Question

I log onto a computer at the doctor’s office to say I have arrived and then wait until a voice calls me into the examination room.

There, a robotic nurse directs me onto a device and then takes my blood pressure. Some time later, in steps the doctor, who is also a robot. He notes down my symptoms and gives me a prescription. I pay for my visit using a credit card machine and return home without having met another human being.

This scenario(场景) is my nightmarish(噩梦般的) vision of the future, which hasn’t come to pass—at least not yet.

I should say I really do like many aspects of technology. I am a big fan of air conditioning in the summer and heaters in winter. But I am writing this because I don’t want machines to take over.

When I call my dentist's office and actually get a human being on the line, I am thrilled. And when I see the introduction of yet more self-service checkout stations at the grocery store, I feel like shouting: "When it comes to cashiers(收银员), make mine human, please!"

After all, human cashiers sometimes give you a store coupon (优惠券) for items you are buying. Even more than that, real-life cashiers often take an interest in particularly cute children, which can brighten a young mother's day. A cashier may also show compassion for an elderly person struggling to get that last penny out of her purse.

Machines can be efficient and cost-effective and they often get the job done just fine. But they lack an element so crucial to everyday life.

It is being human that prompts(促使) us to smile at others, which may be what they need at that moment. Call it the spirit, the soul or the heart. It is something no machine will ever have.

1.What’s the author’s purpose in writing the first two paragraphs?

A. To indicate high technology can make our future life very efficient.

B. To warn readers of the possible dangers of robotic nurses and doctors.

C. To describe a possible future scene where robots take control of our life.

D. To predict how technology can affect we see a doctor in the future.

2.What is the main reason that the author prefers being served by humans rather than by robots?

A. Robots don’t offer to give store coupons.

B. Robots are indifferent and emotionless.

C. Services from robots cost less time and more money.

D. Robots can’t do a job as well as humans do.

3.What does the underlined word “element” mean in the eighth paragraph?

A. Humor.    B. The ability to speak.

C. Methods.    D. Effective communication.

4.What’s the main idea of the text?

A. The opinion about using man or machine.

B. Machines give people a lot of convenience.

C. Being human service is better than service from machines.

D. Being human service cost little money.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.D

4.A

【解析】文章讲述了现代科技在给人类带来方便的同时，也显露出缺乏温情的缺点。

1.C 推理判断题。文章前两段描写的是作者去医院看病，从头到尾全是机器人在操作，没有一个人类，故作者描述的是将来机器人掌控我们的生活时一个可能出现的场景，故选C。

2.B 推理判断题。由文章倒数第二段及倒数第一段中的Call it the spirit, the soul or the heart. It is something no machine will ever have.可知，机器人可能会把工作做得很好，效率很高，但是它缺少对人们来说很重要的一个因素——情感，机器人没有感情，当然对所有的事都不关心，所以作者更喜欢被人类服务，故B项正确。

3.D 词义猜测题。根据第八段第一句Machines can be efficient and cost-effective and they often get the job done just fine.（机器可以高效和节省成本，他们经常把工作做得很好。）根据But they lack an element so crucial to everyday life.中的but可知，此处是表示转折，他们缺少对日常生活至关重要的元素。故选D。

4.A 主旨大意题。根据倒数第二段Machines can be efficient and cost-effective and they often get the job done just fine. But they lack an element so important to everyday life.可知，作者肯定了机器的优点，但是他们缺乏日常生活中一种重要的元素；以及最后一段It is being human that prompts us to smile at others, which may be what they need at that moment.可推理出，我们的生活中需要机器，但是在生活中不能过多使用。故选A。