The Car that Drives Itself

Part A

What is the main idea of the text?

• Car makers are having great success selling self-driving cars because robots are much better

  drivers than humans.

• Car makers are trying to get people to buy self-driving cars because humans are unsafe when they drive cars.

• While self-driving cars have come a long way, car makers are uncertain that self-driving cars

  will ever be able to work safely in the future.

• Although there is still much work to be done, car makers are pleased with their progress and

  hopeful that self-driving cars will improve in the future.

Part B

Which quotation from the text best supports the answer in Part A?

• A “In fact, the U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that 94% (that’s almost all) of

  traffic accidents are caused by human error.” (paragraph 5)

• “Maybe a robot car can do better. After all, computers don’t get distracted. They don’t panic

  or get angry. They don’t fall asleep.” (paragraph 6)

• “Human brains are very good at this. From the moment we are born, we spend all day looking

  at objects and predicting what they will do.” (paragraph 11)

• “But car makers are confident that all these problems can be solved, maybe by the time

  you’re old enough to drive (or not).” (paragraph 13)

What is the meaning of the phrase "stop in your tracks" in paragraph 1?

• pause talking because of a loud soun

• pause moving because of something surprising

• choose a new type of transportation that is faster

• miss a ride somewhere due to being late

How do computers in modern cars help drivers?

• They keep the drivers from eating while driving.

• They keep the drivers from sleeping while driving.

• They keep the drivers from drifting while driving.

• They keep the drivers from reading while driving.

What is the meaning of the phrase “human error” in paragraph 5?

• machines made by people

• mistakes made by people

• roads made by people

• rules made by people

Which part of a car controls where it moves?

• brakes

• doors

• flat tire

• steering wheel

Which phrase from paragraphs 5-6 helps the reader understand the meaning of the word distracted?

• “The sad fact...”

• “...even when they’re paying attention...”

• “...or get angry.”

• “...share information...”

What allows self-driving cars to get better at predicting?

• They are programmed to learn and share what they know.

• They have detailed maps that show more than normal road maps.

• They have sensors that see much better than humans are able to see.

• They are programmed to reach their locations and follow the laws of traffic.

How are sensors and human eyes similar?

• They both help drivers see through bushes.

• They both allow drivers to see in the dark.

• They both keep drivers from running into anything.

• They both stop drivers from getting lost.

What is the purpose of the captions in the text?

• They describe what can be viewed in the images.

• They organize the text into different sections.

• They link the reader to websites about the topic.

• They provide the meanings of key words.