Question

    Scientists have created the world's first living, self-healing robots using stem cells (干细胞) from frogs. Named xenobots after the African clawed frog from which they take their stem cells, the ''machines'' are less than a millimeter wide — small enough to travel inside human bodies. They can walk and swim, survive for weeks without food, and work together in groups. ''These are entirely new life forms, '' said the University of Vermont, which conducted the research with Tufts University's Allen Discovery Center.

The researchers removed living stem cells from frog embryos (胚胎), and left them to hatch. Then, the cells were cut and reshaped into specific ''body forms'' designed by a supercomputer — forms ''never seen in nature''，according to a news release from the University of Vermont.

Xenobots even have regenerative abilities. When the scientists sliced into one robot, it healed by itself and kept moving. They don’t look like traditional robots - they have no shiny clothing or robotic arms. Instead, they look more like a tiny drop of moving pink flesh. The researchers say this is deliberate — this ''biological machine'' can achieve things typical robots of steel and plastic cannot. ''Traditional robots degrade over time and can produce harmful ecological and health side effects, '' researchers said in the study. ''As biological machines, xenobots are more environmentally friendly and safer for human health.''

According to the researchers, these robots could be used to clean up radioactive waste, collect microplastics in the oceans, or even carry medicine inside human bodies. Aside from these immediate practical tasks, they could also help researchers to learn more about cell biology - opening the doors to future advancement in human health and longevity. This sounds like something from a sci-fi movie. Some people even voiced their concern that humans might be taken control of by those xenobots. However, the researchers in the study say there is no need for alarm. They can't reproduce or evolve (进化).

1.What is this passage mainly about?

A.The advantages of a medical robot.

B.The application of robots in biology.

C.The general introduction of a living robot.

D.The medical value of African clawed frogs.

2.The underlined word ''regenerative'' in Paragraph 3 probably means ''________''.

A.living longer B.growing again

C.replacing old cells D.defending against attacks

3.What can we know about xenobots?

A.They can do everything that traditional robots can.

B.They can break up steel and plastic while degrading.

C.They are able to cure people of all kinds of diseases.

D.They are harmless to the environment and human health.

4.What is the researchers' attitude to the development of xenobots?

A.Doubtful. B.Positive.

C.Cautious. D.Casual.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.D

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了一种新的生物机器人——xenobots，包括它的特点，应用等。

1.

主旨大意题。阅读全文，尤其根据第一段的Scientists have created the world's first living, self-healing robots using stem cells (干细胞) from frogs. Named xenobots after the African clawed frog from which they take their stem cells, the ''machines'' are less than a millimeter wide — small enough to travel inside human bodies. (科学家们利用青蛙的干细胞创造了世界上第一个活的、自我修复的机器人。以从中提取干细胞的非洲爪蟾命名，这种机器人的宽度不到一毫米，小到可以在人体内移动。)可知，本文主要是介绍了最新的一款活的机器人。C. The general introduction of a living robot.(一款活的机器人的大致介绍)符合以上说法，故选C项。

2.

词义猜测题。根据划线词所在句子Xenobots even have regenerative abilities. When the scientists sliced into one robot, it healed by itself and kept moving.可知，Xenobots甚至有regenerative的能力。当科学家将活的机器人切成几乎两半时，它可以自愈并且继续运动。根据句意，尤其是healed by itself，猜测regenerative的意思是“再生的”。B. growing again(再次生长的)符合以上猜测，故选B项。

3.

细节理解题。根据第三段The researchers say this is deliberate — this ''biological machine'' can achieve things typical robots of steel and plastic cannot. ''Traditional robots degrade over time and can produce harmful ecological and health side effects, '' researchers said in the study. ''As biological machines, xenobots are more environmentally friendly and safer for human health.''(研究人员说，这是有意为之——这种生物机器可以实现典型的钢铁和塑料机器人无法做到的事情。研究人员在研究中说：“传统机器人会随着时间的推移而退化，并可能产生有害的生态和健康副作用。作为生物机器，xenobots机器人对人类健康更有环境友善，也更安全。”)可知，这种xenobots机器人它们对环境和人类健康的危害较小。D. They are harmless to the environment and human health.(它们对环境和人类健康的危害较小)符合以上说法，故选D项。

4.

推理判断题。根据最后一段的Some people even voiced their concern that humans might be taken control of by those xenobots. However, the researchers in the study say there is no need for alarm. They can't reproduce or evolve (进化).(一些人甚至表达它们担心人类会被xenobots机器人控制。不过，研究者们说没有必要惊慌。外星机器人没有繁殖和进化的能力。) 可推测，研究人员对xenobots的发展持积极态度。B. Positive.(积极的)符合以上说法，故选B项。