第二篇Credit Card Only Works When Spoken to
5 X" U. k8 r: J% o A credit card that will not work unless it hears its owner’s voice could become an important% @- D9 z1 ?, \' {% _6 S& I
weapon in the fight against fraud(欺骗).
; w9 F9 {: W4 M L& j: g The card requires users to give a spoken password that it recognizes using a built-in
) I' L/ O0 V% @) u9 u9 U* A Voice-recognition chip.The idea is to prevent thieves using a stolen card or fraudsters using$ X! f R) F) ?7 \% L2 V9 a
someone else’s credit card details to buy goods online.8 A" p4 S$ K9 H( s- S
A model built by engineers at Beepcard in Santa Monica,California,represents the first2 x! i7 }' E2 d) C: X
attempt to pack a microphone。a loudspeaker,a battery and a voice•recognition chip into a
0 q, E+ [3 a% \( M standard.sized credit card.
5 \' N7 T- z/ E3 v6 C5 `! }/ [% e7 k They are not quite there yet:the card is the length and width of an ordinary credit card,but it% z- }' x% y4 _
is still about three times as thick.The company now plans to make it thinner.3 @# r& Q- g4 \, s7 U
The voice card is based on an earlier Beepcard technology designed to prevent fraud in
0 c6 F O, m3 G online transactions This earlier card has no microphone,but has a built•in loudspeaker that it
( ]/ n5 H9 G" S4 A/ v6 ~! } uses to“squawk”(发出叫声)a voice ID signal via a computer’s microphone to an online server.
6 I& J, F* r+ C+ `/ z% X/ J By verifying(证实)that the signal matches the card details,the server can establish that the
! a8 l% ^1 W4 ]# N4 U user is not simply keying in a credit card number but actually has the card to hand.The ID code4 C5 [8 ]: I- f. v! k
changes each time the card is used in a pre—ordered sequence that only the server knows.
$ w" _0 P$ d5 s' ?" R% K, t This prevents fraudsters recording the beeps,noting the card details and then playing back
$ f7 I# N0 k' T7 E, y the audible ID when they key in the details later But this earlier technology cannot prevent
2 K, d$ }, o- O; J! C fraudulent use of stolen cards The new one can! a# [! ?/ S# e" ^
The new voice card also identifies itself by its ID squawk.but it will not do this until it has
4 @$ V9 o( r% Q) ~# W. l verified the legitimate(合法的)user’s spoken password Thieves will be unable to use the card
$ Z) n [7 ~5 \2 N% N+ w7 h8 T0 C because even if they knew the password they would have to be able to copy the owner’s voice
* S/ M: b6 z ~6 n' J3 ~: q. [ with a high degree of accuracy
, P& U) F" B8 E) D$ K The challenge for Beepcard has been to develop voice-recognition and audio circuitry that
6 S0 W- B+ P! w( J' i l Can be powered by a mini battery embedded(嵌入的)in a credit card.To maximize battery life,$ O! w' p! W$ z& X1 u
the electronics are only switched on when the card is being used.Pressing a button on the card’s" e2 c+ U8 u. W
surface prompts it to utter “Say your password ”in female voice If the voice—recognition software/ ]1 C5 L8 j8 q3 y
proves that the password is authentic(真实的),it sends its ID squawk which the server then% G% R, h9 ^% q5 ~5 H: P4 U
identifies.allowing the transaction to proceed
, j6 T6 p8 }& g' l+ d+ N 36 The voice credit card is an important invention because
6 a/ t* h# c# I4 c, A o A it can be made cost-effectively.( N* O0 I; w. X5 F1 d5 v* B
B it can leave voice messages,
4 N/ P% U; G4 l3 Y+ C1 ^( d1 X C it makes online shopping easy
$ r5 ?5 c) y+ b. c! J/ V0 n$ R D it makes fraud difficult.1 |' n; L3 s! A9 k, w! Q( D
37 What is the problem which the model card?, o. d" J8 |, H/ A) ?
A It is too large.0 J- t8 ?2 E: t) E4 D$ A4 c: ^* z
B It is toot hick: U; }! O% T8 ^$ {
C It can’t be used in online transactions+ j/ R. `+ S9 ?/ ~( a
D It doesn’t have a loudspeaker.
$ \1 m2 K( z- l4 D# G 38 Which of the following statements about the earlier card is true?
5 w$ }" N; d: k# k( L A Its owner can change the ID code freely6 N! t1 ]5 J7 m# ~& o
B Its user does not need to key in the ID number.( @6 x5 s- ]" J% ~
C It can record its user’s spoken password.
1 A u8 b0 B# j7 k D It still can be used by someone else after being stolen.
+ z, E8 H7 C! E 39 What is the advantage of the new voice card?
" X0 b; @$ R: Z: E. ~ A It recognizes only its owner’s spoken password.
$ F+ I) X' g A( @ B It doesn’t need to work with an online server& g3 f$ K5 y: W- W H7 L! V$ e. b
C It requires less ID information.
3 R5 j4 o& f* V6 Q D It has a playback function) Y- ~! V, f# b6 ]6 }
40 What can we learn from the last paragraph about the voice card?! t! P' y+ C7 a8 r0 {3 c
A Only female voice passwords could be recognized.
7 N, {* w4 H# y, C& [" [. y2 R B Further improvement should be made to extend battery life' f/ n! Z& j7 |7 |: X4 i4 ]
C There is no limit to its application.
! \4 w8 X3 E+ [) L1 N0 S: a D Female customers like to use it |