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  3. Since the dawn of civilization, mankind has been obsessed by the possibility that it will one day be extinguished. The impact of

Since the dawn of civilization, mankind has been obsessed by the possibility that it will one day be extinguished. The impact of

admin2019-06-10  26
问题    Since the dawn of civilization, mankind has been obsessed by the possibility that it will one day be extinguished. The impact of an asteroid on earth and the spectre of nuclear holocaust are the most prevalent millennial fears. Now some scientists are increasingly leaning towards the view that a new nightmare must be added to the list. Their concern is that intelligent computers will eventually develop minds of their own and destroy the human race.
   The latest warning comes from Professor Stephen Hawking. He told an interviewer this week that artificial intelligence could "outsmart us all" and that a technological catastrophe is a "near certainty. " Most non-experts will dismiss his claims as a fantasy rooted in science fiction. But the pace of progress in artificial intelligence, or AI, means policy makers should already be considering the social consequences.
   According to a recent survey, half the world’s AI experts believe human-level machine intelligence will be achieved by 2040 and 90 per cent say it will arrive by 2075. Several AI experts talk about the possibility that the human brain will eventually be " reverse engineered. " Some prominent tech leaders, meanwhile, warn that the consequences are unpredictable. Elon Musk, the pioneer of electric cars, has argued that advanced computer technology is " potentially more dangerous than nuclear threats. "
   That said, the risk that computers might one day pose a challenge to humanity should be put in perspective. Scientists may not be able to say with certainty when, or if, machines will match or outperform mankind.
   But before the world gets to that point, the drawing together of both human and computer intelligence will almost certainly help to tackle pressing problems that cannot otherwise be solved. The growing ability of computers to crunch enormous quantities of data, for example, will play a huge role in helping humanity tackle climate change and disease over the next few decades. It would be folly to arrest the development of computer technology now — and forgo those benefits — because of risks that lie much further in the future.
   There is every reason to be optimistic about AI research. There is no evidence that scientists will struggle to control computers, even at their most advanced stage. But this is a sector in which pioneers must tread carefully — and with their eyes open to the enduring ability of science to surprise us.
The underlined word "catastrophe" can be interpreted as______.
选项 A、revolution
B、advancement
C、challenge
D、disaster
答案D
解析 本题是词汇题，要求考生根据上下文理解catastrophe的意思。这个词可以根据第一段的中心意思以及第二段开头的warning一词猜出catastrophe应为否定语义。
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