Question

Since the 1970s, scientists have been searching for ways to connect our brain with computers. Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology could help people with disabilities send commands(指令)to machines.

Recently two researchers, Jose Millan and Michele Tavella from the Federal Polytechnic School in Lausanne. Switzerland, showed us a small robotic wheelchair directed（指挥）by a person’s thoughts.

In the laboratory. Tavella operated the wheelchair just by thinking about moving his left or right hand “Our brain has billions of cells（细胞）. These send signals（信号）through the spinal cord（脊髓）to the muscles（肌肉）to give us the ability to move. But some injuries or other conditions can stop these weak electrical signals from reaching the muscles.” Tavella says. “Our system allows disabled people to communicate with outside world by controlling the machines with thoughts.”

The researchers designed a special cap for the user. It picks up the signals from our brain and sends them to a computer. The computer gets the signals and starts to command the wheelchair after a short while.

Prof. Millan, the team leader, says scientists keep improving the computer software that gets brain signals and turns them into simple commands. “The practical possibilities that BCI technology offers to disabled people can be grouped in two kinds: communication, and controlling machines. One example is this wheelchair.”

He says his team has set a main goal. That is to test with real patients, so as to prove that this is such a technology they can benefit（获益）from.

1.BCI is a technology that can __________.

A. help the disabled to be healthy again B. help to improve computers

C. control a person’s thoughts D. connect human brain with computers

2.Which of the following shows the right path（途径）of the signals described in Paragraph 4?

A. brain→computer→cap→wheelchair B. computer→cap→brain→wheelchair

C. cap→omputer→brain→wheelchair D. brain→cap→computer→wheelchair

3.Prof. Millan’s team will test their products with real patients to __________.

A. make them live longer B. prove that the technology is useful to them

C. learn about their physical conditions D. have a better understanding of computers

4.The best title of this passage might be __________.

A. Switzerland, the BCI Research Center

B. New Findings about How the Human Brain Works

C. BCI Could Mean More Freedom for the Disabled

D. BCI Could Help to Cure Brain Injuries

Answer 1