1 . As a child, I had spent my holidays travelling our village in Bangladesh — running across the rice fields or farms and fishing in lakes. But, this had started to wear off as a teen. One thing I remember about that trip was when we were only about half an hour from our village, we had to get out of our car. The road in front of us was completely under water. We all got on a bamboo boat for another two or three hours.

That was 15 years ago — the last time I visited our village. One by one, many other villagers left there. But my father has been working hard to build it up. He doesn’t want it to be lost.

Yes, we should protect our home. But there is something else to think about: climate crisis (气候危机). Bangladesh is at the centre of the climate crisis — it is hit by floods, droughts, storms and other natural disasters. “I jokingly say, Bangladesh is God’s laboratory for natural disasters,” says Prof Ainun Nishat, an expert on climate change from Bangladesh.

The period from June to October sees heavy rains. But the rainfall time is becoming more erratic (无常的). In 2020, Sylhet, my hometown, was hit by huge floods that affected thousands of families, whose homes were swept away. In fact, over a quarter of the country was flooded. Nearly 1.3 million homes were damaged, and hundreds of people died.

The weather is getting more extreme (极端的). It is getting too hot. And the supply of water can’t be relied upon, leaving the land getting drier.

Although people have worries about droughts and floods, unlike in the past, the country is well-prepared to deal with them. Prof Nishat says, “Maybe 20, 30 years back we depended on external (外部的) support to return to normal from any natural disaster, but now it’s different. The country has developed, and we suffered these disasters many times, so the people are one of the most prepared.”

1. What do the underlined words “wear off” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Advance.	B．Make sense.
C．Disappear.	D．Lose control.

2. What do we know about Bangladesh?

A．It is affected by many disasters.

B．It needs more people to build it up.

C．People living there lead an unhappy life.

D．Experts are studying why the climate changes there.

3. Why does the author mention the flood happening in 2020?

A．To prove floods are difficult to avoid.

B．To show the effects of climate change.

C．To prove floods are frequent in Bangladesh.

D．To show the great damage caused by floods.

4. What do Prof Nishat’s words in the last paragraph show?

A．People in Bangladesh think the external support is unnecessary.

B．People in Bangladesh try to rebuild their homes on their own.

C．Bangladesh needs more support to aid its development.

D．Bangladesh is trying hard to deal with climate change.

2 . The future is just around the corner, and according to some people who make the future their business, it doesn’t look dissimilar to what you see around you now, but below the surface there will be differences.

Your home of the future

One of the places in your home is the bathroom. It will have a toilet that can test urine (尿) for sugar levels, take your blood pressure and weigh you. All that information can then be uploaded to your doctor. Even the bathroom soap will be upgraded, which will have sunscreen (防晒霜) in it, which will stick to your skin.

The future of technology

The kitchen is often the centre of a home and it has the most potential for future changes. For example, a Web-enabled refrigerator will be able to talk to the manufacturer when a part wears out, so it can order a replacement without you ever knowing something was wrong.

Tiny, inexpensive computer chips called RFIDs, or radio frequency identification chips, will be attached to every product in your house. The refrigerator will read the chips, and will even be able to tell you when the milk has gone bad.

The counter will be able to make dinner suggestions. Your washing machine will know how to wash your favourite linen (亚麻布) skirt. And you will be able to call your oven from your cellphone to tell it when to start cooking the pot roast.

Future travelling

Futurists say robots will be a large part of life. Though a driverless car sounds like a crazy idea, it is built to be safer and more efficient than what is currently parked in the driveway.

Even with all of the changes coming in the future, the human condition will not change, though. At day’s end, you will still share a drink with a friend and kiss your kids goodnight, for no robots can do that.

1. How will the manufacturer know what part of the refrigerator is wrong?

A．The host or hostess will tell the manufacturer about it.

B．The refrigerator has a function to do that.

C．A radio set in the kitchen will perform that.

D．The Web-enabled refrigerator will tell the manufacturer automatically.

2. Why does the author use “your favourite linen (亚麻布) skirt” as an example?

A．To prove the skirt made of linen is easy to wash.

B．To show how to wash clothes or bedding made of linen.

C．To point out the intelligence of the future washing machine.

D．To introduce one of the shortcomings of the washing machine.

3. What does the text mainly tell us about?

A．How people will travel in the future.

B．What our future lifestyle will look like.

C．How people will prepare food in the future.

D．What changes will happen in our restroom.

3 . It's March, 2050.

Frank and Mary Smith wake up in their comfortable house in the morning and switch on the bedroom computer to get the latest news. They used to read the Times, but changed to electronic newspapers many years ago.

There is the usual news about space: another space flight has returned from Mars and scientists have discovered a new planet. Then they turn to business news: the Us dollar has risen greatly in Shanghai, one of the world's leading business centres. Mary tells the computer to buy 5,000 dollars, and there is a quick response that it has been done. As they watch the screen, Mary orders one of the household robots to make coffee for them. Frank disappears into the study to join a video conference with his partners around the world. He is a computer engineer, working for several companies. This is his third job: he used to be in marketing and then television. Mary has a quick look at the shopping channels—the usual selection of electric cars, household robots and cheap travel offers-before picking up the video phone to talk to her assistant. She also has a job and she is doing medical research. Both she and Frank used to have an office desk in London, but in 2023 they decided to move to the seaside and work from home.

·Frank and Mary have one daughter, Louise, who also has her own workstation at home. She goes to school only one day a week, mainly to play with other students. Classrooms disappeared in 2030 because there was no longer any need for them: communications systems have made it much easier to learn at home. Louise, now thirteen, is studying Chinese at present, which has become a world language as important as English. Louise has many Chinese friends. They communicate by computer. According to the family doctor, Louise will live to at least 130. Her wish is to work for a few decades（十年）and then spend her time on music and painting.

1. Why do Frank and Mary switch on the bedroom computer in the morning?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Who makes coffee for Mary and Frank?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. How does Frank work with others from home?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. What are the two world languages in 2050?
________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 . 阅读下面短文, 在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

In 1818 Mary Shelley published Frankenstein, the story of a scientist who tries to create a superior, being and instead creates a monster. In the last two centuries, this story     1     (tell) over and over again in countless variations. At first sight, the Frankenstein story appears to warn us that if we try to play God and engineer life we will be punished severely. Yet the story has a     2     (deep) meaning.

The Frankenstein myth confronts. Homo sapiens (智人) with the fact that the last days are fast approaching.     3     some nuclear or ecological disaster strikes, the pace of technological development will soon lead to the replacement of Homo sapiens by completely different beings who possess not only different physiques, but also very different cognitive and emotional worlds. This is something most Sapiens find extremely worrying. We like to believe that in the future people just     4     us will travel from planet to planet in fast spaceships. We don’t like to think about the     5     (possible) that in the future, beings with emotions and identities like ours will no longer exist, and our place will be taken by alien life forms     6     abilities beat our own.

We seek comfort in the fantasy that Dr. Frankenstein can create only terrible monsters, whom we would have to destroy in order to save the world. We like to tell the story that way because it implies that we are     7     best of all beings, that there never was and never will be anything better than us. Any attempt     8     (improve) us will inevitably fail, because even if our bodies might be improved, you cannot touch the human spirit.

We would have a hard time     9     (accept) the fact that scientists could engineer spirits as well as bodies, and that future Dr. Frankenstein could therefore create something     10     (true) superior to us, something that will look at us as condescendingly (居高临下地) as we look at the Neanderthals (穴居人).

5 . 语法填空

In the near future, the smart     1    (home) with new technology will solve many daily problems for us. We will be using     2     (advance)technology every day for automatic control of everything. All controls will respond    3     our voice commands and prepare everything for us according to our     4     (day) routine. In the meantime, regular health checks     5     (monitor) our health every day and give us a warning early     6     if there is something abnormal, which     7    (potential) save our lives. In addition, by     8    (detect)abnormal signs in our homes, smart homes will provide us with the relevant information, so we will be able    9     (fix) the problem in time. Many of these new innovations are already     10     (avail) and being used in some homes, and most new homes will begin to use this new technology in the not-too-distant future.

6 . Life in the Future: Tech That Will Change the Way We Live

Technology has the power to do many things, and changing the world is one of them. The technology we’ re already _____ and accustomed to has paved the way for us to innovate further, and this list of technologies certainly have the _____ to change our lives even more.

Robots

Chores, chores, chores. Boring but unfortunately _____ . What if robots could help save you the _____ ? We already have the beginnings with robot vacuum cleaners and smart home appliances. Larger, more useful robots are _____ , too. We could easily be living in a future packed full of useful robots helping around the home as _____ or chefs.

3D printing

Fridge running a bit low? Not a problem for future you. Just print some cakes, vegetables or even a pizza. 3D printing is _____ in other areas, too—pieces for a board game, replacement _____ such as knees or aeroplane and vehicle parts.

Li-Fi

Li-Fi has been experimented with for the last few years and has some interesting potential for super-fast data _____ speeds. Li-Fi uses light rather than Wi-Fi’s radio waves to transmit data at much higher speeds and is also ______ to be influenced.

Flying cars

When there’s no space left on the roads, it’s not unreasonable to think we might take to the ______ . There are already plenty of interesting flying car designs that show this future is a ______ possibility.

Colonisation of other planets

We’ve been destroying the earth for a long time. If we don’t, we’ll one day outgrow it. Plans are in the works to colonise other planets and Mars will no doubt be the first ______ of call. With ______ forward in technology, this vision of the future is quickly becoming science-fact, ______ science-fiction.

1.

A．applied

B．adjusted

C．exposed

D．devoted

2.

A．adventure

B．energy

C．potential

D．room

3.

A．constant

B．gigantic

C．necessary

D．reliable

4.

A．measure

B．misery

C．money

D．mystery

5.

A．coming around

B．crowding in

C．showing off

D．springing up

6.

A．advisers

B．butlers

C．dusters

D．lecturers

7.

A．taking down

B．taking off

C．taking on

D．taking over

8.

A．attachments

B．gadgets

C．joints

D．rings

9.

A．transfer

B．transform

C．transplant

D．translate

10.

A．less likely

B．to a greater degree

C．no doubt

D．more probably

11.

A．rivers

B．roads

C．skies

D．spaces

12.

A．distinct

B．mechanical

C．realistic

D．theoretical

13.

A．decision

B．port

C．rest

D．shelter

14.

A．advantages

B．borders

C．entrances

D．leaps

15.

A．based on

B．except for

C．in spite of

D．rather than

7 . “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．Margie doesn’t like her school.

B．It’s common to read paper books in 2157.

C．Online learning is what Margie wants.

D．Tommy feels his father is smarter than his teacher.

2. Which of the following is TRUE about a school in 2157?

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 learn different things at their own pace.

3. What does the underlined word “slot” probably mean?

A．Envelope.	B．Opening.
C．Screen.	D．Schoolroom.

4. What can we learn about Margie’s feelings about old schools?

A．Longing.	B．Objection.
C．Suspicion.	D．Tolerance.

8 . What’s the Outlook for 2035?

When we think about the future of work, anxiety inevitably creeps in. However, you don’t have to be afraid because you are in the driver’s seat.

By 2035, most organizations will not have large, company-sponsored _______ offices but instead will rent virtual meeting rooms for both full-time and contract employees to work and meet when they need to. Thanks to the rise of the online rating systems, customers will _______ your products and services in real-time and will expect concerns to be addressed immediately.

We must also deal with _______ that we have never encountered before. As of this year, there will be five generations in the workforce, led by many traditionalists(born before 1945)and baby boomers(born 1945—1963)who are determined to contribute to their organizations beyond typical _______ age. Due to the small size of Generation X(born 1964—1979), the millennials(born 1980—1995)are moving into _______ positions an average of 10 years earlier than their predecessors (前辈) and require extensive learning to be effective managers.

The oldest members of Generation Z(born 1996—2012)are now graduating from college and arriving in the _______ expecting to use technology for instant business impact. Organizations that want to keep top Gen Z talent must provide _______ that allow them to do their jobs with maximum efficiency.

Members of all generations who wish to be gainfully employed will come face-to-face with a different set of hiring practices. _______ , your competition for jobs won’t simply be in your backyard but will be all over the world thanks to virtual and _______ work and larger populations of working-aged people in China and India, which will shortly become the leading ________ of qualified talent.

In the work world of 2035, team work will be shorter-term in nature and ________ high levels of human and machine cooperation. Constant ________ will be a given, meaning that if you want to keep pace with technology and use it to drive business results, you can’t wait for someone else to hand you a solution. You must take development into your own hands.

So, if you’ re a leader, how can you ________ your organization to compete in this very different world? The answer is simpler than you might think. Focus on your best people, in all ________ from all backgrounds, and with various work arrangements—and ________ them with the right tools.

1.

A．downtown

B．physical

C．well-equipped

D．multifunctional

2.

A．accuse

B．advertise

C．evaluate

D．use

3.

A．diversity

B．talents

C．overpopulation

D．joblessness

4.

A．awkward

B．fruitful

C．marriageable

D．retiring

5.

A．competitive

B．ideal

C．leadership

D．social

6.

A．adulthood

B．maturity

C．society

D．workforce

7.

A．staffs

B．investments

C．opportunities

D．tools

8.

A．As a result

B．In addition

C．For instance

D．Even so

9.

A．flexible

B．remote

C．universal

D．voluntary

10.

A．exporters

B．giants

C．members

D．generations

11.

A．cause

B．involve

C．promote

D．replace

12.

A．cooperation

B．innovation

C．isolation

D．support

13.

A．aim

B．prepare

C．prohibit

D．stimulate

14.

A．employees

B．nations

C．generations

D．races

15.

A．empower

B．please

C．honor

D．serve

9 . Myspace launched in September 2003. Friendster gave inspiration to the founders of Myspace, and the social network officially went live on the web in January 2004. After its first month online, over one million people signed up. By November 2004, that number grew to 5 million. By 2006, Myspace was visited more times than Google Search and Yahoo, becoming the most visited website in the United States. In June of that year, Myspace was reportedly responsible for nearly 80 percent of all social media traffic.

As explosive as Myspace was, it paled in comparison to how quickly Facebook grew into the internet giant it is today. In April 2008, both Facebook and Myspace attracted 115 million unique global visitors per month, with Myspace still winning in the U. S. alone. In December 2008, Myspace experienced peak (顶峰) U. S. traffic with 75. 9 million unique visitors. As Facebook grew, Myspace sustain a series of downsizing and redesigns as it tried to redefine itself as a social entertainment network. It was estimated (估价) in March 2011 that the site had dropped from attracting 95 million to 63 million unique visitors within the past year.

Although several factors triggered Myspace’s fall, one argument held that the company never figured out how to innovate well enough to keep up with the competition. Officially, however, Myspace is far from dead. If you go to myspace.com, you’ll see that it is very much still alive, though it has mostly transitioned away from social networking to become a site for planning music and entertainment. As of 2019, the site boasted over 7 million monthly visits. On Myspace’s front page, you’ll find a variety of entertainment news stories not just about music, but also movies, sports, food, and other cultural topics. Profiles are still a central feature of the social network, but users are encouraged to share their own music, videos, photos, and even concert events.

1. How long has it taken Myspace to become the most visited website in America since its establishment?

A．About 2 years.	B．About 3 years.
C．About 5 years.	D．About 8 years.

2. What does the underlined word “sustain” mean in the second paragraph?

A．adapted

B．acquired

C．challenged

D．experienced

3. What is one of the main reasons for Myspace’ failure?

A．Lack of improvement.	B．Too much competition.
C．Unclear business positioning.	D．Cutting down too many workers.

4. What does Myspace mainly feature right now?

A．Profiles.	B．Social networking.
C．Entertainment news.	D．Music and entertainment.

10 . 请发挥想象，憧憬未来，写一篇短文，描述五年后的你的学习、工作或生活。词数100左右。
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________