Question

Which of the following statements best reflects the author's argument?

• A. Hybrid and electric vehicles signal the end of the age of internal combustion engines.
• B. Elon Musk is a remarkably gifted salesman.
• C. The private car represents an unattainable myth of independence.
• D. The future Uber car will be environmentally friendlier than even the Tesla.
• A. Their reliance on rare materials for batteries will support despotic rule.
• B. They will reduce air and noise pollution.
• C. They will not decrease the number of traffic jams.
• D. They will ultimately undermine rather than further driver autonomy.
• A. in the long run, the Tesla is more cost effective than fossil fuel-driven cars.
• B. the US government has announced a tax subsidy for Tesla buyers.
• C. the company is rapidly upscaling the number of specialised charging stations for customer convenience.
• D. people believe in the autonomy represented by private cars.
• A. car drivers will no longer own cars but will have to use public transport.
• B. cars will be controlled by technology that is more efficient than car drivers.
• C. car drivers dream of autonomy but the future may be public transport.
• D. electrically powered bicycles are the only way to achieve autonomy in transportation.
• A. in the future, electric cars will be equipped with mechanisms that prevent collisions.
• B. in the future, traffic jams will not exist.
• C. in the future, the private car will be transformed into a form of public transport.
• D. in the future, Uber rides will outstrip Tesla sales.
• A. if Elon Musk were a true visionary, he would invest funds in developing electric bicycles.
• B. our fantasies of autonomy might unexpectedly require us to consider electric bicycles.
• C. in terms of environmental friendliness and safety, electric bicycles rather than electric cars are the future.
• D. electric buses are the best form of public transport.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The solution to identifying the author's argument within the given comprehension involves analyzing the comprehensive text provided. The text leads us through several developments and shifts in the automotive industry, highlighting the transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles. The comprehension presents multiple elements:

• It mentions the decline of traditional engines with the rise of hybrid and electric vehicles, demonstrated by companies like Volvo & Tesla.
• It describes Tesla's strategy, highlighting Elon Musk's skills in promotion and execution.
• It contemplates the practical and mythical aspects of private car ownership—how cars represent a fantasy of independence despite the reality of traffic and communal transport inefficiencies.
• It projects future developments in autonomous and electric vehicles, which could reshape personal mobility and blur lines between private and public transportation paradigms.
• Finally, it concludes that the real transformation lies in private cars evolving into public transportation, thus confronting the myth of independence and getting us closer to practical, shared mobility solutions.

The correct statement that encapsulates the author's intended message is:The private car represents an unattainable myth of independence.This statement aligns perfectly with the passage's emphasis on the illusionary narrative surrounding the car as a symbol of personal freedom contrasted with the harsh realities of reliance on communal resources and inevitable transformation towards public transport solutions.

Answer 2

The passage discusses the transformation of the automotive industry with the advent of electric cars and the societal and environmental impacts associated with this shift. Key points mentioned include:

1. Electric cars will reduce air and noise pollution, making urban environments more livable by freeing them from the emissions of internal combustion engines and making city streets quieter. This benefit is clearly pointed out in the statement that “the air in cities would once more be breathable and their streets as quiet as those of Venice.”
2. The reliance on rare materials for electric car batteries could lead to geopolitical issues, enriching despotic rulers in regions where these materials are mined. This is evident from the passage, stating that “the rarest materials for batteries would make undeserving despots and their dynasties fantastically rich.”
3. Electric cars will ultimately reduce driver autonomy. The passage notes that the development in technology might make cars driverless, leading us toward a future where cars become more like public transport (akin to a taxi service), which decreases individual ownership and autonomy. This notion is completed by saying, "The logical outcome of cars which need no driver is that they will become cars which need no owner either."

However, the passage does not explicitly address electric cars' impact on the number of traffic jams. Traffic jams are directly linked to the ownership and usage pattern of private cars, and while the passage suggests that traffic jams would be reduced only when cars are entirely shared, this is not directly connected to the technology of electric cars themselves, but rather to a shift to a taxi-like service model. Therefore, the correct inference is that the passage does not explicitly address whether electric cars themselves will impact the number of traffic jams directly. Thus, the correct response to the question (points out all the following except) is the statement: "They will not decrease the number of traffic jams."

Answer 3

The passage discusses various reasons behind the increasing popularity of Tesla cars, focusing on the underlying motivations that drive their sales. It explores technological advancements, such as the shift to electric vehicles, and highlights Elon Musk's prowess as a visionary leader. However, the crux of the argument is centered around the concept of autonomy and the symbolic representation of private cars as an embodiment of freedom and self-fulfillment.
According to the passage, despite practical challenges like limited charging stations, the allure of owning a private car, and the dream it represents, is a powerful driving force. This is described as the "fantasy of autonomy," where cars symbolize independence and control. In essence, the main reason for Tesla's remarkable sales is not merely cost-effectiveness or infrastructure improvements, but rather the powerful symbol of autonomy that private cars represent. Thus, the correct answer from the given options is: "people believe in the autonomy represented by private cars."

Answer 4

The comprehension passage discusses the future of transportation, highlighting the end of the internal combustion engine era and the rise of electric vehicles. It explores the cultural myths associated with car ownership, such as autonomy and self-fulfillment, while acknowledging the practical realities like traffic jams that contradict these ideals.

Key points from the passage include:

• The shift towards hybrid and electric vehicles, with companies like Volvo and Tesla leading the change.
• The environmental and societal impacts of electric cars, such as reduced pollution and changes in urban soundscapes.
• The technological advancements in vehicles, leading to safer, sensor-equipped cars that may become autonomous.
• The potential evolution of cars into a public utility system, akin to taxis, thus blurring the lines between private and public transport.
• The overarching theme of the passage is the transformation of transportation, suggesting that the ultimate autonomy might be achieved through electric bicycles rather than traditional car ownership.

Given these insights, the conclusion aligns with the option stating: electrically powered bicycles are the only way to achieve autonomy in transportation.

Answer 5

To determine the author's argument regarding Uber from paragraphs 5 and 6 of the provided comprehension, we need to analyze the relevant sections of the text. The author describes a future where the concept of private car ownership is transformed due to advancements in technology such as autonomous, sensor-equipped electric cars. It is stated that these cars will work like taxis, available on demand, rather than being owned individually. This reflects a shift whereby private cars become part of a broader, more public transportation-like system. The author further suggests this transformation is in line with the goals towards which companies like Uber are working. Therefore, the correct interpretation of the author's argument is: in the future, the private car will be transformed into a form of public transport.

Answer 6

The passage discusses the transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles and ultimately considers the future of personal transportation modes, like electrically powered bicycles. The author suggests that while electric cars reduce fossil fuel use, they still pose safety risks. The passage ends with the idea that the future might not fulfill our fantasies of autonomy but rather require reassessment of transportation methods.

In paragraph 6, the author comments that advances in electric cars might lead us toward alternatives like electric bicycles for environmental friendliness and safety. This aligns with the option suggesting "in terms of environmental friendliness and safety, electric bicycles rather than electric cars are the future."