Researchers are placing robotic dogs（機器狗）in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the physical activity, and life satisfaction. “No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active, challenged, or stimulated（刺激）,” Edwards points out. “The problem is how we promote（使……成為現實）that, especially for those without friends or help. A robotic dog could be a solution.”

In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, researchers will collect baseline data for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the researchers will review the data to determine if it has inspired any changes in the life of its owner.

“I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice,” says a seventy-year-old lady. “When I’m watching TV. he’ll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has a mind of his own.”

The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The researchers say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it . A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.

“At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry, ”Beck says. “But it’s amazing how quickly we have given up that belief.”

“Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more-valuable health helper. They will record their masters’ blood pressure. oxygen levels, or heart rhythms. AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people’s minds. ”

48．The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to ______.

       A．understand human-animal relationship

       B．make lonely old people’s life better

       C．find the causes of old people’s loneliness

       D．promote the animal-assisted research

49．In the research, the old people are asked to ______.

       A．note the activities of AIBOs

       B．keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks

       C．record their feelings and activity

       D．analyze the collected information

50．What is the advantage of AIBO over live dogs?

         A．It is easier to keep at home.

         B．It can help the disabled people/

         C．It responds to all the human order.

         D．It can watch TV with its owner.

51．The author seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may ________.

         A．cure certain diseases

         B．keep old people active

         C．change people’s beliefs

         D．look more like real dogs

 

 

New York: when the first jet struck, World Trade Center at 8:48 am on Tuesday, the People in 2 World Trade Center with a view of the instant damage across the divide had the clearest sense of what they, too, must do: get out fast.

Katherine Hachinski, who had been knocked off her chair by the blast of heat exploding from the neighboring tower, was one of those. Despite her 70 years of age, Ms Hachinski, an architect working on the 91st floor of 2 World Trade Centre, the south tower, went for the stairs. Twelve floors above her, Judy Wein, an executive (經理), screamed and set off too.

But others up and down the 110 floors, many without clear views of the damage across the way and thus unclear about what was happening, were not so sure. And the 18 minutes before the next plane would hit were ticking off.

Amid the uncertainty about what was the best thing to do, formal announcements inside the sound tower instructed people to stay put, assuring them that the building was sound and the threat was limited to the other tower.

Some left, others stayed. Some began to climb down and, when met with more announcements and other cautions(警告) to stop or return, went hack up. The decisions made in those instants proved to be of great importance, because many who chose to stay were doomed(注定死亡) when the second jet crashed into the south tower, killing many and stranding(使某物留在) many more in the floors above where the jet hit.

One of those caught in indecision was the executive at Fuji Bank UAS.

Richard Jacobs of Fuji Bank left the 79th floor with the other office workers, but on the 48th floor they heard the announcement that the situation was under control. Several got in the lifts and went back up, two minutes or so before the plane crashed-into their floor.

“I just don’t know what happened to them,” Mr. Jacobs said.

1. From the passage, we know that the south tower was hit by the plane_______.

A. at 8: 30                   

B. 18 minutes earlier than the north tower

C. at around 9:06

D. at 8:48

2. The underlined words “stay put” means_______.

A. stay in the building                        B. leave at once

C. put everything back and then leave   D. keep silent

3. Which floor was hit by the second jet?

A. the 91st floor                                 B. the 103rd floor

C. the 60th floor                                D. the 79th floor

4. Fewer people would have died if_______.

A. more announcement had been made

B. people hadn’t used the lifts

C. the incident had happened on a weekend

D. the people had obeyed the office rules

 

Researchers are placing robotic dogs（機器狗）in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people’s depression, physical activity, and life satisfaction. “No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active, challenged, or stimulated（刺激）,”Edwards points out. “The problem is how we promote（使……成為現實）that, especially for those without friends or help. A robotic dog could be a solution.”

In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, researchers will collect baseline data for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the researchers will review the data to determine if it has inspired any changes in the life of its owner.

“I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice,” says a seventy-year-old lady, “When I’m watching TV, he’ll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has a mind of his own.”

The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The researchers say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.

“At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry.” Beck says. “But it’s amazing how quickly we have given up that belief.”

“Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more-valuable health helper. They will record their masters’ blood pressure, oxygen levels. Or heart rhythms. AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people’s minds.”

47. The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to        .

A. understand human-animal relationship 

B. makes lonely old people’s life better

C．find the causes of old people’s loneliness 

D. promote the animal-assisted research

48. In the research, the old people are asked to        .

note the activities of AIBOs  

keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks

C. record their feelings and activity 

D. analyze the collected information

49. What is the advantage of AIBO over live dogs?

It is easier to keep at home. 

B. It can help the disabled people.

C. It responds to all the human orders.

D. It can watch TV with its owner.

50. The author seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may        .

A. cure certain diseases     B. keep old people active

C．change people’s beliefs  D. look more like real gods    

 

     Researchers are placing robotic dogs (機器狗) in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people’s depression, physical activity, and life satisfaction. “No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active, challenged, or stimulated (刺激) ,” Edwards points out. “The problem is how we promote(使……成為現實)that, especially for those without friends or help. A robotic dog could be a solution.”

    In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, researchers will collect baseline data for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the researchers will review the data to determine if it has inspired any changes in the life of its owner.

    “I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice,” says a seventy-year-old lady.“When I’m watching TV, he’ll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has a mind of his own.”

     The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The researchers say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.

    “At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry,” Beck says. “But it’s amazing how quickly we have given up that belief.

   “Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more-valuable health helper. They will record their masters’ blood pressure, oxygen levels, or heart rhythms. AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people’s minds.”

48. The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to ______

    A. understand human-animal relationship       B. make lonely old people’s life better

    C. find the causes of old people’s loneliness    D. promote the animal-assisted research

49. In the research, the old people are asked to ______

    A. note the activities of AIBOs                      B. keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks

    C. record their feelings and activity               D. analyze the collected information

50. What is the advantage of AIBO over live dogs?

    A. It is easier to keep at home.                      B. It can help the disabled people.

    C. It responds to all the human orders.           D. It can watch TV with its owner.

51. The author seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may ______

    A. cure certain diseases                                B. keep old people active

    C. change people’s beliefs                             D. look more like real dogs