Futurologists predict that life will probably be very apparently distinct in 2050 in all the fields of activity, from entertainment to technology.
First of all, it seems that TV channels will have disappeared by 2050. Instead, people will choose a programme from a “menu” and a computer will send the programme directly to the television. Today, we can use the World Wide Web to read newspaper stories and see pictures on a computer thousands of kilometers away. By 2050, music, films, programmes, newspapers and books will come to us by computer. We will also be able to see, smell and touch the things that we see on television.
In transport, cars will run on new, clean “gas” and they will go very fast. Cars will have computers to control the speed of the car and there won’t be any accidents. Today, many cars have computers that tell drivers exactly where they are. By 2050, the computer will control the car and drive it to where you want to go. Space planes will fly all over the world and people will fly from Los Angeles to Tokyo in just two hours.
In technology, robots will have replaced people in factories. Many factories already use robots. Big companies prefer robots—they do not ask for pay rises or go on strike, and they work 24 hours a day. By 2050, we will see robots everywhere-in factories, schools, offices, hospitals, shops and homes.
Last but not least, medicine technology will have conquered many diseases. By 2050, we will be able to help blind and deaf people see again and hear again. Scientists will be able to produce clones of people and decide how they look, how they behave and how much intelligence they have.
1. What will happen to the media in 2050?| A．Televisions will disappear |
| B．Computers will take the place of televisions. |
| C．Computers will choose the programme for us. |
| D．We can smell the dishes on television. |
| A．They will be less polluted and more safe. |
| B．They will be controlled by robots. |
| C．Planes will fly all over the world in a short time. |
| D．They will go at a very high speed and run on oil. |
| A．Robots will ask for pay rises and go on strike in the future. |
| B．There will be no people working in factories by 2050. |
| C．There will be cloned people coming to power by 2050 |
| D．More and more work will be done by robots by 2050. |
| A．What our future life will be like. | B．TV channels will disappear in 2050. |
| C．What cars will be like in the future. | D．Many diseases will disappear in 2050. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】The Ig Nobel Prize (搞笑诺贝尔奖) hands out awards for “achievements that first make people laugh, then make them think.” Sometimes the world of design can feel the same way: a pen that can detect cancer mid-surgery, for example. But a musical instrument engineered for zero gravity? Perhaps less so. Nevertheless, both are driven by the desire to improve lives.
The pen, musical instrument and more could be found at the Global Grad Show, which has rapidly become a regional networking opportunity with large commercial value, but that hasn’t stopped grassroots innovation from pushing through.
The graduate show, organized by author and designer Brendan MeGetrick, brought together 150 student projects from 100 universities including MIT and Harvard, and countries as diverse as Jordan. Chile and Pakistan. Schools, McGetrick told CNN, are “where one finds design in its purest and most potentially valuable form.”
“Free from the commercial pressures of professional life, the next generation of designers is channeling their craft to improve the world,” he added. “The next generations do not have the luxury to hope that the present issues will be solved. They anticipate the worst and see how they might channel their talents and training to invent tools that we will need before we urgently need them.
This year’s winner of the Global Grad Show, Mirjam de Bruijn said: “I think we should stop thinking that we can do it on our own. I think designers, scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs should start working together. As a designer, I see too many great solutions that are not being used because their design is bad, and I am sure that scientists or technologists think the same with some designs that look better than they actually work.”
1. A pen and a musical instrument are mentioned to show ________.| A．some designs are ridiculous but meaningful | B．some achievements are serious but useless |
| C．some instruments are supernatural but handy | D．some surgeries are risky bout reasonable |
| A．By leaching skills and knowledge. |
| B．By offering scientific researches. |
| C．By providing commercially valuable opportunities. |
| D．By inspiring the invention ol the urgently needed tools. |
| A．wants to work out the present issues eagerly |
| B．hates to make their designs on their own |
| C．feels angry for those solutions not being used |
| D．tends to find design in its purest form |
| A．Where there is a will, there is a way. | B．Two heads are better than one. |
| C．Great minds think alike. | D．Birds of a feather flock together. |
【推荐2】Being connected to the Internet has become a necessary part of modern life. Some people actually need it as they cannot do their jobs without it, and others simply feel they need it as they cannot imagine life without it.
To think that something that did not even exist 50 years ago has come to play a crucial role in our lives like this in just about 15 years makes one wonder–just what will the future bring?
In 2004, a survey was conducted in the US asking a group of technology experts their opinions on the Internet in the next ten years. 57% of them agreed that virtual classes will be more widely adopted in schools, allowing students to learn with those at the same level and with interests in the same subjects. It’s quite possible that, by the year 2030, every child in every school will do all their schoolwork on their own laptop with all their textbooks available (现成可使用的) on the Internet. No more heavy books to carry around and no more pens and paper!
At work, we already use email to deal with people both inside and outside our offices and video conferencing (电话会议) is occurring more frequently. This means that meetings can be held between offices in different countries without the trouble caused by business travel. Business travel will stop to exist in the future, and so will offices as people all start to work from home.
It has also become a trend for people to use pocket computers such as Blackberries. With this helpful equipment, people can send and receive emails, surf the Web, and read multimedia files from absolutely anywhere even if we are on a beach holiday.
The Internet will have a revolutionary (突破性的) effect on entertainment in the future. Already we can buy and download music and movies from the Internet but it is still possible for us to buy a CD or go to the DVD stores to rent the latest movies. However, it’s quite possible that in the future, CD shops and DVD rental stores will close and cinemas will no longer exist. Entertainment will become completely virtual although hopefully people will still want to get outside to play sports and entertain themselves in more healthy ways.
With the Internet we need only relax in the rocking chair. The Internet, however, has problems to be solved.
1. The expression “play a crucial role in” can be understood as “______”.| A．change a dull role into | B．play an interesting part in |
| C．have an important effect on | D．act a cruel character in |
| A．people won’t have to make business travel any more thanks to the video conference |
| B．virtual classes can make students’ dream of getting rid of their schoolbags come true |
| C．people can be kept informed anytime and anywhere with the help of convenient equipment |
| D．CD shops and cinemas will shut down as a result of the adoption of virtual entertainment |
| A．Bad effects the Internet can have on us. |
| B．The possible school life in the future. |
| C．More excitements the Internet will bring us. |
| D．The likely ways to solve the problems. |
| A．Virtual reality, our best friend! |
| B．What will future life be like with the Internet? |
| C．Goodbye, textbooks and offices! |
| D．How can human beings deal with the Internet? |
【推荐3】Most Americans are worried about new technology. They are concerned that machines, including robots, will take over work now done by humans. These findings come from a new report by the Pew Research Center of Washington D. C.
About 75 percent of Americans questioned by Pew said automation will increase income inequality between the rich and the middle class and poor. And 64 percent of people expect automation to be so common in America that people will face difficulty finding things to do with their lives.
Some of the concerns about technology come from a distrust about whether machines will always make the right decision. Many Americans believe humans have better judgement in dealing with. complex matters. One example is selecting a person for a job. Three-quarters of Americans said they would not want to apply for a job that uses a computer program to choose the most qualified person.
“Most Americans want the government to limit automation. For example, 87 percent support a requirement that all driverless vehicles have a human in the driver’s seat who can take control when an emergency occurs. And 85 percent want to limit machines to mostly doing jobs that are dangerous or unhealthy for humans. And only 25 percent expect more jobs to come from automation,” Pew said.
Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook, spoke last May to graduating seniors from Harvard University in Massachusetts. His talk centered on the uncertain future facing young people. “Our generation will have to deal with tens of millions of jobs replaced by automation like self-driving cars and trucks.” Zuckerherg told the graduates.
Zuckerberg said young people had better launch(发起)projects that will bring both jobs and direct benefits to the people of the world. He said in his speech that 30000 people worked to put a man on the moon, and millions of people built the Hoover Dam as well as other great projects over the last 100 years.
1. What do many Americans think of technology according to paragraph 3?| A．Useful. |
| B．Effective. |
| C．Dangerous. |
| D．Undependable. |
| A．To test the new technology. |
| B．To make a driver. |
| C．To ensure personal safety. |
| D．To entertain the passengers. |
| A．Refuse self-driving vehicles. |
| B．Create new job chances. |
| C．Focus on small projects. |
| D．Fight against robots. |
| A．New Technology Creates More Jobs |
| B．New Technology Brings More Fairness |
| C．Americans Worry Machines Will Take Jobs |
| D．Robots Make Work Easy to Do for Workers |
【推荐1】Look out of the window of your workplace. Is the view pleasing? Can you see trees and grassy areas, or rubbish bins? Do you enjoy leaving the building at lunchtime or would you rather stay in your office?
Indoor work environments (in particular factors like light, noise and temperature) have an effect on working quality. Attractive offices, with common areas and relaxing activities, will appeal to businesses and workers. If a positive office indoor environment helps, it makes sense that a nice outdoor one should do the job, too.
Those who work in a big city are complaining about crowded conditions, surrounded by busy roads. But there are exceptions. Chiswick Park in west London is the kind of area that local people like to frequent on their days off. It has its own waterfall and lake, where ducks have settled, and there are tree-shaded lawns where one can picnic on sunny summer days. The actively minded can head for a special area to play basketball or football. The autumn brings firework shows and when the weather is good, the site holds food fairs, concerts or other events.
During the week, however, 9,000 people flood into the park’s 12 office buildings. They are home to 73 businesses, including big companies like Paramount and Sony.
Anyone who has visited the main office of a tech company will be surprised to find comfortable chairs, pool tables and even guitars or bikes for hire, like those in a big hotel. The worry about such services is that they aim to keep employees in the office for as long as possible. If you can eat, go to the gym and even get your dry cleaning done at work, why go home?
The danger, as with many aspects of the future economy, is of another class divide. In addition to fat pay checks, well-decorated offices with top-class services located in attractive parks for the fortunate few who program for big tech groups or run large companies; dissatisfying jobs in “satisfying centers” and busy roads outside for the rest. On the bright side, office workers in the latter will at least still have a reason to head home.
1. Why does the writer raise those questions in paragraph 1?| A．To encourage readers to find answers all by themselves. |
| B．To point out the trouble in improving working conditions. |
| C．To attract readers’ attention to the topic of the article. |
| D．To remind readers to share their comfortable offices. |
| A．It is regarded as local people’s favorite park. |
| B．Indoor events and ball games can be held here. |
| C．Its unique natural beauty is beyond compare. |
| D．Employees enjoy a pleasing environment here. |
| A．Employees are eager to give up family life for work. |
| B．Employees feel superior to those in regular offices. |
| C．Employees get cheated into working with less salary. |
| D．Employees experience differences in social positions. |
| A．An office with a view | B．An unusual business park |
| C．A call for office services | D．A new style in decoration |
【推荐2】Bangladesh has a large population. The nation depends on rice as its main food. Growing rice requires a lot of water and energy, especially during the dry season from January to June when farmers mostly rely on groundwater. This results in serious reduction of groundwater as well as greenhouse gas emissions(排放).
Researchers from the University of Washington and Bangladesh’s Ministry of Agriculture have developed a system called Integrated Rice Advisory System (IRAS), which uses satellite data from NASA and its partners to give farmers important information.
IRAS works by combining satellite data on water use, rainfall, and weather forecasts with crop water demand(需求)characteristics to produce location-specific suggestions for farmers. The suggestions tell farmers how much water they have, how much they are using, and how much they need for their crops. They also warn farmers if they have over-or under-watered their fields.
The IRAS team states that the system will help reduce agricultural water waste by about 30 percent, cut fuel use by 45 percent, save S115 million yearly, and lower carbon emissions by 300,000 tons per year.
IRAS is an example of how global cooperation and the sharing of important data among nations can help improve food security, water management, and environmental protection around the world. “In addition to being affordable and convenient for farmers, the method can help the world become more water-efficient and energy-efficient in growing food,” said Faisal Hossain, leader of IRAS.
The IRAS team completed its first nationwide effort in June 2023, after working with staff from Bangladesh’s Department of Agricultural Extension and Agro-Meteorological Information Service to set up the system. Faisal Hossain and his colleagues hope to broaden the reach of IRAS in the future, and apply it to other crops that demand large amounts of water, like sugar cane. “We believe that this affordable tool will be applied to any area where we know what crop is being grown and what their crop water demand characteristics are,” he said.
1. How does IRAS mainly serve farmers?| A．By collecting data about weather. | B．By monitoring the growth of crops. |
| C．By guiding them on water management. | D．By helping them look for new groundwater. |
| A．By listing related data. | B．By giving an example. |
| C．By making a comparison. | D．By referring to a research report. |
| A．The specific technology used in the system. |
| B．Future challenges of applying the system. |
| C．Farmers’ opinions on the system. |
| D．The importance of the system. |
| A．It will be well-received in the future. |
| B．It encourages international cooperation. |
| C．It can only be used on crops in dry places. |
| D．It requires better education on water protection. |
【推荐3】If you ever travel to Italy, don't miss a chance to eat the pizza in Rome.At least, that's what Ayonnah Tinsley would probably tell you. "The cheese is totally delicious. In fact I think it is the best cheese there is!" Ayonnah wrote.
She wrote this review on a kid-friendly travel website—a website she started herself. And in the past three years, it has taken off like a transatlantic flight. She started a travel blog when she was only eight. The website, called YaYa Stars, grew out of that blog. "YaYa" is Ayonnah's nickname, and" Stars" refers to her five-star rating system. She made the site for kids who want to go to places and kids who have been to places.
Ayonnah and her family have travelled a lot. But when she looked for information and reviews about their destinations, she didn't find any that was written by or for kids. At first she just wanted a website where she could write about the places she had visited. But her friends wanted to share their adventures, too. So now, she lets other kids rate the places they've been to as well.
" The website has taken off beyond our wildest dreams," said Ayonnah's mother. " We get anywhere between 25,000 and 75,000 unique visitors in a month worldwide. This was all her idea. She was young and that was great for that age and we just gave her our basic support.
Ayonnah's website contains shop and restaurant reviews, too—including her views about the pizza in Rome. But she was not as impressed by a restaurant at a major U. S. theme park. She discovered a toothpick inside one of the French fries. However, she did soften the review by calling the restaurant's decoration' wonderful",
Ayonnah has a number of other hobbies, but she.still finds time to write and post her reviews. "To all you kids everywhere—YaYa Stars is for you," she says. " Hope to see where you have been!"
1. What do we know about Ayonnah's website according to the passage?| A．She writes all the reviews on her own. |
| B．A free transatlantic flight is offered to its users. |
| C．It acts as a platform for kids to make friends with others. |
| D．Users can rate the places which they have visited on the website. |
| A．she had a lot of words to write about her travelling |
| B．no travel websites were written specially by or for kids |
| C．she found nothing about the destinations she visited online |
| D．kids didn't like to review the destinations they had ever visited |
| A．Ayonnah's mother is worried that she is too young to operate the website well. |
| B．Ayonnah knew her website would be successful at the beginning. |
| C．More adult visitors are welcome to the website from now on. |
| D．Ayonnah's mother takes pride in her achievement. |
| A．critical | B．favourable |
| C．mild | D．frank |
| A．reviews on transportation |
| B．reviews on restaurants |
| C．reviews on destinations |
| D．reviews on shops |
