2 Elon Musk, a businessman, an investor, and an engineer, has proposed that an alternative way to combat this problem would be digging tunnels. However, these tunnels will not be used to simply redirect traffic. They also would help commuters travel faster. Musk has even started a new company in Los Angeles called "The Boring Company" to dig tunnels at a low cost.
3 Musk's idea is called the "Loop." The Loop is a high-speed, underground, public-transportation system that would carry passengers on "electric skates." These electric skates1 would run faster than high-speed trains. The skates would travel at 125 to 150 miles an hour. They would carry either a single passenger vehicle or eight to sixteen passenger vehicles at a time. This system would use elevators to transport passengers or vehicles from the street down to the Loop station underground. The Boring Company claims that since these stations do not require a lot of space, they can be built even on busy streets along the tunnel route.
4 "The best thing about the Loop is that it would be accessible to everyone—just like buses. I think this is very affordable, considering some of the other alternatives," said Mr. Swan in an official statement on The Boring Company's website. Mr. Swan is an engineer working at the company. Musk has also promised free rides for all passengers during the trial run of the Loop service.
5 Not only does this mode of transportation promise to be cheaper and swifter, it also promises to be less polluting than air travel. This is because the Loop would run on solar energy. The officials at The Boring Company also claim that the construction would be quicker and cheaper than that of a traditional high-speed train.
6 While Musk's proposal does seem promising, it will only be a matter of time to find out how successful and practical it actually is.
1. Electric skates are independent vehicles faster than subway cars. They directly stop at the destination without making unnecessary halts.
14
Why is paragraph 3 important to the selection?
A.
It provides a detailed description of how the Loop would operate.
B.
It provides an explanation for the creation of The Boring Company.
C.
It provides the reasons why people should only use the Loop.
D.
It provides detailed information about The Boring Company.
1 answer
A. It provides a detailed description of how the Loop would operate.
Paragraph 3 is important because it outlines the mechanics of the Loop system, including the speed of the electric skates, the capacity for transporting vehicles and passengers, and the infrastructure involved (such as elevators and underground stations).
