1 .
Task: Write about what life will be in the year 2050.

In 2050, our life will be a lot different from nowadays in many aspects. The environment, transportation, education and people’s lifestyles will also change to a new level.

There are some reasons to be optimistic about life then. Along with development of scientific advances, people will have more means of transport. Solar-powered, wind-powered cars which are much more environment-friendly will be produced and used. Travelling to other planets will be more available to everyone physically, mentally and financially qualified.

In addition, everyone can afford to study in 2050. With the help of technologies, such as metaverse or something more advanced or revolutionary, we don’t need to go to school anymore.

Just stay at home and you can learn everything from online teachers, which will help us save money and commuting time. The schedule will be more optional for you to choose as long as it suits your time and your purposes.

However, there are also some reasons to worry about life in the year 2050. The more modern the technologies will be, the more polluted environment we will have. As I suppose, the future environment will have much pollution. Nevertheless, future scientists will pay more attention to this aspect so I think it will be improved soon.

Because of technologies, people will be much passive than at present. There will be robots helping people in many aspects of their lives. People won’t need to do housework or cook for meals because robots do them all. And since we can study at home, people will use computers almost every day, which may make them become much lazier and easier to be obese.

There will be a lot of changes in our life in the next decades. Whether it will be a better or worse life depends on what we will do with them and how they can influence our life…[ To be continued ]

1. This passage is probably taken from a website for _______.

A．field research	B．essay reference
C．environmental protection	D．science fiction

2. Which of the following scenarios about the future life in 2050 is what the author agrees with?

A．Everyone will have the chance to experience interplanetary travelling.

B．Technological advances can help people to reduce the educational costs.

C．Our planet will be sure to be dirtier in 2050 due to moderner technologies.

D．People in 2050 are doomed to be fatter and lazier with robotic services.

3. What is the author’s attitude towards the life in 2050?

A．Positive.	B．Pessimistic.
C．Mixed.	D．Ambitious.

4. If you click the “Continue Reading” button, you will see the hidden paragraph, which is probably about _______.

A．people’s attempts to overcome the challenges that may occur in the future

B．the life that people in the future may encounter in underdeveloped areas

C．the advantages and drawbacks that technologies may bring to people

D．the government’s efforts to promote the development of smart cities

2 . 阅读下面短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写1个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Cash is king, or so they say. In one form or another, human beings have been carrying around money for hundreds of years. Metal was first coined into cash between 700 and 600 BC by the Lydians, and banknotes have been in circulation since     1    (they) first use in China around 1000 AD. These days, though, habits     2     (change). Modern technology means     3     while money is still widely used, it’s more likely to be a digital transaction than a wad of notes and a handful of shrapnel. If cash is king, then it may eventually be dethroned.

3 . My future happiness

When I imagine my future, I see myself as an adult who is confident in my abilities, doing a job I love and living my life responsibly. When I grow up, I will be enjoying more convenience brought by the advances in technology, with more time to pursue hobbies and enjoy the company of family and friends.     1    

I will feel the happiest in the future because I will learn more about life and develop into the best person I can be.     2     I will also handle more responsibilities and solve problems in a more thoughtful and level-headed manner.

Thanks to new technology, my future life is sure to improve in various ways. Homes will become smarter to the extent that they might be programmed to learn about our needs and monitor our health and activity. I can imagine hearing an AI voice remind me to buy groceries or do more exercise! There will also be enormous advancements in transport options. I will be riding in a self-driving car, and other new means of transport may be developed in the future.     3     These advances in technology are certain to make my future life more comfortable and convenient.

My development into a mature adult and access to advanced technology will provide me with more free-time opportunities.     4     Working less time means I can do what I most enjoy, such as spending time with family and friends, engaging in fun activities and learning new skills.

    5     Thinking this way gives me the motivation to work hard now so that I can have a successful, fulfilling and enjoyable future life.

A．I might be able to ride a flying bike to quickly meet up with my friends.

B．I will become more knowledgeable about the world and myself.

C．When I think about the future, I realize my happiest days are still ahead of me.

D．For these reasons, I look forward to the future as the happiest moment in my life.

E．With less work-related stress, I will also have more time and energy to do volunteer projects.

F．The working day will be only four hours long thanks to robots.

G．Technological advances will guarantee that I will be in good health and find true happiness.

4 . 假定你是李华,你们班将组织一次给未来的人们写封信的活动。请根据下列要点写一篇文章参加比赛。要点如下：
1.现在手机和电脑很普及，希望将来的手机和电脑会由太阳能或风能充电；
2.衣食住行的丰富多彩，希望将来穿上由特殊材料做成的衣服，生活质量更高；
3.……
注意：1.词数80左右；
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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5 . 根据提示写一篇80词左右的短文
1. 几十年前, 在一个寒冷、多雾的(misty)早晨, 书店的生意很冷清, 女销售员(saleswoman)无聊地坐在店里等顾客。
2. 而现在, 来书店看书的人非常多。
3. 一群(a bunch of)孩子坐在地上看着平板电脑(tablets), 没有人作声。
4. 在另一个房间, 有一个朗诵会(recital)正在进行着。
5. 时代变了, 人们读书的方式也发生了很大的变化。
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6 . 根据课文完成短文。

Dr Richard Fairhurst,     1     new book The New Age of Invention has just been published, is an     2     (invent) himself. He thinks there have been golden ages of     3     (invent) throughout history and the present day is     4     new age for inventions. Most of the new great inventions are     5     (base) on advances in virtual reality, wearable tech, the flexible battery, madicine and     6     (environment) science. 3D printers have been used to make replacement hearts and bone parts.     7     terms of the environment, it is now possible     8     (create) an intelligent walking house. It is capable of using GPS technology to travel to different places, with computing technology     9     (control) its “legs”. Solar technology can be eco-friendly, too. Most inventions start with recognising a problem that    10     (need) a solution. That people have an incredible desire to think and create, and that is the real spirit of invention.

7 . 请根据下面提示，写一篇有关未来的房子的短文。词数60—80。
1. 随着科学技术的发展，未来的房子在许多方面都是智能的。(development, smart)
2. 房子将配备一个中枢系统，根据周围环境的变化进行调整。(equip, adjustment)
3. 一旦它感觉到它的主人不舒适，房子可以自动调整，使环境舒适。(instant, detect, adjust)
4. 总之，毫无疑问，未来的房子将为我们提供一切便利。(conclusion, doubt, convenience)
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8 . There is a profound relationship between science fiction and science. It is often said that stories change the world, what is less often heard is that stories change science, and therefore the future.

The use of science fiction to explore our world is similar to scenario (剧情) planning in Futures Studies, which shapes our ideas about the future, and goes beyond predicting artifacts that once seemed impossible to us like Verne’s submarine or the satellites of 2001 Space Odyssey.

In the words of Dutch researcher Sofia Kaloterakis, “Science fiction narratives structure our imaginative models about technoscientific projects such as robotics or space exploration”. Have you ever wondered how science fiction novels have impacted the idea we have about Artificial Intelligence or how Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson’s novel, has impacted what we now call the Metaverse (元宇宙)?

Science fiction helps us define possible futures. It provides us with an understanding of the rules underlying fictional worlds. It also allows us to put technological prototypes (原型) in the context of their use by humans. But most importantly, it determines the way we structure scientific thought and intervene (干预) in the future.

Alex McDowell, Creator of the Minority Report worldbuilding in 2002, and Peter von Stackelberg explain what fictional narratives can bring to the table:

The richness of “storyworlds” — the “universes” within which stories take place — provides us with detailed rules of the context in which a larger reality unfolds that extends beyond a single story, and has the potential to provide us with deeper learning about the underlying systems that regulate those worlds.

Lastly, the relationship of futures narratives to theories such as Social Constructivism has been highlighted by several scholars. A central idea of this sociological theory is that whenever we use words or other symbols to refer to objects in our world we are constructing them. And, therefore, prediction is also a social construction. In narrating we intervene in the world. In narrating the world, we construct it. In writing science fiction we intervene in the science of the future.

1. What is the text mainly about?

A．The storyworlds created by science fictions.

B．Artifacts and technologies in science fictions.

C．Science fiction narratives affecting future studies.

D．The relation between science and science fictions.

2. What is the most important role of science fiction?

A．It provides us with technologies and tools.

B．It allows us to establish reasonable future.

C．It decides our thinking and affects the future.

D．It helps us learn the rules of fictional world.

3. What do we know about “storyworlds”?

A．There are general rules for a single story.

B．They are the “universes” where stories happen.

C．There are no regulations or guiding systems.

D．They have a potential context within a story.

4. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Science fiction narratives can construct future worlds.

B．The science of future intervenes in today’s science.

C．Objects can’t be constructed by words or symbols.

D．Scholars care little about narratives about future.

9 . 用现在进行时的被动语态完成下面的语段

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our New City. Look! Many a building     1     (正在被建造) now in the centre of the city. More than one subway     2     also     3    (construct). It’s said that at least a new stadium and a new swimming pool     4     (design) by the City Construction Company. Well, as you can see, the trees and flowers     5     (正在被栽种) on each side of the roads.    6     (这座城市被规划) to be developed into a big city? The answer is yes. Imagine that you     7     (被带领着参观) the city again in the future. Aren’t you happy with that? Let’s just wait and see!

Wonders are being done every day. I am convinced that you will see a more fantastic New City in the future.

10 . Complete the passage with the correct form of the words and phrases below.

prospect   remain relevant   earn a decent salary   innovator   specialist   occupation   multiple times   pace   be qualified   essential

Things have changed so much since our parents’ and grandparents’ time, especially when it comes to jobs and careers. When our parents were starting to find work, the     1     of staying in the same     2     for your entire life was very common. Nowadays, that idea would be considered really unusual!

There will be new     3     21^st century skills that we will have to have. For example, a university degree is still useful, but technology developments mean that many skills we have now are unlikely     4     in the future.     5     is one thing, but if we really want to succeed in our careers we have to be     6     thinking of new and exciting ways to do things. It won’t be enough to have only a general understanding of our area of work but we should keep learning until we become     7    . And given that people will not stay in the same career for long, we can expect that we will have to go back to education and training at some stage     8     to work in another field. In fact, we might have to do that     9    !

Jobs change at an amazing     10     these days, and if we can keep up, we can have really exciting and rewarding future careers.