第二篇Credit Card Only Works When Spoken to
& p( x, M. A: ?4 v7 A3 ~& O* f A credit card that will not work unless it hears its owner’s voice could become an important
# y; _% p7 ?/ s& r. q8 Z) Y5 ?: D0 r weapon in the fight against fraud(欺骗). t2 b1 o, j0 }, f& u
The card requires users to give a spoken password that it recognizes using a built-in8 V. E. h, {7 g* V P% |
Voice-recognition chip.The idea is to prevent thieves using a stolen card or fraudsters using' W6 f- ~! N' t8 h9 o. s
someone else’s credit card details to buy goods online.
6 ?; l7 N3 M, ^8 q. ` A model built by engineers at Beepcard in Santa Monica,California,represents the first
2 P8 p( w. t" n; k& y attempt to pack a microphone。a loudspeaker,a battery and a voice•recognition chip into a5 W: q( ~ c+ f. t, E2 F, X2 O
standard.sized credit card.
$ u* {' f) ~& J3 N4 e They are not quite there yet:the card is the length and width of an ordinary credit card,but it: C8 i6 y# m: T8 K
is still about three times as thick.The company now plans to make it thinner.! L2 Y& i, s- @) d$ a
The voice card is based on an earlier Beepcard technology designed to prevent fraud in
+ f: l8 J# _9 }& f% T; F online transactions This earlier card has no microphone,but has a built•in loudspeaker that it
6 N, H, k n5 u# Y( ^9 N uses to“squawk”(发出叫声)a voice ID signal via a computer’s microphone to an online server.
3 W; r+ [ \) x& J/ q By verifying(证实)that the signal matches the card details,the server can establish that the, L, k+ r1 w( ~5 |8 C% }
user is not simply keying in a credit card number but actually has the card to hand.The ID code# m! K, N6 m- l
changes each time the card is used in a pre—ordered sequence that only the server knows.
% ?+ L, V1 ?% o6 f7 P& {$ c4 l This prevents fraudsters recording the beeps,noting the card details and then playing back& m/ }: I" `' H/ s& g
the audible ID when they key in the details later But this earlier technology cannot prevent4 b$ x9 r) k9 X& |: w, ^
fraudulent use of stolen cards The new one can4 v. j( }5 A! {3 S
The new voice card also identifies itself by its ID squawk.but it will not do this until it has2 m l/ _2 A* A! k+ _
verified the legitimate(合法的)user’s spoken password Thieves will be unable to use the card
9 R6 a( a3 C2 M" g. B5 W3 g because even if they knew the password they would have to be able to copy the owner’s voice0 O; Q7 Q; D1 ~2 {# f
with a high degree of accuracy. l j) h9 l0 A7 u8 \1 o1 h
The challenge for Beepcard has been to develop voice-recognition and audio circuitry that
8 z# x2 `: J- {6 _$ d6 G Can be powered by a mini battery embedded(嵌入的)in a credit card.To maximize battery life,
" t5 c) \1 x! v/ M! x the electronics are only switched on when the card is being used.Pressing a button on the card’s
6 O; h- Q3 e/ u! U7 j surface prompts it to utter “Say your password ”in female voice If the voice—recognition software
( \& _, D2 Q. x. t- }2 F proves that the password is authentic(真实的),it sends its ID squawk which the server then
$ j: k# y% l# ^1 R5 f6 ^ identifies.allowing the transaction to proceed
6 ^! i, W q9 ^+ Z 36 The voice credit card is an important invention because; S- C; ^& H6 H7 V* S: f
A it can be made cost-effectively.
1 w; B0 C1 l2 E: V6 Q3 g' Y, Q B it can leave voice messages,
( x. s* ^! ?1 `4 a/ [1 G- L C it makes online shopping easy
) Y, U* N7 o# j1 ?+ n D it makes fraud difficult.* @6 p6 c. H8 T( i& B5 ]
37 What is the problem which the model card?+ g6 Z A# \5 e0 v" I% B9 _
A It is too large.
; S8 a! ^9 k! Q3 e3 ` B It is toot hick
3 M; |" v* Y) W* A* D7 U5 u5 V C It can’t be used in online transactions
1 V& H0 |1 p. q% J* n D It doesn’t have a loudspeaker.
% w0 h. B/ Z" b 38 Which of the following statements about the earlier card is true?6 l& b" E. G! n
A Its owner can change the ID code freely2 f, @" X4 O6 x0 R
B Its user does not need to key in the ID number.; s o; q/ l$ K8 i, i+ ~
C It can record its user’s spoken password.
, q! I. h" o c D It still can be used by someone else after being stolen.+ v9 _8 ^; _9 t/ Z
39 What is the advantage of the new voice card?
! A9 X- d. S1 x( A& f- y A It recognizes only its owner’s spoken password.8 G8 U( D5 Y# }9 ^5 ?! u
B It doesn’t need to work with an online server
8 V: y/ V, N6 p# t C It requires less ID information.( v( E: h) c0 n$ n5 S
D It has a playback function" Q7 F3 E& X( M! K9 g
40 What can we learn from the last paragraph about the voice card?
/ k4 K9 W. V3 c& i; e/ |) g" j A Only female voice passwords could be recognized.
0 R5 L: }( K$ F- l B Further improvement should be made to extend battery life% W3 n/ K- \- H4 ~, S! B
C There is no limit to its application., [7 {$ ~9 j. T$ H( b
D Female customers like to use it |