Researchers are placing robotic dogs(机器狗)in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people’s depression, physical activity, and life satisfaction. “No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active, challenged, or stimulated(应急的) ,”Edwards points out. “The problem is how we promote that, especially for those without friends or help. A robotic dog could be a solution.”
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, researchers will collect baseline data for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the researchers will review the data to determine if it has inspired 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 a mind of his own.”
The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The researchers say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled(行动不便的) and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes(免除) exercise and feeding concerns.
“At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry.” Beck says,“But it’s amazing how quickly we have given up that belief.”
“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. AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people’s minds.”
【小题1】 The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to        .

A.understand human-animal relationship
B.find the causes of old people’s loneliness
C.make lonely old people’s life better
D.promote the animal-assisted research
【小题2】In the research, the old people are asked to        .
A.note the activities of AIBOsB.record their feelings and activity
C.keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeksD.analyze the collected information
【小题3】What is the advantage of AIBO over live dogs?
A.It is easier to keep at home.B.It responds to all the human orders.
C.It can help the disabled people.D.It can watch TV with its owner.

 “BANG!” the door caused a reverberation (回声).It was just standing there, with Father standing on one side, and I on the other side.

We were both in great anger.“Never set foot in this house again!” stormed Father.With tears welling up in my eyes, I rushed out of the flat and ran along the street.

The street lights were shining rather desolately(凄凉的).I wandered aimlessly.

A young father who held a child in his arms walked past me.I felt as if I saw my childhood from another space: happy and harmonious.

But now… I don’t know whether it is because I have grown up or because dad is getting old.We differ in our ways of thinking.He always imposes his opinions and codes of behavior on me.Whenever I do something wrong, he never admits it.We are just like two people coming from two different worlds.It feels like there is an iron door between us that can never be opened.

I wandered the streets, without a destination in mind.My heart was frozen on this hot summer night.As I walked on there were fewer and fewer people on the streets, until I had only the street lights to keep me company.When I finally reached the high-rise apartment block in which I lived, I saw that the light was still on.

In fact, it was nothing.Perhaps, dad was throwing away some of his old stamps.Perhaps he thought they were useless.I never had the courage to tell him that I liked collecting stamps.I can’t stand his outrageous(蛮横的) words: “ I can throw you away, let alone these old papers.”

All the lights were off except father’s.

Dad was always like this.Maybe he didn’t know how to express himself.After shouting at me, he never showed any mercy or any moments of regret.After an argument he has the habit of creeping up in my sleep and then tucking me underneath the covers.

This was how he always was.He has been a leader for so long that telling everyone else what to do has become his second nature.

The light was still on.“Am I wrong?” I whispered, maybe… With the key in hand, I was as nervous as I had ever been.At last, I decided to open the door.As soon as I opened the door, tears ran down my cheeks.I suddenly realized that the iron door that I had imagined between us did not exist at all.Love – is second to none.

1.Decide which is the best order of the following according to what happened in the passage.

a.I opened the door and entered the house.

b.Sadly I ran out into the street.

c.I reached the place where I lived and saw my house still brightly lit.

d.I thought of my father’s kindness towards me.

e.I walked about in the street without any aim.

A.b, e, d, c, a                 B.b, e, c, d, a                 C.b, e, a, c, d                 D.b, e, c, a, d

2.What made the writer think of his childhood?

A.The sight of the desolate street lights.

B.The sight of the empty street.

C.The sight of a father with a child in his arms.

D.The sight of light in his own house.

3.Why do you think the father often shouts at his son?

A.Perhaps the father is getting older and older.

B.Perhaps the son has already grown up.

C.Perhaps they never agree with each other.

D.Perhaps the father has got used to doing that.

4.What conclusion can you draw after reading the passage?

A.The father is actually kind to his son.

B.The father treats his son in an unfair way.

C.The father is neither kind nor cruel to his son.

D.The father is always finding fault with his son.

 

 “BANG!” the door caused a reverberation (回声).It was just standing there, with Father standing on one side, and I on the other side.

We were both in great anger.“Never set foot in this house again!” stormed Father.With tears welling up in my eyes, I rushed out of the flat and ran along the street.

The street lights were shining rather desolately(凄凉的).I wandered aimlessly.

A young father who held a child in his arms walked past me.I felt as if I saw my childhood from another space: happy and harmonious.

But now… I don’t know whether it is because I have grown up or because dad is getting old.We differ in our ways of thinking.He always imposes his opinions and codes of behavior on me.Whenever I do something wrong, he never admits it.We are just like two people coming from two different worlds.It feels like there is an iron door between us that can never be opened.

I wandered the streets, without a destination in mind.My heart was frozen on this hot summer night.As I walked on there were fewer and fewer people on the streets, until I had only the street lights to keep me company.When I finally reached the high-rise apartment block in which I lived, I saw that the light was still on.

In fact, it was nothing.Perhaps, dad was throwing away some of his old stamps.Perhaps he thought they were useless.I never had the courage to tell him that I liked collecting stamps.I can’t stand his outrageous(蛮横的) words: “ I can throw you away, let alone these old papers.”

All the lights were off except father’s.

Dad was always like this.Maybe he didn’t know how to express himself.After shouting at me, he never showed any mercy or any moments of regret.After an argument he has the habit of creeping up in my sleep and then tucking me underneath the covers.

This was how he always was.He has been a leader for so long that telling everyone else what to do has become his second nature.

The light was still on.“Am I wrong?” I whispered, maybe… With the key in hand, I was as nervous as I had ever been.At last, I decided to open the door.As soon as I opened the door, tears ran down my cheeks.I suddenly realized that the iron door that I had imagined between us did not exist at all.Love – is second to none.

1.Decide which is the best order of the following according to what happened in the passage.

a.I opened the door and entered the house.

b.Sadly I ran out into the street.

c.I reached the place where I lived and saw my house still brightly lit.

d.I thought of my father’s kindness towards me.

e.I walked about in the street without any aim.

A.b, e, d, c, a                 B.b, e, c, d, a                 C.b, e, a, c, d                 D.b, e, c, a, d

2.What made the writer think of his childhood?

A.The sight of the desolate street lights.

B.The sight of the empty street.

C.The sight of a father with a child in his arms.

D.The sight of light in his own house.

3.Why do you think the father often shouts at his son?

A.Perhaps the father is getting older and older.

B.Perhaps the son has already grown up.

C.Perhaps they never agree with each other.

D.Perhaps the father has got used to doing that.

4.What conclusion can you draw after reading the passage?

A.The father is actually kind to his son.

B.The father treats his son in an unfair way.

C.The father is neither kind nor cruel to his son.

D.The father is always finding fault with his son.

 

When we think about giving help to developing countries, we often think about giving money so that these countries can build schools and hospitals, buy food and medicine, or find clean water supplies. These seem to be the most important basic needs of the people we are trying to help. However, it's far from enough. Ladies and gentlemen, we've got to come up with some better ideas to help them.

I was very surprised, then, when I read about a plan to make cheap laptop computers for children in developing countries. A man called Nicholas Negroponte invented a cheap laptop computer and he planed to produce a lot and sell them to the children in developing countries at a low price after he visited a school in Cambodia. The laptop will be covered in rubber so that it is very strong and won't be damaged easily. The idea is that these computers will help the children's education as they will be able to surf the Internet. By improving children's education they should help people to find their own solutions to their problems in the long term.

Another idea to help children in developing countries is to recycle old mobile phones so that they can be used again. In the UK, and probably in many other countries too, millions of mobile phones are thrown away every year. The waste created by throwing away these old phones is very bad for the environment, so it seems to be an excellent idea to recycle them. In this way we will be able to achieve two important goals at the same time. We will reduce the waste we produce and help others. In other words, we will be able to 'kill two birds with one stone’, and that is always a good thing.

1.

 It's an excellent idea to recycle old mobile phones because         .

A. it reduces waste and can help others

B. it prevents waste and can earn lots of money

C. it can send the waste produced by developed countries to other countries

D. it is good for the environment and very educative for phone users

2.

 The author gives the example of Mr. Negroponte’s cheap computers         .

A. to show what high technology can bring us

B. to show the kindness of people in the developed countries

C. to show how to find business opportunities in developing countries

D. to give an example of how to help developing countries

3.

Where does this passage probably come from?         .

A. A newspaper.              B. A magazine.  

C. A lecture.                 D. An advertisement.

 

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