Lego, the Danish toymaker, has unveiled its Smart Play system that introduces new electronic components to the classic plastic blocks. Lego says its new tech-enabled products, launching in March with a new Star Wars set, are its “most revolutionary innovation” in nearly 50 years.

Lego says its Smart Bricks can sense motion, position and distance, allowing the models to respond in various ways during play. Similarly adapted from existing Lego components, these possess digital identifiers triggering different sounds or reactions when they detect and interact with each other. For instance, when tried out, a Lego birthday cake recognised when its “candles” were blown out — sounding a cheer and a happy birthday song. Meanwhile, a Lego helicopter made whooshing sounds when moved or rotated, with its Smart Brick lighting up red upon crashing.

But Josh Golin, executive director of children’s wellbeing group Fairplay, believes Smart Bricks could “undermine what was once great about Legos” — stimulating children’s own imagination during play. He said the toy did not require extra features to generate sounds or other effects. “As anyone who has ever watched a child play with old-school Legos knows, children’s Lego creations already do move and make noises through the power of children’s imaginations,” he added.

Andrew Manches, professor of children and technology at the University of Edinburgh, agreed the beauty of Lego lay in “the freedom to create, re-create, and adapt simple blocks into endless stories powered by children’s imagination”. But he also welcomed Lego’s efforts to integrate physical and digital play with tools that react to the way children interact with its Smart Play products, yet he added that despite exciting innovation, concerns remain about the security and privacy of new and emerging smart toys for children — particularly those which integrate AI.

Julia Goldin, the company’s chief product and marketing officer, previously said it viewed digital technology as an opportunity to “expand physical play and physical building”. “We don’t look at the digital world as a threat,” she said — adding its smart range weaves interactivity “seamlessly” with its physical products.

1.1.What is the main function of Smart Bricks when they detect each other?

A Light up in various colors.

B Produce feedback when interacting.

C Make realistic engine noises.

D Sense temperature changes.

解析：选B。B细节理解题。第二段的“these possess digital identifiers triggering different sounds or reactions when they detect and interact with each other”指出，智能积木具有数字标识符，当它们检测并相互互动时，会“触发不同的声音或反应”。选项B“在互动时产生反馈”准确概括了这一核心功能。故选B。

2.2.The underlined word “undermine” in Paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to “______”.

A gradually weaken

B openly criticize

C completely replace

D quickly forget

解析：选A。A词义猜测题。在第三段中，Josh Golin认为智能积木可能“undermine what was once great about Legos”——即“stimulating children’s own imagination during play”。他进一步指出，玩具本不需要额外功能来产生声音或效果，因为传统乐高已能通过孩子的想象力实现动态和声音。由此可推知，“undermine”在此语境中意指“逐渐削弱”。B项“公开批评”是具体行为而非持续影响，C项“完全取代”程度过重，D项“快速忘记”与文意无关。故选A。

3.3.What can we infer about Andrew Manches’ view on Smart Play?

A Critical with reservations.

B Enthusiastic about its creativity.

C Negative due to its risks.

D Uncertain about its future.

解析：选A。A观点态度题。第四段中，他先认同传统乐高的价值，又欢迎其整合数字游戏的努力（welcomed Lego’s efforts to integrate physical and digital play with tools that react to the way children interact with its Smart Play products），但同时提出对安全和隐私的担忧（concerns remain about the security and privacy of new and emerging smart toys for children — particularly those which integrate AI）。因此A项“虽有担忧但仍支持”最全面。B项“热情”忽略其担忧，C项“负面”忽略其欢迎态度，D项“不确定”与原文明确的观点不符。故选A。

4.4. How does Julia Goldin view the digital world in relation to Lego?

A A necessary evolution.

B A tool for integration.

C An additional feature.

D An exciting prospect.

解析：选D。D推理判断题。第五段中，Julia Goldin的核心观点是将数字技术视为一个“机会”来“扩展实体游戏”，并明确表示不视其为“威胁”（it viewed digital technology as an opportunity to “expand physical play and physical building”. “We don’t look at the digital world as a threat,” she said）。选项D “一个令人兴奋的前景”最准确地概括了这种将数字世界看作充满潜力和机遇的积极、前瞻性态度。A项“一次必要的进化”在文中并未被提及，属于过度推断；B项“整合的工具”描述的是其作用方式而非对其本质的看法；C项“一项附加功能”低估了其战略地位，显得过于附属化。所有选项均为对数字世界的中性或正面描述。故选D。