2026年3月托福机经套卷(第3套)Read an Academic Passage5 道题

Feedback Systems and Their Unintended Effects

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Feedback Systems and Their Unintended Effects Control engineering is a branch of engineering focused on designing systems that regulate themselves to achieve desired behaviors, often through feedback mechanisms. These systems monitor their output and adjust their input accordingly, forming closed-loop mechanisms that maintain stability and performance. While this self-regulating nature is a core strength, feedback loops can also introduce unexpected complications. Consider how feedback controls temperature in a home heating system: A thermostat compares the current temperature to a set point and modifies the heating output based on the difference. However, time delays in this loop can cause overcorrections, resulting in temperature fluctuations. If the feedback response is not precisely calibrated, the system may oscillate continuously, failing to stabilize. █ In more complex systems, such as automated flight control or robotic motion, feedback mechanisms can behave unpredictably under certain conditions. █ For example, small timing mismatches or overly sensitive sensors may cause a drone to overreact to minor disturbances, leading to erratic flight patterns. █ This phenomenon, known as chaotic behavior, reveals that feedback is not inherently stabilizing. █ Instead, it demands careful tuning and predictive modeling. As control engineering advances, understanding and mitigating this unpredictability will be essential for ensuring reliability and precision, especially in high-stakes fields like aerospace and robotics.

Question 1查看单题

According to the passage, what advantage do closed-loop feedback systems provide?

AThey can be easily adjusted using remote controls.

BThey continuously monitor their own performance.

CThey are less complicated than other feedback systems.

DThey assist engineers in creating more stable designs.

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正确答案：B

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Question 2查看单题

What happens when a home heating system is not precisely calibrated as described in paragraph 2?

AThe temperature in the house goes up and down rather than remaining at a constant level.

BThe temperature in the house remains well below the set point.

CThe thermostat is unable to correctly determine the current temperature in the house.

DThe home heating system is likely to break down under the stress of frequent oscillations.

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正确答案：A

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Question 3查看单题

Why does the author discuss drones in paragraph 3?

ATo argue that drones are so unstable that they pose a safety risk to the public

BTo suggest that controlling drones is easier than controlling robots

CTo provide an example of chaotic behavior in a feedback system

DTo explain how navigational sensors function during flight

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正确答案：C

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Question 4查看单题

The word "mitigating" in the passage is closest in meaning to

Apreventing

Bmonitoring

Cdecreasing

Danalyzing

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正确答案：C

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Question 5查看单题

There are four locations █ in the passage that indicate where the following sentence could be added.

A sudden gust of wind, for instance, might trigger an exaggerated correction, making the drone veer sharply or wobble midair instead of stabilizing smoothly.

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