Question

A Northern Ireland team is leading the research for a thinking computer which can sense a user's moods(情绪)．Researchers at Queen's University in Belfast hope to complete the 10－million－euro project for an emotion－sensitive(感知情感功能的)computer within four years.

The aim is to make computers think and do things more like humans. And 160 researchers join in the project. The university's researchers made an agreement with the European Commission. The work may try to make “multi－modal interfaces (界面 )”which allow machines to sense and respond to the moods of the user.

Programme coordinator (协调者) Professor Roddy Cowie said while it sounded like science fiction，computers which responded to human feelings would appear.

“At the moment，our use of computers is limited by the fact that we need a keyboard and a screen to access(使用) them，”he said.

“But feelings are part of normal speech, and experience has shown that most users are deeply uncomfortable with speech interfaces that ignore them－too uncomfortable to use them very much.”

“If we can make computers more expressive, and also less challenging to use，there is a great chance to let people make full use of information technology.”

The emotion－sensitive computer would have its own “personality” and build a social relationship with the user.

“It's a fair bet that in 30 years' time, emotion－sensitive interfaces will be as much part of life as windows and mouse interfaces are now，”said Professor Cowie.

The project team believes such computers would play an important part in teaching and learning.

1.What does the passage mainly tell us?

A. Researchers at Queen's University have completed a project.

B. The research for an emotion－sensitive computer is being led by a Northern Ireland team.

C. 160 researchers have joined in the 10 million－euro project for a thinking computer.

D. Computers are playing a more and more important part in our daily life.

2.It can be learned from the passage that ________．

A. an emotion－sensitive computer has been invented and is being put into use

B. an emotion－sensitive computer cannot respond to the moods of the user

C. an emotion－sensitive computer has not been invented by the team

D. the research for an emotion－sensitive computer has not gained people's support

3.What does Professor Roddy Cowie think of the emotion－sensitive computer?

A. He thinks it is only a part of science fiction.

B. He thinks it is worth the research and it is easy to produce.

C. He believes it is impossible for the team to invent the emotion－sensitive computer.

D. He believes it can come into being.

4.In Professor Roddy Cowie's opinion，________ limits our use of computers.

A. the fact that a keyboard and a screen are needed to use computers

B. the fact that we don't know much about computers

C. the fact that feelings are part of normal speech

D. the fact that the emotion－sensitive computer has its own “personality”

5.What are emotion－sensitive computers believed to do in the future?

A. They will take the place of teachers in teaching and learning.

B. They can build a social relationship with human beings.

C. They will replace human beings and control the world.

D. They will have the same“personality”as their users.

Answer 1