Scientists are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to test whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert(专家) in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study on the effect of robotic dogs on old people’s depression (沮丧) , physical activity, and life satisfaction.
In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, scientists will collect baseline data(数据) for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the scientists will review the data to test if it has produced any changes in the life of its owner.
“I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice,” says a seventy-year-old lady. “When I’m watching TV, he’ll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has his own mind.”
The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The scientists say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.
“At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate(与……相关) to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry.” Beck says. “Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more-valuable health helper. They will record their masters’ blood pressure, oxygen levels or heart rhythms(心律). AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate(刺激) older people’s minds.”
【小题1】The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to _____________.

A.understand human-animal relationship
B.make lonely old people’s life better
C.find the causes of old people’s loneliness
D.improve the animal-assisted research
【小题2】 In the research, the old people are asked to _____________.
A.note the activities of AIBOs
B.keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks
C.record their feelings and activity
D.study the collected information
【小题3】What does the underlined word “removes” mean?
A.moves againB.is movableC.doesn’t needD.need
【小题4】What is the better point of AIBO than live dogs?
A.It is easier to keep at home.
B.It can help the disabled people.
C.It responds to all the human orders.
D.It can watch TV with its owner.
【小题5】The writer seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may__________.
A.cure certain diseasesB.keep old people active
C.change people’s ideasD.look more like real dogs


When I was a little girl, mum and dad told me that if you plant something in spring, you’ll get more in autumn. I    1   this without doubt.
At the age of six, while I was eating a big apple, I dropped a tooth.
I was so    2   that I cried all of a sudden and rushed to my grandma’s room. She held the tooth and smiled, “Don’t worry, dear. It’s a baby tooth. You will have a new tooth in a few    3  .”
“A new tooth?” I fell very surprised.
“Yes, you will have that tooth    4   you get old, so you must protect your new tooth well. When you grow old, the teeth will fall out again,   5   this time, it won’t grow again. So it’s not easy for old people to eat anything,” grandma said.
I went out of grandma’s room and thought, “   6   should I put the dropped tooth?”
Suddenly, a wonderful thought came into my mind: Why not plant it in the ground? If I took good care of it, day after day, maybe it would become a big tree. When    7   came, there would be many white and strong    8   on the tree. I could pick them and send them to the    9   people who needed them. So then they could eat well and always open their mouths with a smile full of beautiful teeth.
Of course my tooth didn’t grow into a big tree, but beautiful thoughts made my childhood warm and unforgettable. With them, I    10   up.

【小题1】
A.believedB.receivedC.keptD.remembered
【小题2】
A.angryB.hurtC.frightenedD.sorry
【小题3】
A.hoursB.daysC.monthsD.years
【小题4】
A.ifB.afterC.beforeD.until
【小题5】
A.butB.andC.orD.instead
【小题6】
A.HowB.WhyC.WhenD.Where
【小题7】
A.springB.summerC.autumnD.winter
【小题8】
A.flowersB.teethC.leavesD.fruit
【小题9】
A.oldB.youngC.sickD.middle-aged
【小题10】
A.cameB.wentC.grewD.turned

Tom lived a long way from the city. One day he went to the city to buy something in the shop, and after he bought them, he went into a restaurant(餐厅) and sat down at a table. When he looked round, he saw some old people put eye glasses(眼镜)on before reading their books, so after lunch he went to a shop to buy some glasses, too. He walked along the road, and soon found a shop. The man in the shop made him try on(试戴) a lot of glasses, but Tom always said, “No, I can’t read with these.”
The man became more and more puzzled(困惑). At last he said, “Excuse me, but can you read at all?”
“No, I can’t,” Tom said, “If I can read, do you think I come here to buy glasses?”
1. Tom met some old people____________.       .
A. far away from the city                      B. in the shop
C. in the restaurant                           D. in the park
2. When did Tom go to the shop to buy some glasses? ____________.
A. After lunch     B. Before lunch    C. In the morning   D. In the evening
3. Tom went to a restaurant to____________.        .
A. buy eye glasses  B. have lunch  C. buy some books D. sell eye glasses
4. Before reading their books the old people in the restaurant____________.    .
A. drank tea           B. took their glasses off
C. bought glasses       D. put their glasses on
5. In fact, Tom ____________.
A. liked eye glasses                   B. liked reading
C. couldn’t read at all               D. knew the man in the shop

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