Question

    With climate change and overfishing threatening our oceans, it is becoming increasingly important for researchers to closely observe and check sea animals and plants. However, it’s almost impossible to make it since human presence scares the animals. Now, thanks to the robot, aka SoFi, researchers may be able to solve the problem.

Built by MIT’s laboratory, the snow-white remote-controlled robot simulates fish, complete with a flexible tail that moves from side to side and two “fins (鳍)”.

When the robot is under the sea, a motor is pumping water into a pair of balloon-like rooms located in the robot’s tail. These rooms operate similarly to the key parts in engines. As one room expands, the tail bends to one side; when the motor pushes water to the other channel, the tail bends in the other direction. Thus the robot gains the ability to move to where it wants to go.

SoFi solves many of the issues that have affected the usefulness of previous robots --- some types of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs)

AUVs traditionally often have had to be tied to a boat because radio frequency communications do not work well underwater. So researchers use sound waves. The new technology can travel greater distances, allowing drivers, by using a controller, to pilot SoFi from up to 50 feet away. SoFi can move around the ocean, unaffected by ropes. Also limiting traditional AUVs’ usefulness is the risk of hitting something, like hard stones. With the outside made of rubber and plastic that can keep its built-in electronics dry, SoFi can efficiently avoid hitting. So a soft robot is more likely to survive a potential crisis.

During test dives in Rainbow Reef, SoFi swam alongside the unsuspecting ocean life at depths of 50 feet for up to 40 minutes at a time, obtaining high-quality photos and videos. More importantly, it was able to do so without causing any disturbance. Researchers say sometimes the fish would swim alongside the strange-looking robot in curiosity, while at other times they appeared to completely ignore its existence. “It’s not perfect, but we’re improving it. Our efforts will pay off,” says Robert Katzschmann.

1.The robot SoFi is created to ________.

A.observe climate change B.help to monitor sea creatures

C.catch fish and observe them D.prevent overfishing in oceans

2.What does the underlined word “simulates” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A.Is modeled after. B.Is designed for.

C.Is combined with. D.Is applied to.

3.What’s Paragraph 3 mainly written to show?

A.The shape of SoFi. B.The application of SoFi.

C.The structure of SoFi’s tail. D.The theory of SoFi’s movement.

4.The materials for SoFi’s outside help SoFi to ________.

A.stay safe underwater B.take high-quality photos

C.stay deeper under the sea D.better attract sea creatures

5.What’s Robert Katzschmann’s attitude towards SoFi?

A.Satisfied. B.Negative. C.Hopeful. D.Neutral.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.D

4.A

5.C

【解析】

本文是说明文，文章介绍了科学家成功地研制出机器鱼，帮助研究人员密切关注海洋生物。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段中“it is becoming increasingly important for researchers to closely observe and check sea animals and plants. However, it’s almost impossible to make it since human presence scares the animals. Now, thanks to the robot, aka SoFi, researchers may be able to solve the problem. ”，研究人员需要密切观察海洋动植物，但是这很难做到，因为人类的存在会吓到动物。机器人SoFi或许可以帮助研究人员解决这个问题。由此可知，制作机器鱼SoFi 的目的是帮助研究人员监控海洋生物。故选B项。

2.词义猜测题。根据第二段中划线词后的一句“…complete with a flexible tail that moves from side to side and two “fins (鳍)”.（配有可以从一边到另一边移动的灵活的尾巴，还有两个“鳍”。）”可知，遥控机器人是模仿真实的鱼类制作的。因此可以推测“simulates”意思为“模仿”。短语be modelled after意思为“根据……仿造”。故选A项。

3.推理判断题。根据第三段的内容“When the robot is under the sea, a motor is pumping water into a pair of balloon-like rooms located in the robot’s tail. These rooms operate similarly to the key parts in engines. As one room expands, the tail bends to one side; when the motor pushes water to the other channel, the tail bends in the other direction. （当机器人在海底时，一个马达将水抽进位于机器人尾部的一对气球状的房间。这些房间的运作类似于发动机的关键部件。当一个房间扩张时，尾巴会向一边弯曲;当发动机将水推到另一个通道时，尾部会向另一个方向弯曲。）”和最后一句“Thus the robot gains the ability to move to where it wants to go.（这样机器人就能够移动到它想去的地方。）”可以推断，该段是介绍机器鱼SoFi在海底向前移动的原理。故选D项。

4.细节理解题。根据第四段中“With the outside made of rubber and plastic that can keep its built-in electronics dry, SoFi can efficiently avoid hitting. So a soft robot is more likely to survive a potential crisis.（由于外壳由橡胶和塑料制成，可以保持内置电子设备的干燥，SoFi可以有效地避免碰撞。因此，柔软的机器人更有可能在潜在的危机中幸存下来。）”可知，制作机器鱼SoFi外壳的橡胶和塑料材料可以帮助它在海底安全工作。故选A项。

5.推理判断题。根据文章最后一句Robert Katzschmann所说的话“It’s not perfect, but we’re improving it. Our efforts will pay off.” 可知，Robert Katzschmann觉得机器鱼SoFi并不完美，还需要改进，并且相信研究人员的努力将会得到回报。因此可以推断，Robert Katzschmann对机器鱼SoFi的未来是充满希望的。故选C项。