10 . The next generation of robots will be able to see objects, will have a sense of touch, and will make critical decisions.

Engineering skilled and computer technology are developing artificial vision for robots. With the ability to “see”, robots can identify and inspect one specific class of objects out of a pile of different kinds of materials. One robot vision system uses of electronic digital cameras containing many rows of lights sensitive materials measure the intensity of light and convert the light rays into a range of numbers. The numbers are part of a gray-scale system in which brightness is measured in a range of values. One scale ranges from 0 to 15, and another from 0 to 255. The 0 is represented by black. The highest number is white. The numbers in between represent different shades of gray. The computer then makes the calculations and converts the numbers into a picture that shows an image of the object in question. It is not yet known whether robots will one day have vision as good as human vision. Technicians believe they will, but only after years of development.

Engineers working on other advances are designing and experimenting with new types of articulated (有关节的) metal hands and fingers, giving robots a sense of touch. Other engineers are writing new programs allowing robots to make decisions such as whether to abandon defective parts in finished products. To do this, the robot will also have to be capable of identifying those perfect and defective parts.

These future robots, assembled (装配，组合) with a sense of touch and the ability to see and make decisions, will have plenty of work to do. They can be used to prospect for minerals on the ocean floor or in deep areas of mines too dangerous for humans to enter.

They will work as gas station attendants, firefighters, house-keepers, and security personnel. The robot business will continue to grow also. Financial analysts believe this business will soar from a $ 100 million-industry at the start of the 1980s to a $5-billion industry by the early 2010s. Anyone wanting to understand the industry of the future will have to know about robots.

1. Why is it so important for robots to be able to “see”?

A．Because they can criticize human factory personnel.

B．Because they can make critical decisions.

C．Because they can work as human beings.

D．Because they have a strong desire.

2. Why will those people interested in industry have to know about robots?

A．Because robot-business will grow rapidly.

B．Because robots will be very useful.

C．Because robots will become very popular in industry.

D．For they can make a lot of money.

3. What is the meaning of “defective” in the third paragraph?

A．Having a noticeable or desire effect.

B．Unquestionable and undoubted.

C．Imperfect, having serious errors.

D．Not enough in quantity.

4. What is the best title for this passage?

A．Future Robots Will Have Plenty of Work to Do.

B．Future Robots Will See, Touch, and Think.

C．Engineers Care Designing New Types of Robots.

D．Future Robots Will Have Visions as Good Human Vision.