Researchers are placing robotic dogs(机器狗)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……成为现实)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 activities 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 exercises 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 old people’s minds.

1.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

2.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 activities

D．analyze the collected information

3.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.

4.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

5.According to the passage，which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．The professors are leading the animal assisted study concerning old people’s life.

B．The AIBOs will always listen to their owners without their own minds.

C．The researchers will know from the data whether AIBO can help its owner.

D．AIBOs can have games with the old people to stimulate their minds.

阅读理解

　　All right! Enough cookies, Cola, and chips! It seems that junk food is all that the children want to eat these days. Television controls their tastes. The kids see well-known people eating potato chips, candy and other processed food, and they want to be like their heroes. How do they do it? They eat the same food. I wish there were more characters like old Popeye, the sailor, who ate spinach and not French fries.

　　Now I don’t expect my children to eat healthy food because I like brown rice(糙米), beans, and fresh vegetables. I’m glad to cook traditional meals of meat and potatoes for them. I really can’t be too upset with the kids because most adults aren’t careful about what they eat. The other night, my wife and I went to a party where there was plenty to drink but very little for us to eat. They served hot dogs, with all those preservatives, and hamburgers were filled with chemicals so that they looked better. Besides the meat, they had sugar-filled cookies and cake, and, of course, chips. I don’t want the world to change because of me, but I think that people should realize that there are alternatives to eating meat. They always tell me that I probably don’t get my essential proteins. I feel better than ever and I’m sure that it’s because I’m a vegetarian. I would really like to see more television advertisements which show the benefits of good, healthy, and natural food.

1．According to the passage, it seems that ________.

[　　]

A．the children like to have fried chicken only

B．the kids prefer to have cold drinks but not junk food

C．canned food is the only one that the kids enjoy most

D．the children like nothing better than junk food: cookies and chips

2．The narrator ________.

[　　]

A．required rich food

B．gave an example of having junk food frequently

C．complained about the food the party had served

D．suspected both the adults and the children to be healthy

3．Hamburgers look better ________.

[　　]

A．but taste bad

B．because they are treated with chemicals

C．so the narrator prefers them to hot dogs

D．and the narrator expects the children to eat them

4．Which of the following is not true?

[　　]

A．Television influences children’s food choice.

B．The narrator is not single and definitely he eats meats.

C．Though the narrator is a vegetarian, he feels very healthy.

D．It is certain that brown rice, beans and spinach are not junk food.

5．The narrator is a vegetarian, so people doubt very much ________.

[　　]

A．why he goes to the party

B．whether he gets enough protein

C．whether he is healthy and strong

D．whether he allows his children to eat meat