地球上终年炎热的地区是(    )

阅读下面短文，根据短文内容，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选择最佳选项。

    The town of Pressure and the town of Pleasure were neighbors but they had nothing in common. Residents(居民) built walls to 1 influence from the other town.

    In Pressure, everyone wanted to be the very best. When women gave birth, they would compete（竞争、比赛） to have the baby with the loudest cry. There was violent competition in every aspect（方面） of life. Because 2 was the symbol（象征） of success. People were always busy making money, with no time for relaxation. Some young people couldn't bear the intensity(紧张) and chose to drink to escape（逃避）.

    In Pleasure, the motto（格言） was: If only you like it, do it. People grew up without pressure and could do anything they liked. Children played computer games day and night. At school, teachers didn't care 3 students came or not. Workers might sit around the office all day long drinking coffee and doing 4 .Thanks to the lack（缺乏） of regulations（规章制度）, nobody worried about losing their jobs. It was pleasure that mattered. The computers they used were old ones from the town of Pressure.

    Some of the young were addicted（上瘾） to drugs（药物）5 the emptiness（空虚） of their lives. Then, people in the two towns began asking themselves, “What is life 6 ?” But, just before life in the two towns completely7, there came a great person—Mr Reason. He went from door to door, talking with people and 8 advice. People in Pressure learnt to be satisfied with what they had 9 people in Pleasure began to make plans. They 10 the walls between them and built a road to connect the two.

   Scientists are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to test whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert(专家) in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study on the effect of robotic dogs on old people’s depression (沮丧) , physical activity, and life satisfaction.
   In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, scientists will collect baseline data(数据) for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the scientists will review the data to test if it has produced any changes in the life of its owner.“I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice,” says a seventy-year-old lady. “When I’m watching TV, he’ll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has his own mind.”
   The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The scientists say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.
“At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate(与……相关) to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry.” Beck says. “Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more-valuable health helper. They will record their masters' blood pressure, oxygen levels or heart rhythms(心律). AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate(刺激) older people's minds.”