Scientists are racing to build the world’s first thinking robot.This is not science fiction：some　say they will have made it by the year 2020. Carol Packer reports.

Machines that walk，speak and feel are no longer science fiction.Kismet is the name of an android(机器人)which scientists have built at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT). (31)Kismet is different from the traditional robot because it Can show human emotions.Its eyes，ears and lips move to show when it feels happy, sad or bored.Kismet is one of the first of a new generation of androids——robots that look like human beings——which Can imitate human feelings.(32) Cog，another android invented by the MIT, imitates the action of a mother.However, scientists admit that So far Cog has the mental ability of a two—year—old.

(33)The optimists(乐观主义者)say that by the year 2020 we will have created humanoids(机器人)with brains similar to those of all adult human being.These robots will be designed to look like people to make them more attractive and easier to sell to the public.What kind of jobs will they do? (34)In the future，robots like Robonaut，a humanoid invented by NASA，will be doing dangerous jobs，like repairing space stations.They will also be doing more and mom of the household work for us In Japan，scientists are designing androids that will entertain us by dancing and playing the piano.

Some people worry about what the future holds：will robots become monsters(怪物)?Will people themselves become increasingly like robots? Experts predict that more and more people will be wearing micro—computers，connected to the Internet，in the future.People will have micro—chips in various parts of their body，which will connect them to a wide variety of gadgets (小装置).Perhaps we should not exaggerate(夸大)the importance of technology，but one wonders whether，in years to come，we will still be falling in love，and whether we will still feel pain.Who knows?

31. Kismet is different from traditional robots because

A. it thinks for itself

B. It is not like science fiction

C. it can look after two—year-old.

D. it seems to have human feelings.

解：本题的标志词是Kismet，关键词组是different from traditional robots，我们在文章第二段的第二句话中找到了试题在文章中的位置，细细读这句话。选项D和这句话的意思是最接近的，因为第二句话中有这样一句it Can show human emotions，选项中的feelings和文章中的emotions是同义词替换，这是阅读理解正确项的一个出题原则。因此是正确答案。

32. What makes Cog special?

A. It looks like a mother.

B. It behaves like a child.

C. It can imitate the behavior of a mother.

D. It has a huge brain.

解：本题的标志词是Cog，接着读文章，在文中寻找关于Cog的论述。关于Cog的论述出现在31题所对应的原文的后面，只有两句话，仔细读完这两句话后，我们发现选项C和原文是对应的，只是文中的单词action被替换成了他的同义词behavior，这是学位英语考试中阅读理解选项设置的一个特点，即同义词替换。

33. In about 15 years’ time from now，robots

A. will become space designers.

B. will look like monsters.

C. will behave like animals.

D. will think like humans.

解：本题的标志词是表示时间的15 years’ time，在读文章是要注意文章中时间词出现的地方。

我们接着度第三段，读完以后，我们在文章中没有发现15 years’ time。但根据模糊定位的原则，第三题所对应的原文就出现在第二题所对应的原文的下面，我们再仔细读第三段。在第一句话中，只出现了时间词2020，题目问的是“从现在起15年以后，机器人会…”，我们一经算计，15年以后，那就是2020年了。所以题目是间接的提问，需要经过我们的计算。那么这道试题所对应的原文就是第三段的前两句话，读完后我们发现选项D. will think like humans.和文章中的句子with brains similar to those of all adult human being.是最接近的，选项D是对文章句子的同义改写，这又是阅读理解试题选项设置的一个原则。

34. In the future robots will also

A. explore space.

B. entertain people.

C. move much faster.

D. do all of the housework.

解：这道试题的标志词是表示时间的词组In the future。我们接着第三题所对应的原文接着往下读，发现下面一句话中出现了这个表示时间的词组，因此我们认定正确答案就在这些句子之中。读完这些句子后我们发现选项B在这些句子的最后一句话中出现了。选项D是不正确选项，一般说来如果选项中出现比较绝对化的单词，如选项D中的all，以及every、each、the best等等，这个选项一般说来都是错误的，这是阅读理解错误选项设置的一个原则。

35. What is the writer’s attitude to robots in the future?

A. Critical (批评的)

B. Hostile (敌意的)

C. Objective(客观的)

D. Enthusiastic (热情的，热心的)

解：这道提问的是作者对于将来计算机的态度。是最后一道试题，根据模糊定位的原则，我们应当根据最后一段来答题，因为文章中就剩下最后一段我们没有读。现在读一下。从作者的叙述来看，并没有对将来计算机的利弊做出评价，文章是以一个疑问句结尾的：who knows? 从这一点看来，作者的态度是客观的、中性的。因此选项C是正确答案。

A Good Couple Supports Each Other

Rodney Mace, 35, is married with two young children, and is a part-time teacher of architectural history, “I am constantly surprised by other people’s surprise, when they come to the house and see me cleaning a floor or hanging out the washing. Their eyes open wide at the sight of it! Much of the comment comes from men. But I am even more surprised at the number of women who comment too.”

His wife Jane, an Oxford graduate in modern languages, has a demanding full-time job. She is director of the Cambridge House literacy scheme for adults in South London. Her working week involves several evenings and Saturdays, and at these times her husband is in sole charge of home and family. Apart from this, they share household jobs and employ a child-minder for the afternoons. This enables him to teach two days a week and to do what he considers his principal work: writing. He has written several books and spends much of his time in British Museum Reading Room, cycling there from his home in Brixton.

People ask the Maces if they think their children miss them. One can argue that satisfied parents generally have satisfied children, but in any case the Maces are careful to reserve time and energy to play with their children. “And they have now developed relationships with other adults and children.”

Previously, Rodney Mace worked full-time and Jane only part-time. Then 18 months ago, the director of the literacy scheme left. “It seems to me that Jane was very well suited to do this job. She was very doubtful about it. But I urged her to apply. She did and she got it.” Jane Mace confirms that she needed this encouragement, as so many women initially do,

Did his male ego(自我，自己)suffer from the change-over? Nothing like that occurred. But he still seems amazed at the way it changed his thinking. “I felt that we were finally going to be partners. I felt enormous relief, I wasn’t avoiding responsibility, but changing it. Our relationship is so much better now. It has been a change for the good for both of us – in every aspect, I think it is fundamental that the woman works. The idea of equal partnership is an illusion if one partner doesn’t work.”

1. The article is about a couple whose married life is happier because___.

A. they have a truly equal partnership

B. the husband enjoy staying at home

C. they earn more money

D. the wife has a full-time job

2. Jane finally decided to apply for her present job because____.

A. she thought she had better qualification than others

B. her husband persuaded her to

C. it was very well paid

D. some of her friends encouraged her to

3. It is implied the passage that____.

A. The Maces believe a good career is even more important than their family life

B. Rodney’s children are quite happy with their position in the family

C. Even capable women sometimes need encouragement from their families

D. The practice of sharing household jobs between husband and wife is commonplace in London

4. We can infer from this passage that a changeover of roles in the family ____.

A. is quite necessary in modern life

B. is probably based on some practical reasons

C. aims solely at a complete emancipation of women

D. shows women are not necessarily inferior to men

5. Which of the following statements is true?

A. Most Englishmen think that a husband should do more housework than a wife.

B. In London the traditional idea about the sex role at home has been completely changed.

C. Many Englishmen and Englishwomen still take it for granted that women are mainly in charge of home and family.

D. English people believe that men should take more responsibilities for housework.

　　答案及分析：

1. A 分析：该题考察考生理解主旨要义的能力。要想答好此题，必须对全文内容有清晰的了解。

2. B 分析：该题考察考生获取具体信息的能力。答案可在倒数第二段中获得。这是本讲当中的重点，大家可以以此题为例体会一下这个题型。只要没有错过具体信息，做到此题时准确找到问题的出处，出错的可能性不大。

3. C 分析：该题考察考生推理，判断的能力。将在下一讲中提到。推理的基础是对全文的正确理解。

4. B 分析：该题还是考察考生的推理判断能力。

5. C 分析：该题还是考察考生的推理判断能力。

Mary Katherine Goddard and Declaration of Independence

If you look closely at some of the early copies of the Declaration of Independence, beyond the flourished signature of John Hancock and the other 55 men who signed it, you will also find the name of one woman, Mary Katherine Goddard. It was she, a Baltimore printer, who published the first official copies of the Declaration, the first copies that included the names of its signers and therefore heralded(宣布，预示)the support of all thirteen colonies.

Mary Goddard first got into printing at the age of twenty-four when her brother opened a printing shop in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1762. When her proceeded to get into trouble with his partners and creditors, it was Mary Goddard and her mother who were left to run the shop. In 1765 they began publishing The Providence Gazette, a weekly newspaper. Similar problems seemed to follow her brother as he opened businesses in Philadelphia and again in Baltimore. Each time Ms. Goddard was brought in to run the newspapers. After starting Baltimore’s first newspaper, The Maryland Journal, in 1773, her brother went broke trying to organize a colonial postal service. While he was in debtor’s prison, Mary Katherine Goddard’s name appeared in the newspaper’s masthead (报头) for the first time.

When the Continental Congress fled there from Philadelphia in 1776, it commissioned Ms. Goddard to print the first official version of the Declaration of Independence in January 1777. After printing the documents, she herself paid the post riders to deliver the Declaration throughout the colonies.

During the American Revolution, Mary Goddard continued to publish Baltimore’s only newspaper, which one historian claimed was “second to none among the colonies.” She was also the city’s postmaster from 1775 to 1789 --- appointed by Benjamin Franklin –and is considered to be the first woman to hold a federal position.

46. With which of the following subjects is the passage mainly concerned?

A. The accomplishment of a female publisher.

B. The weaknesses of the newspaper industry.

C. The rights of a female publisher.

D. The publishing system in colonial America.

47. Mary Goddard’s name appears on the Declaration of Independence because____.

A. She helped write the original document

B. She published the document

C. She paid to have the document printed

D. Her brother was in prison

48. According to the passage, Mary Goddard first became involved in publishing when she ____.

A. was appointed by Benjamin Franklin

B. signed the Declaration of Independence

C. took over her brother’s printing shop

D. moved to Baltimore

49. The word “there” in paragraph 3 refers to____.

A. the colonies

B. the print shop

C. Baltimore

D. Providence

50. It can be inferred from the passage that Mary Goddard was ____.

A. an accomplished businesswoman

B. extremely wealthy

C. a member of the Continental Congress

D. a famous writer

内容提示与分析：

作为《独立宣言》重签名的唯一女性，玛丽为美国的独立做出了独特的贡献。本文叙述了她一生的经历从偶然进入出版界道到创办巴尔的摩的第一份报纸，从勇敢的印刷第一份官方版本的《独立宣言》到美国历史上首位拥有联邦公职的女性，这些无不显示了她超人的能力与远见，纵览她一生的奋斗史，她的确无愧于“殖民地中第一人”的赞誉。

　　答案与分析：

56. A 分析：本题考察了对全文的理解。开始从独立宣言的签名引出了玛丽的不平凡，然后介绍她创办报纸，印刷《独立宣言》，最后担任市邮政局局长。文章并没有介绍权力。出版系统的状况，也没有介绍出版工业的状况，故答案为A.

57. B 分析：本题有些隐蔽性。原文第二段最后说While he was in debtor’s prison, Mary Katherine Goddard’s name appeared in the newspaper’s masthead (报头) for the first time.这说明在弟弟入狱后，她代替他继续经营报业，所以应选B，文章根本没有谈到撰写文章，付钱等事，所以A, C不符合题意，而D没有发掘出背后的信息。故答案为B。

58. C 分析：答案为第二段最后一句话，由for the first time可以知道答案，A, B所提到的事是在后期才做的，所以不合适，故答案为C。

59. C 分析：由第一段可以知道，玛丽印刷《独立宣言》，由第二段可以知道，他的印刷工作都在巴而的摩进行。A, B, D在文中都没有提到。故答案为C。

60. A 分析：第一段只是提到她是签名人之一，并没有说她是议员，所以C不对，也不能确定她是不是有钱，有名。从她的行为和成就看，可以肯定的是：她是一位取得了巨大成就的商业女性，故答案为A.

Teach Your Child to Wonder

Children start out as natural scientists, instinctively eager to investigate the world around them. Helping them enjoy science can be easy, there’s no need for a lot of scientific terms or expensive lab equipment. You only have to share your children’s curiosity. Firstly, listen to their questions. I once visited a classroom of seven-year-olds to talk about science as a career. The children asked me “textbook questions” about schooling, salary and whether I liked my job. When I finished answering, we sat facing one another in science. Finally I said, “Now that we’re finished with your lists, do you have questions of your own about science?”

After a long pause, a boy raised his hand, “have you ever seen a grasshopper eat? When I try eating leaves like that, I got a stomachache. Why? ”

This began a series of questions that lasted nearly two hours.

Secondly, give them time to think. Studies over the past three decades have shown that, after asking a question, adults typically wait only one second or less for a response, no time for a child to think. When adults increase their “wait time” to three seconds or more, children respond with more logical, complete and creative answers.

Thirdly, watch your language. Once you have a child engaged in a science discussion, don’t jump in with “That’s right” or “Very good.” These words work well when it comes to encouraging good behavior. But in talking about science, quick praise can signal that discussion is over. Instead, keep things going by saying, “That’s interesting” or “I’d never thought of it that way before,” or coming up with more questions or ideas.

Never urge a child to “Think”. It doesn’t make sense, children are always thinking, without your telling them to. What’s more, this can turn a conversation into a performance. The child will try to find the answer you want, in as few as possible, so he will be a smaller target for your disapproval.

Lastly, show, don’t tell. Real-life impressions of nature are far more impressive than any lesson children can extract from a book or a television program. Let children look at their fingertips through a magnifying glass, and they’ll understand why you want them to wash before dinner. Rather than saying that water evaporates, set a pot of water to boil and let them watch the water level drop.

46. In order to arouse children’s interest, the most important things for adults to do is ___.

A. to encourage them by saying “That’s right frequently ”

B. to share their curiosity

C. to explain difficult phrases about science

D. to offer their children lad devices

47. The word “instinctively” in the first line can be replaced by ____.

A. actively

B. passionately

C. impulsively

D. interestingly

48. According to the passage, children can give more logical, complete and creative answers n science discussion if adults ____.

A. give them some hints

B. encourage them by giving them prize

C. urge them to think

D. wait at least for three seconds after a question

49. According to the fifth and sixth paragraphs, we may infer that ___.

A. to praise does good to a child engaged in a science discussion

B. a child will not think unless you urge him to do so

C. more questions or ideas can keep science discussion going well

D. parents’ language can not affect a child’s performance

50. The author mentions all of the following techniques for adults to share with their children’s curiosity except that adults should_____.

A. tell their children stories instead of reciting facts

B. offer their children the chance to see things for themselves

C. be patient enough when their children answer questions

D. encourage their children to ask questions of their own

　　内容提示与分析：

本文介绍如何教会孩子思考，大人应激发他们观察周围世界的兴趣，并与他们分享这种好奇心。文章介绍了五个要点：第一是要倾听他们的问题;第二要给他们思考的时间;第三要注意自己的用语;第四不要刻意鼓励孩子去思考，因为这是没有用的;第五是应通过行动而非言语来使孩子明白道理。

　　答案及分析：

51. B 分析：从文章第一段第三句You only have to share your children’s curiosity可以知道答案。其他三个选项在文章中没有提到，或与文意相反。故答案为B。

52. C 分析：instinctively的意思是“生来，本能的”，表达了“孩子生来就像科学家”这层含义。故答案为C。

53. D 分析：本题考察的是对段落大意的把握，第四段最后一句When adults increase their “wait time” to three seconds or more, children respond with more logical, complete and creative answers.整是该段段意，其他三个选项在文章中没有提到。故答案为D。

54. C 分析：文章第五段提到But in talking about science, quick praise can signal that discussion is over. Instead, keep things going第六段又说不要刻意激励孩子去思考。选项A不对，因为不能单纯的表扬孩子;选项B不对，因为其意义正好与原文相反;选项D不对，因为从第五段可以知道适当的夸奖会起到良好的作用，但要注意方式，故答案为C.

55. A 分析：从上面的提示归纳出的几个要点可以看出，只有A没有谈到，故答案为A.