A

　　What comes into your mind when you think about robots(机器人)? Do you imagine armies of evil metal monsters(怪物)planning to take over the world? Or, perhaps of mechanical men who have been created as guards or soldiers by a mad genius? Or maybe you think of man-like robots who act, think, and look like human beings. In fact, robots like these have more to do with science fiction films(科幻电影)than with real life. In the real world robots are machines that do jobs which otherwise have to be done by people. Robots either operate by themselves or under the control of a person.

　　In a car factory, for example, robot machinery can put together and paint car bodies. On the sea bed, remote-controlled(遥控)underwater machines with mechanical arms can perform tasks too difficult for divers. Robot spacecraft can explore the solar system and send back information about planets and stars.

　　Many robots have computer brains. Some robots are fitted with cameras, sensors, and microphones which enable them to "see", to "feel", and to "hear". And some robots can even produce electronic speech.

　　All this does not mean that a robot can think and behave like a human being. Present day robots have to be programmed with a good deal of information before they can carry out even simple tasks.

　　1. The robots in science fiction films and those in real life differ mainly in ________ .

　　A. mentality B. appearance C. material D. size

　　2. What can robots do in the real world?

　　A. They have the ability to control the world.

　　B. They can behave like human beings.

　　C. They can help us do a lot of work.

　　D. They can think by themselves.

　　3. Which of the following statements is NOT true about robots?

　　A. They are as creative as human beings.

　　B. They can help manufacture cars.

　　C. They can explore outer space.

　　D. They can "see" and "hear".

　　B

　　The human nose has given to the languages of the world many interesting expressions. Of course, this is not surprising. Without the nose, we could not breathe or smell. It is the part of the face that gives a person special character. Cyrano de Bergerac said that a large nose showed a great man-courageous, courteous(谦恭的),manly, and intellectual.(有智力的).

　　A famous woman poet wished that she had two noses to smell a rose! Blaise Pascal, a French philosopher(哲学家), made an interesting comment about Cleopatra's nose. If it had been shorter, he said, it would have changed the whole face of the world!

　　Historically, man's nose had had a main role in his imagination. Man has referred to the nose in many ways to express his emotions. Expressions concerning the nose refer to human weakness: anger, pride, jealousy(嫉妒)and revenge(报复).

　　In English there are a number of phrases about the nose. For example, "to hold up one's nose" expresses a basic human feeling-pride. People can hold their noses up at people, things, and places. The phrase "to be led around by the nose" shows a man's weakness. A person who is led around by the nose lets other people control him. On the other hand, a person who "follows his nose" lets his instinct(本能)guide him. For the human emotion of rejection, the phrase "to have one's nose put out of joint" is very descriptive. The expression applies to the persons who have been turned aside because of a competitor. Their pride is hurt and they feel rejected. This expression is not new. It was used by Erasmus in 1542.

　　This is only a sample of expressions in English dealing with "nose". There are a number of others. However, it should be "as plain as the nose on your face" that the nose is more than an organ(器官)for breathing and smelling!

　　4. The underlined expression "as plain as the nose on your face" means " ________ ".

　　A. easy to understand

　　B. too proud to expect others

　　C. weak to be controlled by others

　　D. jealousy enough to hate others

　　5. What is the passage mainly about?

　　A. The function(功能)of the nose.

　　B. A famous woman poet's wish.

　　C. A number of phrases about "nose".

　　D. An interesting comment about Cleopatra's nose.

　　[答案与解析]

　　1. A。由第一段后一部分可知,科幻电影中的机器人是有独立意识的,而现实生活中的机器人是受人控制的。

　　2. C。这是一道考查事实细节题。短文第一段倒数第二句即本题答案出处。

　　3. A。由第二段第一句可知,选项B是正确的;由第二段最后一句可知,选项C是正确的;由第三段第二句可知,选项D是正确的;由短文最后一段可知,选项A是错误的。

　　4. A。由第四段可知,"to hold up one's nose"表达"pride"的意思; "to be led around by the nose"表达"weakness"的意思; 短文没有列举表达"jealousy"的短语。从短文最后一段可知,"as plain as the nose on your face"表达的是"易于理解的"。

　　5. C。从短文的内容和最后一段第一句(主题句)可知,本篇短文主要讲述了由"nose"构成的短语。

　　(文/文玉荣；英语辅导报高三版2003-2004学年第4期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)