1 . Education in 2080 is distinctive from education in the 2020s. Until about 2035, the main function of education systems was to supply the economy with the next generation of workers. In 2080, the purpose of education is the well-being of society and all its members. To make this a bit more tangible for you, I would like to give an example of what a child’s education looks like in 2080. Her name is Shemsy. Shemsy is 13, and she is confident and loves learning.

Shemsy does not go to school in the morning because schools as you know them no longer exist. The institution was abolished as it was widely thought of as more like a prison or a factory than a creative learning environment. Schools have been replaced with “Learning Hubs” that are not restricted to certain ages. They are where intergenerational learning happens, in line with the belief that learning is a lifelong pursuit.

Every year, Shemsy designs her learning journey for the year with a highly attentive “teacher-citizen”. Shemsy is actively engaged in designing her education and has to propose projects she would like to be involved in to contribute to and serve her community. She also spends lots of time playing as the role of play in learning has finally been recognized as essential and core to our humanity. Shemsy works a lot collaboratively. Access to education is universal, and higher education institutions no longer differentiate themselves by how many people they reject yearly. Variability between students is expected and leveraged (利用) as young people teach one another and use their differences as a source of strength. Shemsy naturally explores what she is curious about at a pace she sets. She still has some classes to take that are mandatory for children globally: Being Human and the History of Humanity.

We invite you to think about your vision for education in the year 2080, what does it look like, who does it serve,and how does it transform our societies?

1. What does paragraph 1 mainly tell us?

A．There are different types of education.

B．The present education needs improvements.

C．Education and economy are closely associated.

D．The goal of future education is fundamentally different.

2. What do we know about the Learning Hub that Shemsy goes to?

A．It accepts students of all ages.	B．It promotes competition.
C．It discourages individualized learning.	D．It is all about play-based learning.

3. What does the underlined word “mandatory” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Tough.

B．Satisfactory.

C．Optional.

D．Required.

4. What is the suitable title for the text?

A．An Example to All	B．A Vision for Education
C．A Challenge for Education	D．A Journey into the Future

3 . When was the last time you used a telephone box? I mean to make an actual phone call — not to shelter from the rain. Ages ago, right? The last time I used a phone box for its intended purpose was…2006. I was conducting auditions (试演) for my play in my tiny old shared house in London. Hoping to impress some talented actors to come and work for me for nothing, I spread some throws over the sofas and lit candles to make it seem a bit more ”young professional”.

As I rushed outdoors to empty the wastepaper baskets, the door swung shut behind me. Suddenly I was locked outside. My mobile phone was inside, but luckily there was a telephone box across the street. So, I called Directory Assistance, got put through to our landlady’s managing agent, and had a spare key sent to me with just enough time to get back in before the actors arrived.

As it has been many years since I last used one, I should hardly be surprised that then are no longer any public telephones near my house. The last one standing has just been turn into a “mini community library”: any passer-by can “borrow” a book from its shelves return it later, or replace it with another title from their own collection.

For a few months after the “library” opened, I didn’t bother taking a look, as I had assumed that it would be stuffed full of cheese love stories. Then I noticed fork conducting spring cleans dropping boxes of voluminous books on various subjects there. And these books were free. This unbeatable price-point encouraged me to experiment with dozens of titles that I would never normally consider buying. And I’ve discovered some great books!

If I ever get trapped outside my house again, my local telephone box will, sadly no longer be able to connect me with my keys. But it can certainly keep me entertained while I wait for my wife to rescue me.

1. What does the underlined word “it” in the first paragraph refer to?

A．The play.	B．The shared house.
C．The sofa.	D．The telephone box.

2. Why did the author use the telephone box in 2006?

A．To place an urgent call.	B．To put up a notice.
C．To shelter from the rain.	D．To hold an audition.

3. What do we know about the “mini community library”?

A．It provides phone service for free.	B．Anyone can contribute to its collection.
C．It is popular among young readers.	D．Books must be returned within a month.

4. Why did the author start to use the “library”?

A．He wanted to borrow some love stories.

B．He was encouraged by a close neighbour.

C．He found there were excellent free books.

D．He thought it was an ideal place for reading.

4 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What did the program say about the life in the future?

A．People’s way of consumption will change.

B．More supermarkets will come into existence.

C．More free time will be available for people.

2. What is the speakers’ attitude to the program’s opinion on shopping in the future?

A．Doubtful.

B．Supportive.

C．Dismissive.

5 . 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。

No one can foretell the future of technology exactly, because no one can see the future. However, there are reasonable arguments     1    (base) on the advances and trends in technology in the past. For example, it is reasonable to predict that computers     2    (continue) to become more powerful, numerous and     3    (cheap). Areas with huge potential that are just beginning to be made use of today, like biotechnology, will continue to bear fruit.

Technology in general will probably continue to improve,     4    (create) both promises and risks. In the area of computers, someone might interact with hundreds of embedded microchips (嵌入式微芯片) throughout the home and the office. In     5     future, it will be many thousands. Increasing bandwidth and decreasing costs will lead to     6    some have called “ubiquitous computing”—computers everywhere helping us with everything. Some viewers, especially Bill Gates, believe the next few     7    (decade) will be characterized by long-awaited revolutions in robotic technology. Other futurists see trends in automation technology leading to desktop factories that allow users     8    (make) objects from simple original parts.

Apart from above areas, there are dozens if not hundreds of areas that will continue to advance technologically. One thing is     9    sure: the future will have better technology than the past did. But will we put     10     to better use? Only time and effort will tell.

6 . Not long after my daughter was born in early 2013, I had a serious thought about the life that lay ahead for her. With health and luck, she will live long enough to see the dawn of the 22nd century.

As a journalist, I often encounter the date 2100. It’s a milestone year frequently mentioned in climate change news reports, stories about future technologies and science fiction. But it’s so far ahead that the route we will take to get there is difficult to see. I rarely consider that, like my daughter, millions of people alive today will be there as 2100 arrives, inheriting the century my generation will leave behind.

For many of us, how often can we truly say we are thinking about the well-being of these future generations? How often do we think about the impact of our decisions on the decades and centuries ahead?

Part of the problem is that the “‘now’commands so much more attention,” the sociologist Elise Boulding once said. “If one is mentally out of breath all the time from dealing with the present, there is no energy left for imagining the future.” No wonder problems like climate change or inequality feel so hard to handle right now.

That’s why researchers are coming to the same conclusion that short-termism (短期主义) may be the greatest threat our species is facing this century. Despite our natural ability to look and plan ahead, we have a weakness in our thinking called “present bias.” For example, people are more likely to accept an offer of£10 today, rather than a guarantee of £12 in a week. They also tend to spend on pleasures, not save for rainy days.

I understand the dangers of short-termism. I can both justify the argument and feel the need to care more about future generations. But I admit I still struggle with how to translate that into clear action as an individual. To realize that we are just one in a chain of generations, we owe an obligation (义务) to our future generations to leave a better world than the one we inherited ourselves.

1. What is Paragraph2 mainly about?

A．People’s expectation of the year 2100.

B．The author’s thoughts on the year 2100.

C．The author’s plan for his daughter’s future.

D．People’s attitude to the importance of the year 2100.

2. Why do many of us rarely consider our future generations according to Elise Boulding?

A．Owing to our ignorance of the future.

B．Because of people’s inability to plan for the future.

C．Because of our difficulty in handling future problems.

D．Due to the lack of our mental energy to consider the future.

3. What does the underlined word “bias” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．Preference.

B．Disorder.

C．Balance.

D．Freedom.

4. What’s the author’s purpose in writing this article?

A．To criticize those who favor short-term rewards.

B．To express his dissatisfaction with the young generations.

C．To inspire people to think more about the future generations.

D．To show his determination to speak for his daughter’s future.

7 . Some talk of building settlements on the moon or mars to help make sure humanity survives long into the future. Others have their sights set closer to home: on future cities under the ocean.

“Technologically speaking, it is absolutely possible to colonize the bottom of the sea,” says Fabien Cousteau, a well-known ocean explorer who once spent 31 days living in what is now the world’s only functioning undersea habitat, Aquarius. It’s about the size of a school bus and located 62 feet below the ocean surface off the Florida Keys.

Just as astronauts test what it would be like to live in space, aquanauts try out undersea living with an eye on the future. Escaping from disasters such as climate change, wars, or pandemics is one reason to live under the sea. Others include studying, exploring, or appreciating the ocean. It’s costly and expensive to constantly keep up an ocean habitat which must pump in or make its own air, electricity, and fresh water. Inhabitants have to deal with high pressure. And infections can develop rapidly due to high humidity.

Despite the challenges, several new ocean habitats and cities are under construction. A series of space station-like undersea living quarters for aquanauts called Proteus are scheduled to be completed by 2025 off Curacao, an island north of Venezuela in South America. An undersea colony called Ven Base Alpha will be built near a hydrothermal vent, which would supply it with energy. Meanwhile, an undersea city called Ocean Spiral in Japan would link its surface to the deep sea, using the difference in pressure to generate energy and produce fresh water. This sounds amazing, but it would be extremely expensive and remains just a design.

Not everyone agrees that building homes in the ocean is a good idea. This type of development could place even more strain on ecosystems that are already struggling with pollution and climate change. It’s important to make sure that any construction is done carefully, says Susanne Menden-Deuer, an oceanographer at the University of Rhode Island. Wild undersea habitats should be treated as “the precious, irreplaceable resource that they are,” she says.

1. What do we know about Aquarius?

A．It is still under construction.

B．It functions as an undersea school bus.

C．It is the only ocean habitat in operation.

D．It only allows a person to live there for 31 days.

2. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The present and future of living under the sea.

B．The reasons and challenges of living under the sea.

C．The purpose and cost of building undersea settlements.

D．The problems and findings of building undersea settlements.

3. What would be the result of building homes in the ocean according to the text?

A．Rapid development of undersea habitats.

B．Protection of irreplaceable ocean resource.

C．Negative impacts on undersea ecosystems.

D．Struggles with pollution and climate change.

4. Where is the text most probably taken from?

A．A textbook.

B．An exam paper.

C．An academic article.

D．A science magazine.

9 . As Tiger King 2 appeals to viewers, some fans feel sad about having to pay much for another streaming service subscription. And they take pity on the once-hot video technology which is now more likely to be a temporary coaster (杯垫) for your coffee: DVDs were once the future, but now the industry can hardly be turned around.

DVD sales once reached $16.3 billion and were 64% of the U.S. home video market. That was 2005.

However, this year just 300 million DVDs are expected to be sold worldwide, down from an average of 2 billion every year between 2005 and 2009. Instead, a rise in customers buying on-demand and digital copies of films and the launch of streaming services are what have reduced the DVD industry to such a state.

But there are still 300 million of the things, even if your collection is gathering dust on the bookshelf. While pop psychology would suggest that older generations hold on to their love of the physical disc, instead, those aged 25 to 39 are more likely than most to watch DVDs. They’re often collectors.

“DVDs are a sign of our identity and our personality,” says Tony Gunnarsson, an analyst of TV, video, and advertising. That’s why England-based radio producer Tom Green still stores around 300 DVDs, including the whole seasons of The Simpsons. They represent a part of my life, and a part of me,” Green says. Others continue to keep DVDs because of the excellent audio (声音的) quality.

For DVDs, to undergo a renaissance (复兴) similar to that experienced by cassette tapes will require a big shift. “We need to wait for the generation that have a fascination with DVDs to control the mainstream culture, but it seems to be nowhere in sight,” says Tom Green. “And the public see DVDs as nothing but outdated media.” Even so, there is a solid group of DVD consumers. And that’s perhaps why producers keep making DVDs and why committed collectors collect their discs.

1. What does the author intend to stress in Paragraph 1?

A．The fall of DVDs.

B．A possible way of reusing DVDs.

C．A recent trend in the film industry.

D．The big expenses of video streaming services.

2. What happened to the DVD market in 2005?

A．It celebrated a shift in digital copies of films.

B．It suffered from an oversupply of DVDs.

C．It entered 64% of the U. S. households.

D．Its sales reached the peak.

3. What can we say about Tony Gunnarsson and Tom Green?

A．They both appreciate the charm of DVDs.

B．They are both professional DVD advertisers.

C．They are both passionate about collecting things.

D．They both praise the audio quality of streaming services.

4. What can be inferred about DVDs from the last paragraph?

A．They may control the mainstream culture.

B．They can greatly benefit many collectors.

C．They are as important as cassette tapes.

D．They are hard to make a comeback.

10 . 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.