1 . We are now living in the 21st century. Life now is much more _____ than before. Many changes (变化) have happened.

Tony is a _____ in Grade 8 at an American middle school. He felt surprised and _____ on his first day of school because he found his classroom filled with technology equipment (科技设备).

In Tony’s classroom, there are many electronics, like iPads. This term they will _____ the electronics to take notes, watch videos and do some homework. “It’s relaxing,” said Tony. “I often _____ my maths problems on my iPad and ask my classmate or teachers for help.”

With the help of new technology, students can finish their homework _____. “Technology is quite common in most of our classrooms now,” the headmaster said. “We’re trying to develop technology to open up the world to kids. It can _____ the outside world in and lets kids know more.”

Mr Miller, a science teacher _____ “It is a quick way for students to know the outside world,” he said. Mr Miller considers himself as a guide (向导) of learning instead of as a teacher. “If they have a _____, I will try to teach them how to find the answer,” he said.

Dale, Tony’s classmate, loves technology. He was not interested in class before, but now he likes the classes very much. “The classes help me use what I have ______ in the computer lessons.” Dale said. “Most importantly, I enjoy the classroom because, of course, it will help my studies.”

6 . Humans’ Greatest Achievements

The Earth is about 4.6 billion years old, but the humans have lived on it for just 200,000 years. In that short time, we have achieved some amazing things.

    1     The list is almost endless. The invention of the airplane has changed our lives. The discovery of antibiotics( 抗生素 ) has saved the lives of millions of people. Can you imagine living without electricity? What about the printing press(印刷术) ? Without the printing press, you wouldn’t be reading this. In the last 50 years, there have been great achievements in communication, such as radio, TV, computers, the Internet. and smartphones(智能手机).     2       

What about the arts? The arts have brought pleasure to many people, but are the Beatles and Bach more important than antibiotics?     3    

Finally, we must not forget humans’ early achievements.     4     We can’t imagine modern life without cooked food and cars.

What are humans’ greatest achievements? To answer the question, we need to decide what we mean by “great”.     5     Or is it just something that makes us say “Wow”, like the Great Wall? What do you think?

Shenzhou 13 manned spacecraft landed successfully on April 16, 2022. Three Chinese astronauts, Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping, Ye Guangfu came back to the Earth. They s    1     in space for six months. It is the eighth time for Chinese to visit space after Yang Liwei went as the first Chinese 18 years ago. These special “v    2    ” took fantastic photos in space, just like taking trips there.

Can common people go to visit space like them? The answer is “yes”. On September 15, 2021, Space X sent four common people into space. The four spent three days in space. In July, 2021, 70-year-old British billionaire (亿万富翁) Richard Branson and 57-year-old American billionaire Jeff Bezos, both flew into space. But some think these trips are for the super r    3    . With the sky-high prices, most common people should give up their space dreams. However, US flight engineer Bobak Ferdowsi believes the price will come d    4    . Maybe in 10 to 15 years, it will be a choice between “Do I buy a new car or do I go to space?”

Even if we can’t have a space trip now, we had a science class from space. The woman astronaut Wang Yaping, the space teacher, gave us such a l    5     just as she did eight years ago. That was great fun, wasn’t it?

We will also be able to e    6     a space movie. A Russian movie team lived on the International Space Station from Oct 5 to 16 to film the movie Challenge. It’s the first time a movie was made in space. Do you look forward to seeing the wonderful film?

9 . What’s going to happen in the future? Here are some things that scientists say are most likely to happen 10 to 30 years later from now.

1. Digital money

We used to pay with cash（现金）for everything we bought. In fact, we are already using one kind of digital money when we swipe（刷）our bus pass or use a credit card（信用卡）to shop online. You have to admit that using a card is much easier than searching your pocket for change. It is also safer than carrying a lot of cash with you. People in Sweden all stopped using cash last year and the US might be the next.

2.Bionic（仿生）Eye

People who are blind may have a chance to get their sight back---by wearing bionic eyes. A blind eye can no longer sense light, but a bionic eye can use a camera to “see” the environment and send the message into brain. Although the bionic eye now only allow patients to see lights and unclear shapes, a better and clearer bionic eye could be just a few years away.

3.Self-driving car

Unlike a human driver, a self-driving car won’t lose attention because of a phone call, a radio or something outside the window. Sensors（探测器）and cameras on the car would allow it to keep strictly to the rules of the road and keep a safe distance from other cars. This would greatly reduce the number of road accidents. Many companies are now planning self-driving cars. By 2045, driverless cars will be the main transport on the road.

On Oct.16th, 2021, China sent a spaceship (the Shenzhou-13) into the space, marking the start of     1     longest spaceflight of China. Nine hours later, the three members—Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu entered the station’s core module (核心舱), named Tianhe. They started     2     (they) six—month journey inside the station from then on.

The mother of a 5-year-old girl, Wang Yaping is China’s     3     (two) woman astronaut to take part in a spaceflight. She    4     (take) part in the Shenzhou-10 mission (使命) in June 2013. She is the first Chinese woman     5     (enter) a space station and is also the first Chinese woman to do a spacewalk.

A lot of work will be done     6     the three astronauts, according to Pang Zhihao, a spaceflight scientist in Beijing. They will check     7     the spaceship can work well in a bad environment during a long-term flight. Mr.Pang said that women astronauts actually have 8.     8     (many) advantages than men astronauts. “Women are usually more sensitive (敏感) and careful in many     9     (way), and they are better at communicating, which are useful in long-term flights. And a woman astronaut always     10     (bring) more joy to a difficult mission.” Pang said.