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 making 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.

1.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.

解析：选A。A推理判断题。根据文章第二段“Drones are already being used to examine high-tension electrical lines.”可推知，使用无人机检查电力线路使无人机应用于铁路线路成为可能。故选A。

2.What does “maintenance” underlined in paragraph 3 refer to?

A Personnel safety.

B Assistance from drones.

C Inspection and repair.

D Construction of infrastructure.

解析：选C。C词义猜测题。根据后文“...spend approximately 20 billion euros a year on maintenance, including sending maintenance staff, often at night, to inspect and repair the rail infrastructure.”可知花在maintenance上的费用是用于“inspect and repair the rail infrastructure (检查和维修铁路基础设施)”，由此可知“That includes huge savings in maintenance costs and better protection of railway personnel safety”是指大幅节省检修成本和更好地保护铁路人员安全。故选C。

3.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.

解析：选A。A推理判断题。根据文章最后一段“With their ability to see ahead, they could signal any problem, so that fast-moving trains would be able to react in time.”可知人们对无人机期待的功能是提前发现问题。故选A。

4.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

解析：选D。D主旨大意题。根据全文内容尤其是主题段第一段“That is the very likely future of applying today’s ‘eyes in the sky’ technology to making sure that the worldwide are safe for trains on a24/7 basis. (这很可能是应用今天的‘空中之眼’技术的未来，以确保全球数百万公里的铁路轨道和基础设施全天候安全运行。)”可知文章主要讲述了无人机将如何改变铁路的未来，D项“无人机将如何改变铁路的未来”符合文章中心思想，适合作为本文的最佳标题。故选D。