Question

【题目】PITTSBURGH — For most people, snakes seem unpleasant or even threatening. But Howie Choset sees in their delicate movements a way to save lives.

The 37-year-old Carnegie Mellon University professor has spent years developing snake-like robots he hopes will eventually slide through fallen buildings in search of victims trapped after natural disasters or other emergencies.

Dan Kara is president of Robotics Trends, a Northboro, mass-based company that publishes an online industry magazine and runs robotics trade shows. He said there are other snake-like robots being developed, mainly at universities, but didn't know of one that could climb pipes.

The Carnegie Mellon machines are designed to carry cameras and electronic sensors and can be controlled with a joystick (操纵杆). They move smoothly with the help of small electric motors, or servos, commonly used by hobbyists in model airplanes.

Built from lightweight materials, the robots are about the size of a human arm or smaller. They can sense which way is up, but are only as good as their human operators, Choset added.

Sam Stover, a search term manager with the Federal Emergency Management Agency based in Indiana, said snake-type robots would offer greater mobility than equipment currently available, such as cameras attached to extendable roles.

"It just allows us to do something we've not been able to do before," Stover said, "We needed them yesterday."

He said sniffer dogs are still the best search tool for rescue workers, but that they can only be used effectively when workers have access to damaged building.

Stover, among the rescue workers who handled the aftermath (后果) of Hurricane Katrina, said snake robots would have helped rescuers search flooded houses in that disaster.

Choset said the robots may not be ready for use for another five to ten years, depending on funding.

【1】Which institution is responsible for the development of Choset's robots?

A. Robotics Trends. B. Pittsburgh City Council.

C. Carnegie Mellon University. D. Federal Emergency Management Agency.

【2】Choset believes that his invention _________.

A. can be attached to an electronic arm

B. can be used by hobbyists in model airplanes

C. can find victims more quickly than a sniffer dog

D. can sense its way as well as its operators

【3】By saying "We needed them yesterday" (paragraph 7), Stover means that snake-like robots ________.

A. could help handle the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

B. should have been put to use in past rescue work

C. helped rescuers search flooded houses yesterday

D. were in greater need yesterday than today

【4】What is the text mainly about?

A. Snake-like robots used in industries.

B. Snake-like robots made to aid in rescues.

C. The development of snake-like robots.

D. The working principles of snake-like robots.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】D

【3】B

【4】B

【解析】这是一篇科技说明文，介绍了蛇型机器人的研究者及其在救援工作中的重要作用。

【1】C细节推理题。根据第二段The 37-year-old Carnegie Mellon University professor has spent years developing snake-like robots，和下文的He said there are other snake-like robots being developed, mainly at universities,可知，Howie Choset是Carnegie Mellon University大学的教授，下文中Dan Kara is president of Robotics Trends, a Northboro, Mass.-based company that publishes an online industry magazine and runs robotics trade shows.可知，Robotics Trends只做机器人的生意，并不生产机器人。故选C。

【2】D细节推理题。根据第五段中Built from lightweight materials, the robots are about the size of a human arm or smaller. They can sense which way is up, but are only as good as their human operators, Choset added.可知，他发明的蛇形机器人能够和人类操作者一样，都能很好的感知道路，故选D。

【3】B细节推理题。根据具体例子和倒数第二段中 Stover, among the rescue workers who handled the aftermath (后果) of Hurricane Katrina, said snake robots would have helped rescuers search flooded housesin that disaster. 可知，Stover认为这种发明早就应该被用于救援工作，故选B。

【4】B主旨大意题。文章主要介绍了像蛇一样的机器人的用途——帮助人类更好地做好救援工作。故选B。