TOKYO—A child-like robot that combines the roles of nurse, companion and security guard is to go on the market to help the growing ranks of elderly Japanese with no one to look after them.
The “Wakamaru” robot can walk around a house 24 hours a day, warning family, hospitals and security firms if it perceives (notices) a problem. It will, for example, call relatives if the owner fails to get out of the bath.
Cameras implanted in the “eye-brows” of the robot enable it to “see” as it walks around an apartment. The images can be sent to the latest cellphones, which display the pictures.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which developed Wakamaru, plans to start selling the metre-high robots by April, 2005, for about ＄15,000 Cdn.
Wakamaru, which speaks with either the voice of a boy or girl, is also designed to provide companionship, greeting its “papa” when he comes home.
It is the first household robot able to hold simple conversations, based on a vocabulary of around 10,000 words. It cannot only speak but can understand answers and react accordingly.
It will ask “Are you all right ?” if its owner does not move for some time. If the answer is no, or there is no answer, it will telephone preset numbers, transmitting images and functioning as a speakerphone.
Wakamaru will inform a security firm if there is a loud bang or if an unknown person enters the house while the owner is out or asleep. It can recognize up to 10 faces.
But like most robots it cannot climb stairs.
It can be set to remind forgetful people when it is time to take medicine, eat and sleep.
Mitsubishi adapted Wakamaru from robots it already makes to go around nuclear power facilities. The idea to use the technology in the home came from a company employee.
The project chief said :“Looking at the ageing of society and the falling birth rate we decide that this could work as a business. We want to offer Wakamaru as a product that helps society.”
The technology has gained nation-wide publicity in Japan among increasing concern over how to look after the ever-growing number of old people. The life expectancy of Japanese women has shot up to almost 85, the highest in the world.
At the same time, extended families are being replaced by nuclear families. This has left many Japanese anxious about their elderly parents, whom they rarely see because of their long hours at the office.
1．Which of the following is true about the Robot?
A. It is used in some nuclear power facilities.
B. It cannot speak but can understand answers.
C. It can go up and down the stairs easily. D. It can recognize as many as 10 faces.
2．The purpose of this passage is ________.
A. to introduce a new product B. to solve the aging problems
C. to tell people how to use the robot D. to show the rapid development of technology
3．What can we infer from the passage ?
A. The robot can dial proper numbers for help.
B. The robot is likely to have a promising market.
C. The robot has given the Japanese a chance to live longer.
D. The nuclear families have left many elderly Japanese anxious.
4．What is the best title of this passage ?
A. The Latest Development of Robot Technology B. Japanese Robot and the Aging Society
C. Vast Market of the New Robot D. Japanese-built Robot to Help the Old
5. Wakamaru _____________________.
A. is a child who is always taking good care of his grandparents 24 hours a day.
B. has a vocabulary of around 1,000 words
C. is the first household robot that has ever been produced.
D. has ameras implanted in the “eye-brows” which enable it to “see” when walking.
Many people have heard stories of the California gold rush during the 19th century, when lots of people went there in search for gold. Panning (淘洗) for gold has a rich and interesting history. Nowadays some people continue to pan for gold in California. Although it cannot be regarded as a method for earning income, taking on gold-panning as a hobby can give you a feeling of being in the old west and get you out into nature.
The only tool that is required to pan for gold is a gold pan. You can use a regular old flat pan, but “officially” gold pans are quite cheap so you may as well buy one that is made for the task. Most sold pans come in either plastic or medal.
Once you have your pan you will want to start practicing your gold panning technique. Panning for gold works because gold is much heavier than most rocks. To pan for gold you add rock and dirt form the bottom of a stream to your pan and then gently let water flow through the pan. The lighter-weight rocks are slowly swept away while any gold will be left behind in the pan.
To start panning for gold, first you will need to find a good location. Try checking maps of your area and old history books to find location where there were gold mines in the past. Even though most of the gold have already been removed, there are likely to be small leftovers that you can find. Once you have found an area that looks promising, look for any small stream or river where you can try out panning for gold.
Panning for gold requires patience and it may be a long time before you hit anything of value. However, it is an enjoyable hobby and provides a great opportunity to get outdoors, so don’t give up too quickly.What is Paragraph 4 mainly about?
| A．Where to pan for gold. |
| B．How gold-panning works. |
| C．What tools are needed. |
| D．A promising area for panning. |
What is the author’s attitude toward modern gold-planning?
| A．Opposed. | B．Indifferent . | C．Positive. | D．Neutral . |
In which part of a newspaper would you probably find this article?
| A．Lifestyle. | B．Health. | C．Travel. | D．Sports. |
Bobby was sitting out in his back yard in the snow. The thin sneakers he wore had a few holes in them. Try as he might, he could not come up with an idea for his mother’s Christmas gift.
Ever since his father had passed away three years ago, his mother worked nights at the hospital, but the small wage could only be stretched so far.
What the family lacked in money and material things, they more than made up for in love and family unity. They ran the household in their mother’s absence. All three of his sisters had already made beautiful gifts for their mother.
It was Christmas Eve already, and he had nothing. Bobby started to walk down to the street. He walked from shop to shop. Everything seemed so beautiful and so out of reach. It was starting to get dark, then suddenly his eyes caught a shiny dime. Never has anyone felt so wealthy as Bobby did at that moment.
He went inside a flower shop. When the owner asked if he could help him, Bobby presented the dime and asked if he could buy one flower. The shop owner looked at Bobby, then said, “You just wait here and I’ll see what I can do for you.”
The shop owner returned holding red roses all tied together with a big silver bow. Bobby’s heart sank as the owner placed them gently into a long white box. “That will be ten cents, young man,” said the shop owner, reaching out his hand for the dime. Slowly, Bobby moved his hand to give the man his dime.
Then the shopkeeper’s wife appeared. “Where are the roses you were fixing?”
The shop owner replied, “A strange thing happened to me this morning. I thought I heard a voice telling me to set aside a dozen of my best roses for a special gift. I wasn’t sure at the time whether I had lost my mind or what, but I set them aside anyway. When I saw that little boy tonight, I knew who that voice was.”According to the first three paragraphs we know that _____.
| A．Bobby’s sisters didn’t help Bobby to buy a gift |
| B．Bobby had known what gift he’d give to his mother |
| C．the children in the family all loved their mother |
| D．Bobby’s family was rich before his father died |
Why did Bobby walk along the street?
| A．Because he didn’t know what to do. |
| B．Because he wanted to try his luck there. |
| C．Because he wanted to get some money. |
| D．Because he hoped to see what he could get. |
What could he buy with a dime then?
| A．A flower. | B．Nothing. | C．A piece of cake. | D．Many flowers. |
Bobby slowly gave the dime to the shop owner because _______.
| A．he did not want any rose flowers |
| B．the flowers weren’t worth a dime |
| C．the shop owner would cheat him |
| D．he hardly believed what had happened |
From the last two paragraphs we can infer that the shop owner ______.
| A．was shocked by the voice he heard |
| B．was always ready to help others |
| C．didn’t know how to run a business |
| D．was good at making up stories |
Today I was at the mall waiting for friends, when a lady wearing a knit hat and a sweater came up to me and, shivering, said, “I’m homeless. Would you mind buying me some food?”
In that split second, everything I’d learned since kindergarten flashed through my mind. Don’t talk to strangers … Be a good citizen … People will take advantage of you … Treat others as you wish to be treated … The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return … I guess love won the debate. “Sure,” I said. “What would you like?”
She thought and then said, “I’d like to get Chinese food.” We headed upstairs. On the way she told me about when she was a teenager. She remembers taking pictures for the yearbook with her best friend. She was in the band and played basketball. She got good grades and was a good student.
She ordered soup, an egg roll, white rice, and pepper chicken. I would normally think that was a lot, but she had probably barely eaten in the last few days. I got my usual – lo mein and General Tso’s chicken.
As we ate, we got to know each other. She asked if I played any instruments. I replied that I played the violin, cello, and guitar. She told me she played the flute, piano, guitar, and violin. In the middle of our meal, I realized something. And she thought of it at exactly the same time.
“So, what’s your name?” she asked.
“I’m Claire,” I said, startled at our exact same thought. “What’s yours?”
“Joyce,” she said with a smile.
We continued talking, and she asked my favorite subjects in school and if I wanted to go to college. “Hopefully,” I replied. “I’m interested in nursing.”
“I went to college for nursing,” she said.
I was taken aback. How could we have so much in common? Was she pretending so I’d feel sympathy for her? But her eyes were genuine as she said this.
Meanwhile I was eating my lo mein, picking around the cabbage and the other vegetables. Joyce said, “If you don’t like it you can take it back.” I told her that I liked it, but was not fond of the vegetables. She broke into a big grin. “You don’t like vegetables, huh? Neither did I. But now I do.” I immediately felt guilty. How could I be picking at my food across from someone who barely gets to eat at all?
I tried my best to finish, but she seemed to sense my guilt and said, “You don’t have to eat it if you don’t want it.” How could she know what I was feeling? I told her the dish was my favorite, but I just eat slowly.
She replied, “I used to like lo mein, but pepper chicken was my dad’s favorite, so I get that now.” Noticing that she used the word “was,” I assumed her dad had passed away. I found it sweet that she gave up her favorite in order to honor her dad.
She asked why I was at the mall.
“I’m waiting for friends. We’re going to see ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,’” I replied, stumbling over the words a bit.
“‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,’” she echoed in awe. “What’s that about?” I realized that she didn’t see commercials for movies.
I explained the basic plot and she chuckled. “A man who is born 80 years old and ages backwards! That sounds interesting.”
She got up to get a to-go box. “Would you like one?” she asked, but I refused. I realized that this food would probably last her for a few days, and I was glad she had ordered a lot.
“Would you like these?” I asked, gesturing at the food I had left untouched. “Oh, no, thank you,” she said. “This is enough.” I got up to throw my tray away, feeling guilty about wasting so much.
“I need to meet my friends now,” I explained. “It was so nice to meet you, Joyce.”
“You too, Claire,” she replied with a smile. “Thank you.”
I headed to the theater, and she went back downstairs. It sounds like a perfect coincidence, but I can’t help but think that some force compelled us to meet. I kept puzzling, Why is Joyce homeless? It seems so unfair. She shouldn’t need people to buy her dinner. She was a nurse. She got good grades. She took pictures for her yearbook. She was the person I hope to be in the future. What went wrong? How could such a good life be rewarded with horrible luck?
I feel lucky to have run into Joyce. She changed my outlook. She is still a wonderful person, despite what the world has done to her. I wish her the best, and can only hope that the force that brought us together will help her find what she deserves in life. From the second paragraph we know that the writer _________.
| A．debated with the girl over moral issues |
| B．hates having to make a quick decision |
| C．hesitated before she decided to reach out |
| D．fell in love with the girl at the first sight |
The writer felt guilty for a moment because ________.
| A．she was particular about food and also wasted so much |
| B．she was a strict vegetarian who ate very little |
| C．she didn’t order enough food for the girl |
| D．she urged the girl to take her share of food |
Why did Joyce end up unemployed and homeless?
| A．She was a victim of high education |
| B．She actually had some kind of mental disorder |
| C．She graduated with average grades |
| D．The reason is not yet given. |
Which detail doesn’t show the coincidence in the story?
| A．They both took interest in nursing. |
| B．They were about to ask names of each other at the same time. |
| C．When Claire headed to the theater, Joyce went back downstairs. |
| D．They were both musical lovers. |
The writer was very happy to have met Joyce because______.
| A．she didn’t know what she was going to be until then. |
| B．this chance meeting changed her attitudes towards life in a way. |
| C．she was glad to be able to pay for someone in need. |
| D．hopefully the force that brought them together may bring good luck to Joyce. |
The passage is intended to _______.
| A．arouse readers’ curiosity |
| B．explore social problems |
| C．teach readers a lesson |
| D．share a sweet personal story |
Many people have never heard of Mesothelioma and are unaware of its symptoms. Although considered a rare form of cancer, each year the number of cases grows. With the prevalence(流行)of this disease on the rise, it is critical to understand why and how Mesothelioma develops and what courses of action can be taken in the event of diagnosis. The following is a list of frequently asked questions and answers that will provide you with some information on Mesothelioma, and the legal issues surrounding it.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is the term used to describe a cancerous tumor found in the mesothelial cells of an organ. The organs where this form of cancer is most commonly found are the lungs, heart and abdominal organs. Pleural Mesothelioma is cancer of the lung lining(组织,膜)and is the most common form of Mesothelioma.
What causes Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos(石棉). Asbestos is often found in building materials used before the mid 1970's. In addition, materials such as pipes, boiler insulation, floor, ceiling and roof tiles may contain asbestos.
How much asbestos exposure will cause Mesothelioma?
Generally, the probability of developing this form of cancer is in accordance with the length of time you are exposed to asbestos. Also, your health is at risk if your exposure to asbestos is intense. It should be noted that Mesothelioma has a latency(潜伏)period of 20 to 50 years. This means that you may develop the disease long after your exposure to asbestos. On average, people tend to develop Mesothelioma somewhere between 35 and 40 years after exposure.
How quickly does Mesothelioma progress?
The onset of Mesothelioma is quite slow. Patients will begin to experience symptoms such as lower back pain and chest pain. These symptoms may also be accompanied by weight loss, fever and difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, once Mesothelioma develops, it quickly becomes aggressive and treatment must be sought immediately.
Can Mesothelioma be treated?
Doctors are able to use several traditional methods of cancer treatment for Mesothelioma, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Like all forms of cancer, detecting the disease at the earliest stage possible greatly increases the patient's chances for survival. If you have worked in an industry such as construction or suspect that you may have been exposed to asbestos, be alert for symptoms and contact your doctor immediately.
What legal courses of action can be taken?
Anyone suffering from Mesothelioma is entitled to compensation from asbestos manufacturers. Additionally, if you are the spouse or child of someone who has died from Mesothelioma, you are entitled to file a claim and seek compensation.The authors intends to _______.
| A．tell the readers how important it is to know more about Mesothelioma. |
| B．provide more information about Mesothelioma |
| C．give advice on how tto avoid developing Mesothelioma |
| D．tell the readers how terrible Mesothelioma is |
We can learn from the text that _______.
| A．Asbestos is to blame for Mesothelioma. |
| B．Even if a person is exposed to asbestos for a while, he will die soon. |
| C．All the employees can ask for compensation from asbestos manufacturers. |
| D．Mesothelioma is a cancer familiar to many people. |
The following are the symptoms of Mesothelioma EXCEPT ______.
| A．frequent headache | B．lower back pain |
| C．chest pain | D．difficult breathing |
Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
| A．Terrible Mesothelioma |
| B．Mesothelioma is around us |
| C．Frequently Asked Questions About Mesothelioma |
| D．Mesothelioma in on the rise |
If you work in an industry exposed to asbestos, you should ________.
| A．give up the job immediately |
| B．ask for a rise from your boss |
| C．file a claim and seek compensation |
| D．go to hospital and have your body examined |
In what section of a newspaper will you probably read the advertisements?
| A．Geography | B．Education | C．History | D．Environment |
What do Science Museum Oklahoma and Leonardo’s Discovery Warehouse have in common?
| A．Aiming at science |
| B．Introducing animals |
| C．Offering imaginary roles |
| D．Enjoying a trip to the universe |
Emma has a tight schedule and has to work from 10am-5pm every day. If she wants to visit a museum, which website will she probably login to get more information?
| A．http://www.jasminemoran.com/ |
| B．http://www.museumgreatplains.org/ |
| C．http://tulsaairandspacemuseum.com/ |
| D．http://www.sciencemuseumok.org/ |
Which of the following can be learned from the advertisements?
| A．Visitors can enjoy family fun in all the museums except the Museum of the Great Pains. |
| B．Visitors can experience something related to culture in the Tulsa Air and Space Museum. |
| C．Visitors can phone (405) 382-0950 if their children want to enjoy role-playing programs. |
| D．Visitors can explore an adventure of outer space in 601 NW Ferris Ave Lawton, OK. |
What may be the purpose of the writer writing the passage?
| A．To show his knowledge of museums |
| B．To provide some information on museums |
| C．To attract attention from the readers |
| D．To entertain readers |