Last week, Beijing drew the world’s attention with two big events: the 2026 World Robot Conference and the second World Humanoid Robot Games. More than 3,000 robot products were on show, and about 2,000 robots from 16 countries joined the games. In the 100-meter race, humanoid robots ran side by side. Even Elon Musk liked the video of the race.
But here is the interesting part: this year, the theme has changed. Companies are no longer just showing off clever moves. Instead, they focus on a simple question: how can robots help people live better?
Many robots now serve the old. One exoskeleton suit helps old people with weak leg muscles walk again. Another companion robot learns to read the feelings of people who live alone, so that they do not feel so lonely. In the games, new events like weightlifting, tug-of-war and table tennis made the robots look friendly rather than scary.
Why does this matter? China is building more and more humanoid robots, and some people worry that machines may take away human warmth. But these events send a clear message: the goal of robot technology is not to show strength, but to make life warmer and more reliable. When a robot can help an old person stand up, or chat with a lonely grandparent, technology becomes a friend, not a threat.
The road ahead is still long. Robots today are slow and far from perfect. Yet the direction is right. In the future, machines and humans will live side by side. If we keep asking how technology can care for people, the answer will be a warmer society for everyone.
Words to know:
- humanoid (类人形的)
- conference (大会，会议)
- exoskeleton (外骨骼)
- companion (同伴，伴侣)
- tug-of-war (拔河)
- threat (威胁)
- reliable (可靠的)
- side by side (并排地)
长难句拆解 · who 定语从句与 so that 目的状语
① Another companion robot learns to read the feelings of people who live alone, so that they do not feel so lonely. 主干是 Another companion robot learns to read the feelings of people（另一款陪伴机器人学着读懂人们的情绪）。who live alone 是定语从句修饰 people，先行词指人且在从句中作主语；句末 so that 引导目的状语从句，译作「以便 / 为了」，从句常用 may / can / will 等情态动词，这里用否定形式 do not feel 表达「以免孤单」。
② If we keep asking how technology can care for people, the answer will be a warmer society for everyone. 主干是 the answer will be a warmer society（答案将是一个更温暖的社会）。If 引导条件状语从句，从句用一般现在时、主句用 will，是「条件—结果」的标准搭配；从句内 how technology can care for people 是 asking 的宾语从句，疑问词 how 之后必须用陈述语序，不能写成 can technology。
同义替换 · 雅思阅读利器
题干与原文之间隔着一层「同义改写」。先在题目里划出关键词，再回原文找近义表达，能大幅缩短定位时间。本文可迁移的替换组：
- drew the world’s attention → attracted global attention（吸引关注类通用）
- on show → on display
- showing off → flaunting
- serve the old → care for the elderly（old 换 the elderly 的经典替换）
- take away human warmth → remove the human touch
- far from perfect → a long way from ideal
- side by side → next to one another
阅读自测 · 3 题
- 判断（T / F / NG） — About 2,000 robots from 16 countries joined the games.
- 简答（不超过 6 个词） — What does one exoskeleton suit help old people with weak leg muscles do?
- 判断（T / F / NG） — Robots today are already perfect at caring for people.
参考答案与解析
- T — 原文「about 2,000 robots from 16 countries joined the games」数字原样对应，属数字考点直述，注意 about 不能丢。
- Walk again. — 用 exoskeleton suit 定位第三段，「helps old people with weak leg muscles walk again」，问的是 help sb do 结构中的动词，不要答成 old people。
- F — 原文明确「Robots today are slow and far from perfect」，与题干的 already perfect 正好相反，属「正反混淆」。
中文译文
上周，北京用两场盛事吸引了全世界的目光：2026世界机器人大会和第二届世界人形机器人运动会。三千多款机器人产品集中亮相，约两千台来自16个国家的机器人参加了运动会。在百米赛跑中，人形机器人并肩竞速，连埃隆·马斯克都点赞了比赛视频。
但有趣的地方在于：今年的主题变了。企业不再只是炫技，而是聚焦一个朴素的问题：机器人如何帮人们活得更好？
如今许多机器人服务于老人。一款外骨骼套装能帮助腿部肌肉无力的老人重新行走；另一款陪伴机器人学会读懂独居者的情绪，让他们不再那么孤单。运动会上，举重、拔河、乒乓球等新项目让机器人显得亲切而非可怕。
这一点为何重要？中国正在造出越来越多人形机器人，有人担心机器会夺走人情味。但这些赛事传递出清晰信号：机器人技术的目标不是炫耀力量，而是让生活更温暖、更可靠。当机器人能扶起老人，或陪孤独的祖辈聊天时，技术就成了朋友，而非威胁。
前路依然漫长。今天的机器人动作迟缓、远非完美，但方向是对的。未来，机器与人类将并肩共存。只要我们不断追问技术如何关怀人，答案就是一个对所有人更温暖的社会。