Since the dawn of human ingenuity， people have devised ever more cunning tools to cope with work that is dangerous， boring， burdensome， or just plain nasty. That compulsion has resulted in robotics——the science of conferring various human capabilities on machines. And if scientists have yet to create the mechanical version of science fiction， they have begun to come close.
As a result， the modern world is increasingly populated by intelligent gizmos whose presence we barely notice but whose universal existence has removed much human labor. Our factories hum to the rhythm of robot assembly arms. Our banking is done at automated teller terminals that thank us with mechanical politeness for the transaction. Our subway trains are controlled by tireless robo-drivers. And thanks to the continual miniaturization of electronics and micro-mechanics， there are already robot systems that can perform some kinds of brain and bone surgery with submillimeter accuracy—far greater precision than highly skilled physicians can achieve with their hands alone.
But if robots are to reach the next stage of laborsaving utility， they will have to operate with less human supervision and be able to make at least a few decisions for themselves—goals that pose a real challenge. “While we know how to tell a robot to handle a specific error，” says Dave Lavery， manager of a robotics program at NASA， “we can't yet give a robot enough 'common sense' to reliably interact with a dynamic world.”
Indeed the quest for true artificial intelligence has produced very mixed results. Despite a spell of initial optimism in the 1960s and 1970s when it appeared that transistor circuits and microprocessors might be able to copy the action of the human brain by the year 2010， researchers lately have begun to extend that forecast by decades if not centuries. What they found， in attempting to model thought， is that the human brain's roughly one hundred billion nerve cells are much more talented—and human perception far more complicated—than previously imagined. They have built robots that can recognize the error of a machine panel by a fraction of a millimeter in a controlled factory environment. But the human mind can glimpse a rapidly changing scene and immediately disregard the 98 percent that is irrelevant， instantaneously focusing on the monkey at the side of a winding forest road or the single suspicious face in a big crowd. The most advanced computer systems on Earth can't approach that kind of ability， and neuroscientists still don't know quite how we do it.
46. Human ingenuity was initially demonstrated in ________.
（A）the use of machines to produce science fiction
（B）the wide use of machines in manufacturing industry
（C）the invention of tools for difficult and dangerous work
（D）the elite's cunning tackling of dangerous and boring work
47. The word “gizmos” （line 1， paragraph 2） most probably means ________.
（A）programs
（B）experts
（C）devices
（D）creatures
48. According to the text， what is beyond man's ability now is to design a robot that can ________.
（A）fulfill delicate tasks like performing brain surgery
（B）interact with human beings verbally
（C）have a little common sense
（D）respond independently to a changing world
49. Besides reducing human labor， robots can also ________.
（A）make a few decisions for themselves
（B）deal with some errors with human intervention
（C）improve factory environments
（D）cultivate human creativity
50. The author uses the example of a monkey to argue that robots are ________.
（A）expected to copy human brain in internal structure
（B）able to perceive abnormalities immediately
（C）far less able than human brain in focusing on relevant information
（D）best used in a controlled environment
答案及試題解析
CCDBC
46.（C）
此題的難度合適，區(qū)分度好。
本題是一個局部題，主要考查考生是否看懂了第一段，尤其是 “That compulsion has resulted in robotics—the science of conferring various human capabilities on machines” 這句話。這句話的意思是：（發(fā)明一些靈巧的工具來從事一些危險、乏味、繁重，或者是討厭的工作）這樣一種需求導(dǎo)致了機(jī)器人技術(shù)的產(chǎn)生，即賦予機(jī)器以人的各種技能的科學(xué)。
47.（C）
此題偏易，區(qū)分度很好。
本題是考查考生從上下文猜測詞義的能力。根據(jù)第二段中出現(xiàn)的“robot assembly arms”， “automated teller terminals”，“tireless robo-drivers”等信息，考生可以猜出“gizmos”是 “設(shè)備、裝置”的意思。
48.（D）
此題的難度合適，區(qū)分度很好。
本題的答題依據(jù)是第三段中Dave Lavery的第二句話，即“we can't yet give a robot enough 'common sense' to reliably interact with a dynamic world.“該句中的”dynamic“就是”動態(tài)的、變化的“意思。
49.（B）
此題的難度合適，區(qū)分度好。
本題的答題依據(jù)是第三段中Dave Lavery說的第一句話，即 “While we know how to tell a robot to handle a specific error，”即我們知道如何告訴機(jī)器人去處理一個具體的錯誤。看懂了這句話，這道題就很容易了。
50.（C）
此題屬于很容易的題目，區(qū)分度好。
本題考的是文章最后一段的意思。該段的主要意思是：機(jī)器人能夠在很短的時間內(nèi)發(fā)現(xiàn)機(jī)器的問題，而人腦能很快忽略不相關(guān)的信息，而將注意力集中到相關(guān)的信息上來，這是先進(jìn)的機(jī)器人都做不到的。
翻譯句子
1、That compulsion has resulted in robotics——the science of conferring various human capabilities on machines.
[參考譯文]這種不得已的行為導(dǎo)致了機(jī)器人科學(xué)的產(chǎn)生——一門將人類的能力賦予機(jī)器的科學(xué)。
2、“While we know how to tell a robot to handle a specific error， ” says Dave Lavery， manager of a robotics program at NASA， “we can't yet give a robot enough 'common sense' to reliably interact with a dynamic world.”
[參考譯文]“雖然我們知道如何讓機(jī)器人去糾正一個特定的錯誤，”NASA的一個機(jī)器人項目經(jīng)理戴維？拉維里說，“我們?nèi)匀徊荒苜x予機(jī)器人以足夠的'常識'，使它們能夠與動態(tài)的世界進(jìn)行可靠的交流?！?BR> 補充難句翻譯
①Since the dawn of human ingenuity， people have devised ever more cunning tools to cope with work that is dangerous， boring， burdensome， or just plain nasty.[參考譯文]：從人類（具有）創(chuàng)造性的初期，人們就發(fā)明了越來越聰明的工具來對付那些危險、乏味、繁重，甚至是僅僅令人討厭的工作。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]該句是一個復(fù)雜單句，前面是since引導(dǎo)的一個時間狀語，這個地方的dawn取其比喻的意思，表示早期。后面主句中有一個定語從句that
is dangerous， boring， burdensome， or just plain nasty用來修飾work.
[閱讀重點]本句結(jié)構(gòu)比較簡明，但是有一些詞的意思比較難：ingenuity創(chuàng)造性，靈活性；nasty討厭的。
②As a result， the modern world is increasingly populated by intelligent gizmos whose presence we barely notice but whose universal existence has removed much human labor. [參考譯文]：因此，當(dāng)今世界充滿著越來越多的聰明的小玩意，我們很少注意到它們的存在，但是它們的普遍存在已經(jīng)替代了很多的人類勞動。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]本句的主句是the modern world is increasingly populated by intelligent gizmos，后面是兩個定語從句，中間用but來引導(dǎo)。
[閱讀重點]要看懂本句，重點在于看到gizmo一詞后面的兩個定語從句。在本句中，認(rèn)不認(rèn)識gizmo并不重要，因為從上下文中可以看出它和robot的意思應(yīng)該大同小異。
③There are already robot systems that can perform some kinds of brain and bone surgery with submillimeter accuracy —far greater precision than highly skilled physicians can achieve with their hands alone. [參考譯文]：現(xiàn)在已有一些機(jī)器人系統(tǒng)能夠進(jìn)行精確到毫米以下的腦部和骨骼手術(shù)——這要比極具技巧的醫(yī)生單單用手精確得多。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]該句是一個there be的結(jié)構(gòu)，注意robot systems后面有一個修飾它的定語從句。而后面的破折號引出一個補充說明部分來修飾submillimeter accuracy.
[閱讀重點]注意該句中的最核心的部分是robot systems，其它成分都是圍繞著它來展開的。
④But if robots are to reach the next stage of laborsaving utility， they will have to operate with less human supervision and be able to make at least a few decisions for themselves —goals that pose a real challenge.[參考譯文]：但是如果機(jī)器人要達(dá)到節(jié)省人工的下一個階段，它們將必須在更少的人力監(jiān)督之下工作，而且還要能夠自己作出至少幾個決定——這些目標(biāo)才會引發(fā)真正的挑戰(zhàn)。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]整句是一個條件句，注意后面的主句比較復(fù)雜，里面有兩個并列的謂語，而后面破折號引
導(dǎo)的是一個補充說明成分，修飾整個主句。
[閱讀重點]要注意兩個并列謂語之間的關(guān)系。
⑤But the human mind can glimpse a rapidly changing scene and immediately disregard the 98 percent that is irrelevant， instantaneously focusing on the monkey at the side of a winding forest road or the single suspicious face in a big crowd. [參考譯文]：但是人類的頭腦可以只迅速地嚓一眼一個快速改變的場面，然后立刻放棄98%的不相關(guān)部分，而馬上聚焦于一條崎嶇森林道路邊的一只猴子，或者在茫茫人海中的一張可疑的臉。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]整句的主干部分是這樣的，主語the human mind，并列謂語glimpse和disregard，逗號后面 instantaneously focusing on the monkey at the side of a winding forest road or the single suspicious face in a big crowd 這一部分做狀語，修飾謂語。
[閱讀重點]要注意兩個并列謂語之間的關(guān)系并抓住句子的主干成分。
語言點詳解
1.ingenuity創(chuàng)造性，靈活性[詞義辨析]genuine adj.真實的，真正的，誠懇的[衍生詞匯] ingenious adj.有發(fā)明天才的；聰明的genius n.天才，天賦，天才人物[經(jīng)典例句] Our ingenuity can certainly devise means of solving energy problems.
2.cunning聰明的[大綱詞匯]cunning adj*詐的；狡猾的；[詞義辨析]這個詞一般情況下是貶義，但是在本文中是中性的。
[聯(lián)想記憶]同為貶義的有：sly ，shrewd[經(jīng)典例句]Shylock is a cunning Jew in Merchant of Venice.
3. nasty令人不愉快的；討厭的[大綱詞匯]nasty adj.骯臟的；令人不愉快的；討厭的[經(jīng)典例句]For most teachers， to correct a student's writing is a nasty task.
4.compulsion難以抗拒的沖動[大綱詞匯]compulsion n.難以抗拒的沖動；壓力；強制[經(jīng)典例句]I have a strong compulsion to do things by myself.
5.confer授予，贈予[大綱詞匯]confer v.授予，贈予[衍生詞匯]conference n.會議，討論會[經(jīng)典例句]The university conferred an honorary degree on the famous politician.
6.gizmo n.小裝置，小玩藝兒，小東西[詞義辨析]這個詞也可寫成gismo.雖然是超綱單詞，但是我們通過上下文也大概能猜出它的意思。
7.hum忙碌；活躍[大綱詞匯]hum v.（蜜蜂、動物等）發(fā)出嗡嗡聲；發(fā)出哼哼聲；哼曲子；活躍起來[記憶方法]這個詞很好記，它是一個象聲詞。但是詞組hum to表示隨著二而忙碌。
8.terminal終端[大綱詞匯]terminal adj.臨終的，最后的；n.終點，終端[經(jīng)典例句]Computer terminals are seen everywhere in a bank office now.
9.miniaturization，。小型化[記憶方法]記住其最開始的詞綴是mini-表示“小的”，而-riza一般表示“化”，-ation是表示名詞詞性的后綴。
10.submillimeter小于毫米的[記憶方法]這個詞雖然看起來很難，但是只要分析它的構(gòu)詞法就可以知道它的意思：sub- 的意思是“低于，小于，在…之下”；而milli-表示“千分之一”，mete：是米。[經(jīng)典例句] Scientists can observe the movement of some submillimeter microorganism.
11.common sense常識[記憶方法]common sense是一個理解英語文章的關(guān)鍵詞，它表示一個有理性的人認(rèn)可的通常的社會規(guī)范和他所具有的基本判斷力。
12.dynamic動力的；有活力的[大綱詞匯]dynamic adj.動力的；有活力的[聯(lián)想記憶]dynamics n.動力學(xué) dynamite n.炸藥[經(jīng)典例句]Although he is handicapped， he still leads a very dynamic life.
13.forecast預(yù)測；預(yù)報[大綱詞匯]forecast n./v.預(yù)測；預(yù)報[聯(lián)想記憶」weather forecast天氣預(yù)報[經(jīng)典例句]Due to advanced technology， weather forecasts nowadays become more and more accurate.
14.fraction小部分[大綱詞匯]fraction n.小部分，片斷，分?jǐn)?shù)[經(jīng)典例句]He did not swerve from his principle by a fraction.
15. instantaneously瞬間地，即時地[大綱詞匯]instantaneous adj.瞬間的，即時的[聯(lián)想記憶]instant adj.立即的，直接的，緊迫的，刻不容緩的instinct n.本能
16 .neuroscientist神經(jīng)科學(xué)家[記憶方法」neuro-表示神經(jīng)
全文翻譯
從人類最初有了智慧至今，人們一直在設(shè)計日益巧妙的工具來處理那些危險的、枯燥的、繁重的或者只是一般骯臟的工作。這種不得已的行為導(dǎo)致了機(jī)器人科學(xué)的產(chǎn)生——一門將人類的能力賦予機(jī)器的科學(xué)。如果科學(xué)家們還沒有在機(jī)械上實現(xiàn)科幻小說的幻想，那么他們也已經(jīng)很接近這個目標(biāo)了。
由此引起的結(jié)果是，現(xiàn)代世界已經(jīng)日益充斥著智能的裝置，雖然我們幾乎都注意不到他們，但他們的普遍存在卻節(jié)省了許多人類勞力。我們的工廠里轟鳴著機(jī)器人生產(chǎn)線的節(jié)奏；我們的金融服務(wù)完成于自動柜員機(jī)旁，完成業(yè)務(wù)后，它們還會機(jī)械地、有禮貌地感謝我們；我們的地鐵車輛由不知疲倦的機(jī)器人駕駛。由于電子和微觀機(jī)械儀器的不斷縮小，現(xiàn)在已有一些機(jī)器人系統(tǒng)能夠進(jìn)行精確到毫米的腦部和骨髓手術(shù)，其精確性遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超過熟練的醫(yī)生用他們的雙手所能達(dá)到的水平。
但是如果機(jī)器人要進(jìn)入節(jié)省勞力的下一個階段，他們必須能夠在更少的人工監(jiān)控下運行，并且至少能夠獨立地做一些決定。這些目標(biāo)給我們提出了一個真正的挑戰(zhàn)。“雖然我們知道如何讓機(jī)器人去糾正一個特定的錯誤，”NASA的一個機(jī)器人項目經(jīng)理戴維？拉維里說，“我們?nèi)匀徊荒苜x予機(jī)器人以足夠的'常識 '，使它們能夠與動態(tài)的世界進(jìn)行可靠的交流?！?BR> 實際上對真正的人工智能的追求已經(jīng)產(chǎn)生了各種各樣的效果。雖然一開始在20世紀(jì)60年代和70年代有過一段樂觀的時期——那時候仿佛晶體管電路和微處理器的發(fā)展將使他們在2010年能夠模仿人類大腦的活動——但是最近研究人員已經(jīng)開始將這個預(yù)測延后數(shù)十年，甚至數(shù)百年。
在試圖建造思維模型的過程中，研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)，人類大腦中的近1000億個神經(jīng)細(xì)胞要比以前想像的更聰明，人類的感覺器官也比以前想像的更復(fù)雜。他們建造的機(jī)器人在嚴(yán)格控制的工廠環(huán)境里，能夠在儀表盤上識別毫米以下的誤差。但是人的大腦能夠掃描一個快速變化的場景，迅速排除98％的不相干的物體，立即聚焦于森林中婉蜒道路旁的一只猴子，或者人群中的一張可疑的臉。地球上最先進(jìn)的計算機(jī)系統(tǒng)也不能仿效這種能力，并且神經(jīng)學(xué)科學(xué)家仍然不知道我們是怎樣做到這一點的。
As a result， the modern world is increasingly populated by intelligent gizmos whose presence we barely notice but whose universal existence has removed much human labor. Our factories hum to the rhythm of robot assembly arms. Our banking is done at automated teller terminals that thank us with mechanical politeness for the transaction. Our subway trains are controlled by tireless robo-drivers. And thanks to the continual miniaturization of electronics and micro-mechanics， there are already robot systems that can perform some kinds of brain and bone surgery with submillimeter accuracy—far greater precision than highly skilled physicians can achieve with their hands alone.
But if robots are to reach the next stage of laborsaving utility， they will have to operate with less human supervision and be able to make at least a few decisions for themselves—goals that pose a real challenge. “While we know how to tell a robot to handle a specific error，” says Dave Lavery， manager of a robotics program at NASA， “we can't yet give a robot enough 'common sense' to reliably interact with a dynamic world.”
Indeed the quest for true artificial intelligence has produced very mixed results. Despite a spell of initial optimism in the 1960s and 1970s when it appeared that transistor circuits and microprocessors might be able to copy the action of the human brain by the year 2010， researchers lately have begun to extend that forecast by decades if not centuries. What they found， in attempting to model thought， is that the human brain's roughly one hundred billion nerve cells are much more talented—and human perception far more complicated—than previously imagined. They have built robots that can recognize the error of a machine panel by a fraction of a millimeter in a controlled factory environment. But the human mind can glimpse a rapidly changing scene and immediately disregard the 98 percent that is irrelevant， instantaneously focusing on the monkey at the side of a winding forest road or the single suspicious face in a big crowd. The most advanced computer systems on Earth can't approach that kind of ability， and neuroscientists still don't know quite how we do it.
46. Human ingenuity was initially demonstrated in ________.
（A）the use of machines to produce science fiction
（B）the wide use of machines in manufacturing industry
（C）the invention of tools for difficult and dangerous work
（D）the elite's cunning tackling of dangerous and boring work
47. The word “gizmos” （line 1， paragraph 2） most probably means ________.
（A）programs
（B）experts
（C）devices
（D）creatures
48. According to the text， what is beyond man's ability now is to design a robot that can ________.
（A）fulfill delicate tasks like performing brain surgery
（B）interact with human beings verbally
（C）have a little common sense
（D）respond independently to a changing world
49. Besides reducing human labor， robots can also ________.
（A）make a few decisions for themselves
（B）deal with some errors with human intervention
（C）improve factory environments
（D）cultivate human creativity
50. The author uses the example of a monkey to argue that robots are ________.
（A）expected to copy human brain in internal structure
（B）able to perceive abnormalities immediately
（C）far less able than human brain in focusing on relevant information
（D）best used in a controlled environment
答案及試題解析
CCDBC
46.（C）
此題的難度合適，區(qū)分度好。
本題是一個局部題，主要考查考生是否看懂了第一段，尤其是 “That compulsion has resulted in robotics—the science of conferring various human capabilities on machines” 這句話。這句話的意思是：（發(fā)明一些靈巧的工具來從事一些危險、乏味、繁重，或者是討厭的工作）這樣一種需求導(dǎo)致了機(jī)器人技術(shù)的產(chǎn)生，即賦予機(jī)器以人的各種技能的科學(xué)。
47.（C）
此題偏易，區(qū)分度很好。
本題是考查考生從上下文猜測詞義的能力。根據(jù)第二段中出現(xiàn)的“robot assembly arms”， “automated teller terminals”，“tireless robo-drivers”等信息，考生可以猜出“gizmos”是 “設(shè)備、裝置”的意思。
48.（D）
此題的難度合適，區(qū)分度很好。
本題的答題依據(jù)是第三段中Dave Lavery的第二句話，即“we can't yet give a robot enough 'common sense' to reliably interact with a dynamic world.“該句中的”dynamic“就是”動態(tài)的、變化的“意思。
49.（B）
此題的難度合適，區(qū)分度好。
本題的答題依據(jù)是第三段中Dave Lavery說的第一句話，即 “While we know how to tell a robot to handle a specific error，”即我們知道如何告訴機(jī)器人去處理一個具體的錯誤。看懂了這句話，這道題就很容易了。
50.（C）
此題屬于很容易的題目，區(qū)分度好。
本題考的是文章最后一段的意思。該段的主要意思是：機(jī)器人能夠在很短的時間內(nèi)發(fā)現(xiàn)機(jī)器的問題，而人腦能很快忽略不相關(guān)的信息，而將注意力集中到相關(guān)的信息上來，這是先進(jìn)的機(jī)器人都做不到的。
翻譯句子
1、That compulsion has resulted in robotics——the science of conferring various human capabilities on machines.
[參考譯文]這種不得已的行為導(dǎo)致了機(jī)器人科學(xué)的產(chǎn)生——一門將人類的能力賦予機(jī)器的科學(xué)。
2、“While we know how to tell a robot to handle a specific error， ” says Dave Lavery， manager of a robotics program at NASA， “we can't yet give a robot enough 'common sense' to reliably interact with a dynamic world.”
[參考譯文]“雖然我們知道如何讓機(jī)器人去糾正一個特定的錯誤，”NASA的一個機(jī)器人項目經(jīng)理戴維？拉維里說，“我們?nèi)匀徊荒苜x予機(jī)器人以足夠的'常識'，使它們能夠與動態(tài)的世界進(jìn)行可靠的交流?！?BR> 補充難句翻譯
①Since the dawn of human ingenuity， people have devised ever more cunning tools to cope with work that is dangerous， boring， burdensome， or just plain nasty.[參考譯文]：從人類（具有）創(chuàng)造性的初期，人們就發(fā)明了越來越聰明的工具來對付那些危險、乏味、繁重，甚至是僅僅令人討厭的工作。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]該句是一個復(fù)雜單句，前面是since引導(dǎo)的一個時間狀語，這個地方的dawn取其比喻的意思，表示早期。后面主句中有一個定語從句that
is dangerous， boring， burdensome， or just plain nasty用來修飾work.
[閱讀重點]本句結(jié)構(gòu)比較簡明，但是有一些詞的意思比較難：ingenuity創(chuàng)造性，靈活性；nasty討厭的。
②As a result， the modern world is increasingly populated by intelligent gizmos whose presence we barely notice but whose universal existence has removed much human labor. [參考譯文]：因此，當(dāng)今世界充滿著越來越多的聰明的小玩意，我們很少注意到它們的存在，但是它們的普遍存在已經(jīng)替代了很多的人類勞動。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]本句的主句是the modern world is increasingly populated by intelligent gizmos，后面是兩個定語從句，中間用but來引導(dǎo)。
[閱讀重點]要看懂本句，重點在于看到gizmo一詞后面的兩個定語從句。在本句中，認(rèn)不認(rèn)識gizmo并不重要，因為從上下文中可以看出它和robot的意思應(yīng)該大同小異。
③There are already robot systems that can perform some kinds of brain and bone surgery with submillimeter accuracy —far greater precision than highly skilled physicians can achieve with their hands alone. [參考譯文]：現(xiàn)在已有一些機(jī)器人系統(tǒng)能夠進(jìn)行精確到毫米以下的腦部和骨骼手術(shù)——這要比極具技巧的醫(yī)生單單用手精確得多。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]該句是一個there be的結(jié)構(gòu)，注意robot systems后面有一個修飾它的定語從句。而后面的破折號引出一個補充說明部分來修飾submillimeter accuracy.
[閱讀重點]注意該句中的最核心的部分是robot systems，其它成分都是圍繞著它來展開的。
④But if robots are to reach the next stage of laborsaving utility， they will have to operate with less human supervision and be able to make at least a few decisions for themselves —goals that pose a real challenge.[參考譯文]：但是如果機(jī)器人要達(dá)到節(jié)省人工的下一個階段，它們將必須在更少的人力監(jiān)督之下工作，而且還要能夠自己作出至少幾個決定——這些目標(biāo)才會引發(fā)真正的挑戰(zhàn)。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]整句是一個條件句，注意后面的主句比較復(fù)雜，里面有兩個并列的謂語，而后面破折號引
導(dǎo)的是一個補充說明成分，修飾整個主句。
[閱讀重點]要注意兩個并列謂語之間的關(guān)系。
⑤But the human mind can glimpse a rapidly changing scene and immediately disregard the 98 percent that is irrelevant， instantaneously focusing on the monkey at the side of a winding forest road or the single suspicious face in a big crowd. [參考譯文]：但是人類的頭腦可以只迅速地嚓一眼一個快速改變的場面，然后立刻放棄98%的不相關(guān)部分，而馬上聚焦于一條崎嶇森林道路邊的一只猴子，或者在茫茫人海中的一張可疑的臉。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]整句的主干部分是這樣的，主語the human mind，并列謂語glimpse和disregard，逗號后面 instantaneously focusing on the monkey at the side of a winding forest road or the single suspicious face in a big crowd 這一部分做狀語，修飾謂語。
[閱讀重點]要注意兩個并列謂語之間的關(guān)系并抓住句子的主干成分。
語言點詳解
1.ingenuity創(chuàng)造性，靈活性[詞義辨析]genuine adj.真實的，真正的，誠懇的[衍生詞匯] ingenious adj.有發(fā)明天才的；聰明的genius n.天才，天賦，天才人物[經(jīng)典例句] Our ingenuity can certainly devise means of solving energy problems.
2.cunning聰明的[大綱詞匯]cunning adj*詐的；狡猾的；[詞義辨析]這個詞一般情況下是貶義，但是在本文中是中性的。
[聯(lián)想記憶]同為貶義的有：sly ，shrewd[經(jīng)典例句]Shylock is a cunning Jew in Merchant of Venice.
3. nasty令人不愉快的；討厭的[大綱詞匯]nasty adj.骯臟的；令人不愉快的；討厭的[經(jīng)典例句]For most teachers， to correct a student's writing is a nasty task.
4.compulsion難以抗拒的沖動[大綱詞匯]compulsion n.難以抗拒的沖動；壓力；強制[經(jīng)典例句]I have a strong compulsion to do things by myself.
5.confer授予，贈予[大綱詞匯]confer v.授予，贈予[衍生詞匯]conference n.會議，討論會[經(jīng)典例句]The university conferred an honorary degree on the famous politician.
6.gizmo n.小裝置，小玩藝兒，小東西[詞義辨析]這個詞也可寫成gismo.雖然是超綱單詞，但是我們通過上下文也大概能猜出它的意思。
7.hum忙碌；活躍[大綱詞匯]hum v.（蜜蜂、動物等）發(fā)出嗡嗡聲；發(fā)出哼哼聲；哼曲子；活躍起來[記憶方法]這個詞很好記，它是一個象聲詞。但是詞組hum to表示隨著二而忙碌。
8.terminal終端[大綱詞匯]terminal adj.臨終的，最后的；n.終點，終端[經(jīng)典例句]Computer terminals are seen everywhere in a bank office now.
9.miniaturization，。小型化[記憶方法]記住其最開始的詞綴是mini-表示“小的”，而-riza一般表示“化”，-ation是表示名詞詞性的后綴。
10.submillimeter小于毫米的[記憶方法]這個詞雖然看起來很難，但是只要分析它的構(gòu)詞法就可以知道它的意思：sub- 的意思是“低于，小于，在…之下”；而milli-表示“千分之一”，mete：是米。[經(jīng)典例句] Scientists can observe the movement of some submillimeter microorganism.
11.common sense常識[記憶方法]common sense是一個理解英語文章的關(guān)鍵詞，它表示一個有理性的人認(rèn)可的通常的社會規(guī)范和他所具有的基本判斷力。
12.dynamic動力的；有活力的[大綱詞匯]dynamic adj.動力的；有活力的[聯(lián)想記憶]dynamics n.動力學(xué) dynamite n.炸藥[經(jīng)典例句]Although he is handicapped， he still leads a very dynamic life.
13.forecast預(yù)測；預(yù)報[大綱詞匯]forecast n./v.預(yù)測；預(yù)報[聯(lián)想記憶」weather forecast天氣預(yù)報[經(jīng)典例句]Due to advanced technology， weather forecasts nowadays become more and more accurate.
14.fraction小部分[大綱詞匯]fraction n.小部分，片斷，分?jǐn)?shù)[經(jīng)典例句]He did not swerve from his principle by a fraction.
15. instantaneously瞬間地，即時地[大綱詞匯]instantaneous adj.瞬間的，即時的[聯(lián)想記憶]instant adj.立即的，直接的，緊迫的，刻不容緩的instinct n.本能
16 .neuroscientist神經(jīng)科學(xué)家[記憶方法」neuro-表示神經(jīng)
全文翻譯
從人類最初有了智慧至今，人們一直在設(shè)計日益巧妙的工具來處理那些危險的、枯燥的、繁重的或者只是一般骯臟的工作。這種不得已的行為導(dǎo)致了機(jī)器人科學(xué)的產(chǎn)生——一門將人類的能力賦予機(jī)器的科學(xué)。如果科學(xué)家們還沒有在機(jī)械上實現(xiàn)科幻小說的幻想，那么他們也已經(jīng)很接近這個目標(biāo)了。
由此引起的結(jié)果是，現(xiàn)代世界已經(jīng)日益充斥著智能的裝置，雖然我們幾乎都注意不到他們，但他們的普遍存在卻節(jié)省了許多人類勞力。我們的工廠里轟鳴著機(jī)器人生產(chǎn)線的節(jié)奏；我們的金融服務(wù)完成于自動柜員機(jī)旁，完成業(yè)務(wù)后，它們還會機(jī)械地、有禮貌地感謝我們；我們的地鐵車輛由不知疲倦的機(jī)器人駕駛。由于電子和微觀機(jī)械儀器的不斷縮小，現(xiàn)在已有一些機(jī)器人系統(tǒng)能夠進(jìn)行精確到毫米的腦部和骨髓手術(shù)，其精確性遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超過熟練的醫(yī)生用他們的雙手所能達(dá)到的水平。
但是如果機(jī)器人要進(jìn)入節(jié)省勞力的下一個階段，他們必須能夠在更少的人工監(jiān)控下運行，并且至少能夠獨立地做一些決定。這些目標(biāo)給我們提出了一個真正的挑戰(zhàn)。“雖然我們知道如何讓機(jī)器人去糾正一個特定的錯誤，”NASA的一個機(jī)器人項目經(jīng)理戴維？拉維里說，“我們?nèi)匀徊荒苜x予機(jī)器人以足夠的'常識 '，使它們能夠與動態(tài)的世界進(jìn)行可靠的交流?！?BR> 實際上對真正的人工智能的追求已經(jīng)產(chǎn)生了各種各樣的效果。雖然一開始在20世紀(jì)60年代和70年代有過一段樂觀的時期——那時候仿佛晶體管電路和微處理器的發(fā)展將使他們在2010年能夠模仿人類大腦的活動——但是最近研究人員已經(jīng)開始將這個預(yù)測延后數(shù)十年，甚至數(shù)百年。
在試圖建造思維模型的過程中，研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)，人類大腦中的近1000億個神經(jīng)細(xì)胞要比以前想像的更聰明，人類的感覺器官也比以前想像的更復(fù)雜。他們建造的機(jī)器人在嚴(yán)格控制的工廠環(huán)境里，能夠在儀表盤上識別毫米以下的誤差。但是人的大腦能夠掃描一個快速變化的場景，迅速排除98％的不相干的物體，立即聚焦于森林中婉蜒道路旁的一只猴子，或者人群中的一張可疑的臉。地球上最先進(jìn)的計算機(jī)系統(tǒng)也不能仿效這種能力，并且神經(jīng)學(xué)科學(xué)家仍然不知道我們是怎樣做到這一點的。