Researchers are placing robotic dogs (機器狗) in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck,an expert in human-animal relationship,and Nancy Edwards,a professor of nursing,are leading the animal-assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people's depression,physical activity,and life satisfaction. "No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active,challenged,or stimulated (剌激) ,"Edwards points out. "The problem is how we promote (使成為現(xiàn)實) that,especially for those without friends or help. A robotic dog could be a solution."

  In the study,the robot,called AIBO,is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home,researchers will collect baseline data for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then,the researchers will review the data to determine if it has inspired any changes in the life of its owner.

  "I talk to him all the time,and he responds to my voice," says a seventy-year-old lady. "When Vm watching TV,he'll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has a mind of his own.”

  The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The researchers say they have some ad?vantages over live dogs,especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.

  "At the beginning,it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog,be?cause it was metal and not furry (毛皮的) ."Beck says. "But it's amazing how quick?ly we have given up that belief.”

"Hopefully,down the road,these robotic pets could become a more-valuable health helper. They will record their masters' blood pressure,oxygen levels,or heart rhythms. AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people's minds.”

1. The purpose of Beck and Edwards' study is to      .

   A. understand human-animal relationship

   B. make lonely old people's life better

   C. find the causes of old people's loneliness

   D. promote the animal-assisted research

2. In the research,the old people are asked to      .

   A. note the activities of AIBOs

   B. keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks

   C. record their feelings and activity

   D. analyze the collected information

3. What is the advantage of AIBO over live dogs?

   A. It is easier to keep at home.

   B. It can help the disabled people.

   C. It responds to all the human orders.

   D. It can watch TV with its owner.

4. The author seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may      .

   A. cure certain diseases

   B. keep old people active

   C. change people's beliefs

   D. look more like real dogs

  "Look,it's Baldy！” A boy shouted in my direction across the playground. Even though I was used to regular insults (侮辱) because of the 1        on my head,it was 2        horrible to hear. I sighed as I headed back to the class.

When I was just 20 months old,I suffered from serious 3        after a bowl full of hot oil fell on my head. I was 4        to a hospital and had to stay there for weeks while the doctors 5        to save my life. "Holly's very 6        to be alive," they told Mum and Dad. "But she'll be 7        with scars on her head,and of course her hair won't grow there.”

As a child,I cared much about my scars,so I 8        wore a scarf to cover them up when I left home. 9       I didn't,people would call me horrible names like Baldy. Although my friends were always comforting me,they never 10        under?stood how it felt.

  Then through the hospital I was 11        to a children's burns camp,where children like me could get any help. There,I 12       14-year-old Stephanie,whose burns were a lot more serious than mine. But she was so 13        that she never let anyone put her down. "You shouldn't 14        what people say about what you look like because we're not different from anyone else,Holly," she 15        me. "And you don't need to wear a scarf because you look great 16        it!" For the first time in my life I could speak to someone who'd been through something 17       . So weeks later,at my 13th birthday party,18        by her bravery,I gave up my scarf and showed off my scars. It felt amazing not having to 19       away behind my scarf! _e Now,I am 20        of what I look like and much happier,because I have real?ized it is your personality (個性) that decides who you truly are.

1. A. hat   B. scarf   C. scars   D. cuts

2. A. still   B. just   C. never   D. seldom

3. A. hunger   B. cold   C. defeats   D. burns

4. A. rushed   B. led   C. invited   D. forced

5. A. learned   B. fought   C. returned   D. decided

6. A. happy   B. lucky   C. lonely   D. poor

7. A. pressed   B. occupied   C. left   D. painted

8. A. possibly   B. usually   C. finally   D. nearly

9. A. Although   B. Since   C. If   D. Before 

10.A. correctly   B. roughly   C. easily   D. really 

11. A. promoted   B. introduced   C. reported   D. carried 

12.A. met   B. recognized   C. remembered   D. caught 

13.A. honest   B. strong   C. active   D. young 

14.A. write down   B. agree with   C. pass on   D. listen to 

15. A. promised   B. encouraged   C. ordered   D. calmed 

16.A. in   B. for   C. without   D. beyond 

17.A. similar   B. strange   C. hard   D. important 

18.A. allowed   B. required   C. guided   D. inspired 

19.A. hide   B. give   C. keep   D. put 

20.A. sick   B. aware   C. tired   D. proud

 If you have become 1.       (傷殘的) recently,then you should find out whether you have 2.       (方法，機會) to social security disability benefits,

but don't be afraid of being 3.       (取笑) .Social security disability benefits are 4.       (適宜的) for those who become disabled or are disabled due to some sort of accident that you may have 5.       (遭遇) ，which forces you to

6.       (辭職) .You may get 7.       (生氣) ，because you cannot make money that you need.

  8.       (換句話說) ,you need the money to support those you are possibly taking care of. The government can play its role and give you some help 9.       (在許多方面) .Perhaps the government will give you money to help you out.

10.       (總之) ，if you believe you have a 11.       (傷殘) ，instead of just 12.       (閑坐著) ，contact the social security department for more information.

all in all， in comfort， benefit from， cut out，congratulate sb on， 

meet with， make fun of， adapt oneself to， in other words， have (no) access to，

1. So far many small factories have       the new policies carried out last year.

2. Animals that       the changed environment survived,but those that couldn't finally died out.

3. I soon found that the work I was doing had already been done by someone else.       ， I was wasting my time.

4. Apart from being good at teamwork,he is tall,strong and athletic.      ， he is the best choice for the coming basketball match.

5. Nobody wants      ,especially in public.

6. Many people in Haiti died from the earthquake because they       immediate rescue.

7. The doctor strongly advised his patient       smoking because of his poor health.

8. I have received many calls       my being promoted to be the sales manager.

9. My request       the approval of my father. He had promised to buy a mountain bike for me.

10. Mr Brown has enough money so that he can live       in the countryside.

5. 會議將于下周一舉行。你愿意參加嗎？

The meeting       next Monday. Would you like to attend it? (be to do)

4. 如果你明天方便的話，可以來照看它。

            ，you can come to take care of it. (convenient)

3. 對每個學生來說有一個積極的心態(tài)是非常重要的。

             a positive state of mind, (important)

2. 在會上經(jīng)理建議可以用另一方式解決這個問題。

The manager suggested at the meeting that the problem        in a

"different way. (solve)

1. 我寧愿早、起，也不愿不吃早飯就去上學。

I always prefer to get up early,       without breakfast,(rather than)