Question

I expect the travel of the future to become less physical, more mental. Through the use of technology, you’ll be able to let your brain experience the sensations of a new place without actual going there. Robots and computer simulation（模仿）will enable you to visit remote exotic places without ever leaving home---the wreckage of the Titanic, the Galapagos Island, even the moon.

As an oceanographer, I’ve spent decades developing robots to explore the depths, and now we’re putting that technology to use in our JASON Project, a cooperative effort between industry, science, and educators that’s designed to be a world classroom for children. In auditoriums throughout the country, we bring kids together and transmit back to them on large screens our live explorations of far-flung areas of the globe. Not only are the kids observers, but they truly participate. They have the sensation of really being at the site with us---through the “eyes”, “ears”, and motions of the robot.

This year we’re taking the project to the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos are an exceedingly fragile environment, so fragile that only 60,000 people are allowed to visit them each year. But with JASON we will be able to let some 300,000 children experience those unique islands.

I believe advances in robot technology will one day be the key to an entirely new kind of travel. In the next 10 or 15 years I foresee people having rooms in their houses that will be able to simulate other environments. I like to call these rooms “home domes”---miniature theatres with wrap-around screens and sophisticated equipment that can reproduce the sights, sounds, smells, and feel of a desert, or a forest, or a meadow in high mountains.

Today, much of the world’s population never travels more than 50 or 60 miles from home. And even a person with abundant wealth and time can see only a fraction of the earth’s sights. But this new era of travel will cost so much less in both time and money that many more people will be exposed to a lot more of the globe. And simulated travel will help protect our planet. You can’t take large groups of tourists trooping up to look at Dian Fossey’s gorillas. But a small robot can get very close to a silverback and send the sights, sounds, and smells back to a million people.

I like to use this analogy（类比）to compare traditional travel with future travel: riding a horse is wonderful, but I don’t need to ride one to work anymore. That’s how I feel about traditional travel. Sometimes I still might want to hop on a plane and see a place firsthand, but sometimes I may simply want to walk into my home dome and take the trip from there.

1.Which statement best expresses the main idea of this article?

A. Protecting fragile environments like the Galapagos Islands.

B. Building home domes to meet people’s desire of travelling

C. Traveling globally without even leaving home in the future.

D. Owning rooms called “home domes” to be put into reality.

2.According to the article, simulated travel _______.

A. is a piece of equipment made for traveling

B. provides virtual access to actual traveling

C. has a negative effect on future environment

D. will be available in around fifty years’ time

3.Which question is NOT answered in the article?

A. Why is the “home dome” designed and produced?

B. When might a “home dome” be available to us?

C. What will be like in a “home dome” in future?

D. How much does a “home dome” probably cost?

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.D

【解析】

本文是一篇科普说明文，未来世界运用机器人和虚拟现实的技术，创造出“home dome”，人们足不出户就可以走遍全球。

1.主旨大意题。根据前两句“I expect the travel of the future to become less physical, more mental. Through the use of technology, you’ll be able to let your brain experience the sensations of a new place without actual going there.”可知作者认为未来的旅行更多是通过精神而非身体，通过技术的运用人们坐在家里也可以体验新的地方。本文主要讲述了足不出户走遍全球的未来旅行。故C项正确。

2.推理判断题。根据第四段二三句“In the next 10 or 15 years I foresee people having rooms in their houses that will be able to simulate other environments. I like to call these rooms “home domes”---miniature theatres with wrap-around screens and sophisticated equipment that can reproduce the sights, sounds, smells, and feel of a desert, or a forest, or a meadow in high mountains.”可知未来的simulated travel会让人们通过虚拟技术欣赏实际的旅游景点。故B项正确。

3.细节理解题。在文章第四段里提及了“home domes”可能出现的时间，设计的原因以及“home dome”可能的样子。文章里没有涉及费用成本。故D项符合题意。