In the 1950s, the pioneers of artificial intelligence (AI) predicted that, by the end of this century, computers would be conversing with us at work and robots would be performing our housework. But as useful as computers are, they're nowhere close to achieving anything remotely resembling these early aspirations for humanlike behavior. Never mind something as complex as conversation: the most powerful computers struggle to reliably recognize the shape of an object, the most elementary of tasks for a ten-month-old kid.
A growing group of AI researchers think they know where the field went wrong. The problem, the scientists say, is that AI has been trying to separate the highest, most abstract levels of thought, like language and mathematics, and to duplicate them with logical, step-by-step programs. A new movement in AI, on the other hand, takes a closer look at the more roundabout way in which nature came up with intelligence. Many of these researchers study evolution and natural adaptation instead of formal logic and conventional computer programs. Rather than digital computers and transistors, some want to work with brain cells and proteins. The results of these early efforts are as promising as they are peculiar, and the new nature-based AI movement is slowly but surely moving to the forefront of the field.
Imitating the brain's neural（神经的）network is a huge step in the fight direction, says computer scientist and biophysicist Michael Conrad, but it still misses an important aspect of natural intelligence."People tend to treat the brain as if it were made up of color-coded transistors," he explains. "But it's not simply a clever network of switches. There are lots of important things going on inside the brain cells themselves." Specifically, Conrad believes that many of the brain's capabilities stem from the pattern-recognition proficiency of the individual molecules that make up each brain cell. The best way to build an artificially intelligent device, he claims, would be to build it around the same sort of molecular skills.
Right now, the notion that conventional computers and software are fundamentally incapable of matching the processes that take place in the brain remains controversial. But if it proves true, then the efforts of Conrad and his fellow AI rebels could turn out to be the only game in town.
1.The author says that the powerful computers of today______.
A.are capable of reliably recognizing the shape of an object
B.are close to exhibiting humanlike behavior
C.are not very different in their performance from those of the 1950's
D.still cannot communicate with people in a human language
2.The new trend in artificial intelligence research stems from______.
A.the shift of the focus of study on to the recognition of the shapes of objects
B.the belief that human intelligence cannot be duplicated with logical, step-by-step programs
C.the aspirations of scientists to duplicate the intelligence of a ten-month-old child
D.the efforts made by scientists in the study of the similarities between transistors and brain cells
3.Conrad and his group of AI researchers have been making enormous efforts to______.
A.find a roundabout way to design powerful computers
B.build a computer using a clever network of switches
C.find out how intelligence developed in nature
D.separate the highest and most abstract levels of thought
4.What's the author's opinion about the new AI movement?
A.It has created a sensation among artificial intelligence researchers but will soon die out.
B.It's a breakthrough in duplicating human thought processes.
C.It's more like a peculiar game rather than a real scientific effort.
D.It may prove to be in the right direction though nobody is sure of its future prospects.
5.Which of the following is closest in meaning to the phrase "the only game in town" (Line 3, Para. 4)?
A.The only approach to building an artificially intelligent computer.
B.The only way for them to win a prize in artificial intelligence research.
C.The only area worth studying in computer science.
D.The only game they would like to play in town.
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1.【答案】D。
【解析】事实辨认题。问作者说今天最先进的计算机能够做什么。文章第一段谈到目前计算机的能力水平。第二句指出，尽管计算机功能已经很强大，但它们仍然不能完成像早期预言者预言的那样进行像人类一样的行为，更不用说能像人类一样沟通这样复杂的事情。最先进的计算机想辨认一件物体的形状都很困难，而这对一个十个月大的孩子来说不过是基本的能力。故选D。注意选项A中“are capable of reliably recognizing...”与短文中“struggle to reliably recognize...”（努力，竭力，试图）是不一致的，故不能选；更多的考生可能会误选C，但是：① 在效能（performance）上，当今电脑与20世纪50年代的电脑相距是非常大的；② 本文探讨的是人工智能，而非电脑的一般效能，故选择时要紧扣短文主题。
2.【答案】B。
【解析】推断题。问在人工智能研究中的新方向起源于什么。文章第二段谈到这个问题：“越来越多的AI研究者认为，在AI研究中所犯的错误在于：一直试图努力分开最高最抽象的思维水平，如语言和数学，并想用逻辑的一步一步的程序来复制它。新的研究方向对自然与人工智能之间的迂回曲折的关系予以更多的关注。”故选B。
3.【答案】C。
【解析】推断题。问Conrad和他的人工智能研究人员正在努力做什么。文章第三段谈到这个问题。Conrad认为，模拟人脑的神经网是向正确方向的一大进步，但是它仍然忽视了人脑智能的一个重要方面。他解释说，人们倾向于把大脑看成是由色彩代码的处理器组成的，但是，它并不仅仅是一个更聪明的处理器。大脑细胞本身存在许多重要的东西。Conrad尤其认为，大脑的许多功能起源于构成单个大脑细胞的独立分子的模式确认能力。建立人工智能的最好方式是建立相似类型的分子的功能。故选C。
4.【答案】D。
【解析】推断题。问的是作者对于人工智能的研究动向的观点是什么。本题主要应从文章最后一段去理解。文章最后一段说，对于普通计算机和软件根本上不能代替人脑的观念是有争议的。但是，如果这一观念被证实是正确的话，那么Conrad和他的同伴的努力将变成这一领域中唯一的方向。正确回答本题的关键在于理解turn out to be the only game in town的比喻含义。
5.【答案】A。
【解析】短语辨析题。问与the only game in town意义最相近的选项是哪一个。联系文章前一部分的内容，可知文章最后一句话的意思是说：“如果这一观念（传统的计算机和软件的运行不能与人脑思维相比）被证明是对的，那么，Conrad和他的同伴的努力将成为这一领域中唯一的方向。”
