A　Robots　[2024·广州中考]

Many people know that robots explore space and build things in factories. But did you know that there are many other kinds of robots? Let's meet some of these robots and find out what they do.

Robot 1

If your family are moving to a new house, this two-legged robot is a good helper. It can lift several heavy boxes and carry them to the moving truck before returning inside for more. It has the ability to walk more carefully and skillfully than other robots.

Robot 2

Powered by the sun, this robot works in a forest. It keeps an eye on everything from animal movements to the forest's temperature, then sends the information back to the scientists. This robot can watch how the environment changes for a long period of time, which is difficult for humans.

Robot 3

This pie-making robot is cutting a pie into pieces in the kitchen. It uses its arms to do all the things human cooks might do when they make food. But it makes much more food than human cooks. It can prepare a pie in 45 seconds and cook 80 pies an hour. It even divides your pie and boxes it up.

Robot 4

This bright orange robot helps repair the machines under deep water. It can reach the part which is too deep for a human diver. Humans program where the robot should go and what it should do. This robot can also help humans explore the sea and discover new living things. But it can't work for long underwater.

B　Who Wants to Paint?

Tom had a terrible job to do that Saturday: Aunt Polly had told him to paint her long fence. Other boys were free to swim and play. He put a little white paint on the wood, looked at the work still waiting, and felt worse. Then Ben appeared, eating an apple.

Ben laughed at Tom's bad luck. Tom did not argue. He moved his brush slowly and stepped back to study the fence. He looked like an artist who was working on something important. Ben stopped laughing and watched more closely.

'You call this work?' Tom asked. 'A boy doesn't get a chance like this every day.' Ben asked to try. Tom shook his head. Aunt Polly wanted the front fence done very carefully, he explained. He could not give the brush to just anyone.

At last, Ben offered his apple. Tom seemed to think hard before handing over the brush. Soon more boys arrived. Each wanted a turn, and each gave Tom something for the chance. Tom sat in the shade while they painted.

By afternoon, the fence had three coats of paint. Tom had an apple and a small collection of interesting things. That morning, he had wanted to escape from a boring job. Now other boys were paying to do it. The job was still painting a fence. Their idea of it had changed.