大学英语六级考试模拟试卷九十四（带答案）

大学英语六级考试模拟试卷九十四

（总分：710.00,做题时间：130分钟）

PartIWriting（总题数：1,分数：0.00）

1.Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteashortessay

entitledTheImportanceofSocialPractice.Youshouldwriteatleast150wordsbut

nomorethan200words.WriteyouressayonAnswerSheet1.

1.对于是否应该参加社会实践，大家看法不一

2.参加社会实践的重要性

（分数：106.50）

正确答案：（［范文］

Whenitcomestostudents'socialpractice,somepeopleregarditasawaste

oftime,whereasothersarguethatparticipatinginvarioussocialactivitiesbenefitsa

lot.Personally,Iaminfavorofthelatterview.

Tobeginwith,bybeingmoresociallyinvolved,wecanapplytheknowledge

wehaveacquiredfromtextbookstothesolutionofpracticalproblems.Onlyindoing

socanwegetextraexperienceoutsidetheIvoryTower.Whatismore,getting

involvedinsocialpracticecanhelpusgainabetterinsightintowhatishappeningin

theworldaroundus,whichdoesgoodtoourfurtherstudy.Lastbutnotleast,social

practicewillprovideuswithmoreopportunitiestodevelopinterpersonalskills,

whichmayputusinafavorablepositioninthefuturejobmarkets.

Toconclude,properamountofsocialpracticedoesnotoccupytoomuchtime

andshouldbecomeanindispensablepartofschooleducation,fortheknowledgewe

obtainfromtextbooksinclassisfarfromenough.）

Part11ListeningComprehension（总题数：0,分数：0.00）

SectionA（总题数：8,分数：0.00）

.Questions1to4arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.

1.（分数:28.40）

A.TravelinginSouthAfricatoseekmedicalhelp.

B.PromotingawarenessandpreventionofAIDS.J

C.Visitingclientsandsigningcontracts.

0.Collectingfundforthenewbusiness.

解析：［听力原文］

W:OurPresident,sinceleavingofficefiveyearsago,hasspentahugeamount

oftimepromotingAIDSawarenessandprevention.

M:ThatisthethingIhavebeendoing.

W:IknowyoujustcamebackfromJohannesburg,SouthAfrica,partofyour

six-nationtourofAfrica.

M:Right.Youknow,AfricahasbeenmoreaffectedbyAIDSthananyother

placeintheworld.

W:Why?

M:Ithinkthat'spartlybecausetherewerenotsystemsinplacebothto

preventpeoplefromcontractingitandspreadingit.

W:Howisyourworkgettingon?

M:IthinkwearebeginningtomakesomeheadwaynotonlyinAfrica,butin

otherplaceswhereit'saproblem.

W:canyounamesome?

M:Itisspreadingworldwide,growingevenfasternowintermsoftherateof

increaseintheformerSovietUnionandtheCaribbean,India,China.

W:Iknowyourfoundationismakingagreatdealofprogress.Isitreasonable

toexpectthatitcanbebroughtundercontrol?

M：Well,yes,butyouhavetotakecareofeducationandpreventionandcare

andtreatmentatthesametime,andthetwothingsspeedupeachother.

W:Howshouldweunderstandtheyspeedupeachother?

M:Whenyou'vegottotreatpeople,you'vegottoovercomeanykindof

culturaldislike,talkaboutitandgetyoungpeopletobehaveresponsiblyandyou've

gottodowhateveryoucantogetasmanypeopletestedasquicklyaspossiblebut

keepinmindthatthisisadiseasethat'sonehundredpercentpreventable.

Whathasthepresidentbeendoingsinceleavingoffice?

①选项均为现在分词，猜测本题可能是问某人在做什么。②对话开头就点明，

President离职后一直在致力于提高人们的艾滋病防御意识，即B。

男士去南非是为艾滋病的防控提供帮助，而非去寻求医疗救助，排除

Ao

C“拜访客户、签合同”以及D“为新业务筹集资金”在对话中均未涉及。

.Questions5to8arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.

5.（分数：28.40）

A.Toorganizeactivitiesforchildren.

B.Toselllocalfarmproducts.

C.Tobringtouriststothetown.

D.Toraisefundforthehospital.V

解析：［听力原文］

W:AreyougoingtothefairnextSaturday?

M:Whatfair?

W:TheannualfairthatRiverbellputsonthefirstSaturdayinJunetoraise

moneyfortheRiverdalehospital.Thefairisbeingheldontheuniversityathleticfield

justlikeinpreviousyears.Haven'tyounoticedthetentsthathadalreadybeenset

up?

M:Yes,Ihave,whataretheyfor?

W:Theyareforthemanyspecialeventsanddisplays.Andthisyearthere'llbe

quiteafewnewevents.

M:Howaboutyou?Willyougo?

W:Yes,actuallyIamgoingtohelpservefoodattherefreshmenttentfora

fewhoursSaturdayafternoon.

M:Domanypeoplevolunteertohelpout?

W:Oh,yes.Ilikehelping,becauseIreallyenjoyseeingalotofmyfriendsat

thefoodtent.Everybodylovestoeat.

M:Sothat'sit.Iheardsomeotherpeopletalkingaboutgoingtohearlocal

bands.Everyonesaysthatthisyear'sshowissupposedtobemoreexcitingthanall

theothersputtogether.That'stheentertainmenttent,right?

W:Right,butthateventwillbetheeveningbeforethefaironFriday.An

auctionwilltakeplaceonSaturdayafternoon,andtherewillbesomerealtreasures

forsalethen.Peopledonateallkindsofthings.Therewillalsobeanartshowon

Saturdayandaspecialgamestentjustforchildren.

M:Andalltheprofitsfromthefairalwaysgotosupportthehospital.Whata

goodidea!Well,Ineedacoupleofbookcases;maybeIcanfindsomeattheauction.

I'mgladyoumentionedit.

Whatisthemainpurposetoholdthefair?

①根据选项内容都是不定式，可以判断题目询问做某事的目的是什么。②对

话中男士不解女士提及的集会，女士解释说这是为医院筹集资金的集会。D为原

文toraisemoneyfortheRiverdalehospital的同义表达,故为答案。

A“为孩子组织活动”、B”销售当地农场产品”和C“把游客带到这个镇

上”对话中都未提及。

SectionB（总题数：7,分数：0.00）

.Questions9to11arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.

1.（分数：21.30）

A.Communicationactuallytakesplacewhenthemessageisreceived.

B.Therearemoremeansofreceivingthanofsendingcommunications.

C.Receptionofcommunicationinvolvesuseofthesenses.

D.ltishardtoorganizebytypingthemeansofsendingcommunication.V

解析：［听力原文］

Undernormalconditionstheactofcommunicationrequiresthepresenceof

atleasttwopersons:onewhosendsandonewhoreceivesthecommunication.In

ordertocommunicatethoughtsandfeelings,theremustbeaconventionalsystemof

signsorsymbolswhichmeanthesametothesenderandthereceiver.Themeansof

sendingcommunicationsaretoonumerousandvariedforsystematicclassification;

therefore,theanalysismustbeginwiththemeansofreceivingcommunications.

Receptionofcommunicationisachievedbyoursenses.Sight,hearingand

touchplaythemostimportantroles.Smellandtasteplayverylimitedroles.

Examplesofvisualcommunicationaregestureandimitation.Althoughboth

frequentlyaccompanyspeech,therearesystemsthatrelysolelyonsight,suchas

thoseusedbydeafanddumbpersons.Anothermeansofcommunicatingvisuallyis

bysignalsoffire,smoke,flagsorflashinglights.Feelingsmaybesimply

communicatedbytouchsuchasbyhandshaking,althoughahighly-developed

systemofhandshakingdisablesblind,deaf,anddumbpersonstocommunicate

intelligently.Whistlingtosomeone,clappinghandsinatheater,andotherformsof

communicationbysoundrelyupontheearasareceiver.Themostfully-developed

formofauditorycommunicationis,ofcourse,thespokenlanguage.

Themeansofcommunicationmentionedsofarhavetwofeaturesincommon:

theylastonlyashorttime,andthepersonsinvolvedmustberelativelyclosetoeach

other.Therefore,allarerestrictedintimeandspace.

Whydoesthespeakeranalyzereceptionofcommunicationfirst?

therevolution.Todayit'sreallyagreatpleasuretohavethismoviestarand

filmmakerheretosharesomethingwithus.Goodevening,Robert

M:Thankyouforyourintroduction.Youhavementionedmobiletechnology.

Actually,whatinterestsmeishownewtechnologycaninteractwithentertainment,

whichisart,andsothat'swheremyinterestcomesin,whatnewplatformscanbe

createdtoincreaseopportunitiesforartiststotelltheirstories.Andwhatsitsatthe

bottomofitis,nomatterwhat'sgoingon,nomatterwhatthesizeofthescreenis,

orhowshortthefilmis,Ijustdon'tbelievethatyoucaneverkeepgoingforward

withoutstory.So,aslongasyou'reabletotellastoryonthisnewplatform,thenI

thinkit'sgoingtobesuccessful.Youhavetohaveagoodstory.Youhavetotella

storywithabeginning,middleandanend,andithastohaveanemotionalgrabbing

point,ithastosatisfyyou,andithastoentertainyou.Andthatwasjustfourpanels.

Soifyoucandoitwithacomic,youcandoitwithfilm.Tome,it'sadisciplinethat

canbeputonthefilmmakerthatIthinkisprettyhealthy.Ilovetheidea.So,whatI

reallylikearenewfilmmakers.Imeanatthisfilmfestivalthisyear,whichwejust

finished,therewerealotofexcitingthingsaboutit.Oneofthemwasthefilmmade

bythemeansofcrossingoverdisciplines,whichhasalottodowiththisnew

technology.Thenewtechnologyissponsoringnewwaysofseeingthingsandnew

waysofdoingthings.Andsosuddenlyinourfestivalthisyearwehadmorenew

filmmakersthanwe'veeverhadsincewestarted.Secondlywehadfilmmakers

crossingoverdisciplines.WehadBonoandU2comingwiththeir3Dexperimental

filmforIMAX.Youhadpoets,youhadmusicians,youhadartistsfromdifferent,other

disciplinescrossingoverintofilm,andtheworktobeseenwasreallyexciting.

WhatdowelearnaboutRobertRedford?

录音开头介绍RobertRedford是一位著名的好莱坞影星和导演，故C所述正

确。

录音开头介绍RobertRedford是一位著名的好莱坞影星，但是没说他是一

位喜剧影星，故A错误。录音并未提及他是一位著名的移动技术人员，也没说他

是知名的电影投资人，故B、D也可排除。

.Questions19to22arebasedontherecordingyouhavejustheard.

4.（分数：56.80）

A.Createimagesmakingpeoplestopthinking.

B.Runaftermanyfunthingsinlife.

C.Trythingsthatdoctorsthinkimpossible.J

D.Freezeabiganimalinablockofice.

解析：［听力原文］

Asamagician,Itrytocreateimagesthatmakepeoplestopandthink.Ialso

trytochallengemyselftodothingsthatdoctorssayarenotpossible.Iwasburied

aliveinNewYorkCityinacoffin,buriedaliveinacoffininApril,1999,foraweek.I

livedtherewithnothingbutwater.AnditendedupbeingsomuchfunthatIdecided

Icouldpursuedoingmoreofthesethings.ThenextoneisIfrozemyselfinablockof

iceforthreedaysandthreenightsinNewYorkCity.ThatwasrroredifficultthanI'd

expected.Theoneafterthat,Istoodontopofahundred-footpillarfor36hours.I

begantohaveillusionsthatthebuildingsthatwerebehindmestartedtolooklikebig

animalheads.

So,nextIwenttoLondon.InLondonIlivedinaglassboxfor44dayswith

nothingbutwater.Itwas,forme,oneofthemostdifficultthingsI'deverdone,butit

wasalsothemostbeautiful.Thereweresomanyskeptics,especiallythepressin

London,thattheystartedflyingcheeseburgersonhelicoptersaroundmyboxto

temptme.So,IfeltallwasworthwhentheNewEnglandJournalofMedicine

actuallyusedtheresearchforscience.

MynextpursuitwasIwantedtoseehowlongIcouldgowithoutbreathing,

likehowlongIcouldsurvivewithnothing,notevenair.Ididn'trealizethatitwould

becomethemostamazingjourneyofmylife.

AsayoungmagicianIwasobsessedwithHoudiniandhisunderwater

challenges.So,Ibegan,earlyon,competingagainsttheotherkids,seeinghowlongI

couldstayunderwaterwhiletheywentupanddowntobreathe,youknow,fivetimes,

whileIstayedunderononebreath.BythetimeIwasateenagerIwasabletohold

mybreathforthreeminutesand30seconds.Iwouldlaterfindoutthatwas

Houdini'spersonalrecord.

In1987Iheardofastowaboutaboythatfellthroughiceandwastrapped

underariver.Hewasunderneath,notbreathingfor45minutes.Whentherescue

workerscametheybroughthimbacktolifeandtherewasnobraindamage.Hiscore

temperaturehaddroppedto77degrees.Asamagician,Ithinkeverythingispossible.

AndIthinkifsomethingisdonebyonepersonitcanbedonebyothers.Istartedto

think,iftheboycouldsurvivewithoutbreathingforthatlong,theremustbeaway

thatIcoulddoit.

Whatdoesthespeakersayhetriestodoasamagician?

录音开头演讲者提到作为一名魔术师，他试图挑战医生认为不可能的事，C

为该处录音的同义表达，为木题答案。

录音开头，演讲者提到他试图做到自己创造的形象能让人们停下来思考，

并不是让人停止思考，故A错误。演讲者提到自己1999年在纽约的魔术表演结

束后，觉得很有趣，因而决定以后可以尝试做这类表演，并不是说他想追求生活

中有趣的事情，故B错误。演讲者提到他曾将自己冻在一块冰里，而非将一头大

型动物冻在一块冰里，故D借误。

.Questions23to25arebasedontherecordingyouhavejustheard.

8.（分数:42.60）

A.WhenthePresidentandtheFirstLadydancedintheWhiteHouse.

B.WhenanoldslavewasinterviewedaboutAmericanBlackHistory.

C.WhenanoldladydancedwiththePresidentandtheFirstlady.V

D.whensomeAfricanAmericanchildrenvisitedtheWhiteHouse.

解析：［听力原文］

Formethemostmagicalmomentinthisweek'snewswasthesightofa

106-year-oldwoman,VirginiaMcLaurindancingwiththePresidentandtheFirstLady

intheWhiteHouse.Thereshewas,glowingwithexcitementlikeachild;thrilledto

beintheWhiteHouse,thrilledinAmericanBlackHistoryMonthtobeholdinghands

withablackPresidentandFirstLadyafterallthathistoryofslaveryandsuffering.It

wasglorious.Andotherpeoplethoughtsoaswellbecause60millionhavewatched

thevideo.Howdoyougettobethatoldandstaythatyoung?

ThebestanswerIknowisattheendofthebookofDeuteronomy.TheBible

saysaboutMosesthatattheageof120,“hiseyewasundimmedandhisnatural

energynotweak."Iusedtothinkthatthesewerejusttwodescriptions,untilI

realizedthatthefirstwastheexplanationofthesecond.Whydidn'thisenergy

decline?Becausehiseyewasundimmed.Becauseheneverlosttheidealsofhis

youth,andhisbeliefthathispeoplecouldemergefromslaveryand,inspiredbyGod,

writeitsownchapterinthehistoryofthehumanspirit.

Anddespiteallthesetbacks,despitethefactthatajourneythatshouldhave

takendaystookdecades,heneverlosthope,neverstoppedjourneyingtowardthe

PromisedLand.

Afewmonthsago,LordWeidenfelddiedattheageof96.Hetoostayed

activealmosttotheveryendwithplanstobringpeacetotroubledpartsoftheworld.

Onhis92ridbirthdayhewasinterviewedbyajournalistwhosaid,"Intheirnineties,

mostpeoplethinkaboutslowingdown.Youseemtobespeedingup.Whyisthat?"

Hereplied,"Whenyougettobe92youseethedoorbeginningtoclose,andIhave

somuchtodobeforeitclosesthattheolderIget,theharderIhavetowork."That's

howhestayedyoung.

Itisn'talwayspossible;wegetweak,thebodyages,themindfades.Butwhile

wecan,let'slivethelifeofthespirittothefull.Weareasyoungasourideals.Never

lOsefaith;neverlosehope;nevercloseyourmindtowonder.Andwhenthe

PresidentaskedVirginiaMcLaurinforthesecretofbeingabletodanceat106,she

didn'treply;shedanced."Justkeepmoving,"saidtheFirstLadywithasmile.

Whatwasthemostmagicalmomentinthisweek'snewsaccordingtothe

speaker?

录音开头说话人提到对于她来说本周最不可思议的时刻是看到新闻上播放

一位106岁的老太太在白宫和总统及第一夫人跳舞的事。故C为正确答案。

A颇具干扰性，录音开头虽然提到本周新闻中最让人觉得不可思议的是一

位老太太和总统及第一夫人跳舞，但主角是老太太，而非总统和第一夫人，故A

错误。B“一位老年黑奴接受采访”和D“一些非裔美国小孩参观白宫”录音中

均未提及。

PartHIReadingComprehension（总题数：0,分数：0.00）

SectionA（总题数：10,分数：0.00）

.Throughouthistorymanhasobservedsuchnaturalcyclesastherisingand

settingofthesun,theebbandflowoftheoceantides,andthechangesofthe

seasons.The1natureoftheseeventsprovidedpeoplewithameasure

of2aboutthingstocomeandgivethemreasontoreflectontheirpastand

planfortheirfuture.Theregularityofsuchsocialactivitiesasworkhours,mealtimes,

andholidayschedules3theextenttowhichhumanactivityitselfisorganized

incycles.

Recently,4efforthasbeenspentinvestigatingtheeffectofvarious

biologicalrhythmsinthehumanbody.5,interestintheserhythmsatleastin

partresultsfromman'sbasicdesiretopredictfuturebehavior.

Thehumanbody6anumberofrepeatablerhythms:heartbeats,

breathingrates,brainwavesandotherphysiologicalprocesseswithinthehuman

machine.

Scientistsstudyingrhythmsinhumanshavemeasuredsleeppatternsand

attention7overperiodsofseveraldays,andhave8thefactthatthe

cyclesexistandexerteffectsonphysiologicalandsociologicalbehavior.Acommon

exampleisjetlag.Aperson'stravelingintheeast-westdirectionacrosstime

zones9hissleepcycles一itmaytakeseveraldaystoreturnto

the10cycleortoreadjusttoanewone.

A.indicatesE.considerable1.CertainlyM.security

B.demonstratedF.upsetsJ.ThankfullyN.exhibits

C.verifyingG.disappointsK.spans0.limits

0.normalH.periodicL.gorgeous

（分数：35.50）

1.（分数:3.55）

A.A

B.B

C.C

D.D

解析：此处填入修饰nature的词，可能是名词、形容词或分词。空格后的

theseevents指的就是第一句提到的naturalcycles”自然周期”所表现的现象。

因此，空格处应填入含有“循环；周期”意思的词语，故用形容词periodic”周

期（性）的”。

［参考译文］

纵观历史，人类观察着自然周期规律，例如日出日落、潮起潮落、四季更

替。这些现象的周期性让人们对即将到来的事物有了不少的安全感，也给予了人

们反思过去和计划未来的理由。这些社会活动一一如工作时间、吃饭时间和假日

安排一一的规律性表明了某种程度上人类活动本身的组织安排也是有周期性的。

近年来，人们花费了大量精力来研究人体各种生物节律的作用。当然，对

这些节律的兴趣至少有一部分是来自人们想要预测未来行为的基本欲望。

人体有着许多重复的节奏：心跳、呼吸率、脑波和其他人体机能的生理过

程。

研究人体节奏的科学家对睡眠模式和注意力集中时间进行了数天的周期

测量，并证明了一个事实：周期存在而且在生理和社会行为上发挥着作用。一个

常见的例子就是时差。自东向西跨时区的旅行就会扰乱游客的睡眠周期一一这可

能要花上好几天的时间才能恢复到正常周期或再调整一个新周期。

2.（分数：3.55）

A.A

B.B

C.C

D.D

解析：根据空格前的介词of，可知空格应填入名词或动名词作宾语。a

measureof在此用作数量词，相当于anamountof,下文谈到了这些自然现象周

期变化的规律性对人们安排行为活动的影响。换句话说，这些现象的周期性让人

们能够撑控即将到来的事物。词库中只有security“安全感”放入句中后句意通

顺

3.（分数：3.55）

A.AV

B.B

C.C

D.D

解析：空格所在句缺少谓语动词。该句表明的是一般情况，根据主语

regularity“规律性”可知，谓语用第三人称单数。空格后的宾语的意思是“人类

活动本身的组织安排在某种程度上也是有周期性的”，词库中只有indicates”表

明”在语义和时态上衔接得当。

4.（分数：3.55）

A.A

B.B

C.C

D.D

解析：此处填入修饰effort的词，可能是名词、形容词或分词。这里讲的

是人们研究人体生理节律所做的努力。considerable“大量的”带入句中意思最

通顺,故为答案。normal指“正常的"，语义上不如considerable准确。

5.（分数：3.55）

A.A

B.B

C.C

D.D

解析：空格处于句首，而且该句主谓宾结构齐全，可以判断这里填入的是

副词，且首字母应大写，词库中只有Certainly和Thankfully符合。根据意思判断，

选

Certainlyo

6.（分数：3.55）

A.A

B.B

C.C

D.D

解析：空格所在句缺少渭语动词。该句表达的是“人体”与“许多重复的

节奏”的逻辑关系。根据冒号后的内容判断，这些重复的节奏都是人体所“表现”

出来的，因此用exhibitSodemonstrated有“演示”的意思，但时态用在此处不

对，该句表明的是一般情况，故用一般现在时。

7.（分数：3.55）

A.A

B.B

C.C

D.D

解析：空格处应填的是名词，与attention搭配，而且还跟sleeppatterns

一起作havemeasured的宾语。attentionspans是常用的固定搭配，意思是“注

意力集中时间”。

8.（分数：3.55）

A.A

B.BV

C.C

D.D

解析：这里缺少谓语动词，根据空格前的have可判断时态是现在完成时工

词库中只有demonstrated是过去分词形式,带入后表示“……证明了一个事实二

9.（分数：3.55）

A.A

B.B

C.C

D.D

解析：这里同样缺少谓语动词。根据常识可知，跨时区飞行会扰乱人的生

物钟，upsets“搅乱，打乱”完全符合句意。limits“限制”在语义上不准确。

10.（分数：3.55）

A.A

B.B

C.C

D.DV

解析：此处填入修饰cycle的词，可能是名词、形容词或分词。根据句子后

半句的意思“再调整一个新周期”，推测空格处填入的词应含有“原来的；正常

的”的意思,故用normal。

SectionB（总题数:10,分数：0.00）

TrustMezI'maRobot

A.Withrobotsnowemergingfromtheirindustrialcagesandmovinginto

homesandworkplaces,roboticistsareconcernedaboutthesafetyimplications

beyondthefactoryfloor.Toaddresstheseconcerns,leadingrobotexpertshave

cometogethertotrytofindwaystopreventrobotsfromharmingpeople.Inspired

bythePugwashConferences-aninternationalgroupofscientists,academicsand

activistsfoundedin1957tocampaignforthenon-proliferationofnuclearweapons

——thenewgroupofrobo-ethicistsmetearlierthisyearinGenoa,Italy,and

announcedtheirinitialfindingsinMarchattheEuropeanRoboticsSymposiumin

Palermo,Sicily.

B."Securityandsafetyarethebigconcerns,"saysHenrikChristensen,

chairmanoftheEuropeanRoboticsNetworkattheSwedishRoyalInstituteof

TechnologyinStockholm.Shouldrobotsthatarestrongenoughorheavyenoughto

crushpeoplebeallowedintohomes?Is"systemmalfunction"ajustifiabledefence

foraroboticfighterplanethatcontravenes（违反）theGenevaConventionand

mistakenlyfiresoninnocentcivilians?

C."Thesequestionsmayseemhardtounderstandbutinthenextfewyears

theywillbecomeincreasinglyrelevant,"saysDr.Christensen.AccordingtotheUnited

NationsEconomicCommissionforEurope'sWorldRoboticsSurvey,in2002the

numberofdomesticandservicerobotsmorethantripled,nearlysurpassingtheir

industrialcounterparts.Bytheendof2003thereweremorethan600,000robot

vacuumcleanersandlawnmowers——afigurepredictedtorisetomorethan4mby

theendofnextyear.Japaneseindustrialfirmsareracingtobuildhumanoidrobotsto

actasdomestichelpersfortheelderly,andSouthKoreahassetagoalthat100%of

householdsshouldhavedomesticrobotsby2020.Inlightofallthis,itiscrucialthat

westarttothinkaboutsafetyguidelinesnow,saysDr.Christensen.

Stoprightthere

D.Sowhatexactlyisbeingdonetoprotectusfromthesemechanical

menaces?"Notenough,"saysBlayWhitby.Thisishardlysurprisinggiventhatthe

fieldof"safety-criticalcomputing"isbarelyadecadeold,hesays.Butthingsare

changing,andresearchersareincreasinglytakinganinterestintryingtomakerobots

safer.Oneapproach,whichsoundssimpleenough,istrytoprogramthemtoavoid

contactwithpeoplealtogether.Butthisismuchharderthanitsounds.Gettinga

robottonavigateacrossaclutteredroomisdifficultenoughwithouthavingtotake

intoaccountwhatitsvariouslimbsorappendagesmightbumpintoalongtheway.

E."Regulatingthebehaviourofrobotsisgoingtobecomemoredifficultin

thefuture,sincetheywillincreasinglyhaveself-learningmechanismsbuiltinto

them,"saysGianmarcoVeruggio."Asaresult,theirbehaviourwillbecome

impossibletopredictfully,"hesays,"sincetheywillnotbebehavinginpredefined

waysbutwilllearnnewbehaviourastheygo."

F.Thenthereisthequestionofunpredictablefailures.Whathappensifa

robot'smotorsstopworking,oritsuffersasystemfailurejustasitisperforming

heartsurgeryorhandingyouacupofhotcoffee?Youcan,ofcourse,buildin

redundancybyaddingbackupsystems,saysHirochikaInoue.Butthisguarantees

nothing,hesays."Onehundredpercentsafetyisimpossiblethroughtechnology/'

saysDr.Inoue.Thisisbecauseultimatelynomatterhowthoroughyouare,you

cannotanticipatetheunpredictablenatureofhumanbehaviour;hesays.Ortoputit

anotherway,nomatterhowsophisticatedyourrobotisatavoidingpeople,people

mightnotalwaysmanagetoavoidit,andcouldenduptrippingoveritandfalling

downthestairs.

Legalproblems

G.Inanycase,saysDr.Inoue,thelawsreallyjustsummarizecommonsense

principlesthatarealreadyappliedtothedesignofmostmodernappliances,both

domesticandindustrial.Everytoaster,lawnmowerandmobilephoneisdesignedto

minimizetheriskofcausinginjury——yetpeoplestillmanagetoelectrocute（电死）

themselves,losefingersorfalloutofwindowsinanefforttogetabettersignal.At

theveryleast,robotsmustmeettherigoroussafetystandardsthatcoverexisting

products.Thequestioniswhethernew,robot-specificrulesareneeded—and,ifso,

whattheyshouldsay.

H."Makingsurerobotsaresafewillbecritical,"saysColinAngleofiRobot,

whichhassoldover2m"Roomba"household-vacuumingrobots.Buthearguesthat

hisfirm'srobotsare,infact,muchsaferthansomepopulartoys."Aradio-controlled

carcontrolledbyasix-yearoldisfarmoredangerousthanaRoomba,"hesays.Ifyou

treadonaRoomba,itwillnotcauseyoutoslipover;instead,arubberpadonits

basegripsthefloorandpreventsitfrommoving."Existingregulationswilladdress

muchofthechallenge,"saysMr.Angle.'Tmnotyetconvincedthatrobotsare

sufficientlydifferentthattheydeservespecialtreatment."

I.Robotsafetyislikelytosurfaceinthecivilcourtsasamatterofproduct

liability."Whenthefirstrobotcarpet-sweepersucksupababy,whowillbeto

blame?"asksJohnHallam,aprofessorattheUniversityofSouthernDenmarkin

Odense.Ifarobotisautonomousandcapableoflearning,canitsdesignerbeheld

responsibleforallitsactions?Todaytheanswertothesequestionsisgenerally"yes".

Butasrobotsgrowincomplexityitwillbecomealotlessclearcut,hesays.

J."Rightnow,noinsurancecompanyispreparedtoinsurerobots/'saysDr.

Inoue.Butthatwillhavetochange,hesays.Lastmonth,Japan'sMinistryofTrade

andIndustryannouncedasetofsafetyguidelinesforhomeandofficerobots.They

willberequiredtohavesensorstohelpthemavoidcollisionswithhumans;tobe

madefromsoftandlightmaterialstominimizeharmifacollisiondoesoccur;andto

haveanemergencyshut-offbutton.Thiswaslargelypromptedbyabigrobot

exhibitionheldlastsummer;whichmadetheauthoritiesrealizethattherearesafety

implicationswhenthousandsofpeoplearenotjustlookingatrobots,butmingling

withthem,saysDr.Inoue.

K.However,theideathatgeneral-purposerobots,capableoflearning,will

becomewidespreadiswrong,suggestsMr.Angle.Itismorelikely,hebelieves,that

robotswillberelativelydumbmachinesdesignedforparticulartasks.Ratherthana

humanoidrobotmaid,"it'sgoing