17．TOKYO，JAPAN--What do you do when you see a cockroach （蟑螂）？Do you hit it with a newspaper？Do you step on it？
When researchers at Tokyo University see a cockroach，they take the remote control and make the cockroach turn around，run left or right，or go forward．These scientists are changing the cockroaches into robots．Each cockroach has a very small pack that has in it a microprocessor（微处理器）．Then researchers can send signals from the remote control to the pack．The signals control the movements of the cockroaches．
Why does anyone want to control a cockroach？"Insects can do many things that people can't，"says Isao Shimoyama，head of robot research at Tokyo University．In a few years，he says，these robot insects will carry very small cameras．They will be able to move through earthquake rubble（瓦砾）to look for people or move under doors to find information about someone．
This may seem strange，but the Japanese government thinks the research is very important．The government is giving the scientists $ 5million for this research．
First，the researchers breed （培育）hundreds of cockroaches．They use only the American cockroach because it is bigger and stronger than other cockroaches．Then they choose the best cockroaches and remove their wings and antennae（触须）．They put small packs where the antennae were．The packs weigh about three grams，or about two times the weight of the cockroaches themselves．"Cockroaches are very strong，"says Ralph Holzer，who is a researcher at Tokyo University．"They can lift 20times their own weight．"
With a remote control，the scientists send signals to the packs．When a cockroach gets the signal，it moves．The problem is that the cockroaches don71always move in the right direction．
37．The scientists are changing the cockroaches into robots becauseA．
A．they want cockroaches to do things people can't in the future
B．they want to control the movements of the cockroaches
C．they want cockroaches to take photos of the earthquakes
D．they want to send signals to the packs on the cockroaches
38．What can cockroaches do to help people？
A．They can lift 20times their own weight．
B．They can help people to carry very small cameras．
C．They can breed hundreds of cockroaches．
D．They can search for those people in rubble after an earthquake．
39．Scientists control cockroaches'movementsB．
A．by removing their wings B．by sending signals from the remote control
C．by using very small camerasD．by removing their antennae
40．What problem do the rcscarchcrs meet with？
A．The cockroachcs sometimes clon；t move．
B．The cockroachcs sometimes move in the wrong direction．
C．The cockroachcs arc too big to move through earthquake rubble．
D．The cockroachcs can only lift 20times their own weight．
分析 东京，日本--当年看到一只蟑螂你会做什么？你用报纸打它吗？你踩它吗？
当东京大学的研究者看到一只蟑螂，他们会远程控制，让它们转圈，向左或向右跑，或向前走．这些科学家把蟑螂变成了机器人．每个蟑螂都有一个非常小的包裹，里面有一个微处理器．研究者们会远程控制发送信号到这个包裹．这些信号控制蟑螂的行动．
为什么想控制蟑螂呢？"昆虫可以做许多人们不能做的事情，"东京大学机器人研究的领导者Isao Shimoyama说．他说，几年后，这些机器人昆虫会携带很小的相机．它们将能在地震的瓦砾中寻找人们，或者到门下找寻人的信息．
这似乎很奇怪，但是日本政府认为这项研究很重要．政府为了这项研究给科学家们提供了500万美元．
首先，研究者培育出许多蟑螂．他们只用美国蟑螂，因为它比其他蟑螂更大、更强壮．然后他们选择最好的，去掉它们的翅膀和触须．在触角的地方放进小型的包裹．这些小包裹大约3克，或者大约是蟑螂本身重量的两倍．"蟑螂很强壮，"东京大学的一个研究者Ralph Holzer说．"它们可以提起比它们重20倍的重量．"
用这个远程控制，科学家们将信号发送到这个包裹上．当蟑螂接收到信号，它就行动．问题是蟑螂不总是沿着正确的方向移动．
解答 37．A 细节理解题 根据第三段Insects can do many things that people can't可知，昆虫可以做人们做不了的事情，科学家想让它们将来做一些人类做不到的事．故选A．
38．D 细节理解题 根据They will be able to move through earthquake rubble（瓦砾）to look for people or move under doors to find information about someone可知，它们可以帮助在地震中救援．故选D．
39．B 细节理解题 根据最后一段the scientists send signals to the packs．When a cockroach gets the signal，it moves可知，科学家们通过发信号来控制蟑螂的行动．故选B．
40．B 细节理解题 根据最后一句The problem is that the cockroaches don't always move in the right direction可知，这项研究存在的问题是蟑螂的移动有时候会偏离方向．故选B．
点评 这是一篇科技性质的阅读理解．讲述了日本科学家对蟑螂机器人的研究．涉及的题目非常简单，都能从文章中找到线索，得出答案．领会全文大意是做题的关键．
