Question

    Humans have been keeping animals as pets for tens of thousands of years, but Dr Jean-Loup Rault, an animal scientist at the University of Melbourne in Australia, believes new companions are coming: robot pets.

“Technology is moving very fast,” Rault told ABC News, “The Tamagotchi in the early 1990s was really the first robotic pet, and now Sony and other big companies have improved them a lot.”

This may not sit well with pet lovers. After all, who would choose a plastic toy over a lovely puppy? But Rault argues that the robotic kind has a lot going for it: “You don’t have to feed it, you don’t have to walk it, it won’t make a mess in your house, and you can go on a holiday without feeling guilty.” The technology also benefits those who are allergic to pets, short on space, or fearful of real animals.

It’s not clear whether robot pets can replace real ones. But studies do suggest that we can bond with these smart machines. People give their cars names and kids give their toy animals life stories. It’s the same with robots. When Sony stopped its repair service for its robot dog Aibo in March 2014, owners in Japan held funerals.

As an animal welfare researcher, Rault is concerned about how robotic pets could affect our attitudes towards live animals. “If we become used to a robotic companion that doesn’t need food, water or exercises, perhaps it will change how humans care about other living beings,” he said.

So are dogs and cats a thing of the past, as Rault predicts? For those who grew up with living and breathing pets, the mechanical kind might not do. But for our next generation who are in constant touch with smart technology, a future in which lovely pets needn’t have a heartbeat might not be a far-fetched dream.

1.What does the underlined phrase “sit well with” means?

A.be refused by B.be beneficial to

C.make a difference to D.receive support from

2.What are the advantages of robot pets?

a. They are plastic and feel smooth.

b. Owners needn’t worry about them when going out.

c. They can help cure allergies(过敏).

d. They save space and costs.

A.ab B.bc

C.bd D.cd

3.We can learn from the passage that___________.

A.Sony is the first company to produce robot pets Aibo.

B.People can develop strong bond(联系、关系) with their robot pets.

C.Rault thinks robot pets still have a long way to go.

D.Robot toys may help people care more about living beings.

4.The passage mainly tells us___________.

A.the advantages of robot toys B.the popularity of robot pets

C.living pets are dying out. D.robot pets are coming.

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.B

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。千百年来，人类一直把猫狗当做宠物。现在有科学家认为：机器宠物的时代即将来临。

1.词义猜测题。根据第二段now Sony and other big companies have improved them a lot.索尼和其他几家大公司已经大大改进了第一批机器宠物，和第三段第二句who would choose a plastic toy over a lovely puppy?谁会放弃一只可爱的小狗而选择一个塑料玩具呢？可以推断出宠物爱好者并不接受机器宠物。故划线短语的意思是“得到…的支持”故选D项。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段You don’t have to feed it, you don’t have to walk it, it won’t make a mess in your house, and you can go on a holiday without feeling guilty. 机器宠物无需喂养，不用陪着散步，也不会把家里弄得一团糟，你出门度假时也不必感到愧疚。和The technology also benefits those who are allergic to pets, short on space, or fearful of real animals这一技术对那些对宠物过敏，空间狭小或害怕真的动物的人大有益处。结合选项。故选C项。

3.推理判断题。根据第四段When Sony stopped its repair service for its robot dog Aibo in March 2014, owners in Japan held funerals2014年3月，当索尼公司停止修复机器狗Aibo时，它在日本的主人们为他们举行了葬礼。可以推断人类与机器宠物之间能建立起强烈的感情纽带。故选选B项。

4.主旨大意题。根据第一段Humans have been keeping animals as pets for tens of thousands of years, but Dr Jean-Loup Rault, an animal scientist at the University of Melbourne in Australia, believes new companions are coming: robot pets.”可知，几万年来，人类一直将动物作为宠物饲养，但澳大利亚墨尔本大学的动物科学家让-卢普·劳博士认为，新的伴侣正在到来:机器人宠物。所以文章主要是关于机器宠物的时代即将来临，故选D项。