A
Ricky lived in a lovely, futuristic( 未来的) house, which had everything you could ever want. Though he didn’ t help much around the house(帮做家务),Ricky was still very pleased when his parents bought him the latest model of robot.As soon as it arrived,off it went, cooking, cleaning, ironing and---most importantly---gathering up clothes from Ricky’s bedroom floor. On that first day, when Ricky went to sleep, he had left his bedroom in a truly disastrous state.When he woke up the next morning. everything was perfectly clean and tidy.
In fact, it was actually too clean: now Ricky couldn’t find his favourite T-shirt, nor his favourite toy.
However much he searched. the two things did not reappear. The same was starting to happen to other things. Ricky began to suspect(怀疑) the robot. He hatched a plan (秘密计划)to spy on the robot, and began following it around the house. Finally he caught it red-handed(当场抓住某人).
Ricky told his parents that the robot was broken and badly programmed and asked them to have it changed.But his parents told him absolutely not; they were delighted with the new robot, and it cooked like a dream.
One day, the robot was whirring (嗡嗡地响), and heard the boy’s complaints(抱怨). The robot returned with one of the boy's toys, and some clothes for him.
"Here. sir. I did not know it was bothering you.”said the robot.
"How could it not, you thief?! You’ve been stealing my belongings for weeks! "the boy answered angrily.
"The objects were left on the floor. I therefore calculated that you did not like them. I am programmed to collect all that are not wanted, and at night I send them to people who can use them. I am a maximum efficiency (效率)machine. Were you unaware? "the robot said, with a certain pride.
Ricky started feeling ashamed. He understood that the robot was neither broken nor misprogrammed. Rather, it had been programmed extremely well!
Since then, Ricky has decided to become a"Maximum Efficiency Boy”, and put real care into how he treated his things. He kept them tidy, and made sure he didn’t have more than was necessary. And, often, he would buy things,and take them along with his good friend, the robot, to help out those other people who needed them.
21. What is the robot programmed to do?
A. Communicate with humans. B. Take care of children
C. Do the housework. D. Recycle used objects
22. What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 3 mean?
A. The robot had no time for cooking B. The robot was good at cooking
C.The robot was interested in cooking D. The robot dreamed of being a cook.
23. Ricky felt ashamed because .
A. he didn't accept the robot at first B. he didn't take good care of his things
C. he told his parents to change the robot D. he had misunderstood the robot
24. Where is this text probably from?
A. A science fiction. B. An entertainment magazine.
C. An advertisement. D. A science report.
