Question

    Oh my God, the robots are taking over! We’re doomed! Doomed! Now that I’ve got that out of my system, it’s become clear that though 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.

Makes sense. Robot drivers are less likely to get drunk, drive without a license, text while driving or feel anxious at the scene of a pileup. But I wonder how these highly sensitive cars will react, with walkers constantly dashing into the street. Will they jam on the brakes (紧急刹车) 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.

Hopefully, such technology will be available in the near future. Pretty sure the robot would win in a landslide.

1.According to the text, which statement is NOT true about self-driving cars?

A.New guidelines for self-driving cars have been set up by the government.

B.Some companies are testing self-driving cars in the US.

C.Self-driving cars will play an important role in rural areas.

D.Self-driving cars can help reduce car accidents.

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

A.How passengers behave in it.

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

C.How robot drivers get the license.

D.How they avoid crashing into other cars.

3.The last question asked in the sixth paragraph shows the writer’s _________.

A.confidence in robots’ winning Grammy Awards

B.desire to listen to songs written by robots

C.puzzle about robots’ ability to write songs

D.curiosity about the future Grammy songs

4.What is the author’s attitude towards the future of robots?

A.Indifferent. B.Doubtful.

C.Pessimistic. D.Optimistic.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.A

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了作者对于无人驾驶汽车和机器人等现代化科学技术全面代替人类只是时间问题的看法。

1.

细节理解题。第一段提到“The latest example is the government’s new guidelines for self-driving cars.”最新的例子是政府对自动驾驶汽车的新指导方针。第二段提到“Tesla, Google and Uber are already testing driverless cars in cities across America.”特斯拉、谷歌和优步已经在美国各城市测试无人驾驶汽车。第二段提到“self-driving cars will play a big part in urban settings.”自动驾驶汽车将在城市环境中发挥重要作用。第四段提到“we believe driverless cars can save tens of thousands of lives annually.”我们相信，无人驾驶汽车每年可以挽救成千上万人的生命。根据排除法可知，C选项“自动驾驶汽车将在农村地区发挥重要作用。”文中没有提到。故选C项。

2.

细节理解题。第四段提到“But I wonder how these highly sensitive cars will react, with walkers constantly dashing into the street. Will they jam on the brakes (紧急刹车) every 10 seconds?”但我想知道，当行人不断冲到街上时，这些高度敏感的汽车会作何反应。它们会每10秒踩一次紧急刹车？可知，作者想知道行人不断冲到街上时，自动驾驶汽车的反应，可以推断出，作者对自动驾驶汽车对繁忙街道上的行人的反应有疑问。故选B项。

3.

细节理解题。第六段中的最后一个问题“Is a Grammy-winning song co-written by Hank Human and R-3071 in our future?” Hank Human和R-3071共同创作的一首获得格莱美奖的歌曲会出现在我们的未来吗？可以推断，作者认为机器人创作的歌曲会获得格莱美奖。这个问题展示了作者对机器人赢得格莱美奖的信心。故选A项。

4.

推理判断题。根据文章最后一段“Hopefully, such technology will be available in the near future. Pretty sure the robot would win in a landslide.”这样的技术有望在不久的将来面世。机器人肯定会赢得压倒性的胜利。以及作者对于无人驾驶汽车和机器人等现代化科学技术全面代替人类只是时间问题。可以推断，作者对机器人的未来持乐观态度。故选D项。