5．Believe it or not，optical illusion（错觉） can cut highway crashes．Japan is a case in point．It has reduced automobile crashes on some roads by nearly 75% using a simple optical illusion．But stripes，called chevrons（人字形），painted on the roads make drivers think that they are driving faster than they really are，and thus drivers slow down．
Now the American Automobile Association Foundation（基金会） for Traffic Safety in Washington D．C．is planning to repeat Japan's success．Starting next year，the foundation will paint chevrons and other patterns of stripes on selected roads around the country to test how well the patterns reduce highway crashes．
Excessive （too great） speed plays a major role in as much as one fifth of all fatal traffic accidents，according to the foundation．To help reduce those accidents，the foundation will conduct its tests in areas where speed-related hazards （danger） are--the greatest curves，exit slopes，traffic circles，and bridges．
Some studies suggest that straight，horizontal bars painted across roads can initially cut the average speed of drivers in half．However，traffic often returns to full speed within months as drivers become used to seeing the painted bars．
Chevrons，scientists say，not only give drivers the impression that they are driving faster than they really are but also make a lane appear to be narrower．The result is a longer lasting reduction in highway speed and the number of traffic accidents．
78．The passage mainly discussesA．
A．a new way of highway speed control
B．a new pattern for painting highways
C．a new way of training drivers
D．a new type of optical illusion
79．On roads painted with chevrons，drivers tend to feel thatC．
A．they should avoid speed-related hazards
B．they are driving in the wrong lane
C．they should slow down their speed
D．they are coming near to the speed limit
80．The advantage of chevrons over straight，horizontal bars is that the formerD．
A．can keep drivers awake
B．can cut road accidents in half
C．will look more attractive
D．will have a longer effect on drivers
81．The American Automobile Association Foundation forTraffic Safety plans toA．
A．try out the Japanese method in certain areas
B．change the road signs across the country
C．replace straight，horizontal bars with chevrons
D．repeat the Japanese road patterns．
分析 作者通过这篇文章主要向我们讲述的是一种新型的可以控制汽车速度的方式，为了控制车速，减少交通事故，美国决定在公路上画人字形标志，它可以让司机觉得车速过快，从而达到控制车速的目的，然而，当司机习惯于看到画杆时，行驶速度常在数月内返回到全速．
解答 78．A．主旨大意题，通读全文，我们可以知道，在高速公路上画各种线是为了让司机觉得车速过快，从而达到控制车速的目的，文章讲述的是一种新型的可以控制公路速度的方式；故选A．
79．C．细节理解题，根据文章第二段painted on the roads make drivers think that they are driving fasterthan they really are，画上的道路让司机觉得他们驾驶他们真的更快，因此司机慢下来，可知司机会减速；故选C．
80．D．细节理解题，根据文章最后一段The result is a longer lasting reduction of highway speed and thenumber of traffic accidents可知，人字形线比直线、平等线对控制车速有更长久的影响；故选D．
81．A．推理判断题，根据文章第三段Now the American Automobile Association Foundations For TrafficSafety in Washington D．C．is planning to repeat Japan's success，现在在华盛顿特区的美国汽车协会为了交通安全正在计划效仿日本的成功的例子，可知美国要学习日本的方式；故选A．
点评 本文是新闻报道类阅读理解．做这类题材阅读理解时要求考生对文章通读一遍，做题时结合原文和题目有针对性的找出相关语句进行仔细分析，结合选项选出正确答案．推理判断题也是要在抓住关键句子的基础上合理的分析才能得出正确答案，切忌胡乱猜测，一定要做到有理有据
