The human brain contains 10 thousand million cells and each of these may have a thousand connections. Such enormous numbers used to discourage us and cause us to dismiss the possibility of making a machine with human-like ability, but now that we have grown used to moving forward at such a pace we can be less sure. Quite soon, in only 10 or 20 years perhaps, we will be able to assemble a machine as complex as the human brain, and if we can we will-It may then take us a long time to render it intelligent by loading in the right software or by altering the architecture but that too will happen.
I think it certain that in decades, not centuries, machines of silicon will arise first to rival and then exceed their human ancestors. Once they exceed us they will be capable of their own design. In a real sense they will be able to reproduce themselves. Silicon will have ended carbon s long control. And we will no longer be able to claim ourselves to be the finest intelligence in the known universe.
As the intelligence of robots increases to match that of humans and as their cost declines through economies of scale we may use them to expand our frontiers, first on earth through their ability to withstand environments, harmful to ourselves. Thus, deserts may bloom and the ocean beds be mined. Further ahead, by a combination of the great wealth this new age will bring and the technology it will provide, the construction of a vast, man-created world in space, home to thousands or minions of people, will be within our power.
16. In what way can we make a machine intelligent _____. [A] By making it work in such environments as deserts, oceans or space. [B] By either properly programming it or changing its structure. [C] By working hard for 10 or 20 years. [D] By reproducing it.
17. What does the writer think about machines with human-like ability _____. [A] He believes they will be useful to human beings. [B] He believes that they will control us in the future. [C] He is not quite sure in what way they may influence us. [D] He doesn t consider the construction of such machines possible.
18. The word "carbon"(Line 4,Para.2) stands for ______. [A] intelligent robots [B] a chemical element [C] human beings [D] an organic substance
19. A robot can be used to expand our frontiers when ______. [A] it is able to bear the rough environment [B] its intelligence and cost are beyond question [C] it is made as complex as the human brain [D] its architecture is different from that d the present ones
20. It can be inferred from the passage that ______. [A] after the installation of a great number of cells and connections, robots will be capable of self-reproduction. [B] robots will have control of the vast, man-made world in space [C] once we make a machine as complex as the human brain, it will possess intelligence [D] with the rapid development of technology, people have come to realize the possibility of making a machine with human-like ability.