2018年英语同步优化指导（人教版选修7）练习：unit 2 section 1 Warming Up Reading—Pre－reading（活页作业） Word版含解析.docxVIP

活页作业(四)Ⅰ.阅读理解WASHINGTON—It’s a great achievement that inspires notions(观念)of robots with consciousness and independent minds.When people or animals get hurt，they can usually compensate for minor injuries and keep limping along，but for robots，even slight damage can make them stumble and fall.However，a recently-made robot has demonstrated a novel ability：it can heal its own damage.The new robot，which looks like a splay-legged.four-footed starfish，can sense injury to itself and adapt.That ability sets the new robot apart from earlier machines.Because the robot can recover from unfamiliar places.“There is a need for planetary robotic rovers(漫游者)to be able to fix things on their own，”says Josh Bongard，a professor in the University of Vermont，who is one of the device’s creators.“Robots on other planets must be able to continue their mission without human help if they are damaged and cannot communicate their problem back to earth.”A typical robot functions according to a computer program，but the new robot works differently.First，sensors in its four legs observe the robot’s movements and signals to its built-in computer.From the information it collects，the robot creates its own programs that allow it to adapt to different situations.For example，when the researchers shortened one of the robot’s legs，the smart machine simply adjusted its way of walking—it used three legs instead of four.The researchers are looking for other places to put the resilient robot to work.One pellicle spot is the ocean floor.That dark and dangerous undersea place might be a good choice for a robot the scientists call the Starfish.“We never officially named the robot，but we usually refer to it as the Starfish，even though a real starfish has five rather than four legs，”says Bongard.“Also，a real starfish is much better than our robot at recovering from injury，because it can actually grow its legs again.”Scientists have created robots that help humans in many ways：by exploring space，fighting fires，and e