Ⅰ.阅读
(2020·全国新高三开学联考)A robot created by Washington State University (WSU) scientists could help elderly people with dementia and other limitations live independently in their own homes.
The Robot Activity Support System, or RAS, uses sensors (传感器) equipped in a WSU smart home to determine where its residents are, what they are doing and when they need assistance with daily activities. It navigates (定位) through rooms and around obstacles to find people on its own, provides video instructions on how to do simple tasks and can even lead its owners to objects like their medication or a snack in the kitchen.
“RAS combines the convenience of a mobile robot with the activity detection technology of a WSU smart home to provide assistance in the moment, as the need for help is detected，” said Bryan Minor, a postdoctoral researcher in the WSU School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Currently, about 50 per cent adults over the age of 85 need assistance with everyday activities such as preparing meals and taking medication and the annual cost for this assistance in the US is nearly $2 trillion. With the number of adults over 85 expected to triple by 2050, researchers hope that technologies like RAS and the WSU smart home will relieve some of the financial pressure on the healthcare system by making it easier for older adults to live alone.
RAS is the first robot researchers have tried to apply to their smart home environment. They recently published a study in the journal Cognitive Systems Research that shows how RAS could make life easier for older adults struggling to live independently.
“While we are still in an early stage of development, our initial results with RAS have been promising，” Minor said. “The next step in the research will be to test RAS' performance with a group of older adults to get a better idea of what video reminders and other preferences they have regarding the robot.”
篇章导读：本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了一款由美国华盛顿州立大学的科学家们研发的机器人。这款昵称RAS的机器人可以帮助那些痴呆或有身体缺陷的老年人在家里过上自立的生活。
1．What plays a key role in RAS serving the elderly?
A．Sensors. B．Videos.
C．Signal lights. D．Head size.
答案：A 细节理解题。根据第二段中的“... uses sensors (传感器) equipped in a WSU smart home to determine where its residents are ...”可知，这款机器人主要是利用安装在智能屋的传感器来执行一系列服务老年人的活动。
2．What can we learn about RAS?
A．It is the first robot used in daily life.
B．Its function remains to be tested.
C．It can locate people and do any task.
D．It can cook for owners on its own.
答案：B 细节理解题。根据最后一段中的“The next step in the research will be to test RAS' performance ...”可知，这台机器人的表现还要经过进一步的测试。故选B项。
3．What's Minor's attitude toward the future of RAS?
A．Doubtful. B．Negative.
C．Optimistic. D．Uncertain.
答案：C 推理判断题。根据最后一段中的首句，尤其是句中的关键词promising “有希望的；光明的”可知，Minor对这款机器人的未来发展充满信心、非常乐观。
4．What would be a suitable title for the text?
A．Elderly People Leave the Nursing Home
B．Smart Home Tests First Elder Care Robot
C．RAS, the First Robot to Make Home Smart
D．Older Adults Have Benefited from RAS a Lot
答案：B 标题判断题。文章介绍了一款由美国华盛顿州立大学的科学家们研发的为老年人服务的家用机器人。由最后一段第二句可知，机器人目前还在华盛顿州立大学的智能屋里进行测试。故B项为最佳标题。
【词汇积累】 ①dementia n. 痴呆；精神错乱 ②postdoctoral adj. 博士后的 ③initial adj. 最初的；开始的；第一的
【长难句分析】 The Robot Activity Support System, or RAS, uses sensors (传感器) equipped in a WSU smart home to determine where its residents are, what they are doing and when they need assistance with daily activities.
机器人活动支持系统，或RAS，使用装备在华盛顿州立大学智能家居的传感器来确定其居民在哪里，他们在做什么，以及他们何时需要帮助其日常活动。
分析：这是一个主从复合句。determine后跟3个并列的宾语从句，分别由where, what和when引导。
