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We have recently heard a great deal about the bad effects of computers on our social and economic institutions. In industry, computers mean automation, and automation means unemployment. The United States, with its extravagant investment in computers, is plagued（使得灾祸，烦恼）by unemployment for unskilled workers. Already computers have begun to displace workers whose tasks are simple. The variety of jobs, formerly done only by humans, that the machine can perform more rapidly, accurately, and economically, increase with each new generation of computers. If we follow this trend, say the pessimists（悲观主义者）, we will be faced with the prospect of mass unemployment for all but a handful of highly trained, highly intelligent professionals, who will then be more influential and overworked than they are now. Only recently a distinguished English physicist predicted that within twenty years electronic engineers might have to become conscientious objectors in order to prevent these machines from wrecking out（使遭难，破坏）social and economic institutions.

What can we do about it? It is foolish to dream of reversing history. We cannot pass laws forbidding the advancement of science and technology. The computing machines are here, and they will grow because engineers want to build them, soldiers want to enlist them in new weapon systems and politicians want their help in the process of government. In short, they will flourish because they enable us to accomplish tasks that could never before have been undertaken, no matter how many unskilled laborers we might have set to work. Computers will continue to amplify our intelligence for just the same reason that engines continue to amplify our muscles. The question we must ask is not whether we shall have computers or not have computers, but rather, since we are going to have them, how we can make the most humane and intelligent use of them.

1．The author insists that____.

A．computers will continue to have bad effects on our social and economic institutions

B．computers will continue to cause mass unemployment

C．computers will lead to economic controls

D．computers will continue to flourish, but there is no cause for pessimism

2．According to the article, which of the following best characterizes the author's attitude towards the computer?

A．Extremely pessimistic.

B．Cautiously optimistic.

C．Extremely optimistic.

D．Cautiously pessimistic.

3．The author suggests that computers will continue to grow and flourish because____.

A．it is foolish and impossible to reverse history

B．no laws can forbid the advancement of science and technology

C．engines amplify our muscles

D．they can be and have been put to good use

4．The main idea of the last paragraph is____.

A．that computers are misleading

B．that computers have caused industrial strife

C．that we are able to build bigger and faster computers

D．that we can make the most humane and intelligent use of computers

5．“Conscientious objectors” in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to____.

A．people who refuse to do something for moral reasons

B．objects in the minds of the engineers

C．pessimists who find the whole situation hopeless

D．machines that can prevent computers from ruining us

1．【答案】D

【精析】由文章第二段第四句话“The computing machines are here, and they will grow because engineers want to build them, soldiers want to enlist them in new weapon systems and politicians want their help in the process of government.”可知，D项为正确答案。

2．【答案】C

【精析】由文章第二段第五句话中的“In short, they will flourish because they enable us to accomplish tasks that could never before have been undertaken”可知，C项为正确答案。

3．【答案】D

【精析】由文章第二段倒数第二句话“Computers will continue to amplify our intelligence for just the same reason that engines continue to amplify our muscles.”可知，D项为正确答案。

4．【答案】D

【精析】由文章最后一句话中的“but rather, since we are going to have them, how we can make the most humane and intelligent use of them”可知，D项为正确答案。

5．【答案】A

【精析】首先，“conscientious objector”的字面意思是“正直的个体”；再根据第一段最后一句话中的“electronic engineers might have to become conscientious objectors in order to prevent these machines from wrecking out social and economic institutions”所提示的语境，A项为正确答案。