阅读理解。
A child-like robot. Wakamaru, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan and combining the roles
of nurse, companion and security guard, will soon be in the market to look after the growing number of old
people with no one to look after them.
Cameras fixed under the "eyebrows" of the robot enable it to "see" as it moves around in a house. The
images can be sent to the latest mobile phones, which can show the pictures. Wakamaru speaks with either
the voice of a boy or a girl. It is also designed to provide companionship, saying hello to its "papa" when he
comes home. Based on a vocabulary of around 10,000 words, it is the first household robot which is able to
hold simple conversations. It can not only speak, but also understand answers and react accordingly. It will
ask "Are you all right?" if its owner doesn't move for some time. If the answer is no, or there is no answer, it
will telephone preset numbers, send images and work as a speakerphone. It can recognize up to 10 faces and
be set to tell forgetful people when it is time to take medicine, eat and sleep.
However, like most robots, it cannot climb stairs. Mitsubishi developed Wakamaru from robots which have
already been made to go around nuclear power facilities."Looking at the ageing of society and the falling birth
rate we decided that this could work as a business. We want to offer it as a product that helps society,"said the
project chief. The developers plan to sell the robot from April this year at between5,000 and 6,000 pounds.
The life expectancy (寿命) of Japanese women has shot up to almost 85, the highest in the world. At the
same time, large families are being replaced by nuclear families. This has left many Japanese anxious about
their elderly parents. Therefore, the technology has gained nation-wide publicity in Japan.
1. The passage is written with the purpose to _____.
A. introduce a new robot
B. solve the ageing problem
C. tell people the rapid development of technology
D. tell people how to use the robot
2. It can be inferred from the passage that _____.
A. the robot can dial proper number for help
B. the robot is likely to have a promising market
C. the robot enables the Japanese to live longer
D. many elderly Japanese are anxious about their future
3. The underlined part "nuclear families"in the last paragraph probably means "_____ ".
A. families with nuclear power facilities
B. small families without a parent
C. families with children and old people
D. families with parents and their children only
4. What is the best title for the passage?
A. The Latest Development of Robot
B. Japanese Robot and the Ageing Society
C. Large Market of the New Robot
D. Japan-made Robot Helps the Old
