Having a microchip implanted in a man's brain may be common in sci-fi movie plots, but it may soon become an actual possibility.
Elon Musk -a US tech tycoon, founder of Space X- has been working on this technology. On Aug 28, Musk gave a display of the chip, which was implanted into the head of a pig named Gertrude.
The chip, developed by Musk's company Neuralink, is the size of a coin. But don't let its size fool you. The tiny chip has over 3,000 electrodes (电极) attached to flexible threads, which can monitor about 1,000 neurons (神经元) .It collects neural signals from an area of the brain, and then transmits those signals wirelessly to nearby computers, according to MSN. That enabled researchers to monitor Gertrude's brain activity while she was walking around in the display.
Though the technology is still in its early stage, it is encouraging for humans. This technology would solve a lot of brain injuries and is essentia for Al symbiosis, which will allow the human brain to combine with an artificial intelligence.
When the device can be applied to humans, its main goal will be to help those who have mobility difficulties. Musk hopes this technology can also be used to help those with hearing and eyesight issues.
Although such a device could repair those problems, putting it into practice is by no means a piece of cake. Currently, the device can transmit signals from about 500 neurons in the pig's brain. Compared to 80 billion neurons in a human brain, this number is tiny. And to cover the whole human brain also means the electrodes have to be much smaller.
Also, implanting the chip into the brain poses a potential danger. There is a risk of the immune system attacking this foreign body.
Right now, the hope of controlling the brain via controlling a few neurons seems overly optimistic. "There are many technological challenges ... to overcome before Neuralink can put its devices to the purposes," Yuan Lanfeng, an associate professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, told China Daily.
1 . What do we know about Elon Musk's microchip?
A . It was inspired by sci-fi movie plots.
B . It is able to collect wireless signals.
C . It is tiny in size but powerful in function.
D . It has been implanted into a human's brain.
2 . What does the underlined word “that" in Paragraph 3 refer to?
A . The operation of the chip in Gertrude’s brain.
B . The attachment of electrodes to flexible threads.
C . The development of neurons inside Gertrude's brain.
D . The transmission of signals from a nearby computer
3 . What is the major target of the microchip?
A . To monitor animals’ brain activity.
B . To help people with mobility issues.
C . To develop a cure for immune system problems.
D . To contribute to the research on Al technologies.
4 . How does Yuan Lanfeng feel about implanting the chip into the human brain?
A . Worried. B . Excited. C . Optimistic. D . Challenged.
1 . C
2 . A
3 . B
4 . D
【分析】
这是一篇说明文。介绍了在大脑在植入芯片听起来很科幻,但是马斯克的公司已经开始实施这样的实验了。
1 .细节理解题。由文章第三段中的句子 “The chip, developed by Musk's company Neuralink, is the size of a coin. But don't let its size fool you. The tiny chip has over 3,000 electrodes (电极) attached to flexible threads, which can monitor about 1,000 neurons (神经元) . 这个芯片是由马斯克的 Neuralink 公司开发的,只有硬币大小。但别让它的尺寸愚弄了你。据 MSN 称,这种微型芯片有 3000 多个电极连接在柔性线上,可以监测大约 1000 个神经元 ” 可知,这种芯片虽然小但是功能强大。结合选项可知 C 项符合题意,故选 C 项。
2 .词义猜测题。由划线词的前一句 “It collects neural signals from an area of the brain, and then transmits those signals wirelessly to nearby computers 它从大脑的某个区域收集神经信号,然后将这些信号无线传输到附近的计算机。 ” 可知,这就是芯片工作的原理。根据语境,划线词 That 就是指代这种过程。所以选项 A“The operation of the chip in Gertrude’s brain. 格特鲁德大脑芯片的操作。 ” 符合题意。故选 A 项。
3 .细节理解题。题干中的 the major target” 与文章中的 “its main goal” 意义相同,可以快速在文章中定位。由第五段第一句 “When the device can be applied to humans, its main goal will be to help those who have mobility difficulties. 当这种装置能够应用于人类时,它的主要目标将是帮助那些有行动困难的人。 ” 可知,选项 B 符合题意。故选 B 项。
4 .推理判断题。根据最后一段的句子 “"There are many technological challenges ... to overcome before Neuralink can put its devices to the purposes," Yuan Lanfeng, an associate professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, told China Daily.“ 有许多技术挑战 …… 中国科技大学副教授袁兰峰在接受《中国日报》采访时说: “ 我们要克服这个问题,才能使 Neuralink 的设备达到预期目的。 ” 由此可知,袁兰峰认为这个技术很有 “ 挑战性 ” 。故选 D 项。