Computer-controlled robots are taking over jo...

Computer-controlled robots are taking over jobs in many industries, which used to be done _______.

A. artificially　　 B. manually

C. comprehensively　　 D. gradually

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Those who are concerned that robots are taking over the world can rest easy—for now. Though the androids have proved useful at performing ordinary tasks, they are not ready for the greatest time. At least that appears to be the case at Japan’s Henn-na Hotel chain where over half of the robot staff are being replaced by humans.

The first location of the unique hotel opened in July 2015 was at Nagasaki’s Huis Ten Bosch Theme Park. The hotel’s owner, Hideo Sawada, promised the hotel to be managed primarily by robots. Guests were greeted and checked-in by a dinosaur robot, while a cute android called Churi, placed inside each room, provided information about attractions. Not surprisingly, the lodging, recognized in 2016 as the world’s first robot-staffed hotel by Guinness World Records, drew in curious visitors from all around the world.

But as the years have passed, the hotel’s main draw is becoming less novel and more unsatisfactory. Also as the robots are “aging”, they are costing more to repair. Among the 283 androids being replaced are the chain’s two dinosaur receptionists. In addition to scaring young guests, they are also unable to photocopy guests’ passports, forcing human employees to step in each time. Also out are the cute Churi robots, which annoyed guests by interrupting their conversations. For example, one guest told The Wall Street Journal that Churi mistook his snoring for a command and kept asking him to repeat his request all night.

Sawada told The Wall Street Journal, “When you actually use robots you realize there are places where they aren’t needed—or just annoy people.” While Sawada may be cutting back on his use of androids, the recently-opened Smart LYZ Hotel and the Fly Zoo Hotel in China, are run entirely by robots, with not a human in sight. Whether the employees have more competence than those “hired” by the Henn-na Hotel chain remains to be seen.

1.What makes Japan’s Henn-na Hotel unique?

A.Its robot employees. B.Its advanced equipment.

C.Its convenient location. D.Its successful management.

2.What is the author’s purpose with the example in paragraph 3?

A.To entertain readers. B.To prove Churi’s drawback.

C.To introduce Churi’s functions. D.To persuade people not to book the hotel.

3.What does the owner of Japan’s Henn-na Hotel think of his robot staff now?

A.Attractive. B.Costly.

C.Pioneering. D.Disappointing.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.Robots Are Taking Over the World.

B.The Boom of Robots-staffed Hotel.

C.Robot Staff Are Fired For No Competence.

D.The First Robots-staffed Hotel Won Guinness World Record.

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

The future of work

If you can get it, Robots may well take your job — eventually Pioneers are not always welcome. In 1589 William Lee made his way to the English queen, hoping to be granted a patent for his invention, a knitting (编织) machine. Queen Elizabeth I turned him down: “Consider what the invention could do to my poor people,” she commanded. “It would surely bring to them ruin by taking away their employment.”

The fears of Queen have echoed down the centuries. In the 21st century the concerns have switched to robots and artificial intelligence (AD); 30% of American workers believe their jobs are likely to be replaced by robots and computers in their lifetime.

Daniel Susskind has written about this issue before in “The Future of the Professions”, co-authored with his father, Richard. That book focused on the threat by machine-learning to doctors, lawyers and the like.

In the past the relationship between machine and human labour has been driven by two factors: the substituting effect, which caused people to lose jobs, and the complementing (补足) effect, which allowed employees to do their work more productively. The author worries that, in the future, the substituting effect will rule. Advances in AI have been so rapid that machines will eventually be better than people at most activities, he says. A few highly paid humans will still be employed, but the rest will either struggle to find work or fall into the “precariat”, stuck in jobs that are not just poorly paid but unstable and stressful.

Perhaps. It is impossible to be sure whether the latest advances will in the end have mainly good or bad economic effects. Books like his are a useful summary of the current debate on an important subject. But they are not crystal balls.

1.William Lee’s request was turned down for fear that_________.

A.British people couldn’t afford the knitting machine

B.British workers were at the risk of losing their jobs

C.the knitting machine might be ruined by violent workers

D.William Lee would make a huge profit from the patent

2.The fears of Queen in Paragraph 2 refer to the fear that____________.

A.fears can be echoed down for centuries

B.workers are too stressful with the help of machines

C.machines and automation threaten people’s employment

D.doctors, lawyers and the like are likely to be replaced

3.Daniel Susskind worries that___________.

A.most jobs will be at risk because of substituting effect

B.employees will work less productively because of complementing effect

C.30% of American workers will do jobs related to AI

D.large numbers of jobs will be lost because of complementing effect

4.The writer’s attitude to AI advances is　　　　 .

A.indifferent B.positive

C.negative D.uncertain

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Oh my God, the robots are taking over! We’re doomed! Doomed! Now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, it’s become clear that while we may or may not be doomed, the robots are taking over. The latest example is the government’s new guidelines for self-driving cars.

Tesla, Google and Uber are already testing driverless cars in cities across America. Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick is among those predicting that by 2021, self-driving cars will play a big part in urban settings.

Nearly 40,000 people died last year in this nation in automobile-related accidents, and we believes driverless cars can save tens of thousands of lives annually.

Makes sense. Robot drivers are less likely to get drunk, drive without a license, text while driving or feel agitated at the scene of a pileup. On the other hand, I wonder how these highly sensitive cars will react, with walkers constantly dashing into the street. Will they jam on the brakes every 10 seconds?

But there’s a bigger picture. Not only are robots replacing humans behind the wheel, but behind the work desk, in warehouses, senior homes, you name it. Robots aren’t just taking over in the workplace.

The question is, where can’t a robot function better than a human? How about writing songs? A robot can go through every combination of notes in record time and come up with a pleasing melody. The lyrics might be a different story. Is a Grammy-winning song co-written by Hank Human and R-3071 in our future?

Finally, it’s only a matter of time until we have robot politicians and presidential candidates. Why not? They can be programmed to be experts in world and domestic affairs and come up with the best solutions without corruption and bad humors.

Actually, it’s too bad such technology isn’t available in 2016. Pretty sure the robot would win in a landslide.

1.What does the underlined word “agitated” mean?

A. Tired　　 B. Cautious

C. Careful　　 D. Anxious

2.What doubt does the writer have about self-driving cars?

A. How passengers behave in it.

B. How robot drivers get the license.

C. How they avoid crashing into other car.

D. How they respond to walkers on a busy street.

3.The last questions asked in the sixth paragraph reflects the writer’s ________.

A. confidence in robots, winning Grammy Awards

B. eagerness to listen to songs written by robots

C. doubt about robots’ ability to write songs

D. curiosity about the future Grammy songs

4.What might be the most suitable title for the text?

A. Robots will control the world in every field

B. Robots are coming but not soon enough

C. Robots are being used in our daily life

D. Robots can drive cars and write music

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Oh my God, the robots are taking over! We’re doomed! Doomed! Now that I’ve got that out of my system, it’s become clear that though we may or may not be doomed, the robots are taking over. The latest example is the government’s new guidelines for self-driving cars.

Tesla, Google and Uber are already testing driverless cars in cities across America. Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick is among those predicting that by 2021, self-driving cars will play a big part in urban settings.

Nearly 40,000 people died last year in this nation in automobile-related accidents, and we believe driverless cars can save tens of thousands of lives annually.

Makes sense. Robot drivers are less likely to get drunk, drive without a license, text while driving or feel anxious at the scene of a pileup. But I wonder how these highly sensitive cars will react, with walkers constantly dashing into the street. Will they jam on the brakes (紧急刹车) every 10 seconds?

But there’s a bigger picture. Not only are robots replacing humans behind the wheel, but behind the work desk, in warehouses, senior homes, you name it. Robots aren’t just taking over in the workplace.

The question is, where can’t a robot function better than a human? How about writing songs? A robot can go through every combination of notes in record time and come up with a pleasing melody. The lyrics might be a different story. Is a Grammy-winning song co-written by Hank Human and R-3071 in our future?

Finally, it’s only a matter of time until we have robot politicians and presidential candidates. Why not? They can be programmed to be experts in world and domestic affairs and come up with the best solutions without corruption and bad humors.

Hopefully, such technology will be available in the near future. Pretty sure the robot would win in a landslide.

1.According to the text, which statement is NOT true about self-driving cars?

A.New guidelines for self-driving cars have been set up by the government.

B.Some companies are testing self-driving cars in the US.

C.Self-driving cars will play an important role in rural areas.

D.Self-driving cars can help reduce car accidents.

2.What doubt does the writer have about self-driving cars?

A.How passengers behave in it.

B.How they respond to walkers on a busy street.

C.How robot drivers get the license.

D.How they avoid crashing into other cars.

3.The last question asked in the sixth paragraph shows the writer’s _________.

A.confidence in robots’ winning Grammy Awards

B.desire to listen to songs written by robots

C.puzzle about robots’ ability to write songs

D.curiosity about the future Grammy songs

4.What is the author’s attitude towards the future of robots?

A.Indifferent. B.Doubtful.

C.Pessimistic. D.Optimistic.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

What's going to happen in the future? Will robots take over our planet? Will computers become smarter than us? Not likely. But here are some things that scientists say are most likely to happen 10 to 30 years later from now, according to the BBC.

1．Digital money

We used to pay with cash for everything we bought. Now when we swipe(刷) our bus pass or use a credit card to shop online, money is spent without us even seeing it. In fact, we are already using one type of digital money.

You have to admit that using a card is much easier than searching your pockets for change. It is also safer than carrying a lot of cash.

When ATM cards were first introduced, they were not accepted everywhere. But now it's hard to live without them. People in Sweden completely stopped using cash last year, according to the Associated Press, and the US might be next.

2．Bionic(能力超人的)eye

It's no longer something only in a sci­fi movie. People who are blind may have a chance to get their sight back—by wearing bionic eyes.

A blind eye can no longer sense light, but a bionic eye can use a camera to “see” the environment and send data directly to the brain.

Although the bionic eye that's out now only allows patients to see lights and unclear shapes, a high­resolution(高清晰度的) version could be just a few years away.

3．Self­driving cars

Everything is going automatic these days—washing machines, ticket selling machines and even cars. Unlike a human driver, a self­driving car won't get distracted by a phone call, the radio or something outside the window. Sensors and cameras on the car would allow it to stick strictly to the rules of the road and keep a safe distance from other cars. This would greatly reduce the number of road accidents. You could even take a nap while the car drives itself.

Many vehicle companies are now planning self­driving cars. “By 2040, driverless vehicles will be widely accepted and possibly be the dominant vehicles on the road，” said Jeffrey Miller, professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage, US, in Wired magazine.

1.The underlined word “distracted” in the article is closest in meaning to “________”．

A．directed　     B．discouraged

C．attacked　     D．disturbed

2.Jeffrey Miller's attitude towards self­driving cars is ________.

A．optimistic　     B．pessimistic

C．doubtful　     D．cautious

3.Which section is the article most likely to be found in the newspaper?

A．Learning Kit　     B．Campus Trends

C．Entertainment　     D．Technology

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

What's going to happen in the future? Will robots take over our planet? Will computers become smarter than us? Not likely. But here are some things that scientists say are most likely to happen 10 to 30 years later from now, according to the BBC.

1．Digital money

We used to pay with cash for everything we bought. Now when we swipe(刷) our bus pass or use a credit card to shop online, money is spent without us even seeing it. In fact, we are already using one type of digital money.

You have to admit that using a card is much easier than searching your pockets for change. It is also safer than carrying a lot of cash.

When ATM cards were first introduced, they were not accepted everywhere. But now it's hard to live without them. People in Sweden completely stopped using cash last year, according to the Associated Press, and the US might be next.

2．Bionic(能力超人的)eye

It's no longer something only in a sci­fi movie. People who are blind may have a chance to get their sight back—by wearing bionic eyes.

A blind eye can no longer sense light, but a bionic eye can use a camera to “see” the environment and send data directly to the brain.

Although the bionic eye that's out now only allows patients to see lights and unclear shapes, a high­resolution(高清晰度的) version could be just a few years away.

3．Self­driving cars

Everything is going automatic these days—washing machines, ticket selling machines and even cars. Unlike a human driver, a self­driving car won't get distracted by a phone call, the radio or something outside the window. Sensors and cameras on the car would allow it to stick strictly to the rules of the road and keep a safe distance from other cars. This would greatly reduce the number of road accidents. You could even take a nap while the car drives itself.

Many vehicle companies are now planning self­driving cars. “By 2040, driverless vehicles will be widely accepted and possibly be the dominant vehicles on the road，” said Jeffrey Miller, professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage, US, in Wired magazine.

1.The underlined word “distracted” in the article is closest in meaning to “________”．

A．directed　     B．discouraged

C．attacked　     D．disturbed

2.Jeffrey Miller's attitude towards self­driving cars is ________.

A．optimistic　     B．pessimistic

C．doubtful　     D．cautious

3.Which section is the article most likely to be found in the newspaper?

A．Learning Kit　     B．Campus Trends

C．Entertainment　     D．Technology

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

So many young men want to ___ writing.

A. take in           B. take up            C. take over         D. take off

高三英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析

Many people take entry-level jobs in a company for experience and to get their foot in the door. 1. For those who want to get a promotion in the company, the following may be helpful.

Get a Mentor.

A mentor can help you learn how to approach a career, learn the company, and find position openings. 2. They can help to get through the challenges to show that you are a valued employee. Mentors may make a great reference if a person is going for a promotion.

Cautiously Self Promote.

No one likes people who do nothing but boast of their accomplishments and greatness. A person can offer to type up meeting notes and related information and send it out to others in the company. When sending the email there should be the email signature with name and title. 3.

4.

If a person makes a mistake, he should own up to it. This will show that the employee is trustworthy. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes but how a person handles it affects their position in the company. If they handle it correctly, it will show they can take responsibility.

Solve Problems.

Whether you work in a small office, or a big one, space problem solving is essential. Doing so at work can show you’re ready for bigger roles. You also need to consider how complicated projects are handled and look for solutions to make the process easier.

5. If a person shows that they are responsible, can complete the workload, and can work as a team player, they can move up in the company and advance their career.

A.Take Responsibility.

B.Ask for Additional Responsibilities.

C.The more your name is known, the better.

D.They can give tips to do the work efficiently.

E.To get better positions, people need to show they are willing to work.

F.These are ways by which a person can move up ahead in a company.

G.The jobs may be below their level but they offer steady paycheck and advancement.

高三英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析

Robots will have taken over most jobs within 30 years leaving humanity facing its “biggest challenger ever” to find meaning in life when work is no longer necessary according to experts.

Professor Moshe Vardi, who works in Rice University, says that many middle-class professionals will be assisting the work of machines within the next few decades leaving workers more leisure（休闲）time than they have ever experienced and as a result, the rise of robots could lead to unemployment rate greater than 50 percent.

“We are approaching a time when machines will be able to do better than humans at almost any task,” said Vardi, “Robots are doing more and more jobs that people used to do. I believe that society needs to face question before it’s upon us. If machines can do almost any work humans can do, what will humans do? The question I want to put forward is, ‘Does the technology we are developing finally benefit mankind?’”

Prof. Vardi said existing robotic and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies were already getting rid of a growing number of middle-class jobs and that pace of advancement in the field is increasing.

But Prof. Vardi is not sure that a workforce of human like robots will be good for mankind. “A typical answer is that if machines will do all our work, we will be free to pursue leisure activities,” he said. “I do not find this a promising future, as I do not find the idea of leisure-only life appealing. I believe that work is essential to human well-being.” He added, “Humanity is about to face perhaps its greatest challenge ever, which is finding meaning in life. If machines can do all the work or even 50 percent of the jobs that we used to do, what will people do?”

1.According to the text, what is human’s “biggest challenge ever”?

A.The most challenging jobs.

B.Seeking the significance of life.

C.The rise of unemployment rates.

D.No necessary work for humanity.

2.What is Prof. Vardi concerned about?

A.Whether robotic and AI technologies are good for humans.

B.Whether robots can rule humans within 30 years.

C.The unemployment rate is increasing greatly.

D.The development of robots is rapid enough.

3.What does Prof. Vardi think of the leisure-only life?

A.Realistic and comfortable.

B.Unpleasant and unattractive.

C.Entertaining and pleasing.

D.Disgusting and annoying.

4.We can infer from the text that we ________ in the future.

A.will be in short of labor force

B.can have a surplus of products

C.have to face fierce competition

D.may lose the value of life

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析