机器猫让老年人不再孤单
Imagine a cat that does not need someone to clean up but keeps old people company and helps them remember to take their medicine. That is the shared dream of the toy maker Hasbro and scientists at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
The cat has already been for sale for two years. It is for old people and acts as a “companion” for them. It makes the same noises as a real cat and even appears to seek attention from its owners. That idea is from Jeanne Elliott. Her 93-year-old mother Mary Derr lives with her in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. The robot cat stays with Derr and keeps her calm while Elliot is at work. Derr treats it like a real cat, even though she knows it is electronic.
Elliot told the Associated Press her mother often forgets things. She added that a cat helps her mother to remember to take her medicine and be careful when she walks, which would be great.
In the end, they hope to create an exchange between the human and the cat in which the human feels the cat needs them. By doing so, the researchers hope they can even help prevent feelings of loneliness and sadness among old people.
1.The underlined word “it” refers to _____.
A the company
B the robot cat
C the price
D the real cat
解析：选B。B 词意指代题。根据上文The cat has already been for sale for two years.以及第二段The robot cat stays with Derr and keeps her calm可知，这里的It指机器猫，故选B。
2.Why does Jeanne have an idea to invent the cat?
A To keep her mother work.
B To help her mother exercise.
C To make lots of money.
D To help her mother remember things.
解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据第三段可知她妈妈经常忘事，机器猫可以帮助她妈妈记住一些事，故选 D。
3.How old is Jeanne’s mother?
A Eighty-three.
B Ninety-three.
C Ninety-five.
D One hundred.
解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据第二段Her 93-year-old mother Mary Derr lives with her in South Kingstown可知，她妈妈93岁了，故选B。
4.From the last paragraph, we can know __________.
A the robot cat has already been a great invention
B scientists try to prevent the old from feeling sad
C the robot cat can take good care of old people
D the robot cat can keep the old people calm
解析：选B。B 推理判断题。根据最后一段的the researchers hope they can even help prevent feelings of loneliness and sadness among old people可知，研究者希望机器猫可以帮助老人减少孤独与悲伤感，故选B。
5.Where can you most probably read the passage?
A In a postcard.
B On a science website.
C In a fashion magazine.
D In an art book.
解析：选B。B 文章出处题。全文都介绍机器猫，属于科技方面的内容，所以最有可能在科技网站上读到本文，故选B。