Question

TOKYO, Japan (AP) – Japan is very serious about robotics (机器人技术). If the droids are going to fit in, they probably need to learn the Japanese custom of serving tea. Fortunately, researchers at the University of Tokyo are exploring just that. In a show this week, a humanoid（有人特点的）with camera eyes made by Kawada Industries Inc. poured tea from a bottle into a cup. Then another robot on wheels delivered the cup of tea in an experimental room that has sensors embedded in the floor and sofa as well as cameras on the ceiling, to simulate（模仿）life with robot technology.

“A human being may be faster, but you’d have to say ‘Thank you,’” said University of Tokyo professor Tomomasa Sato. “That’s the best part about a robot. You don’t have to feel bad about asking it to do things.”

Sato believes Japan, a rapidly aging society where more than a fifth of the population is 65 or older, will lead the world in designing robots to care for the elderly, sick and bedridden（卧床不起的）.

Already, monitoring technologies, such as sensors that automatically turn on lights when people enter a room, are becoming widespread in Japan.

The walking, child–size Asimo from Honda Motor Co. greets people at showrooms. NEC Corp. has developed a smaller companion robot–on –wheels called Papero. A seal robot available since 2004 can entertain the elderly and others in need of fuzzy companionship.

Sato says his experimental room is raising awareness about privacy questions that may arise when electronic devices（设备）monitor a person’s movements down to the smallest detail.

On the bright side, the tea – pouring humanoid has been programmed to do the dishes.

1.The underlined word “embedded” in the first paragraph probably means       .

A．rooted           B．settled            C．fixed             D．established

2.According to Professor Sato,       .

A．the robot serves tea much faster than a human being

B．the robot does anything like human beings

C．tea – serving robot helps to form laziness of the aging society

D．tea – serving robot doesn’t need any reward for the service

3.We can infer from the passage that        .

A．people are afraid of being monitored by robots.

B．robots can completely take the place of human beings.

C．the technology of robots has been highlighted in Japan.

D．people’s privacy should be strictly protected

4.What is the best title of this passage?

A．“Thank You” Will Never Be Needed in Japan

B．Monitoring Technologies Are Widespread in Japan

C．Robot Is Designed to Care for the Elderly.

D．Robot technologies are widespread in Japanese daily life.

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.C

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：本文叙述了在日本的机器人被广泛使用，可以在家倒茶、可以用机器人看来照顾年老体弱多病的日常起居。机器人也能陪人娱乐，现在在日本越来越多的机器人很受欢迎。

1.词义猜测题。根据in the floor and sofa as well as cameras on the ceiling, 安装在在地上,沙发的传感器以及在天花板上的相机，故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据That’s the best part about a robot. You don’t have to feel bad about asking it to do things.”机器人不需要任何回报的服务，故选D。

3.推理判断题。根据Sato says his experimental room is raising awareness about privacy questions that may arise when electronic devices（设备）monitor a person’s movements down to the smallest detail. 推出故选C。

4.标题归纳题。综观全文这里主要讲述在日本机器人被使用的清况，故选D。

考点：科普类短文。