical. C. Possible. D. Urgent.

3. Why must a pilot also be on board to control the vehicle when passengers are on board？

A. To help the vehicle operate in advance.

B. To show off the pilot's wonderful skills.

C. To ensure people's safety and be recognized.

D. To guarantee the vehicle will land like a helicopter does.

4. What can cut the cost of the air taxi services according to Transport Ministry officials？

A. More demand for the services.

B. More advanced technology.

C. Continuous costly taxi services.

D. More seats' version.

Language Study

Ⅰ. Difficult sentence in the text

Other technology demonstrated at the event included imaging equipment to track the aircraft， as well as lighting systems for specially designed “vertiports” where air taxis will land and take off. 此次活動中展示的其他技术包括用于追踪飞机的成像设备，以及为空中出租车着陆和起飞而专门设计的“垂直机场”的照明系统。

【点石成金】本句是一个主从复合句，demonstrated at the event是过去分词短语作后置定语;where引导定语从句，修饰先行词vertiports。

Ⅱ. Text-centered chunks

as early as 早在

aim to do 旨在做……

take off 起飞