Question

    In February,  FEDEX  launched  a  robot  capable  of  replacing  a  pizza  delivery driver  by bringing food right to your door, which indicates more companies may soon automate (使自动化) not only processes, but full business lines.

These types of moves could be disastrous to work. Between 1987 and 2017, manufacturing output grew 80 percent, but the number of workers dropped dramatically. This hit cities hard, leading to shrinking populations and the wide difference between urban places we see now. Numerous studies show that automation isn’t equally affecting the workforce across all sectors. While it has negatively impacted a portion of the economy, it has helped to lift up other sectors, such as computer science and health care.

The real question is how you counteract inequality.

To start with, we should train people with the skills they need. To minimize job losses and embrace positive changes, we need to focus on the great value humans bring to the table. Jobs requiring soft skills like time management, active listening, cooperation, and judgment and decision-making, and jobs that are in high-touch industries are much less likely to be automated.

We must make joint efforts to strengthen and fix the holes in the safety net. While the 2020 presidential candidates are starting a conversation about how to accomplish this, cities are already leading by experimenting with basic income, passing higher minimum wage laws, carrying out paid family leave and driving policy solutions that support workers and families.

In the end robots won’t take all the jobs, but they might take yours. What we do about it, though, is up to us.

1.What will possibly happen if companies use robots in full business lines?

A. There will be a sharp drop in manufacturing output.

B. There will be a shrink in population across China.

C. The negative impacts will outweigh the positive ones.

D. The workforce in various fields may be affected differently.

2.Which of the following is more likely to be automated?

A. Bringing dishes to the table in a restaurant.

B. Helping to manage one’s time efficiently.

C. Communicating effectively with co-workers.

D. Helping make the right judgement and decision.

3.How is Paragraph 5 developed?

A. By providing data. B. By giving examples.

C. By comparison. D. By analyzing.

4.What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean?

A. It is up to us whatever we do with the robots.

B. It is up to us what jobs the robots will replace.

C. We need to adapt ourselves to the changes accordingly.

D. We have the confidence that robots will replace no jobs.

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.B

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。自动化已经越来越普及，这意味着不久将有更多的公司不仅实现流程自动化，还能实现全业务范围的自动化。这对不同领域的劳动力会产生不同的影响。而面对这一情况，我们应该训练人们所需的技能。要想不被机器所取代，我们只有不断使自己适应相应的变化。

1.细节理解题。第二段倒数第二句Numerous studies show that automation isn’t equally affecting the workforce across all sectors.可知大量研究表明，自动化并不会对所有行业的劳动力产生同等的影响。即如果公司将机器人应用于所有业务领域，不同领域的劳动力可能受到不同的影响。故选D。

2.推理判断题。第四段最后一句Jobs requiring soft skills like time management, active listening, cooperation, and judgment and decision-making, and jobs that are in high-touch industries are much less likely to be automated.可知需要时间管理、积极倾听、合作、判断和决策等软技能的工作，以及接触广泛的行业的工作，自动化的可能性要小得多。故可排除B、C、D选项，故选A。

3.推理判断题。第五段第一句We must make joint efforts to strengthen and fix the holes in the safety net.指出我们必须共同努力，加强和修补安全网上的漏洞。接着下文提到了2020年的总统候选人和城市对解决这一问题所进行的种种努力，可知第五段运用了举例子的方法展开，故选B。

4.推理判断题。根据上文In the end robots won’t take all the jobs, but they might take yours. 最后，机器人不会承担所有的工作，但它们可能会承担你的工作。再结合文章主要内容可知最后一句划线部分句意为：要想不被机器所取代，我们只有不断使自己适应相应的变化。故选C。