Question

  [20巧郑州一模] We use robots for tasks like building cars and sorting mails,but can we use them as stand-up comedians (单日相声演员) in the fu?ture? One robot called RoboThespian has been trying out some jokes.

  Researchers from Queen University of London organized Robothespian's performances to test whether it could be as funny as a human.

  The electronic comedian went on stage for a show with British comedians An?drew O'Neill and Tieman Douieb,performing the same jokes as Douieb but with a few changes―it is a robot after all. The robot has some advantages over human comedians,too.

  "We used computer vision and audio software to notice the response of each au?dience member,something a human comedian cannot do”， said Kleomenis Katevas,the robot's programmer. "The machine used this information to decide who to look at and which gestures to use.” The robot also has other advantages over human comedians. Impressions of other people and sounds are very popular ways for performers to get laughs,and according to New Scientist reporter Celeste Biever? the robot can perform recorded sound by simply playing it back. It can also act out programmed pieces from Shake?speare or just about anything else.

 Another of the robot's advantages is more surprising. Because I feel less em?pathy (同感) for RoboThespian than for the human comedians,I feel more relaxed during his performances," Biever added. And of course,RoboThespian is unlikely to feel as nervous as other comedians,or be affected too badly by an audience member shouting at it. 

  The Queen Mary researchers say they're most interested in how audiences can be part of live performances. So in the future,we may be watching robots perform?ing exactly the show we want to see. Do you think it's time for the robot to write some more jokes?

1. Why was RoboThespian originally developed?

   A. To help human comedians perform better on stage.

   B. To find out if robots could understand human jokes.

   C. To see if robots could perform like human comedians.

   D. To assist human comedians to make up some better jokes.

2. When RoboThespian gave performances on stage,it      .

   A. imitated the audience's voices to make them laugh

   B. was affected easily by an audience member shouting at it

   C. performed completely different jokes from human comedians

   D. recorded each audience member's reaction and acted accordingly

3. What does Celeste Biever think of robot comedians?

   A. He believes the future of comedy lies in them.

   B. He considers their jokes as rather poor and boring.

   C. He thinks they aren't suitable for live performances.

   D. He feels more comfortable watching their performances.

4. What is the article mainly talking about?

   A. The robot comedian RoboThespian and its advantages.

   B. Robot technology used to help us with our daily tasks.

   C. Predictions of the comedy of the future and concern about it.

   D. A comparison between human comedians and robot comedians.

Answer 1

[文章大意]本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了一种机器人单口相声演员以及它的优点。

1. C细节理解题。根据第一段中的"...but can we use them as stand-up comedians (单□相声演员) in the future? One robot called RoboThespian has been trying out some jokes.”可知，设计这一机器人的最初目的是看它能否像人类的单口相声演员那样表演，故答案为C。

2. D细节理解题。根据第四段中的"'We use computer vision and audio software to notice the response of each audience member...'"可知，机器人单口相声演员在台上表演时，可以录下观众的反应。故答案为D。 

3. D推理判断题。根据第六段中Biever说的话可知，他认为看机器人的表演感觉更舒服。故答案为 D.

4. A主g大意题。文中多次出现advantages—词，故可知本文的大意是介绍机器人单口相声演员以及它的优点。所以答案为A.