What will man be like in the future—in 5000 or even 50,000 years from now? We can only make guesses, of course, but we can be sure that he will be different from what he is today, for man is slowly changing all the time.
Let us take an obvious example. Man, even five hundred years ago, was shorter than he is today. Now, on average, men are about three inches taller. Five hundred years is a relatively short period of time, so we may assume that man will continue to grow taller. Again, in the modern world we use our brains a great deal. Even so, we still make use of only about 20% of the brain's capacity. As time goes on, however, we shall have to use our brains more and more, and eventually we shall need larger ones! This is likely to bring about a physical change too: the head, in particular the forehead, will grow larger.
Nowadays our eyes are in constant use. In fact, we use them so much that very often they become weaker and we have to wear glasses. But over a very long period of time it is likely that man's eyes will grow stronger.
On the other hand, we tend to make less use of our arms and legs. These, as a result, are likely to grow weaker. At the same time, however, our fingers will grow more sensitive because they are used a great deal in modern life.
But what about hair? This will probably disappear from the body altogether in course of time because it does not serve a useful purpose any longer. In the future, then, both sexes are likely to be bald.
Perhaps all this gives the impression that future man will not be a very attractive creature to look at! This may well be true. All the same, in spite of all these changes, future man will still have a lot in common with us. He will still be a human being with thoughts and emotions similar to our own.
1. The change in man's size of forehead will probably be because _____.| A．he makes use only 20% of the brain's capacity |
| B．his brain has grown larger over the past centuries |
| C．the other 80% of his brain will grow in due time |
| D．he will use his brain more and more as time goes on |
| A．He will be hairless because hair is no longer useful. |
| B．He will have smaller eyes and will wear better glasses. |
| C．His fingers will grow weaker because he won't have to make use of them. |
| D．He will think and feel in a different way. |
| A．human beings will become less attractive in the future |
| B．less use of a bodily organ may lead to its degeneration |
| C．human beings hope for a change in the future life |
| D．future life is always predictable |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Giving Your Eyes Regular Rests
Imagine such a scene: during the summer vacation, many of us prefer to spend most of our day starting at computer screens. Reading this article means there may be a chance you're looking at one right now.
But he admits if you use one a lot, you increase your risk of becoming slightly more short-sighted——where your eyes focus well only on close objects while more distant objects appear vague.
In the shorter term, long viewing of a computer screen can make any slight existing vision problems more noticeable.
Adjusting the screen display so the contrast is high and the brightness feels comfortable.
Giving your eyes regular rests from looking at the screen .The Optometrists Association of Australia recommends you do this for five to ten minutes every one to two hours of computer use.
| A．Protecting eyesight by having foods rich in vitamin C. |
| B．Does looking at a computer screen damage your eyes? |
| C．It's a good time to make phone calls or do other tasks. |
| D．Having lighting that does not produce glare on the screen. |
| E．A well-balanced diet also helps you stay at a healthy weight. |
| F．This is especially the case for children, whose eyes are still developing. |
| G．It can also give you what is sometimes known as "computer vision symptom." |
【推荐2】Take Care of Your Eyes
Many of us don’t pay attention to the importance of eye care. It’s said that if you take care of your body, then you can be healthy.
There are several reasons leading to poor eyesight like not enough food, gene (基因) and aging.
Something dirty can lead to redness and they will make you feel uncomfortable. It is bad for your eyes, too. If this happens, the best way is to clean your eyes by using cold water.
Eating healthy foods will do good to your eyesight. Remember that vitaminsA, C and E are good for eyes. Try to eat food groups that have these vitamins. And you should do eye exercises because exercise protects your eyesight, too. If a person exercises regularly and eats the right kind of food,
| A．What can you do to catch your eye? |
| B．such behavior will do harm to our eyes. |
| C．That is why our eyes should be given a lot of care. |
| D．his eyes will stay in good condition for a long time. |
| E．All above are natural ways of eye care that help us keep healthy eyes. |
| F．You must also try your best to protect your eyes from harmful thing. |
| G．Televisions, computers and reading are also the reasons of having poor eyesight. |
【推荐3】We all know what a brain is. A doctor will tell you that the brain is the organ of the body in the head. It controls our body’s functions, movements, emotions and thoughts. But a brain can mean so much more.
A brain can also simply be a smart person. If a person is called brainy, she is smart and intelligent. If a family has many children but one of them is super smart, you could say, “She’s the brains in the family.” And if you are the brains behind something you are responsible for developing or organizing something. For example, Bill Gates is the brains behind Microsoft. Brain trust is a group of experts who give advice. Word experts say the phrase “brain trust” became popular when Franklin D. Roosevelt first ran for president in 1932, Several professors gave him advice on social and political issues facing the U. S.
These professors were called his “brain trust.” These ways we use the word “brain” all make sense. But other ways we use the word are not so easy to understand. For example, to understand the next brain expression, you first need to know the word “drain.” As a verb to drain means to, remove something by letting it flow away. So a brain drain may sound like a disease where the brain flows out the ears. But brain drain is when a country’s most educated people leave their countries to live in another. The brains are, sort of, draining out of the country.
However, if people are responsible for a great idea, you could say they brainstormed it. Here, brainstorm is not an act of weather. It is a process of thinking creatively about a complex topic. For example, business leaders may use brainstorming to create new products, and government leaders may brainstorm to solve problems. If people are brainwashed, it does not mean their brains are nice and clean. To brainwash means to make someone accept new beliefs by using repeated pressure in a forceful or tricky way. Keep in mind that brainwash is never used in a positive way.
1. According to the text, if you’re the CEO of Bai Du you can be called .| A．the brains behind Bai Du | B．Bai Du’s brain trust |
| C．the brain drain of Bai Du | D．the organ of Bai Du |
| A．Because he was smart at giving advice. | B．Because word experts were popular. |
| C．Because he got his brain trust. | D．Because he was the brains behind America. |
| A．Brain trust | B．Brain drain | C．Brainstorm | D．Brainwash |
【推荐1】“May 17, 2157
Dear diary,
Today, Tommy found a real book!...”
“What’s it about?” Margie asked.
“School. ” replied Tommy, turning the yellow pages.
“Why would anyone write about school? I hope they can take my geography teacher away.”
“It’s not our school. This is the old sort that they had centuries ago.”
“Anyway, they had a teacher.” Margie said, reading the book over his shoulder.
“Sure, they had a teacher, but it wasn’t a regular teacher. It was a man.”
“A man? How could a man be a teacher?”
“Well, he just told the boys and girls things and gave them assignments and asked them questions.”
“A man isn’t smart enough.”
“Sure, he is. My father knows as much as my teacher.”
Margie wasn’t prepared to argue about that. She said, “I wouldn’t want a strange man in my house to teach me.”
Tommy laughed. “The teachers didn’t live in the house. They had a special building and all the kids went there.”
“And all the kids learned the same thing?”
“Sure, if they were the same age.”
“But my mother says a teacher has to be adjusted to fit the mind of each boy and girl it teaches and that each kid has to be taught differently.”
“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to read the book.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t like it,” Margie said quickly.
They weren’t even half-finished when Margie’s mother called, “Margie! School!”
“Not yet, Mamma.”
“Now!” said Mrs. Jones.
Margie said to Tommy, “Can I read the book some more with you after school?”
“Maybe,” Tommy said.
Margie went into the schoolroom, right next to her bedroom, and the mechanical teacher was on waiting for her.
The screen was lit up, and it said, “Please insert yesterday’s assignments in the proper slot.”
Margie was still thinking about the old schools they had when her grandfather’s grandfather was a little boy. All the kids from the whole neighborhood came, laughing and shouting in the schoolyard, sitting together in the schoolroom, going home together at the end of the day. They learned the same things, so they could help one another on the assignments and discussed them.
And the teachers were people…
1. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?| A．It’s common to read paper books in 2157. | B．Margie doesn’t like her school. |
| C．Online learning is what Margie wants. | D．Tommy feels his father is smarter than his teacher. |
| A．There are only female teachers at school. | B．Teachers give no assignments to students. |
| C．A special building is constructed for teachers. | D．Students are taught differently at school. |
| A．window | B．Envelope | C．Screen | D．Schoolroom |
| A．Longing | B．Objection | C．Doubt | D．Tolerance |
【推荐2】In the far,far future,bicycles and perhaps skates may be run by jet power,and a new thing to ride may be a small flying saucer（飞碟）.Imagine a race between them!
There may be telepathy helmets（心灵感应帽）that send thought waves from your brain to that of your friend miles away.You just think a thought and your friend knows it!You can have secrets with each other that nobody else can turn in on!
What about the food of the future?Scientists think.that much of it will be artificial—made in factories from such surprising things as coal,limestone,air,and water.The artificial food will be healthful because all the things that you need to live a long and healthy life will be put into it.
The future hospitals will probably have "body banks" that can give you almost any new part you need to keep on living.People of the future may live to be a lot older than 100 years.
What about highways of the future?Well,a very small child probably will be able to drive a car.Nobody will need to steer（驾驶）.Electric signals will hold each car on the right road to get wherever the "driver" wants to go. And it probably will be impossible for cars to smash together.Controls that won't even have to be touched will make all speeding cars miss each other or will put on the brakes.Driving cars will be as safe as being at home.
But maybe the most wonderful surprise in the future will be weather control.Cities may have giant plastic domes（圆顶罩）over them to keep out snow,rain,or storms.When you plan a picnic in a park,you won't have to worry about rain.It will rain only when the "weatherman" thinks it is necessary to fresh the air inside the city.All other days will be fair and warm.
The future should be a wonderful time in which to live and the time we are living in now is also a wonderful future to the people who lived 100 years ago.
1. What can we learn from the passage?| A．With telepathy helmets,we can share our thoughts without any word. |
| B．The artificial food made from coal and limestone tastes the most delicious in the future. |
| C．There will be “body banks” instead of hospitals in the future. |
| D．Plastic domes themselves can automatically control the weather. |
| A．small children have to learn to drive |
| B．car accidents still couldn't be avoided |
| C．we can be taken to the destination without steering |
| D．cars will be no longer equipped with brakes |
| A．optimistic | B．pessimistic |
| C．satisfied | D．doubtful |
【推荐3】What will the schools of the future look like? With the introduction of 5G technology, we’re starting to find out.
The answer is smart campuses, with high-tech features to help students learn more effectively and safely. They also bring convenience to teachers and administrators (管理者).
The University of British Columbia has what is believed to be Canada’s first 5G-powered smart campus, according to The Star newspaper. The school has partnered with tech company Rogers Communications to install (安装) a massive 5G network on its campus. Researchers at the school can use the network to test real-time 5G applications, as well as access a data storage facility (设施) similar to “cloud” storage, the newspaper noted.
US tech company Amazon is also looking to get into the smart campus arena (舞台). Alexa, the company’s voice-activated (声控) smart assistant, is being aimed at teachers. They may help to run classes more efficiently, says Amazon. For example, if a teacher has to teach different classes in different rooms, Alexa can remember the teacher’s preferences, such as whether or not they need to use a projector (投影仪).
Smart technology can also be used to keep students and teachers safe. At the Global Indian International School in Singapore, CNET reports that facial recognition scanners (扫描器) allow teachers to automatically lock or unlock classroom doors, while students can store their textbooks in smart lockers linked to their student ID cards.
People often describe college campuses as “mini-cities”. After all, they have their own on-campus infrastructure (基础设施), including transport links, roads, shops, restaurants – even police. And just like the smart cities being designed around the world, many college campuses are adopting smart technology. The University of Michigan in the US, for example, has its own self-driving shuttle (班车) system, allowing students to go from classroom to classroom in a safe and efficient manner.
Unlike cities, universities are seen as a particularly good testing ground for smart technology because many of them have sole (单一的) control over their property (财产). “Cities are so big, and there are so many players and stakeholders (利益相关者), it can be difficult. But many universities around the world have control over their estates (房产). They own all their buildings ... so they can become like a living lab,” said Gemmy Ginty, a designer working on a smart campus development strategy for the University of Glasgow, UK, in a news report by the Guardian.
1. How is the text mainly developed?| A．By giving examples. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By following the order of time. | D．By explaining causes and effects. |
| A．It offers free “cloud” storage to its users. |
| B．It is used to test real-time 5G applications. |
| C．It can help improve classroom efficiency. |
| D．It can help monitor students’ class performances. |
| A．Smart technology benefits students the most. |
| B．Universities are full of laboratories and researchers. |
| C．Sole control over their properties makes it easier to test new tech. |
| D．There are many players and stakeholders on university campuses. |
【推荐1】Recently I read Nineteen Eighty-Four, a novel by George Orwell set in a totalitarian (极权主义的) state where even the language they use is controlled. Adjectives are forbidden and instead they use the words such as “ungood”, “plus good” and “double plus good” to express emotions.
As I first read this I thought how impossible it would be in our society to have such vocabulary. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized in its own way it was already happening. I type messages to my friends and alongside each is an emoji (表情符号). I often use them to emphasize something, or to seem not too serious, or because this specific GIF conveys my emotions much better than I ever could using just words. And I wonder, “With too much use of emojis, are we losing the beauty and diversity of our vocabulary?”
English has the largest vocabulary in the world, with over one million words, but who’s to say what it’ll be like in the future? Perhaps we will have a shorter language, full of saying “cry face” if something sad happens or using LOL (laugh out loud) or BRB (be right back) instead of saying the full phrase. So does this mean our vocabulary will shrink? Is it the start of an exciting new era?
Yet when you look back over time, the power of the image has always been there. Even in the prehistoric era they used imagery to communicate, and what’s even more incredible is that we are able to analyse those drawings and understand the meaning of them thousands of years later. Pictures have the ability to go beyond time and language. Images, whether they are cave paintings or emojis, allow us to convey a message that’s not restrictive but rather universal.
1. What is the reason for the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four being mentioned?| A．To introduce the following topic. |
| B．To recommend this book to readers. |
| C．To show the author’s special interest. |
| D．To show the diversity of languages. |
| A．Because they are easy to type. |
| B．Because they are amusing to use. |
| C．Because they can better convey emotions. |
| D．Because they reflect the diversity of languages. |
| A．English vocabulary will become smaller. |
| B．A new language era has come into being. |
| C．English will be more popular in the future. |
| D．Short forms of words may be popular in the future. |
| A．We shouldn’t use emojis too much. |
| B．Emojis can be understood universally. |
| C．Languages will be replaced by emojis. |
| D．We have to learn several languages. |
【推荐2】White Nights Festival
St. Petersburg, Russia (May 26 July 23)
Picture a sunny walk down the streets of one of Europe’s most beautiful and cultured cities. Stop to observe grand canals, parks architecture, and many other historical landmarks, all in the middle of the night! The White Nights Festival aims to improve cultural exchanges between Russia and the rest of the world. It was also created to improve the image of Russia and promote it as a world center for the arts.
Songkran Festival
Thailand (April 13-15)
Songkran Festival, marking the traditional Thai New Year, takes place across the country. In addition to sightseeing at local temples, people flood the streets to take part in large water fights. The throwing of water is a sign of respect and well-wishing, as believers hope to remove bad luck.
Exit Festival
Novi Sad, Serbia (July 6-9)
Exit Festival is a multi-type music festival in Novi Sad, Serbia. Hugely respected throughout Europe and across the globe, the festival has becomé a regular (常客) on “best in the world” lists. Known for its huge variety, Exit Festival welcomes global stars of rock, pop, dance, hip-hop and more to the Petrovaradin Fortress on the banks of the Danube.
Snow Star Festival
Sinakara Valley, Peru (Dates vary between May June)
Tens of thousands of pilgrims (朝圣者) crowd the Sinakara andean valley in the Cusco region with dancers in beautiful skirts performing non-stop over three days. Known as the Snow Star Festival, the gathering falls in line with the reappearance of the star cluster (星团)(Pleiades in the Southern Hemisphere, marking the abundance of the harvest season).
1. What makes the White Nights Festival different from the other three festivals?| A．It is held in summer every year. |
| B．It connects worldwide people together. |
| C．It is a unique way to promote arts. |
| D．Viewers can enjoy scenery at night. |
| A．St. Petersburg, Russia |
| B．Thailand |
| C．Novi Sad, Serbia |
| D．Sinakara Valley, Peru |
| A．It has a lot to do with harvest. |
| B．Its opening time is not fixed. |
| C．It is in honor of the Pleiades. |
| D．It attracts many good dancers. |
【推荐3】We are what we eat. From high-calorie meals to low-fat lunches, much of our health depends on what we eat. We know about the benefits of eating properly for our physical well-being, but cooking food is turning out to be good for our mental well-being as well.
Some people are now thinking highly of the treatment value of cooking food. It’s not just about the end result but the experience someone goes through. Dr. Mark Salter, a famous doctor, said, “Baking and cooking are good therapies (疗法) that help patients develop planning skills, short-term memory and social skills-all of which suffer in mental illness.”
TV chef and author Nadiya Hussain agrees that cooking is great for helping our mind. She loves to bake and became the champion of the TV show, The Great British Bake Off. She says that “Baking’s always been about therapy. It produces something tangible. Unlike something abstract (抽象的), you can touch and enjoy it! Besides, your creations taste delicious and make you feel good. It is a process that really increase your level of life satisfaction.
Certainly, creating some delicious food has helped some of us get through the recent lockdown (禁闭); it’s helped take our mind off things and given us something to do. People have said that kneading dough (面团) to make bread, for example, has given them a sense of calm and control. Research has shown that doing creative tasks, like cooking, makes us feel happier.
Nicole Farmer, who studies how food influences our biology, behavior and mental health, said that baking is an important tool for our socialization and mental health. She thinks that cooking gives you the opportunity to cook for others-in turn, providing the opportunity to improve and build relationships. It is a rewarding experience.
Hopefully, as we start to mix with friends and family again, we can enjoy the benefits once more and put us all in the right state of mind.
1. Why does the author mention Salter’s words in the second paragraph?| A．To support his idea. | B．To explain a medical term. |
| C．To warn us about mental illness. | D．To show his admiration for Salter. |
| A．Instant. | B．Tasty. | C．Appealing. | D．Specific. |
| A．It is a useful survival skill. | B．It is a vital tool for a balanced diet. |
| C．It strengthens connections with others. | D．It provides equal chances for all cooks. |
| A．We Are What We Eat | B．Health Lies in Cooking Foods |
| C．Cooking Helps Physical Health | D．Cooking Promotes Mental Health |
【推荐1】With intelligent systems and new-age networks, life in the big cities will likely be happier and more efficient (有效率的). After all, more than 60 percent of the world's population is expected to live in cities by 2050, according to a UN report. The answer to making these cities more livable for so many people lies in creating “smart” cities. They will use 5G networks and the “internet of things” (IoT) to make everyday life safer and more convenient. Some cities are already using smart technology to improve the lives of their people.
But what exactly does a smart city do? Let's look at a few examples. In the United States cities of Boston and Baltimore, sensors (传感器) in smart rubbish cans can tell cleaning workers how full they are and when they need to be emptied. In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, traffic low and energy usage are monitored and adjusted (监控和调整) according to real-time data (数据) collected from sensors around the city. And in Copenhagen, Denmark, a smart bike system allows riders to check on air quality and traffic jam as they ride.
Smart cities will be interactive (互动的), allowing their people to feel like they're truly shaping their environment, instead of only living in it. It's very important that we can actually communicate with our environment in a way that we never had in the past. Smart cities will also allow us to save resources. By using sensors and 5G networks to monitor the use of water, gas and electricity, city managers can figure out how to share and save these resources more efficiently.
Of course, it will take time and money to turn our present cities into the smart cities of the future. But as we've already seen, more cities around the world are already using smart technology in small ways. It won't be long before more cities start to develop their own smart systems.
1. What makes it necessary to create smart cities?| A．The development of present cities. | B．The increasing population in cities. |
| C．The wide use of 5G networks and IoT. | D．The growing number of present cities |
| A．The sensors can control the traffic low. |
| B．Smart bike systems can improve air quality. |
| C．Smart technology can make city life convenient. |
| D．Smart technology has been used throughout the world. |
| A．How smart cities work. | B．How smart cities are created. |
| C．How smart cities save resources. | D．How smart cities communicate with us. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Worried. | C．Uninterested. | D．Doubtful. |
【推荐2】When it comes to learning a foreign language, many people wonder if they will be able to memorize enough vocabulary. But this question never happens about their mother tongue, and yet, it was a foreign language once. However, among all the questions that new parents ask, no doctor has ever heard: “Will my baby be able to learn my language?” Be honest, do you know all the words of your mother tongue? The answer is: “no”.
New words, and new ways of using old words, appear every day. Twenty years ago, who could have been able to understand a sentence like this: “Click here to download your digital book.”? Nobody. You never stop learning new vocabulary and you never know how long you will need it.
Sometimes, you have the word on the tip of your tongue...and it sticks there! But you do know this phenomenon(现象) and don’t think that it is because of a bad memory. You should not give this phenomenon more importance in the language you are learning than in your mother tongue.
You need to learn only 2000 or so basic words to be able to create any phrase you need. You can’t avoid some work in order to learn these necessary words and all the more if you want to learn quickly. And before you consider buying into any method, be sure it is right for you. It is not wise to depend on any method based upon mnemonics(记忆群). The first few words seem very easy to learn, so you buy the course, but then you discover quickly, though too late, that a dozen words later, it is all the more difficult to learn a new word when you have also to learn the trick to memorize it.
1. From the first paragraph, we can infer that ______.| A．there is no need to know all the words of a foreign language |
| B．it is honest to answer “no” to a question you don’t know |
| C．a baby can know all the new words of its mother tongue |
| D．people find it hard to memorize vocabulary of their language |
| A．to remember new words appearing every day |
| B．to keep up with new ways of using old words |
| C．to learn at least 2,000 necessary words |
| D．to pay more attention to your bad memory |
| A．supportive | B．neutral |
| C．opponent | D．indifferent |
| A．using old words in a new way |
| B．learning new words from the context |
| C．finding a method to memorize vocabulary |
| D．learning vocabulary of a foreign language |
【推荐3】“We can't play tennis because you don't have a net.” I was standing on a suburban street when Eric, the boy next door, said that to me. Two rackets(球拍)in hand, I felt my face burning and anger spread through my 10-year-old body.
“I don't have net? You don't have net. Your father and mother don't have net,” I yelled, firing at him with what I thought was a hurt. I just had to make him understand that I had plenty of net. Eric was speechless. He admitted that indeed, he and his family had neither a tennis court nor a net, but he seemed unable to make sense of my reaction to this shortcoming.
As a new arrival to the United States, armed with limited English words, I had thought that “net” meant "manners". Eric didn't want to play with me because I lacked good manners. It was only after I stormed home that my brother, who had been in America for a decade, explained where I had gone wrong.
Language barriers are the most common communication barriers. Even when we speak the same language, understanding and being understood can be difficult, not to mention communicating in a foreign language. And confusion and amusement follows-a phenomenon that is common in sitcom(情景喜剧).For example, in a 1970s British sitcom, a foreign student says “squeeze(捏)me”, instead of “excuse me”, to his young principal.
That's the thing with languages. Though the languages are technically the same, the meanings, implications and interpretations of words are different. No two people really speak the same one. But in order to be understood, we should be willing to use more words and expressions and have the patience to find out more about what is happening to get a whole picture of the situation.
1. Why was the author angry?| A．Eric refused to lend him a bat. | B．He thought Eric was rude to him. |
| C．Eric laughed at his limited English. | D．He had to play tennis without a net. |
| A．His bad manners. | B．His poor background. |
| C．His limited vocabulary. | D．His violent character. |
| A．Went angrily. | B．Left hurriedly. |
| C．Attacked suddenly. | D．Disappeared completely. |
| A．They are worsened by sitcoms. |
| B．They contribute to cultural differences. |
| C．They can be overcome by sending and receiving ideas. |
| D．They exist even between speakers of the same language. |
