Question

A study by St． Louis University has found that a lovable dog named Sparky and a robotic dog AIBO, were about equally effective at reducing the loneliness of nursing home residents． The study confirmed previous findings that dogs have a good effect on nursing home residents（居民）．

Dr． Andrew Smith led the Stanford University team出at built a home-assistance robot． "If humans can feel an emotional tie with robots, some day they could be not just our assistants, but also our companions," he said．

To test whether residents responded better to Sparky, a trained dog, or the Sony-made robotic dog, researchers divided 38 nursing home residents into three groups at three long-term care centers in St, Louis.

One group had weekly 30-minute one-on-one visits with Sparky; another group had similar visits with AIBO; a control group had no contact with either dog．The groups' respective levels of loneliness were tested by having them answer a number of questions at the beginning and near the end of the visits．

After two months, both groups that had contact with the dogs were less lonely and more attached． Most of the elderly regarded Sparky, a 9-year-old dog, as an audience for their life stories, said investigator Marian Banks.

"He listened attentively, wagged his tail, and allowed them to pet him," said Banks, who adopted and trained Sparky after finding him in a street behind her home seven years ago．

Those who were together with AIBO took a little longer to warm to the robotic creature．Over time, however, they grew comfortable with him, and petted and talked to him． He would respond by wagging his tail, vocalizing（发出声音）, and blinking his lights．

"AIBO is charming once you start to interact with him," said the study's author, Dr． William Banks, " He's an attractive sort of guy． He gives a feeling: of being personal, not just a robot． "

1.Before the new study, it was known that ．

A． dogs could help get rid of old people's loneliness

B． robots could build close connection with humans

C． robots were more effective at reducing people's loneliness

D． dogs and robots were equally effective at reducing loneliness

2.The first time those who contacted with the robotic dog ．

A． accepted it immediately

B． found it easy to interact with it

C． were not quite comfortable with it

D． were confused by its behavior

3.The findings of the researchers tell us that .

A． robots are actually attractive sorts of guys

B． robots could make a good companion of the old.

C． it's easy for people to become close with robots

D． the elderly will have a robot assistant in no time

4.What would be the best title for the passage?

A． Robots Serve People Better Than Thought

B． No More Lonely Old Age with Emotional Robots

C． Dogs equipped with robots to Help the Elderly

D． Robots and Dogs Can Equally Cheer up the Elderly

 

Answer 1

1.C

2.C

3.D

4.B

【解析】

试题分析: 本文主要讲解了研究人员对机器狗和真实的狗是否一样能够排遣孤独进行了实验，表明机器狗和真实的狗都能够给老人带来欢乐，排遣孤独感。

1.C细节题。根据第一段提到The study confirmed previous findings that dogs have a good effect on nursing home residents.可知先前的报道发现狗对于疗养院里的人排遣孤独有益处，故选C

2.C推断题。根据倒数第二段可知Those who were together with AIBO took a little longer to warm to the robotic creature．Over time, however, they grew comfortable with him, and petted and talked to him．可知后来他们感觉很舒适，要推断出第一次并不是那么舒适，故选C项。

3.D推断题。根据第一段A study by St.. Louis University has found that a lovable dog named Sparky and a robotic dog, AIBO, were about equally effective at reducing the loneliness of nursing home residents.及He’s an attractive sort of guy. He gives a feeling of being personal, not just a robot.可知机器狗在某种程度上可以取代狗而成为老人的伴侣，故选D项。

4.B主旨题。从文章第一段及最后一段可知，机器狗和真实的狗都能够给老人带来欢乐，排遣孤独感，故选B项。

考点：日常生活类阅读。