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Dog Translation Products Coming to U. S.
A Japanese toy maker declares that they have developed a gadget that translates dog barks into human
language and plans to begin selling the gadget--under the name of Bowlingual--in U. S. pet stores and gift
shops this summer.
Tokyo-based Takara Co. Ltd. says about 300, 000 of the dog translator gadgets have been sold since it
was on sale in Japan late last year. It is forecasting far bigger sales once an English language translation for
dogs comes to America in August. The United States is home to about 67 million dogs, more than six times
the number in Japan.
"We know that the Americans love their dogs so much, so we don't think they will mind spending $ 120
on this product," the Takara marketing manager said during an interview at a recent pet products conference
in Atlanta.
Regarded as one of the coolest inventions of 2002 by Time magazine, Bowlingual is made up of a 3 - inch
long wireless microphone that is fastened (绑/系) to a dog collar and sends out sounds to a small console (控
制台) that is connected to a database (数据库). The console divides each bark into six emotional types-happiness, sadness, disappointment, anger, threat and desire--and shows common phrases, such as "You're ticking me
off," that fit the dog's emotional state.
Takara says it has spent millions of dollars developing the gadget in cooperation (合作) with famous sound
experts and animal behaviorists.
One thing that does appear certain is that the markets for animal translation products will likely remain a
dog's world since Takara has no plans to develop a similar gadget for cats. "Theyare too unpredictable (反复
无常)," the marketing manager said.
1. This passage mainly tells us that Bowlingual _______.
A. was invented in Japan
B. has developed quickly
C. will be sold in America
D. sells well for its price
2. The underlined word "they" in the last paragraph refers to _______.
A. markets
B. products
C. plans
D. cats
3. When was this passage most probably published?
A. In the winter of 2002.
B. In the spring of 2003.
C. In the summer of 2002.
D. In the autumn of 2003.
4. From the passage, we can see that Takara Co. Ltd. is _______ the sale of its new product.
A. proud of
B. satisfied with
C. confident of
D. worried about

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