【高二 拓展阅读-科技】Japanese Hotel Chain“Fires”Robot Staff

JapaneseHotelChain“Fires”RobotStaffThoseconcernedthatrobotsaretakingovertheworldcanresteasy--fornowThoughtheandroidshaveprovedusefulatperformingmundanetasks，theyarenotreadyforprimetime.AtleastthatappearstobethecaseatJapanscutting-edgeHenn-naHotelchainwhereoverhalfoftherobotstaffisbeingreplacedbyhumans.Thefirstlocationoftheaptly（命名恰当的）namedHenn-na（“strange”inJapanese）Hotelopenedwithmuchfanfare（大张旗鼓的宣传）atNagasaki’sHuisTenBoschThemeParkinJuly2015.Thehotel'sowner，HideoSawada，envisionedthefuturisticlodgingtobemanagedprimarilybyintelligentrobotswithminimalhumaninteraction.Guestsweregreetedandchecked-inbyeitherafamily-friendlyEnglish-speakingdinosaurrobotoraJapanese-speakinghumanoid（人形机器人）.Autonomousrobotportersstoodreadytohelpguests’carryluggagetotheirrooms，whileacutedoll-shapedandroidcalledChuri，placedinsideeachroom，providedthemwithinformationaboutnearbyattractions.Eventhehotel'sgarbagecanswererobotic.Notsurprisingly，thelodging，recognisedin2016astheworld’sfirstrobot-staffedhotelbyGuinnessWorldRecords，drewincuriousvisitorsfromallaroundtheworld.Spurredbythesuccess，SawadaopenedsevenadditionallocationsacrossJapanandannouncedplanstobuildatleast50more.Butastheyearshavepassed，thehotel'smaindraw--itsemployees--arebecominglessofanoveltyandmoreofanuisance.Alsoastherobotsare“aging”theyarecostingmoretorepairandmaintainEarlierthismonth，thehotelchain，sparentcompanyH.I.S.announcedthatithaddecidedto“fire”overhalfoftherobotemployeesandreplacethemwithhumans.Amongthe283androidsbeingmothballed（封存）arethechain'stwovelociraptor（迅猛龙）receptionists.Inadditiontoscaringyoungguests，theyarealsounabletomanuallyphotocopyguests’passports--arequirementwhencheckingintoaJapanesehotel--forcinghumanemployeestostepineachtime.AlsooutarethecuteChurirobots，whichhaveprovedwoefully（极其）inept（无能的）atansweringeventhesimplestquestionsandannoyedguestsbyinterruptingtheirconversations.OneguesttoldtheWallStreetJournalthatChurimistookhissnoringforacommandandkeptaskinghimtorepeathisrequestallnight.Theroboticportersaregettingreplacedaswellbecauseoftheirinabilitytotraverseslopes，limitingtheirusefulnesstojustafractionofthehotelsrooms.ReadingComprehensionChoosethecorrectanswerforeachquestion.1.WhendidthefirstHenn-naHotelopen?A.In2015.B.In2016.C.In2017.D.ln2018.2.WhoisHideoSawada?A.Ajournalist.B.TheownerofHenn-naHotel.C.Atraveler.D.aguestofthehotel.3.WhatwasChuri’sjobineachroom?A.Cleaningandtidyingtheroom.B.Helpingguestscarryluggagetotheirrooms.C.Providinginformationaboutnearbyattractions.D.Stayingandchattingwiththeguests.4.Whyarethevelociraptorreceptionistsfired?A.Theyaretoougly.B.Theyaretooscaryforalloftheguests.C.Theycosttoomuchtomaintain.D.Theycan’tmanuallyphotocopyguest’spassports.5.WhichofthefollowingisNOTmentionedaboutHenn-naHotel?A.H.I.S.madealargeprofitonHenn-naHotel.B.ThefirstHenn-nahotelopenedatNagasaki'sHuisTenBoschThemePark.C.H.I.S.isthehotelchainsparentcompany.D.ThehotelfiredtheannoyingChurirobots.Vocabulary基础词chain n.连锁店；链子；连锁；一系列；一连串（人或事）搭chainstore连锁店chainreaction连锁反应achainof一系列location n.位置；所在地记词根记忆：loc（地方）+ation（表名词）→所在地搭anofficelocation办公地点intelligent adj.智能的；聪明的；有智慧的记词根记忆：inte（=inter，在…之间）+lig〔选择）+ent（表形容词，关于…的）知道如何选择的→聪明的；智能的autonomous adj.自主的；自治的；独立的记词根记忆：auto（自己）+nom（名字）+ous（…的）能给自己起名字的→自主的；自治的搭autonomousindividuals独立自主的个体anautonomousstate自治州porter n.行李搬运工英someonewhosejobistocarrypeople’sbagsatrailwaystations，etc记词根记忆：por（拿，运）+er（表人）→搬运工recognize v.（正式）承认；公认；认识，辨认出；意识到记词根记忆：re（表加强）+cogn（知道）+ise（使…）→辨认出；承认例Themedicalqualificationsofthehospitalarerecognisedalloverthecountry.这所医院的医疗条件举国公认。nuisance n.令人讨厌的人或事记联想记忆：讨厌的人（nuisance）总说废话（nonsense）receptionist n.接待员；招待员记来自reception（n.接待）搭theattitudeofthereceptionist接待员的态度scare vt.使恐惧，惊吓ⅵ.受惊吓记联想记忆：s+care（在意）→太过在意，担惊受怕→使恐惧例ItscaredmetothinkIwasgoingtostaytherealone.一想到要独自待在那里，我就害怕。command n./vt.命令；指令；控制；掌握记词根记忆：com（表加强）+mand（命令）→命令例Youshouldobeytheleader’scommands.你应该遵从上级的命令。mundane adj.平凡的，单调的；世俗的英notinterestingorexciting记词根记忆：mund（世界）+ane（…的）→顺应世界的→世俗的；平凡的prime adj.主要的；最初的；最好的；首先的n.全盛时期，盛年记词根记忆：prm（第一）+e→主要的；最初的搭primerequisite必备条件envision vt.展望，预想；想象英toimaginesththatyouthinkmighthappeninthefuture记词根记忆：en（在…之内）+vis（看）+ion（表名词）→从内心看→想象；展望minimal adj.最小的；最低限度的记词根记忆：minm（小）+a（…的）→最小的搭minimalcost最低的花费interaction n.交流；相互作用，相互影响英whentwopeopleorthingscommunicatewithorreacttoeachotherrobotic adj.机器人的；像机器人的，呆板而机械的记词根记忆：robot（机器人）+ic（…的）机器人的spur vt.激励，鼓舞；刺激，促进n.刺激（物）；激励；马刺记联想记忆：美国NBA的马刺队（Spurs）例Iwasspurredintoactionbyyourwords.你的话激励我行动了起来。Vocabulary进阶词mundane adj.平凡的，单调的；世俗的英notinterestingorexciting记词根记忆：mund（世界）+ane（…的）→顺应世界的→世俗的；平凡的prime adj.主要的；最初的；最好的；首先的n.全盛时期，盛年记词根记忆：prim（第一）+e→主要的；最初的搭primerequisite必备条件envision vt.展望，预想；想象英toimaginesththatyouthinkmighthappeninthefuture记词根记忆：en（在…之内）+ⅵs（看）+ion（表名词）→从内心看→想象；展望minimal adj.最小的；最低限度的记词根记忆：minm（小）+al（…的）→最小