Ⅰ.阅读理解(建议用时16′)

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　　[2016·惠州二调]Humans have been keeping animals as pets for tens of thousands of years, but Dr Jean－Loup Rault, an animal scientist at the University of Melbourne in Australia, believes new companions are coming: robot pets.

　　“Technology is moving very fast，” Rault told ABC News, “The Tamagotchi in the early 1990s was really the first robotic pet, and now Sony and other big companies have improved them a lot.”

　　This may not sit_well_with pet lovers. After all, who would choose a plastic toy over a lovely puppy? But Rault argues that the robotic kind has a lot going for it：“You don't have to feed it, you don't have to walk it, it won't make a mess in your house, and you can go on a holiday without feeling guilty.” The technology also benefits those who are allergic to pets, short on space, or fearful of real animals.

　　It's not clear whether robot pets can replace real ones. But studies do suggest that we can bond with these smart machines. People give their cars names and kids give their toy animals life stories. It's the same with robots. When Sony stopped its repair service for its robot dog Aibo in March 2017, owners in Japan held funerals.

　　As an animal welfare researcher, Rault is concerned about how robotic pets could affect our attitudes towards live animals. “If we become used to a robotic companion that doesn't need food, water or exercises, perhaps it will change how humans care about other living beings，” he said.

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