1 . What life will be in 2050?
It’s hard to say definitively what life will be like in 2050. However, we can make some educated guesses based on the trends that are happening now. For instance, it’s likely that technology will play an even greater role in our lives than it does now. We might have flying cars, or robots to do our household chores.
The world population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, so resources may be strained. People may live in smaller homes or even underground to conserve space and energy. We may also see drastic changes in the way we get our food. With advances in technology, it’s possible that we’ll be able to create artificial meat or grow food in laboratories.
In 2050, many aspects of our life will be very different from what they are now. People’s lives, the environment, transportation, and education all change at a new level.
There will be a lot of new jobs born to serve the development of society. And if you are good at using social media, you can be an online celebrity and make a lot of money. You can also choose to be a full-time housewife and take care of your family if you want.
Rockefeller University mathematical biologist Joel Cohen predicts that by 2050, the world will be majority urban dwellers with a high average age. In contrast, U.S. cities theorist Richard Florida believes that urbanization trends will result in a work-from-home economy and do away with divisions between home and work life. Other experts interviewed by Popular Mechanics envision a future in which solar energy is ubiquitous, 3-D printing has replaced traditional manufacturing and everyone has a personal assistant in the form of an AI.
However, there are also some reasons to be pessimistic about the future. The world will be a more dangerous place in 2050. Global warming will cause rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions that will make life difficult for people around the world.
| A．As technology continues to develop, so does the concern for environment. |
| B．By 2050, everyone will be able to afford higher education. |
| C．In addition, there will be new diseases that we have not yet seen. |
| D．In general, life in 2050 is more convenient, more comfortable and more fun. |
| E．There are some grounds for optimism in this scenario. |
| F．As a result, we will have a lot of health problems. |
2 . Like many other small boys, I was fascinated by cars, especially because my oldest brother was a bit of a car guy and subscribed to cool magazines like Car and Driver and Motor Trend.
Every so often, one of those magazines would run an article on the “Cars of the Future”.
But guess what?
Better than systems to minimize injury in the event of an accident, however, are systems that minimize the likelihood of an accident happening in the first place ? Future cars may be able to remove many of the major causes of accidents, including drunk-driving, and tailgating (与前车距离过近) . Cars could be equipped with sensors that can detect alcohol in a driver’s system and prevent the car from being started, for example. As early as next year, you’ll be able to buy cars with radar-equipped control systems. If the radar determines you’re closing too quickly with the car in front, it will ease up on the throttle (油门).
Scientists are now working on a system that can brake, accelerate and steer a vehicle down a highway on its own.
| A．Will cars eventually be able to drive themselves ? |
| B．Magazine featuring future cars sell especially well. |
| C．Airbags aren’t the be-all and end-all in safety. |
| D．Crazy fans look forward to the launch of future cars. |
| E．All of these things are likely to change in the not-so-distant future. |
| F．They featured unconventional things like small nuclear reactors as power sources. |
