1. (2022九上·深圳月考) 阅读理解

The world's elderly population is increasing fast. The number of older people — those who are 60 years of age or older — is expected to double by 2050 across the world. This comes with an increasing need for caregivers that are able to provide 24-hour care, not only at hospitals or nursing homes, but also at private homes.

Robotic assistants (助手) are expected to become increasingly popular and reach 450, 000 by 2045 because the expected caregivers are not enough in the United States. "Unluckily, the hard outside structure of caregiving robots nowadays prevents them from communicating with humans safely and easily, " said Ramses Martinez, a professor in the School of Industrial Engineering. "After all, would you leave the old people with health problems in the hands of a robot?"

However, recent progress in material science has made it possible to produce robots with the ability to reshape when touched. They are called soft robots. However, the design (设计), production, and control of soft robots now stop this technology being put into use. Recently Martinez and other Purdue University researchers have developed a new design method that can make the design and production of the soft robots easy by using a 3D printer.

The soft robots can move like humans. "They can complete some movements easily such as holding things, spreading or drawing back arms and legs and kneeing down. This invention moves a big step forward toward the development of lightweight soft robots," Martinez said. The researchers are now looking for partners to test their technology and put it into practice.

1. （1） What will be the result of the increasing elderly population according to the text?

   A . More hospitals will be built in the future. B . More nursing services will be needed. C . More people will choose to be nursed at home. D . More nursing work will be carried out by robots.
3. （2） What is the meaning of the word "caregivers"?

   A . persons who are responsible for playing with a child or dependent adult B . persons who are responsible for attending to the needs of a child or dependent adult C . persons who are responsible for teaching a child or dependent adult D . persons who are responsible for taking a child or dependent adult outside
5. （3） What does Ramses Martinez mean in Paragraph 2?

   A . People doubt the ability of robotic assistants. B . More types of robotic assistants need to be developed. C . The robotic assistants nowadays aren't perfect for nursing. D . The robotic assistants can't understand the elderly correctly.
7. （4） What makes the new type of robot be able to change shapes?

   A . A special material. B . The production method. C . The 3D printing technology. D . A newly developed design method.
9. （5） What's the best title for the text?

   A . The development of robots is rapid B . The 3D printer can create soft robots C . The increasing elderly population is a problem D . Robots created with 3D printers will nurse the elderly