Question

    [1] I was interested in different science fiction ideas and technologies. But there is one theme in science fiction that has always troubled me: when technology subverts (颠覆) its creators.

[2] I’ve been involved in dozens of technology projects. I have to admit that seldom in our design or business discussions have we spent much time on the possible negative impact of our work on the world. Instead, in most cases we just create technology because we see a need, or to solve a problem.

[3] Technology has been responsible for an age of distraction. Recently while driving from northern New York City to the Elmira area, I saw signs saying, “Next texting stop is three miles ahead. Don’t text and drive.” Most states have already outlawed texting while driving, and yet we hear almost weekly of traffic accidents caused by drivers tapping on smartphones. I don’t believe Steve Jobs and Apple dreamed that the iPhone, or smartphones in general, would give rise to this level of distraction.

[4] In a recent Harvard Business Review piece entitled “Liberal Arts (人文科学) in the Data Age,” the author writes about the importance of reconnecting humanism with engineering approach. Many of today’s engineers have been so focused on creating new technologies that their short term goals risk covering up unintended long-term outcomes. A few companies, such as Intel, are forward-thinking enough to include ethics (伦理学) professionals on their staff. At this point all tech companies should start getting serious about the need to hire people with backgrounds in areas such as psychology and philosophy (哲学).

[5] My hope is that we can all move a little more in creating technology that is both impactful and thoughtful in its engagement with our lives and the world.

1.What inspires people to create technologies according to the writer?

A.A desire to think and create. B.An interest in technology.

C.A need to settle a problem. D.An idea from science fiction.

2.Why is the example of “texting” mentioned in Paragraph 3?

A.To tell the arrival of a new age. B.To criticize wrong driving behaviors.

C.To stress Steve Jobs’ contributions. D.To show negative impact of technology.

3.Which of the following can best replace “give rise to” in Paragraph 3?

A.Cause. B.Resolve.

C.Confirm. D.Permit.

4.According to the writer, forward-thinking tech companies should ________.

A.value liberal arts professionals B.put huge profits first

C.focus on creating new technologies D.hire bookish engineers

5.What does the writer want to get across to readers?

A.The significance of Liberal Arts. B.Less dependence on technology.

C.The importance of humanism in technology. D.Diverse views on science fiction.

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.A

4.A

5.C

【解析】

这是一篇夹叙夹议。文章讲述了，技术给世界带来了改变，也有负面影响，人们应在创造既有影响力又能与我们的生活和世界有关的技术方面多做一点，重视人文主义在技术中的重要性。

1.

细节理解题。由第二段尾句“Instead, in most cases we just create technology because we see a need, or to solve a problem.”（相反，在大多数情况下，我们创造技术只是因为我们看到了一种需要，或者说是为了解决一个问题。），可知解决问题的需要激发了人们创造技术。故选C项。

2.

推理判断题。由第二段中的“I’ve been involved in dozens of technology projects. I have to admit that seldom in our design or business discussions have we spent much time on the possible negative impact of our work on the world.”（我参与了几十个技术项目。我不得不承认，在我们的设计或商业讨论中，我们很少花太多的时间来探讨我们的工作对世界可能产生的负面影响。），第三段中的“Technology has been responsible for an age of distraction.”（技术一直是分心时代的罪魁祸首。）和第三段中的“Most states have already outlawed texting while driving, and yet we hear almost weekly of traffic accidents caused by drivers tapping on smartphones.”（大多数州已经宣布开车时发短信是违法的，然而我们几乎每周都会听到司机敲击智能手机造成交通事故。），可推断出第三段提到“发短信”的例子是为了显示技术的负面影响。故选D项。

3.

短语猜测题。由第三段中的“Technology has been responsible for an age of distraction.”（技术一直是分心时代的罪魁祸首。）和第三段中的“Most states have already outlawed texting while driving, and yet we hear almost weekly of traffic accidents caused by drivers tapping on smartphones. I don’t believe Steve Jobs and Apple dreamed that the iPhone, or smartphones in general, would give rise to this level of distraction.”（大多数州已经宣布开车时发短信是违法的，然而我们几乎每周都会听到司机敲击智能手机造成交通事故。我不相信史蒂夫·乔布斯和苹果曾梦想过iPhone或者一般的智能手机会引起这种程度的分心。），可知开车使用智能手机分心了，才会引起交通事故，即有时“技术导致分心”，give rise to在此处意为“Cause（引起、导致）”。故选A项。

4.

推理判断题。由第四段中的“In a recent Harvard Business Review piece entitled “Liberal Arts (人文科学) in the Data Age,” the author writes about the importance of reconnecting humanism with engineering approach.”（在《哈佛商业评论》最近的一篇题为“数据时代的人文科学”的文章中，作者写到了将人文主义与工程方法重新联系起来的重要性。）和“A few companies, such as Intel, are forward-thinking enough to include ethics (伦理学) professionals on their staff. At this point all tech companies should start getting serious about the need to hire people with backgrounds in areas such as psychology and philosophy (哲学).”（一些公司，如英特尔，有足够的前瞻性思维，在员工中加入了职业道德专家。在这一点上，所有的科技公司都应该开始认真考虑招聘具有心理学和哲学等领域背景的人才的必要性。），可推断出作者认为具有前瞻性的科技公司应该重视文科专业人才。故选A项。

5.

推理判断题。由第一段“I was interested in different science fiction ideas and technologies. But there is one theme in science fiction that has always troubled me: when technology subverts (颠覆) its creators.”（我对不同的科幻思想和技术很感兴趣。但科幻小说中有一个主题一直困扰着我：当科技颠覆了它的创造者。），第二段中的“I have to admit that seldom in our design or business discussions have we spent much time on the possible negative impact of our work on the world.”（我不得不承认，在我们的设计或商业讨论中，我们很少花太多的时间来探讨我们的工作对世界可能产生的负面影响。），第三段中的“Technology has been responsible for an age of distraction.”（技术一直是分心时代的罪魁祸首。），第四段中的“A few companies, such as Intel, are forward-thinking enough to include ethics (伦理学) professionals on their staff. At this point all tech companies should start getting serious about the need to hire people with backgrounds in areas such as psychology and philosophy (哲学).”（一些公司，如英特尔，有足够的前瞻性思维，在员工中加入了职业道德专家。在这一点上，所有的科技公司都应该开始认真考虑招聘具有心理学和哲学等领域背景的人才的必要性。）和第五段“My hope is that we can all move a little more in creating technology that is both impactful and thoughtful in its engagement with our lives and the world.”（我的希望是，我们都能在创造既有影响力又能与我们的生活和世界有关的技术方面多做一点。），可推断出作者想让读者明白人文主义在技术中的重要性。故选C项。