Since the 1970s, scientists have been searching for ways to link the brain with computers.

Since the 1970s, scientists have been searching for ways to link the brain with computers. Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology could help people with disabilities send commands to machines.
Recently, two researchers, Jose Millan and Michele Tavella from the Federal Polytechnic School in Lausanne, Switzerland, demonstrated a small robotic wheelchair directed by a person's thoughts.
In the laboratory, Tavella operated the wheelchair just by thinking about moving his left or right hand. He could even talk as he watched the vehicle and guided it with his thoughts.
“Our brain has billions of nerve cells. These send signals through the spinal cord (脊髓) to the muscles to give us the ability to move. But spinal cord injuries or other conditions can prevent these weak electrical signals from reaching the muscles.” Tavella says. “Our system allows disabled people to communicate with external world and also to control devices.
The researchers designed a special cap for the user. This head cover picks up the signals from the scalp (头皮) and sends them to a computer. The computer interprets the signals and commands the motorized wheelchair. The wheelchair also has two cameras that identify objects in its path. They help the computer react to commands from the brain.
Prof. Millan, the team leader, says scientists keep improving the computer software that interprets brain signals and turns them into simple commands. “The practical possibilities that BCI technology offers to disabled people can be grouped in two categories: communication, and controlling devices. One example is this wheelchair.”
He says his team has set two goals. One is testing with real patients, so as to prove that this is a technology they can benefit from. And the other is to guarantee that they can use the technology over long periods of time.
【小题1】BCI is a technology that can .A．help to update computer systemsB．link the human brain with computersC．help the disabled to recoverD．control a person's thoughts【小题2】How did Tavella operate the wheelchair in the laboratory?A．By controlling his muscles.B．By talking to the machine.C．By moving his hand.D．By using his mind.【小题3】Which of the following shows the path of the signals described in Paragraph 5?A．scalp→computer→cap→wheelchairB．computer→cap→scalp→wheelchairC．scalp→cap→computer→wheelchairD．cap→computer→scalp→wheelchair【小题4】Which of the following would be the best title for the text?A．Switzerland, the BCI Research CenterB．New Findings About How the Human Brain WorksC．BCI Could Mean More Freedom for the DisabledD．Robotic Vehicles Could Help to Cure Brain InjuriesB

(答案→)B 解析：大脑能不能直接和电脑机器连接起来并控制？最近科学家们研究出一种“脑控轮椅”。病人戴上特定的帽子就可以通过思考和想法操控轮椅。也许这是一项福音。【小题1】细节理解题。由“scientists have been searching for ways to link the brain with computers. Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology could help people with disabilities send commands to machines.”可知BCI就是为了让人脑来直接连接电脑并控制。故选B。【小题2】 细节理解题。由“In the laboratory, Tavella operated the wheelchair just by thinking about moving his left or right hand.”可知，Tavella用移动左右手的想法来控制轮椅。故选D。【小题3】推理判断题。由倒数第二段可知，信号从头皮传到帽子，再由电脑控制轮椅。故选C。【小题4】主旨大意题。全文主要是在介绍BCI这一新发明并强调对残疾病人的巨大帮助。故选C。

这个问题的回答的对