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 conversations 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 held 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, network is a huge step in the right 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 and 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( ).
2. The new trend in artificial intelligence research stems from( ).
3. Conrad and his group of AI researchers have been making enormous efforts to( ).
4. What's the author’s opinion about the new AI movement?
5. Which of the following is closet in meaning to the underlined phrase “the only game in town” (para.4)?
问题1选项
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 50’s
D.still cannot communicate with people in a human language
问题2选项
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 scientist in the study of the similarities between transistors and brain cells
问题3选项
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
问题4选项
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.
问题5选项
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.
第1题:D
第2题:B
第3题:C
第4题:D
第5题:A
第1题:
推理判断题。由第一段Never mind something as complex as conversations: the most powerful computers struggle to reliably recognize the shape of an object, the most elementary of tasks for a ten-month-old kid.更不用说像会话这样复杂的事情,最强大的计算机现在正竭力地识别物体的形状,这对于10个月大的孩子来说是最基本的任务。可知D项“最强大的计算机仍然不能用人类的语言与人类交流。”正确。A项“计算机能够识别物体的形状”与原文不符,原文提到计算机正竭力地去做这件事。B项文中未提及,C项“现在的计算机与50年代的计算机表现不一样”,文中提到50年代人们预测到20世纪末计算机能做家务,能与人交流,但如今计算机仍然离与人类交流还有很长的路要走。故C项不正确。
第2题:
推理判断题。由第二段“A growing group of AI researchers think they know where the held 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...Many of these researchers study evolution and natural adaptation instead of formal logic and conventional computer programs.”越来越多的人工智能研究人员认为,他们知道错误在哪里。科学家们说,问题在于,人工智能一直在试图分离最高、最抽象的思维层次,比如语言和数学,然后用逻辑的、循序渐进的程序来复制它们。另一方面,人工智能领域的新动向则更近距离地审视了自然产生智能的更为迂回的方式。这些研究人员中的许多人研究进化和自然适应,而不是形式逻辑和传统的计算机程序。可知人工智能的新动向源于发现了以前的错误,即人工智能不能用逻辑程序来复制抽象的思维。于是人工智能有了新动向……。故B项正确。
第3题:
推理判断题。由第二段“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.有些人想研究脑细胞和蛋白质,而不是数字计算机和晶体管。这些早期努力的结果是有希望的,因为他们是独特的,虽然新的自然为基础的人工智能运动是缓慢的,但肯定会走向该领域的前沿。”以及第三段“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 and artificially intelligent device, he claims, would be to build it around the same sort of molecular skills.具体地说,康拉德认为,大脑的许多能力源于组成每个脑细胞的单个分子的模式识别能力。他声称,制造人工智能设备的最佳方法,是围绕同样的分子技术来制造。可知康拉德及其AI研究团队将把大脑的分子技术运用于人工智能设备上,发起了以自然为基础的人工智能运动。故C项“该团队对了解智力是如何在自然界中发展的作出了巨大努力。”正确。
第4题:
推理判断题。由第二段“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.这些早期努力的结果是有希望的,因为他们是独特的,虽然新的以自然为基础的人工智能运动是缓慢的,但肯定会走向该领域的前沿。可知作者认为人工智能运动将走向该领域前沿,也就意味着人工智研究的方向是正确的。故D项“尽管没有人能确定它的未来前景,但它被证明是在正确的方向上。”正确。
第5题:
由倒数第二段The best way to build and artificially intelligent device, he claims, would be to build it around the same sort of molecular skills.他声称,制造人工智能设备的最佳方法,是围绕同样的分子技术来制造。和最后一段“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.目前,对于传统的计算机和软件根本无法匹配大脑中发生的过程仍然存在争议。但如果这是真的,那么康拉德和他的同伴们的努力可能是唯一的希望。联系上下文可知,如果传统的计算机和软件根本无法匹配大脑过程这个观点是正确的,那么康拉德和其团队的观点,即将大脑同样的分子技术运用于人工智能设备的制造上是唯一可行的制造新的人工智能计算机的方法。故A项“这是制造人工智能计算机的唯一方法”正确。