20．In some science fiction movies，evil robots refuse to die，no matter how hard people fight back．Now science fiction has become science fact．For the first time，scientists have made a robot that can take a beating （挨打） and keep on going．Scientists from Cornell University made the robot，which looks like a spider with four legs．
Until now，even the most advanced （先进的） robot was almost certain to break down when it was damaged．That is because its computer inside simply doesn't know how to make the machine work after its shape has changed．
To deal with this problem，the scientists put eight motors （发动机） and two sensors （传感器） that read how the machine is working．They all give signals to the machine's software．Using this information，the computer can then figure out the machine's shape at any moment．
The new technology is a big advance in robot-making，scientists say，and it's far from scary．It may someday help scientists create better artificial （假的） arms and legs and give new freedom to people who lose them．It might also help scientists understand how people and animals figure out their own sense of place in space．
"It has been difficult to design robots that can work well when the environment changes or when it's damaged，"says Olaf Sporns of Indiana University in US．"With this work，we are nearer to solving this problem．"
56．Why do robots easily break down when they are damaged？D
A．They cannot repair themselves．
B．The computer has changed a lot．
C．They have no computers inside．
D．The computer cannot work if the robot changes．
57．The new technology allows the robot toB．
A．do house work for humans
B．keep working after being damaged
C．remember a lot of information
D．tell people where it is
58．The underlined word"them"in Paragraph 5refers toC．
A．sensors
B．robots
C．arms and legs
D．scientists
59．How do the sensors in the robot work？C
A．They can replace the computer when it's broken．
B．They can find out where the damage comes from．
C．They help the computer learn the robot's condition．
D．They can send signals to the person who uses the robot．
60．The passage is probably fromA．
A．a newspaper
B．an advertisement
C．a tour guide
D．an application．
分析 这篇文章讲述了为了解决机器人一旦被损坏就不能工作的问题，科学家给机器人里面放了八个发动机和两个传感器，这个新的技术还能帮助科学家给人们创造出更好的假肢．
解答 56．D细节理解题．根据文章That is because its computer inside simply doesn't know how to make the machine work after its shape has changed．可知，当机器人被毁坏了就很容易发生故障，是因为如果机器人改变了，电脑就不能工作了，故答案为：D．
57．B细节理解题．根据文章To deal with this problem，the scientists put eight motors （发动机） and two sensors （传感器） that read how the machine is working．可知，新的技术就是解决了机器人被损害时不能工作的这个问题，故答案为：B．
58．C细节理解题．根据It may someday help scientists create better artificial （假的） arms and legs and give new freedom to people who lose them．机器人有一天能够帮助科学家发明出更好的假肢，帮助那些失去了胳膊和腿的人重新获得自由．可知，them的意思是arms and legs，故答案为：C．
59．C细节理解题．根据文章第三段They all give signals to the machine's software．Using this information，the computer can then figure out the machine's shape at any moment可知，传感器能够帮助电脑了解机器人的情况，故答案为：C．
60．A理解推断题．根据文章内容可知本文讲述的是为了解决机器人一旦被损坏就不能工作的问题，应该是在报纸上的，故答案为：A．
点评 做题时要在理解好文意的基础上，与题目有机的结合，从文章中找到相关细节性的句子与选项细细比对，进行选择或推理判断，选出符合文章内容的正确选项．做题注意灵活，有时可采用排除法或直选法确定出最终答案．
