I’m 50-year-old Li Hua, your future self.

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Yours,

Future Li Hua

Today, we have to use     1     (switch) for our lights, knobs for our appliances, and remote controls for our TVs and air conditioners. In the future, we will be using     2     (advance) technology every day for automatic control of just about everything in our home. The future home will use integrated sensors to tell when you leave home each morning, and then go into an energy-efficient mode all     3     itself.

In the near future, we     1     (live) in smart homes with intelligent controls and regular health checks. We will no longer worry about lights on or not when we leave home.     2     instant we enter the door, the lights will come on. If there is something     3     (normal), we can be warned on the phone to prevent more disasters. There’s no doubt that smart homes make life     4     (easy). Nevertheless, it will take some years     5     most new homes begin to use this new technology.

7 . As a child I was one of the 125 people at our family gathering for New Year. These days we were a much smaller group in Belle Valley, Ohio. I insisted (坚持要求的) on acting as hostess and wanted to bring back the joy I’d felt at my childhood New Year that filled with love.

As family members arrived at the hall, I handed each one of them a numbered card and said, “Time for the alphabet game.” “What kind of game is that?” one of my great-grandchildren asked. “well,” I said, “who’s got number one?” A cousin raised her hand. “Tell us something you never forget,” I said. “Something that begins with the letter A.” My cousin smiled. “Apple pie!” she said. Great-granddaughter Mindy was next. “B,” she said. “I am impressed by Buckeye Country.” “Cookies!” Number 3 shouted.

Until Number 17, “The next one’s a challenge,” I said. “Who’s got 17?” Ryan, my son, slowly raised his hand. “Q,” he said. “Quaker City Carnival (嘉年华).” The room went silent.

“It’s one of the oldest traditions in Ohio,” Ryan said. “Grandma and Grandpa met there. That’s where they fell in love. That’s where this whole thing started. This whole family.” Ryan looked around the room, making eye contact with everyone. “We wouldn’t be here celebrating New Year together if it wasn’t for Quaker City Carnival.”

The room burst into laughter and was full of the love that had kept us connected to our Ohio traditions. “This is the best New Year we’ve ever had,” a great-grandson said to me secretly. Whatever their New Year would look like when they grew up, they’d remember this one. And for me, I had an unforgettable New Year to treasure   — a memory where love started with the letter Q.

Have you ever forgotten to lock the door of your house or switch off the TV? These kinds of things often happen to us,    1    can lead to problems. However, in the near future, we    2    (live) in smart homes that will lock the door and switch off the TV    3    (automatic). These smart homes will provide us with a    4    (comfortable) environment. 

Your home will learn your daily routine and    5    (preference), so everything will be ready for you when you get home each evening. For example, lights will come on    6    (instant) you enter the door along with your favourite music. All controls will respond to voice commands, so you just say    7    you want and the home system will obey. Besides, it will give you suggestions on a healthier diet and how    8    (sleep) better. 

This smart technology is not     9    fantasy. Nevertheless, it will take some years    10    most new homes begin to use it.

Have you ever forgotten to lock the door of your house or switch off the TV? These kinds of things often happen to us,     1     can lead to problems. However, in the near future, we will be living in smart homes that will lock the door and switch off the TV     2     (automatic). These smart homes will provide us with a     3     (comfortable) environment than now.

Your home will learn your daily routine and     4     (prefer), so everything will be ready for you when you get home each evening. For example, lights will come on instantly you enter the door along with     5     (you) favourite music. All controls will respond     6     voice commands, so you just say     7     you want and the home system will obey. Besides, it will give you suggestions on a healthier diet and how     8     (sleep) better.

This smart technology is not a fantasy. Many of these new     9     (innovate) are already available and being used in some homes. Nevertheless, it will take some years     10     most new homes begin to use this new technology.