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.”
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
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
3.What does the underlined word “removes” mean?
A. moves again B. is movable C. doesn’t need D. need
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.
5.The writer seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may__________.
A. cure certain diseases B. keep old people active
C. change people’s ideas D. look more like real dogs
When Christie Andrews was born, she weighed less that half of one kilogram. Her heart was the size of a large coin. Her mother said Christie was so small that she could hold her in the palm of one hand.
Christie couldn’t breathe without a machine to give her oxygen. If she had been born 20 years earlier, she would probably have died at once. She needed two operations, but she survived without serious damage.
Twenty years ago , 90% of all premature(早产) babies died. Today, doctors manage to save four out of every five, because they have better machines for breathing and better ways to feed the babies.
But saving Christie’s life cost more than $ 400,000. In some cases, doctors spend 1 million dollars saving a single child. The parents usually don’t have enough money to pay. The government, an insurance company or the hospital picks up the bill. Even after a baby goes home from the hospital, it may require medical care.
Some people think it makes more sense to spend money saving 10 adults who have cancer or other diseases than saving one small baby. But nobody wants to be the doctor who has to tell parents to their faces, “Sorry, I won’t save your new child.”
1. Parents don’t pay their babies’ hospital bills because .
A. they don’t have enough money
B. they would rather save cancer patients
C. doctors don’t care if the babies die
D. it makes more sense to have a bigger baby
2.The true cost of saving a baby may be even more than 1 million because .
A. oxygen machine are expensive
B. the baby may require medical care after it leaves the hospital
C. doctors always charge more than they should
D. four out of five premature babies can now be saved
3.From the story we know that saving a cancer patient .
A. is easier than saving a baby B. is harder than saving a baby
C. is cheaper than saving a baby D. is more common than saving a baby
4.The main idea of the article is .
A. doctors must never decide whether to save babies or cancer patients
B. doctors are able to save premature babies, but the cost is very high
C. having a premature baby was cheaper and safer 20 years ago
D. Christie survived because the hospital paid her bills
Once, a circle lost a piece of its own. The circle wanted to be whole, so it went around looking for its missing piece. But it was incomplete, so it could only roll very slowly. It enjoyed the flowers and the sunshine along the way. It talked with worms. It found lots of different pieces, but none of them fit. So it left them all by the side of the road and kept on looking for the missing piece.
Then one day the circle found a piece that fit perfectly. The circle put the missing piece into itself. It could be whole with nothing missing. It was so happy and began to roll. Now that it was a perfect circle, it could roll very fast, too fast to see flowers or talk to worms. It realized how different the world was when it rolled so quickly. It felt so sad that it stopped, left its found piece by the side of the road and rolled away slowly.
Sometimes we are perfect when we lose something. A man who has everything is a poor man in some ways. He will never have hopes, dreams or something better. He will never know someone loves him or someone is giving him something he has always wanted or never had.
We couldn’t be perfect, but we must be brave enough to love, strong enough to forgive, kind enough to share happiness with others and clever enough to know there is enough love around us and then we can always live a wonderful time in our lives.
1.
The circle rolled very slowly because it .
A. spent much time talking to worms B. wanted to enjoy the sunshine
C. was looking for its missing piece D. lost a piece of its own
2.
Why did the circle stop when it rolled quickly? Because it .
A. wanted to enjoy the world B. found a different world
C. wanted to look for another missing piece D. thought the world changed so quickly
3.
The story mainly tells us that .
A. nobody loves us if we give nothing
B. a man who has everything is the happiest
C. losing something may not be a bad thing sometimes
D. we are not whole when we lose something
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
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1. If you have lost a black wallet, you can call to ask for it.
A. 3338651 B. 8947659 C. 7026449 D. 9796788
2.Who can join the Singles’ Club?
A. A 24-year-old young man. B. A 28-year-old married woman
C. A 29-year-old single lady. D. A 50-year-old single man.
3.If you get the job of delivering newspapers, how much can your earn every week?
A. $ 50 B. $ 60 C. $ 70 D. $ 80
“Wanted: Violin. Can’t pay much. Call…”
That advertisement in the newspaper made me remember my childhood. I, too, had wanted a violin, but we didn’t have the money. Even though times were 16 , I couldn’t wait any longer to ask. “Daddy, may I have a violin of 17 ?” Daddy’s face looked 18 . But a few weeks later, Daddy went home, with a case in his hand, 19 ,“Mary, I found this secondhand violin for seven dollars.”
The day when I carried my violin to school for my first lesson , no one could know how 20 I was. I practiced, joined the school orchestra(管弦乐队), gave performances……Several years seemed to run even quickly and I found myself in the first violin chair. More years 21 , and my violin made every move with me, until one day, I carefully 22 it away.
Now here 23 this want advertisement, I discovered the case deep in my closet（储藏室）. I put it on the table. Then I picked up the 24 , walked to the telephone and called by the 25 .
Later in the day, a man of about 30 knocked at the door. “I’ve been expecting someone would 26 my advertisement. My daughter wants a violin so 27 ,”he said, examining my violin. “How much are you asking?”
I said, “Seven dollars.” “Are you sure?” he asked, 28 he did not believe his ears. “Seven dollars.” I 29 and then added,” I hope your little girl will enjoy it 30 I did.”
I smiled, but I found my tears(眼泪) rolling down my face.
1.A. easy B. hard C. late D. long
2. A. my B. mine C. myself D. me
3.A. angry B. happy C. sad D. funny
4.A. answering B. saying C. asking D. telling
5.A. surprised B. excited C. interested D. embarrassed
6. A. past B. was passed C. passing D. passed
7.A. carried B. put C. took D. threw
8.A. about B. by C. in D. for
9.A. advertisement B. violin C. case D. newspaper
10. A. date B. name C. number D. address
11.A. offer B. answer C. receive D. find
12.A. badly B. easily C. quickly D. luckily
13. A. though B. when C. as if D. until
14. A. repeated B. continued C. reminded D. suggested
15.A. which B. when C. what D. as
The policeman supposed .
A. whether the victim had rung the doorbell
B. he would come to get the money in the rubbish bin.
C. when did the witness see the murder
D. that how the man ran out of the dark house
