2、The days of a pain-free visit to the dentist may not be far off. This is thanks to a little Japanese woman in a pink sweater, named Simroid. With a limited vocabulary, Simroid, the 160cm-tall robot is happy to feel your pain.

   Simroid is designed to be used at medical colleges. She has realistic looking skin, eyes, and a mouth fitted with replica (仿制) teeth. Her chest also rises and falls as if she is breathing. Simroid releases a clear “ouch!” whenever a trainee dentist presses her teeth too hard with a tool. And she gives a reassuring “that’s better” when the drill hits the right place.

   “We want to use the robots to train dentists to worry about whether patients are comfortable, and not just focus on medical techniques,” said Naotake Shubui, a professor at Nippon Dental University in Japan who helped develop Simroid.

   The robot was one of hundreds of cutting-edge devices on display at the world’s biggest robot exhibition last week in Japan.

As scientists improve the design of robots, they could soon be serving tea to office workers or directing shoppers. Today’s robots look and act much like the humans who invented them.

   In Japan, robots can already be found working as home helps, office receptionists and security guards, as well as on the factory floor. There were more than 370,000 industrial robots in use in Japan in 2005, according to a report by Macquarie bank,40 percent of the world total, with 32 robots for every 1,000 workers. The economy ministry believes that the Japanese robot market will be worth more than $52 billion by 2025.

   Human work is being helped, and even replaced, by mechanical efficiency in almost every area, from golf-bag carriers to public toilet cleaners.

   But many scientists believe the age of the service robot is not far off. It will arrive once machines are capable of connecting with humans on an emotional level. Judging by the Tokyo exhibition, that process has already begun.

56. Simroid is designed to _________.

A. aid dental trainees to focus on their medical techniques

B. train dentists to be able to share patients’ feelings

C. help patients relax during dental surgery

D. serve as the dentists’ assistance during dental surgery

57. Which of the following about Simroid is NOT true according to the text?

A. She is a robotic dental patient with a realistic appearance.

B. She will let out a scream whenever she feels a pain.

C. She can communicate a lot with dentists.

D. She is able to react in a human like way to mouth pain.

58. We can learn from the text that ________.

A. robots are widely used in Japan

B. Japan has taken the lead in developing robots

C. the Japanese robot market has greatest potential in the world

D. the world’s biggest robot exhibition is held in Japan every year

59. The phrase “that process” in the last paragraph refers to ________.

A. replacing human work with robots

B. improving mechanical efficiency

C. entering the age of the service robot

D. producing a robot capable of connecting with humans on an emotional level

1、A great many people are disappointed because of unrealistic expectations.

Walking up to a department store’s cloth counter, a(n)  36  young woman said,“I want to buy this material for a new dress. How much does it cost?”

“Only one  37 per yard,” replied the smirking (自鸣得意的) male clerk.

Not to be 38   back by the funny words, the woman said,” That’s fine! I’ll take ten yards.”

With 39 written all over his face, the clerk 40 measured out and wrapped the cloth, then held it out teasingly, 41    forward to receive his “   42   ”.

The woman got the package quickly from the clerk and 43 to a little old man standing beside her. “Grandpa will pay the bill instead of me,” she  44  .

He was no 45   disappointed. But in the course of living, many people are 46 when others do not 47 their expectations. In order to be happy, some expectations must be  48. These three particular 49 and unhealthy expectations are some of the main causes:

1. Expect too much  50  .When others say,“Thank you,” or in any way to show their gratitude, be  51  . It is a gift!

2. Expect others to make you happy. They simply cannot do that. Make yourself happy and 52 your joy with others.

3. Expect not to be 53   . At times, people will simply not come through for you in the way you need.  54 them and move on.

Get rid of these three unrealistic expectations and you can begin to expect more 55 right away!

23、The life he was used to         greatly since 1992.

       A. was changed        B. has changed    C. changing             D. have changed    

22、A number of cases will be discussed at the meeting by the students    beginners of English fail to use the language properly．

A. which         B. as          C. why           D. where

21、As I looked at the memorial, I thought about _______ terrible disaster it was for the people in Nanjing then and ______ they were to fight the Japanese invaders.

A. how; how       B. what a; how        C. what; how      D. how; what

20、 ---- Well, my children take great interest in most of the courses on the menu.

 --- Thanks. _____?

 --- Salad, fried fish, steak and orange juice, please.

A. Shall I take your order                         B. At your service

C. What to follow                                   D. Can I help you

19、__________, I really believe that I’d prefer not to make any change now.

A．Considered all the possibilities

B．Taken all the possibilities into consideration

C．Taking all the possibilities into consideration

D．Giving all the possibilities

18、---- What do you think about the night in Yinchuan in summer?

----It’s beyond description. Nowhere else in the world _____such a beautiful place.

A．you can find    B．can there be          C．there can be         D．can find you

17、--- Excuse me, would you mind answering a few questions?

--- Well, I don’t know. I’m in rather a hurry_____.

A．seriously           B．actually               C．immediately            D．anxiously      

16、Words _______ me when I wanted to express my thanks to him for having saved my kid from the burning house. 

A．left        B．discouraged             C．failed              D．disappointed