清华大学考博英语同源外刊文章阅读理解练习.pdf

中国考博辅导首选学校 清华大学2015考博英语同源外刊文章阅读理解练 文章导读： 本文选自TheEconomist 《经济学人》2014年3月29 日刊登的一篇文章，原文标题为 “Domestic service robots—Seal of approval”，主要是围绕机器人在家庭服务中，特别是在照顾老年人方面 的作用展开的，认为机器人不仅应该方便人们使用，而且也应该像宠物一样讨人喜爱。 全国免费电话：四零零六六八六九七八.2015考博交流群：一零五六一九八二零 联系我们扣扣：二四七八七四八零五四 或者 四九三三七一六二六。 Domestic service robots When Takanori Shibata began working on robots in the early 1990s, he had something practical inmind, perhaps tohelp the elderlywith their daily chores.But he soonrealised that robots were not really able to do anything useful, so he decided to make a robot that did not even try—but that could nevertheless deliver real benefits. The result of his labours, Paro, has been in development since 1998. It is 57cm long and looks likeababy harp seal.Thanks toan array of sub-skin sensors, itresponds amiably to stroking; and though it cannot walk, it can turn its head at the sound of a human voice and tell one voice from another. It is a comforting and gentle presence in your arms, on your lap or on a table top, where it gives the impression of following a conversation. The best thing about it is that it seems to be helping in the care of people with dementia and other health problems. You could seeParo as a verywell-designed $5,000pet thatwill never turn on theperson holding it, and will never be hurt if its master flies into a rage. It is as happy in one lapas the next, needs no house-training, can be easilywashed and will not die. This makes ita much more practical proposition to have ina nursing home or hospital than a livepet. It isused insuchhomes inJapan, inparts ofEurope and inAmerica.Aswell as simplymaking people happy—no mean goal—it can act as a source of reassurance and calm. People with Alzheimer’s often suffer from “sundowning”—a distressed urge to wander that comes on towards the end of the afternoon. Mr. Shibata has found that a seal in the ar