For years, the U.S. has experienced a shortage of registered nurses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that while the number of nurses will increase by 19 percent by 2022, demand will grow faster than supply, and that there will be over one million unfilled nursing jobs by then.
So what's the solution? Robots.
Japan is ahead of the curve when it comes to this trend. Toyohashi University of Technology has developed Terapio, a robotic medical cart that can make hospital rounds, deliver medications and other items, and retrieve records. It follows a specific individual, such as a doctor or nurse, who can use it to record and access patient data. This type of robot will likely be one of the first to be implemented in hospitals because it has fairly minimal patient contact.
Robots capable of social engagement help with loneliness as well as cognitive functioning, but the robot itself doesn't have to engage directly—it can serve as an intermediary for human communication. Telepresence robots such as MantaroBot, Vgo, and Giraff can be controlled through a computer, smartphone, or tablet, allowing family members or doctors to remotely monitor patients or Skype them, often via a screen where the robot's 'face' would be. If you can't get to the nursing home to visit grandma, you can use a telepresence robot to hang out with her. A 2016 study found that users had a 'consistently positive attitude' about the Giraff robot's ability to enhance communication and decrease feelings of loneliness.
A robot's appearance affects its ability to successfully interact with humans, which is why the RIKEN-TRI Collaboration Center for Human-Interactive Robot Research decided to develop a robotic nurse that looks like a huge teddy bear. RIBA (Robot for Interactive Body Assistance), also known as 'Robear,' can help patients into and out of wheelchairs and beds with its strong arms.
On the less cute and more scary side there is Actroid F, which is so human-like that some patients may not know the difference. This conversational robot companion has cameras in its eyes, which allow it to track patients and use appropriate facial expressions and body language in its interactions. During a month-long hospital trial, researchers asked 70 patients how they felt being around the robot and 'only three or four said they didn't like having it around.'
It's important to note that robotic nurses don't decide courses of treatment or make diagnoses (though robot doctors and surgeons may not be far off). Instead, they perform routine and laborious tasks, freeing nurses up to attend to patients with immediate needs. This is one industry where it seems the integration of robots will lead to collaboration, not replacement.
What does the author say about Japan? ______
关于日本,作者说了些什么? 由题干中的author say about Japan定位到第三段。 它在提供机器人护理方面处于领先地位。找到定位词之后,就可以定位到第三段第一句:Japan is ahead of the curve when it comes to this trend.(就这一趋势而言,日本走在了潮流前沿。)结合上文可知,定位句所提到的“这一趋势”指的就是用机器人解决护士不足的问题,B选项中的takes the lead和定位句中is ahead of the curve是同义替换,所以答案选择B。 A选项“它为老年人提供最好的药物”和C选项“为注册护士提供再培训”未提及,故排除。D选项“它决定了未来机器人技术的趋势”与原文不符,定位句中所说的趋势是指护理机器人,而不是更为广泛的“未来机器人”,故排除。 [参考译文] 多年来,美国一直存在注册护士短缺的问题。美国劳工统计局预计,到2022年,虽然护士的数量将增加19%,但需求增长将快于供给增长,届时将有100多万个空缺的护士工作岗位。 那么解决方案是什么呢?机器人。 就这一趋势而言,日本走在了潮流前沿。日本丰桥科技大学研发出了一款名为Terapio的机器人医疗车,它可以查房、运送药物和其他物品,还可以检索病历。它跟随一个特定的人员,如医生或护士,他们可以使用它来记录和访问患者数据。这种类型的机器人很可能是首批在医院投入使用的机器人之一,因为它与病人的接触非常少。 能进行社交的机器人可以帮助人们克服孤独和提升认知功能,但机器人本身并不需要直接参与——它可以作为人类交流的中介。像MantaroBot、Vgo和Giraff这样的远程监控机器人可以通过电脑、智能手机或平板电脑进行控制,让家庭成员或医生远程监控病人或通过Skype与他们沟通,通常是通过机器人“脸”所在的屏幕进行。如果你不能去养老院看望奶奶,你可以使用远程机器人陪她。2016年的一项研究发现,用户对Giraff机器人增强交流、减少孤独感的能力持“一贯的积极态度”。 机器人的外表会影响它与人成功互动的能力,这就是为什么RIKEN-TRI人类互动机器人研究合作中心决定开发一款看起来像巨大泰迪熊的机器人护士的原因。RIBA(人体互动机器人),也被称为Robear(机器熊),可以用它强壮的手臂帮助病人进出轮椅和上下床。 外表不那么可爱且较为可怕的是Actroid F,它太像人类了,一些病人可能不会发现它与人类的不同。这种可以对话的陪护机器人的眼睛里装有摄像头,可以追踪病人,并在与病人的互动中使用适当的面部表情和肢体语言。在医院为期一个月的试验中,研究人员询问了70名患者和机器人在一起的感觉, “只有三四个患者说他们不喜欢它在身边”。 需要注意的是,机器人护士不会决定治疗过程或做出诊断(尽管机器人医生和机器人外科医生可能离这个目标不远了)。相反,它们执行日常工作和费时费力的任务,解放人类护士去照顾有迫切需要的病人。在这个行业,机器人的整合似乎将带来协作,而不是替代。
What do we learn about the robot Terapio? ______
关于机器人Terapio,我们了解到了什么? 由题干中的robot Terapio定位到第三段。 它与病人没有太多直接接触。找到定位词之后,就可以定位到第三段最后一句:This type of robot will likely be one of the first to be implemented in hospitals because it has fairly minimal patient contact.(这种类型的机器人很可能是首批在医院投入使用的机器人之一,因为它与病人的接触非常少。)结合上文可知,此处提到的“这种类型的机器人”就是Terapio,所以答案选择C。 A选项“它已经在日本许多医院中投入使用”与原文不符,由定位句可知,Terapio可能最先在医院投入使用,但目前并未投入使用,故排除。B选项“为患者提供具体的个性化护理”与原文不符,原文只提到了It follows a specific individual(它跟随一个特定的人员)并未提到specific individualized care,故排除。D选项“它没有给日本的医疗服务带来革命性的变化”未提及,故排除。
What are telepresence robots designed to do? ______
远程监控机器人的设计目的是什么? 由题干中的telepresence robots定位到第四段。 促进病人与医生或家属之间的沟通。找到定位词之后,就可以定位到第四段第二句:Telepresence robots such as MantaroBot, Vgo, and Giraff can be controlled through a computer, smartphone, or tablet, allowing family members or doctors to remotely monitor patients or Skype them, often via a screen where the robot's 'face' would be.(像MantaroBot、Vgo和Giraff这样的远程监控机器人可以通过电脑、智能手机或平板电脑进行控制,让家庭成员或医生远程监控病人或通过Skype与他们沟通,通常是通过机器人“脸”所在的屏幕进行。)由此可知,家庭成员或医生可以通过远程监控机器人与病人沟通,所以答案选择D。 A选项“直接与病人互动,防止他们感到孤独”与原文不符,第四段第一句提到:the robot itself doesn't have to engage directly—it can serve as an intermediary for human communication(机器人本身并不需要直接参与——它可以作为人类交流的中介),由此可知,机器人不会直接与病人互动,故排除。B选项“满足病人恢复认知能力的需要”与原文不符,第四段第一句提到:Robots capable of social engagement help with loneliness as well as cognitive functioning(能进行社交的机器人可以帮助人们克服孤独和提升认知功能),由此可知,机器人帮助病人提升认知功能,而不是恢复认知能力,故排除。C选项“24小时密切监测患者的行动和身体情况”与题意不符,定位句虽然提到了远程监控机器人可以监测病人的情况,但这只是机器人的一个功能,并不是题目所问的设计目的,故排除。
What is one special feature of the robot Actroid F? ______
机器人Actroid F的一个特点是什么? 由题干中的robot Actroid F定位到第六段。 它就像人类同伴一样与病人交流。找到定位词之后,就可以定位到第六段第二句:This conversational robot companion has cameras in its eyes, which allow it to track patients and use appropriate facial expressions and body language in its interactions.(这种可以对话的机器人陪护的眼睛里装有摄像头,可以追踪病人,并在与病人的互动中使用适当的面部表情和肢体语言。)由此可知,Actroid F的特点就是它能像人类一样和病人互动,A选项是对定位句的概括总结,所以答案选择A。 B选项“它运行安静,患者意识不到它的存在”和C选项“它喜欢与病人进行日常对话”未提及,故排除。D选项“它使用肢体语言甚至比用话语更有效”中的body language虽然在定位句中有被提到,但原文是想表达Actroid F能用肢体语言进行交流,而没有比较肢体语言和话语哪个更有效,故排除。
What can we infer from the last paragraph? ______
从最后一段我们可以推断出什么? 由题干中的last paragraph定位到最后一段。 机器人不会让护士被解雇。找到定位词之后,就可以定位到最后一段第二、三句:Instead, they perform routine and laborious tasks, freeing nurses up to attend to patients with immediate needs. This is one industry where it seems the integration of robots will lead to collaboration, not replacement.(相反,它们执行日常工作和费时费力的任务,解放人类护士去照顾有迫切需要的病人。在这个行业,机器人的整合似乎将带来协作,而不是替代。)由此可知,机器人进入护理行业是为了和人类护士进行合作,而不是为了替代护士,所以答案选择C。 A选项“医生和外科医生很快就会被解雇”与原文不符,最后一段括号内虽然提到了:though robot doctors and surgeons may not be far off(尽管机器人医生和机器人外科医生可能离这个目标不远了),但结合下文提到的机器人和护士的合作关系可知,就算出现了机器人医生,也不会导致人类医生失业,故排除。B选项“机器人行业将很快腾飞”未提及,故排除。D选项“合作不会取代竞争”与原文不符,定位部分指出机器人护士带来的是合作而不是替代,两者是合作关系而非竞争关系,故排除。