C
Delivery Robots May Soon Be Knocking at Your Door
With self-driving vehicle technology rapidly advancing, many companies are turning to autonomous robots for the final leg—the so-called last mile—of the delivery process, from the store or local distribution center to the customer. The latest to join the trend is Amazon. Following a successful eight-month test run in Snohomish County, Washington, the company’s Scout robots have been making the rounds of Irvine, California, since August 6, 2019.
The six-wheeled Scout is about the size of a large cooler with the ability to carry small or medium-sized packages. The battery-powered vehicle, which moves at a regular walking pace, has been programmed to avoid pedestrians, animals, and unexpected obstacles（障碍）, such as garbage cans. Its powerful sensors（传感器）can also detect the movement of a car backing out of a driveway.
While Amazon is focusing on home deliveries, San Francisco-based Starship Technologies has its eyes set on universities. On August 20, 2019, the company announced plans to use thousands of robots to deliver food and other things to students at college campuses across the country. Unlike Scout, Starship’s robots are seasoned workers. They have been tested in over 100 cities in 20 different countries and successfully completed over 100, 000 deliveries.
Meanwhile, food and grocery delivery company Postmates’ robots are currently making their rounds along the busy San Francisco streets. Also in testing, the robots can carry up to 50 pounds and travel 30 miles on a single battery charge.
Though the eco-friendly robots will help free our streets of bicycles and large delivery trucks that typically send packages, they have some limitations. They are unable to climb stairs or open gates, which means that they can only reach consumers who live on the ground level. Additionally, the robots are unable to leave packages at the front door if the customers are not home. Whether these problems get solved remains to be seen. For now, it appears that humans will still be needed to meet the ever-growing demand for home and office deliveries.
8. What does the underlined part in para l mean?
A. much more help B. very close distance
C. substitute for human D. the last section
9. We can learn from the passage that ________.
A. Powerful robots sensors are gaining popularity in delivery.
B. The Postmates’ robots focus on students' food and grocery delivery.
C. The Scout can avoid obstacles because it moves at a regular pace.
D. Delivery robots have turned up in universities to serve students.
10. What’s author’s attitude towards delivery robots？
A. Objective B. Optimistic
C. Pessimistic D. Cautious
11. From which is the text probably taken？
A. a biology textbook B. a health magazine
C. a newspaper D. a travel brochure
【答案】8. D 9. D 10. A 11. C
【解析】
这是一篇新闻报道。文章讲述了，亚马逊送货机器人即将开始使用，虽有局限，但可给人们生活带来便利。
【8题详解】
词义猜测题。由第一段中的“With self-driving vehicle technology rapidly advancing, many companies are turning to autonomous robots for the final leg—the so-called last mile—of the delivery process, from the store or local distribution center to the customer.”（随着自动驾驶汽车技术的迅速发展，许多公司开始转向自主机器人，完成从商店或当地配送中心到客户的最后一段路程，即所谓的最后一英里。），the so-called last mile（所谓的最后一英里）是对the final leg进一步解释说明，the final leg在此处意为“最后一节（路程）”。故选D项。
【9题详解】
细节理解题。由第三段中的“While Amazon is focusing on home deliveries, San Francisco-based Starship Technologies has its eyes set on universities. On August 20, 2019, the company announced plans to use thousands of robots to deliver food and other things to students at college campuses across the country.”（在亚马逊专注于家庭送货的同时，总部位于旧金山的Starship Technologies则将目光投向了大学。2019年8月20日，该公司宣布计划使用数千台（送货）机器人为全国大学校园的学生送食物和其他东西。），可知送货机器人会出现在大学里为学生送食物和其他东西，即为学生服务。故选D项。
【10题详解】
推理判断题。由第五段“Though the eco-friendly robots will help free our streets of bicycles and large delivery trucks that typically send packages, they have some limitations. They are unable to climb stairs or open gates, which means that they can only reach consumers who live on the ground level. Additionally, the robots are unable to leave packages at the front door if the customers are not home. Whether these problems get solved remains to be seen. For now, it appears that humans will still be needed to meet the ever-growing demand for home and office deliveries.”（虽然环保机器人将帮助我们的街道摆脱自行车和大型送货卡车的发送包裹模式，但他们有一些局限性。他们不能爬楼梯或打开大门，这意味着他们只能接触住在地面的消费者。另外，如果顾客不在家，机器人就不能把包裹放在前门。这些问题能否得到解决还有待观察。目前看来，仍然需要满足人类日益增长的家庭和办公用品需求。）可知作者认为这些机器尽管有好处，也有自身的局限性，这是一种客观的（Objective）态度。故选A项。
【11题详解】
推理判断题。由文章标题“Delivery Robots May Soon Be Knocking at Your Door”（送货机器人可能很快就会来敲门了）和第一段“With self-driving vehicle technology rapidly advancing, many companies are turning to autonomous robots for the final leg—the so-called last mile—of the delivery process, from the store or local distribution center to the customer. The latest to join the trend is Amazon. Following a successful eight-month test run in Snohomish County, Washington, the company’s Scout robots have been making the rounds of Irvine, California, since August 6, 2019.”（随着自动驾驶汽车技术的迅速发展，许多公司开始转向自主机器人，完成从商店或当地配送中心到客户的最后一段路程，即所谓的最后一英里。最新加入这一趋势的是亚马逊。继在华盛顿州斯诺霍米什郡（Snohomish County）成功进行了8个月的试运行后，该公司的侦察机器人自2019年8月6日起开始在加利福尼亚州欧文市巡逻。）可知这篇文章围绕新兴的送货机器人，不可能是来自生物课本、健康杂志和旅游手册的，只可能是报纸。故选C项。
