1 . My house is made of wood, glass and stone. It is also made of software.
If you come to visit, you’ll probably be surprised when you come in. Someone will give you an electronic PIN to wear. This PIN tells the house who and where you are. The house uses this information to give you what you need. When it’s dark outside, the PIN turns on the lights nearest you, and then turns them off as you walk away from them. Music moves with you too. If the house knows your favorite music, it plays it. The music seems to be everywhere, but in fact other people in the house hear different music or no music. If you get a telephone call, only the nearest telephone rings.
Of course, you are also able to tell the house if you want something. There is a home control console (控制台), a small machine that turns things on and off around you, which is in fact a computer.
The PIN and the console are new ideas, but they are in fact like many things we have today. If you want to go to a movie, you need a ticket. If I give you my car keys, you can use my car. The car works for you because you have the keys. My house works for you because you wear the PIN or hold the console.
I believe that several years from now on, most new homes will have the systems that I’ve put in my house. The systems will probably be even bigger and better than the ones I’ve put in today.
1. The writer’s house is NOT made of ________.| A．bricks | B．wood | C．glass | D．software |
| A．How to develop a new system. | B．The function of the PIN. |
| C．A home for the future. | D．Easy life in the future. |
| A．Because it has your favourite music following you. |
| B．Because you can make a telephone call anywhere. |
| C．Because the writer is able to change his new idea into practice. |
| D．Because it has been controlled by computers. |
| A．An IT expert. | B．A famous engineer. |
| C．A game player. | D．An experienced teacher. |
2 . Life in the future will be different from life today.Between then and now many changes will happen. But what will the changes be?
The population is growing fast. There will be many people in the world and most of them will live longer than people live now.
Computers will be much smaller and more useful, and there will be at least one in every room.And computer studies will be one of the important subjects in schools then.People will work fewer hours than they do now and they will have more free time for sports, watching TV and travel.Traveling will be much cheaper and easier. And many more people will go to other countries for holidays.
There will be changes in our food, too. More land will be used for building new towns and houses for all the people. Then there will be less room for cows and sheep, so meat will be more expensive. Maybe no one will eat it every day.Instead they will eat more fruit and vegetables. Maybe people will be healthier.
Work in the future will be different, too.Robots will do dangerous and hard work.Because of this, many people will not have enough work to do. This will be a problem.
1. In the future there will be ________.| A．much more fruit | B．more people | C．less vegetables | D．less people |
| A．work long hours | B．work fast | C．walk on foot | D．eat meat |
| A．fruit | B．fish | C．meat | D．rice |
| A．many people don't have to work | B．many people will not be able to find work |
| C．people have to work fast | D．all the work will be done by robots |
3 . The world’s first zero-carbon city is being built in Abu Dhabi and is designed to be not only free of cars and high buildings but also powered by the sun.
The oil-rich United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the last place you would expect to learn lessons on low-carbon living, but the eco-city of Masdar could teach the world. While the presence of fossil fuel (矿物燃料) has helped make UAE one of the world’s wealthiest countries, the officials there are well aware that the oil wells will eventually run dry, leaving them with no choice, but to use renewable sources of energy.
Masdar is combining 21st-century engineering with traditional desert architecture to create zero-carbon comfort. It will house about 50,000 people, at least 1,000 businesses and a university. It is being designed by the British architectural firm Foster + Partners. The architects are turning the desert’s greatest threat-the sun-into their greatest fortune. They have built the biggest solar farm in the Middle East to power the city.
Traditional cars must be checked in at the city gates before you enter the city. And you can choose between the oldest and newest ways of transport. At street level, the streets will be narrow, just to let people walk by and so the buildings will shade each other, and the planners have done their best to keep the city foot-friendly. But if you feel tired, you can go down a level to take mini vehicles. These driverless vehicles can carry up to 6 people and will be solar powered or battery operated. They are programmed to go where you ask.
Water that is used in homes or for gardens will be recycled. All waste will be converted to energy or as nutrients for soil. The whole purpose of Masdar City is to reuse or recycle everything that is in it even some of the construction materials around gardens and city.
1. Why did UAE decide to build a zero-carbon city?| A．Because the oil wells may dry up in the future. |
| B．Because the low-carbon living is very popular. |
| C．Because the price of fossil fuel is always on the rise. |
| D．Because the air pollution is becoming a global danger. |
| A．The strict limitations on traditional cars. |
| B．The benefits of foot-friendly streets. |
| C．The means of transportation in Masdar. |
| D．The convenience of taking driverless vehicles. |
| A．Homes or gardens. | B．Masdar City. |
| C．Nutrients for soil. | D．Construction materials. |
| A．Sports. | B．science. |
| C．Business. | D．Culture. |
