AfterafriendrecommendedthathejoinasecretGoogleprojectsi...

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After a friend recommended that he join a secret Google project six years ago, Brian Torcellini became a driver in a driverless car.

Torcellini，31, leads a crew of test drivers who are legally required to ride in Google’s fleet of 48 driverless cars . They only take a control in emergencies. Otherwise, they make observations that help the company’s engineers improve the driverless cars.

The driverless cars already have covered more than 2 million miles in six years of testing on private tracks, on highways and city streets. The vehicles have traveled more than half that distance in automated mode (自動模式)，with one test driver in place to take control of the car if the technology fails or a potentially dangerous situation arises. Meanwhile, another driver sits in the front passenger seat taking notes of the problems that need to be fixed.

The job of the test driver requires a sense of adventure, something Torcellini acquired when he began to surf in high school. His other hobbies include fishing and scuba diving.

While the engineers who are programming the robot cars have technical backgrounds, most of the test drivers don’t. Torcellini worked in a book store. He dreamed of becoming a writer. He ended up at Google in 2009. Espinosa, 27, was working in a bicycle shop before he was hired as a test driver two years ago . Stephanie Villegas, 28, was a swim instructor, before becoming a test driver. Other test drivers were former soldiers and former photographers. They all share at least one thing in common: spotless driving records. Besides this, the job also requires a combination of good judgment, patience and fearlessness.

Before they are entrusted (託付) with the cars，Google’s test drivers must complete three-week training courses. The drivers are taught to take control of the robot car whenever there is any moment of doubt or danger.

Google employs “dozens” of test drivers but won't reveal the precise number . California law requires two test drivers per vehicle.

12. What do you know about Brian Torcellini ?

A. He is in charge of a crew of test drivers.

B. He used to be a swim instructor.

C. He led a secret Google project.

D. He has technical backgrounds.

13. The driver sitting in the front passenger seat is responsible for .

A. fixing the car problems

B. driving in emergencies

C. recording the car problems

D. monitoring the car driver

14. We can infer that .