四、閱讀測驗 Once upon a time, there was a land where robotic bears helped lift the elderly out of bed and into wheelchairs.
In this land, machine seals comforted lonely people and formed an essential part of elderly care. Is this science
fiction? Not in Japan. These robots already exist, and you may actually experience them as you get older. These
examples of state-of-the-art technology are helping to solve a big problem for the Japanese – that of taking care of
their senior citizens.
It is estimated that 40% of the population in Japan will be over 65 by 2055. At the same time, there will be an
approximately 16% decrease in the size of the workforce by 2030. This shortage of labor presents a grave challenge:
Who will look after all the people in their golden years? There are simply not enough younger people to care for the
older population. And with the breakdown of traditional family responsibilities, a growing number of elderly are
living away from their families and the family care they have been given in the past.
Robots to the rescue! Mechanized beds that are controlled by voice can change from a bed to a wheelchair on
command. Robotic bear nurses can lift patients who weigh up to 135 pounds (61 kilos). And for comfort and
companionship, soft robotic pet seals have been designed to show emotions with facial expressions, movement,
noises, and responses to touch. These are just a few of the inventions that are so promising toward a future of elderly
care assisted by robots.
【題組】46. What is the most appropriate title for this article?
(A) Human vs. Machine: Dilemma for Senior Population in Japan
(B) Latest Prospects of Robotics in Looking after Japanese Families
(C) Robots in Reality: A Helping Hand for Japan’s Aging Society
(D) AI Has It All: Robotic Animals Replace Human Care-givers