7．Why do human beings still risk their lives under ground and doing one of the dirtiest and most dangerous jobs in the world？It's an increasingly urgent question，given the recent mining accidents in Sago．W．Va．and Huntington，Utah．A small group of engineers and robotics experts look forward to a day in the not-too-distant future when robots and other technology do most of the dangerous mining work．
Robotic technology，in particular，holds much promise，McAteer says，especially when it comes to mapping mines and rescuing trapped miners-the special operations of the mining industry．
One of the first mining robots was developed five years ago at Canegie-Mellon University's Robotics Institute．It was called Groundhog．It used lasers to"see"in dark tunnels and map abandoned mines-some of the most dangerous work in the business．
The latest design is called Cave Crawler．It's a bit smaller than Grondhog，and even more advanced．It can take photos and video and has more sensors that can discover the presence of dangerous gases．The robot has a real sense of logic，which is hard to believe．If it comes across a thing in the way it gets confused．It has to think through the process and where to go next，and sometimes it throws a fit just like a real person．
The greatest problem，though，is cost．The money of the earliest research project was provided by the government，but that money has dried up，and it's not clear where future money will come from．Partly for that reason，and partly because of advances in safely，mining is not nearly as dangerous as it was in the past．Since 1990，fatalities（致命性） have declined by 67percent and injuries by 51percent，according to the National Mining Association．
Some experts predict that robots in the mines will serve much of the same function that they do in the automotive industry．The robot do the most boring and dangerous jobs，but don't eliminate the need for human workers．
51．The latest robot is more advanced than Groundhog mainly becauseD．
A．it's a bit smaller
B．it can map abandoned mines
C．it can see in the dark tunnel
D．it has a real sense of logic
52．The underlined phrase"throws a bit"in Paragraph 4probably meansA．
A．gets angry B．gets sick
C．becomes hungry D．becomes cheerful
53．We can infer from the last paragraph thatC．
A．robots in mines will serve much in the automotive industry
B．there will be no need for human workers in mines
C．the mine robots will have a very bright future
D．robots in mines only do some simple jobs now
54．We can learn from the text thatC．
A．a mining robots can help miners have an operation
B．Groundhog can discover the presence of dangerous gases
C．experts are trying to make robots help miners with dangerous work
D．robots have helped improve the safety of mining
55．What can be the best title for the text？B
A．Mining Accidents in America
B．Robots in Mines
C．Cave Crawler，the Latest Robot
D．The Future of Robots．
分析 本文主要介绍了一种新研发的机器人，和以前的Groundhog相比，它有真正的逻辑能力，最重要的是，它可以帮助矿工们做一些危险的事情．
解答 51．D细节理解题．根据第四段The robot has a real sense of logic，which is hard to believe．可知最新的机器人比"Groundhog"更先进，因为它有真正的逻辑能力．故选D．
52．A词义辨析题．根据第四段If it comes across a thing in the way it gets confused．It has to think through the process and where to go next，and sometimes it throws a fit just like a real person．可知当遇到障碍时机器人会感到迷惑，然后思考程序和下一步该怎么走．有时（障碍不能解决时）也会像人一样大发脾气．由此推知，"throws a fit"意思是"大发脾气"．故选A．
53．C细节推断题．根据最后一段Some experts predict that robots in the mines will serve much of the same function that they do in the automotive industry．可知矿场机器人有更光明的未来．故选C．
54．C推理判断题．根据最后一段The robot do the most boring and dangerous jobs，but don't eliminate the need for human workers．可知专家正在努力让机器人帮助工人做危险的工作．故选C．
55．B标题选择题．根据第一段A small group of engineers and robotics experts look forward to a day in the not-too-distant future when robots and other technology do most of the dangerous mining work．可知这篇文章讲的是研究人员正研究在矿场代替工人做危险工作的机器人．第二、三、四段讲述采矿机器人的发展；第五段谈到发展存在的障碍；第六段指出，虽然有障碍但专家预测采矿机器人前景广阔．故选B．
点评 本文考察学生的理解推断能力以及细心程度，只要抓住文章的关键词，采用寻读的方法查找细节，就能找到正确答案．
