Question

Oh my God, the robots are taking over! We’re doomed! Doomed! Now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, it’s become clear that while we may or may not be doomed, the robots are taking over. The latest example is the government’s new guidelines for self-driving cars.

Tesla, Google and Uber are already testing driverless cars in cities across America. Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick is among those predicting that by 2021, self-driving cars will play a big part in urban settings.

Nearly 40,000 people died last year in this nation in automobile-related accidents, and we believe driverless cars can save tens of thousands of lives annually.

It makes sense. Robot drivers are less likely to get drunk, drive without a license, text while driving or feel agitated at the scene of a traffic jam. On the other hand, I wonder how these highly sensitive cars will react with walkers constantly dashing into the street. Will they jam on the brakes every 10 seconds?

But there’s a bigger picture. Not only are robots replacing humans behind the wheel, but behind the work desk, in warehouses, senior homes, you name it. Robots aren’t just taking over in the workplace.

The question is, where can’t a robot function better than a human? How about writing songs? A robot can go through every combination of notes in record time and come up with a pleasing melody. The lyrics might be a different story. Is a Grammy-winning song co-written by Hank Human and R-3071 in our future?

Finally, it’s only a matter of time until we have robot politicians and presidential candidates. Why not? They can be programmed to be experts in world and domestic affairs and come up with the best solutions without corruption and bad humors.

Actually, it’s too bad such technology isn’t available in 2018. Pretty sure the robot would win in a landslide.

1.What does the underlined word “agitated” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A. Exhausted.    B. Embarrassed.

C. Disappointed.    D. Anxious.

2.What doubt does the writer have about self-driving cars?

A. How passengers behave in it.

B. How robot drivers get the license.

C. How they respond to walkers on a busy street.

D. How they avoid crashing into other cars.

3.The last question asked in Paragraph 6 reflects the writer’s         .

A. eagerness to listen to songs written by robots

B. doubt about robots’ ability to write songs

C. confidence in robots’ winning Grammy Awards

D. curiosity about the future Grammy songs

4.What might be the most suitable title for the text?

A. Robots will control the world in every field.

B. Robots can drive cars and write music.

C. Robots are being used in our daily life.

D. Robots are coming but not soon enough.

Answer

1. D

2. C

3. C

4. D

【解析】

本文以无人驾驶汽车为例，谈论自动驾驶汽车的优缺点，以及在其他领域对机器人的应用，最后得出结论，现代化科学技术代替人类只是时间的问题。

1.词意猜测题。根据划线词所在的句子Robot drivers are less likely to get drunk, drive without a license, text while driving or feel agitated at the scene of a traffic jam.可知机器人驾驶员看到堵车，也不会感到焦虑，agitated意思是焦虑，所以选D。

2.细节理解题。由On the other hand, I wonder how these highly sensitive cars will react with walkers constantly dashing into the street.可知作者担心的是自动驾驶汽车对这些突然冲进马路的行人如何反应，选C。

3.推理判断题。题干询问的是第六段提出的最后一个问题反映了作者的什么看法。由A robot can go through every combination of notes in record time and come up with a pleasing melody.可知机器人可以创作出优美的旋律，作者想借此问题说明将来机器人肯定会创作出能获得格莱美音乐奖的作品，选C。

4.主旨大意题。由最后一个自然段Actually, it’s too bad such technology isn’t available in 2018.可知作者认为机器人时代来得不够快，选D。