单选题
In the 1950s, the pioneers of artificial intelligence (AI)
predicted that, by the end of this century, computers would be conversing with
us at work and robots would be performing our housework. But as useful as
computers are, they're nowhere close to achieving anything remotely resembling
these early aspirations for human like behavior. Never mind something as complex
as conversation: the most powerful computers struggle to reliably recognize the
shape of an object, the most elementary of tasks for a ten-month-old
kid. A growing group of AI researchers think they know where
the field went wrong. The problem, the scientists say, is that AI has been
trying to separate the highest, most abstract levels of thought, like language
and mathematics, and to duplicate them with logical, step-by-step programs. A
new movement in AI, on the other hand, takes a closer look at the more
roundabout way in which naturally came up with intelligence. Many of these
researchers study evolution and natural adaptation instead of formal logic and
conventional computer programs. Rather than digital computers and transistors,
some want to work with brain cells and proteins. The results of these early
efforts are as promising as they are peculiar, and the new nature-based AI
movement is slowly but surely moving to the forefront of the field.
Imitating the brain's neural (神经的) network is a huge step in the right
direction, says computer scientist and biophysicist Michael Conrad, but it still
misses an important aspect of natural intelligence. "People tend to treat the
brain as if it were made up of color-coded transistors", he explains, "but it's
not simply a clever network of switches. There are lots of important things
going on inside the brain cells themselves." Specifically, Conrad believes that
many of the brain's capabilities stem from the patternrecognition proficiency of
the individual molecules that make up each brain cell. The best way to build and
artificially intelligent device, he claims, would be to build it around the same
sort of molecular skills. Right now, the option that
conventional computers and software are fundamentally incapable of matching the
processes that take place in the brain remains controversial. But if it proves
true, then the efforts of Conrad and his fellow AI rebels could turn out to be
the only game in town.
单选题
The author says that the powerful computers of today
A.are capable of reliably recognizing the shape of an object.
B.are close to exhibiting humanlike behavior.
C.are not very different in their performance from those of the 50's.
D.still cannot communicate with people in a human language.
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[解析] 根据题意确定答案在第一段第二、三句。注意选项A中“are capable of reliably recognizing...”与短文中“struggle to reliably recognize...”(努力、竭力、试图)是不一致的，故不能选；本文探讨的是人工智能，而非电脑的一般效能，故选题时要紧扣短文主题。
单选题
The new trend in artificial intelligence research stems from
A.the shift of the focus of study on to the recognition of the shapes of
objects.
B.the belief that human intelligence cannot be duplicated with logical,
step-by-step programs.
C.the aspirations of scientists to duplicate the intelligence of a
ten-month-old child.
D.the efforts made by scientists in the study of the similarities between
transistors and brain cells.
单选题
What's the author's opinion about the new AI movement?
A.It has created a sensation among artificial intelligence researchers, but
it will soon die out.
B.It's a breakthrough in duplicating human thought processes.
C.It's more like a peculiar game rather than a real scientific effort.
D.It may prove to be in the right direction though nobody is sure of its
future prospects.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 如前所述，文章最后一段为作者对人工智能研究新方法的总结，其中隐含着作者的观点，另外短文第二段最后一句中“promising”、“surely”、第三段第一句中。a huge step in the right direction...”等都流露了作者的态度——对新的人工智能研究运动是非常肯定的。
单选题
Which of the following is closest in meaning to the phrase "the only
game in town" (Para. 4)?
A.The only approach to building an artificially intelligent computer.
B.The only way for them to win a prize in artificial intelligence
research.
C.The only area worth studying in computer science.