第6部分：完型填空(第51～65題，每題1分，共15分)

　　下面的短文有15處空白，請根據短文內容為每處空白確定1個最佳選項。

　　Robotic Highway Cones

　　A University of Nebraska professor has developed robotic cones and barrels. These robotic cones and barrels can move out of the way, or into place, from computer commands made miles away. They can even be programmed to move on their own at any particular part of the day, said Shane Farritor, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Nebraska.

　　For example, if workers arrived at 6 am, the cones could move from the side of the highway to block off the lane at that time. And they can return to the original place at the end of the day. “It just seems like a very good application for robots.” Farritor said. “The robotic cones would also help remove people from hazardous jobs on the highway putting barrels and cones into place,” Farritor said in a report on his creation.

　　Work on the idea began in 2002 using a National Academy of Sciences grant. The fund allowed Farritor to work on the project with graduate students at Nebraska and his assistant Steve Goddard.

　　The robots are placed at the bottom of the cones and barrels and are small enough not to greatly change the appearance of the construction aides. “It would look exactly the same,” Farritor said. “Normally there’s a kind of rubbery, black base to them. We replace that with a robot.”

　　Farritor has talked with officials from the Nebraska Department of Roads about how the robots would be most useful to what they might need.

　　The robots could come in handy following a slow-moving maintenance operation, like painting a stripe on a road or moving asphalt, where now the barrels have to be picked up and moved as the operation proceeds. “That way you don’t have to block off a 10-mile strip for the operation ,” Farritor said.

　　While prototypes have been made, they are not in use anywhere. Farritor said he has applied for a patent and is considering what to do next. He is thinking about starting a small business. He is also thinking about marketing the robots to roads departments and others across the country who may benefit from them.

　　51. A. work B place C. order D. action

　　【解析】對應前面說可以move out of the way讓路、移開，所以后面應該是移動進去這個地方。

　　選擇B move into place

　　52. A. block B cut C. set D. turn

　　【解析】For example, if workers arrived at 6 am, the cones could move from the side of the highway to (52)_____ off the lane at that time. 前面說如果workes 在六點，那么這些錐體可以從高速道路的一邊移過來封閉那段時間的道路。

　　A.封閉道路;

　　B.切斷;

　　C.出發;

　　D.關閉。

　　53. A. clean B. important C. entire D. original

　　【解析】前面說移過來擋住道路，一天結束后就可以移回原來的位置。

　　A.干凈的;

　　B.重要的;

　　C.完整的;

　　D.原來的。

　　54. A. employ B. observe C. remove D. instruct

　　【解析】 The robotic cones would also help (54)_____ people from hazardous jobs on the highway putting barrels and cones into place,”

　　從hazardous 一詞能夠看出來，將人們從危險的工作中移出來。

　　A.雇傭;

　　B.觀察;

　　C.移開;

　　D.指導。

　　55. A. idea B. report C. demand D. fund

　　【解析】 using a National Academy of Sciences grant. The (55) _____allowed Farritor to work on the project ..前面說有grant資金，后面這個資金能夠使得他們從事這個項目。

　　A.想法 ;B.報告;

　　C.要求;D.資金贊助。

　　56. A. helpful B. beautiful C. small D. huge

　　【解析】enough not to greatly change the appearance of the constuction aides ..后面是說不影響這個外觀， 證明這個機器人必須是足夠的小。

　　57. A. Kindly B. Normally C. Greatly D. Strangely

　　【解析】“(57)_____ there’s a kind of rubbery, black base to them. We replace that (58) _____a robot.”通常如果有橡皮，瀝青的話，我們就會用機器人去取代他，所以選擇B。

　　A.親切地;

　　B.正常地，通常地;

　　C.巨大地;

　　D.奇怪地。

　　58. A. at B. on C. in D. with

　　【解析】代替，replace ....with ...

　　59. A. related B. typical C. useful D. visible

　　【解析】前面是說道路上是可以使用這個機器人的，所以應該是跟道路部門說他的有用性。

　　選擇C。

　　A.有關的;

　　B.典型的;

　　C.有用的;

　　D.能看見的。

　　60. A. why B. where C. when D. what

　　【解析】 The robots could come in handy following a slow-moving maintenance operation, like painting a stripe on a road or moving asphalt, (60)_____ now the barrels have to be picked up and moved as the operation (61)_____.

　　機器人能夠派上用場，跟著一個行駛緩慢的維護設備，比如說在馬路上刷斑馬線或者移除瀝青，在這些地方barrel桶就必須撿起來然后跟著這個設備前進。

　　61. A. proceeds B. functions . finishes D. Improves

　　【解析】A .前進;

　　B.運作;

　　C.結束;

　　D.提高，提升。

　　62. A. If B. While C. Since D. Because

　　【解析】 (62)_____ prototypes have been made, they are not in use anywhere. 雖然這個模范被制作出來，但是還沒有使用。

　　63. A. applied B. asked C. called D. argued

　　【解析】Farritor said he has (63) _____for a pattent .申請專利。

　　64. A. saving B .marketing C. moving D. devising

　　【解析】He is thinking about starting a small business. He is also thinking about (64)_____ the robots to roads departments and others across the country who may (65) _____from them.

　　從business得知，他是想把這個機器人商業化、市場化，介紹給這些能夠機器人獲益的部門。

　　65. A. benefit B. protect C. learn D. inspire

　　【解析】benefit from從中受益。